How to Make Your Own Chocolate | Bon Appétit

Flavor scientist Arielle Johnson demonstrates how to take raw cocoa beans and process them into delicious chocolate in your own kitchen, explaining each step of the way in comprehensive detail.
Follow Arielle on Instagram at @arielle_johnson
Director: Maria Paz Mendez Hodes
Director of Photography: Jeremy Harris
Editor: Kris Knight
Talent: Arielle Johnson
Sr. Culinary Director: Carrie Parente
Producer: Ness Kleino
Culinary Producer: Kelly Janke
Culinary Associate Producer: Jessica Do, Katrina Zitio, Leslie Raney
Line Producer: Jennifer McGinity
Associate Producer: Michael Cascio, Yoshivel Chirinos
Production Manager: Janine Dispensa
Production Coordinator: Elizabeth Hymes
Camera Operator: Ben Townsend
Audio: Nick Dalessio
Production Assistant: Tim Colao
Post Production Supervisor: Stephanie Cardone
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Supervising Editor: Eduardo Araujo
Assistant Editor: Scout Alter
Graphics Supervisor: Ross Rackin
Graphics, Animation, VFX: Léa Kichler
--
0:00 Introduction
1:57 Fermentation
3:58 Roasting
5:26 Grinding
6:18 Conching
7:58 Tempering
10:08 Tasting
Want Bon Appétit shirts, hats and more? shop.bonappetit.com/?...
Still haven’t subscribed to Bon Appétit on KZbin? ►► bit.ly/1TLeyPn
Want more Bon Appétit in your life? Subscribe to the magazine! bit.ly/313UWRu
ABOUT BON APPÉTIT
Bon Appétit is a highly opinionated food brand that wants everyone to love cooking and eating as much as we do. We believe in seasonal produce, properly salted pasta water, and developing recipes that anyone can make at home.

[@Hydrogen101]

As a scientist myself, I’m glad we had a flavor/food scientist explain this process. Looks absolutely wild how we figured this out over the centuries.

[@hedge1973]

You know, I'm something of a scientist myself

[@FluePeak]

It's kinda funny how we even did enything back in the days. Without all theese fancy equipment we have now, mass prodction etc.

[@vatuesbet8353]

i would like to purchase 3 sciences, please.

[@gameseeker6307]

How did she eat that pure bitter choccy like it was nothing?

[@dakotareid1566]

@@gameseeker6307because it probably wasn’t bitter

[@piranajoe2]

Flavor scientist sounds like such an amazing job

[@THLauren]

More of Arielle please !!! She's very enjoyable to watch and her knowledge is awesome. Very articulate. Please more videos with her 🙏🏽

[@theheckwithit]

Was great and informative, wouldn't mind seeing more of her

[@davidorourkesr]

I fully agree, very informative as well entertaining. well done as well good job!.

[@RPRosen-ki2fk]

Yeh, count me in ... she's GREAT. I want to see her brought back for another episode.

[@ronjakh]

Arielle is awesome. More please! 🙏🏻

[@sambednar3351]

This was much more educational than the video they show at chocolate world in Hershey 😂

[@jefferyrockey5353]

Interesting! I'm really curious how humans first developed this complex process. Surely someone didn't just look at a pod and say, "I bet that needs fermenting, drying, roasting, grinding, and melting and it'll be delicious!"

[@EtreTocsin]

No but the pods fell to the ground, the seeds fermented inside…smelled good…so humans dried in the sun…then they probably boiled it then figured out if they grind they can really extract the yummyness

[@Ragnarra]

They first created hot chocolate and flavored it tasting history has some information on that if your interested.

[@00bikeboy]

I count this among humanity's greatest inventions.

[@KateKolate]

I guess I have a new dream job: flavour scientist.

[@ProvocativeSloth]

Great presenter! Would lovely to see part 2 where milk and white chocolate are made, as well as cocoa powder and cocoa butter!

[@racerex340]

Or you know, any sort of chocolate that is actually edible? What they showed her making was unsweetened dark chocolate, she probably added sugar during the conching process and they just felt that part wasn't important for the video. If what she was eating was actually completely unsweetened, the face should would have made would have been quite obvious.

[@joshp8535]

That was good. She seemed a bit nervous but she probably isn't used to being on camera. I'd be nervous, too. No problem. She was concise and pretty thorough. Wish you'd have said what form 6 was, and I wanted to know if anything was added at all. Was the completely liquid chocolate just the same dry fermented stuff ground down? There are really that many fats that just grinding it turns it to am actually liquid? That's crazy.

[@brendanpatrick9861]

Form 6 isn't usually attainable. i believe it takes a very very long time and extremely specific control of conditions to form. Roasted cacao does contain around 54% fat, so when it is ground and liquified, yes, that's all it takes to get to smooth :)

[@shashikaru]

This is an incredible video. It's such a hard process that you've explained so simply. thanks Arielle!

[@serenasmith4039]

Best "how chocolate is made" video I've ever seen! I can't believe humans were able to figure out how to make chocolate once upon a time. Fascinating!

[@edaumaysol]

The inside of the cacao pod looks like what I always imagined alien eggs would look like.

[@Christosan88]

Seeing the process allows me to appreciate chocolate more.

[@MichaelEichert]

This is an awesome video! Can’t wait to see more out of this series.

[@scottmichaelharris]

I would like to see how sugar and milk are handled in this process

[@racerex340]

yeah, they almost certainly added sugar during the conching stage, the editors seem to have felt that we didn't need to see that step.

[@hokkaido2247]

100% chocolate is a thing, but it is so rare that I find it likely too, that they didn't add that part into the video.

[@jacobsoto2316]

Arielle is super informative and lessens the intimidation factor of this process! I will NOW be taking a shot at this because I’ve never had the process explained this well! Awesome job Arielle, BA’s lucky to have you!

[@foxrox6]

the mysteries of chocolate crystal 6 are keeping me awake at night.

[@nameless-ls8ft]

Honestly should give this lady her own channel just to teach stuff, idk why but she had more captivated than ur usual informative vid.

[@rizdalegend]

I'd suggest you watch "Good Eats" with Alton Brown.

[@kaley1187]

My favorite episode about chocolate is when Brad Leone travels to where they do this on location.

[@aprilingannamorte4207]

Toby Goofy!!!

[@jenniferayers5354]

Awesome presentation, thank you!

[@bmsuters]

This video series is so beautifully produced. Great detail as well

[@sn0w1et]

Arielle you were amazing!

[@zacharyf3573]

Really love this show, she’s great at explaining and it isn’t boring.

[@kittygrowl839]

“Approximately..forever” lol

[@natwandering]

I love her! Would love to see more videos with her!

[@cookwithshabanatahir6458]

I have seen this chocolate first time. It's amazing

[@StorytimewithSai]

Amazing ❤️ Thank you so much for sharing 👍 great info ✨

[@bitch12]

Love It!

[@kaib5048]

This is a fascinating and informative film, thanks so much for sharing this knowledge

[@milindaroberts1030]

I'm 55 and this reminded me of my 8th grade science project! I did the science of chocolate! this took me waaay back ! I totally enjoyed this !

[@darianervin]

I have been searching for a video just like this one! Finally! My curiosity is satisfied! I love this stuff… I wish I could taste it 🍫

[@guthries]

this is an awesome video!

[@FelipeZavan]

Very informative. Great vid.

[@Vidaintell]

Beautiful presentation! And she did a great job

[@ChefJoshC]

Great video Arielle and BA :) first time in a long while where I found myself going "but then why-" only to have Arielle brilliantly answer before I could finish the thought, twice!

[@Fsuholley]

Great job presenting the week long process of making chocolate. She is Very knowledgeable and she makes Learning fun.

[@arvenfr]

Such a cool concept!!

[@celwise]

Really like this type of content and the presenter is wonderful at explaining to us

[@radbu1075]

So this is like an unsweetened dark chocolate?

[@victorantoniopadilla1874]

It was practically magical how after hitting the beans with a hammer she got a big mess of nibs+husk and in the next scene all husk was completely gone.

[@edwardkim1349]

this is it! good subject

[@danholo]

Flavor scientist. Sounds so cool.

[@gooneybird808]

This was awesome... flavor science

[@iancryar6431]

That was cool and she has the perfect personality the kind that engages the viewer to continue to watch

[@lolmao500]

Pretty cool stuff!

[@leeleemee]

This is a random listening. This girl has me over here crying. Whew!!!!

[@blackbeautysister3]

Please note, random person watching this and maybe planning to follow it as an experiment for your kids or something. This would be 100% dark chocolate as no milk or sweeteners we're added. Look up a tutorial if you want to know how to make milk chocolate.

[@TheMattwasherein1992]

this was wildy awesome and facinating. loved the crystal structure. Brought me back to my days doing geology at uni haha. great video!

[@corinmink3959]

ah yes such a fun new format!

[@newhorizonslifecoachcheers]

Wow! This video is more educational than I thought it would be! Very interesting Bon Appetit! No, I want be making my own chocolate this way but I love learning that you can and about kitchen equipment I never knew existed to do it! LOL I'm going to be watching your channel more just for these educational videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@KibaWolf04]

How neat!

[@russellcrawford4809]

Heck yeah, I want some

[@imjusthereforthecomments4920]

Well done presentation .

[@lparker0]

That was cool!

[@ReganAtSea]

enjoyed the 70s educational vibes of this -- reminds me of "look around you"

[@soph964]

maaaaan, the coming together of fermentation and tempering made me nostalgic 🥺

[@psych0m1n1]

Clarification question. After roasting, you broke down the seeds with a hammer. Did you remove the shell of the seed before conching?

[@edenjohn7618]

Yes the shells have to be removed before grinding. The shells themselves can be used to make a really nice tea.

[@psych0m1n1]

@@edenjohn7618 Thanks for info and the tea idea.

[@stephaniegenova5469]

Ok, love her!

[@kimbarbeaureads]

Cocoa nibs are good on yogurt. The music in this video is giving Mr. Rogers field trip.

[@tasadem20]

I'm wondering what would happen if you smoke the seeds at 275 in the smoker instead of the oven.

[@ndlela]

You are awesome!!!!!!

[@JaM-si6nb]

As a child we didn't have access to much candy so the cacoa pulp was our candy.

[@JacobCanote]

The soundtrack is so good. A joy to see. Love your face. Best of luck!

[@stacyhackney6100]

Thank you

[@gamzer]

Having tasted 100% unsweetened chocolate like that before it's very bitter. More like coffee than what we consider chocolate.

[@johan8676]

great video, i knew the basics of how its made but this explained it really clearly and i feel educated

[@EVEspinosa79]

Where do you get banana leaves in NYC???

[@000euMJ]

I've tried making this twice and it always creates mould during the fermentation stage (I've covered the bowl). I had to trow it away. How to prevent this?

[@wanderer5200]

How much does a cocoa pod cost, and where can I buy one?

[@funtimestuff]

Now we are going to grind them forever. 😂

[@CaptainC0rrupt]

She seems so easygoing and informed, that I’d like to sit down with her and talk about whatever for an entire afternoon.

[@DanskerneFraDanmark]

I'm actually grow my own cacao tree right now in Denmark so this video will be useful in the future

[@alberttresslevic914]

Aahhhh coco-bean!

[@ooinvsaoo]

is this a video to prepare us for a chocolate price hike? after all that trouble im HAPPY i can get it for $1.50

[@peachiepoopsie9598]

Loved this ♥️ so no sugar added?

[@Commander_Commando]

For drying, is it air dried, or heat dried?

[@wchrisg0528]

of the Sciences Food Science is my favorite

[@user-ho7if4dx9q]

❤

[@user-ho7if4dx9q]

❤

[@adkh5826]

I hungry now. Me hungry. Give me chocolate

[@ellencarroll8677]

when would you add sugar?

[@camerontoler6013]

so is this considered 100% dark chocolate?!

[@kristya4739]

Okay but im dying to know what it tastes like without any added sugar- because you didnt add sugar. Would it taste the same as unsweetened nibs that you can buy at the store?

[@e2strom]

you can buy 100% chocolate, it is not sweet and has a very intense flavor

[@L0STinNARNIA]

I would love to know how she would place this in the scale of super-dark to milk chocolate. I understand it would be a dark chocolate since she didn't add anything to it, but I'm curious how bitter it would taste as she also didn't remove any of the natural fats or sugars. Great video!

[@racerex340]

She didn't add any sugar at all, so it would be incredibly bitter dark chocolate, similar to the taste of unsweetened cocoa powder. I honestly think she actually did add sugar during the conching stage (which is normally when it's added so it is also ground ultra fine), they just left that out of the video for some reason. If it truly was unsweetened, she would have made an entirely different face when she tasted it.

[@Katalina_K]

I like her bring her back

[@yummyeveryday]

これ好きなレシピだ😍

[@meesersuperman]

so was the bar she made considered 100% cocoa since there wasn't anything added? i was kinda expecting a section on the differences between dark and milk and pure chocolate. i assume the bar she made was kinda bitter?

[@donotresuscitatetrampstamp]

idk how i thought chocolate was made before i learned about it but fermented and roasted beans would have been the last thing i would have guessed

[@zambarau2072]

Is there an alternative to conching?

[@jonathanhaehnel5421]

I like her

[@lazywarrenlewis]

I am surprised Brad didn't make video about it already, since fermentation is involved

[@popejimbo1]

This. Sounds like something that Brad should have been involved with.

[@GiraldoJenkins]

Every BA video should include Brad

[@Rotationneiji]

He did. Its a 2 part "It's Alive" Episode. Even has a puppy in it.

[@SCSilk]

I thought for sure this would be a Brad video.

[@camilaloretdemolareynoso3469]

Thought the same

[@popejimbo1]

@@Rotationneiji Oh I forgot about that video! Cheers for the reminder.

[@clydemarshall8095]

How does the flavor compare to milk chocolate?

[@radbu1075]

But what happens at Crystal form 6?? I’m assuming it burns 😝

[@ispeakforthetrees69]

It didn't burn, but it takes weeks to form crystals and the snap is much harder than Crystal 5.

[@LimitlessMindsCollective]

Where can I buy this in bulk without making it?

[@DissonantSynth]

Commenting for the algorithm.

[@toxichammertoe8696]

Looks like an Alien egg

[@pjax03]

This chick is awesome.

[@danandoliver3613]

Was hoping this would be a brad episode since chocolate beans have to ferment