Dark chocolate

[FolkGuitar]

  On 3/14/2025 at 5:05 AM, KhunLA said:

Homemade ... recipe calls for

... 1/3 c 100% cacao powder 

... 1/3 c Coconut Oil

... 1/3 c Sugar (I use < 1 Tbsp honey)

 

Tasty stuff, and less sugar than store bought.

Go easy, as high saturated fat & caloric count, if concerned about weight.

 

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Try swapping the coconut oil for Cacao Butter (unscented, food-grade.)
I think it has a better 'chocolate feel' in the mouth, and doesn't need refrigeration, although I do keep it in the fridge.
I've been making my own Dark chocolate for the past 4-5 years as I don't use sugar anymore ( I prefer a Keto sweetener,)  and find it much cheaper in the long run.

[FolkGuitar]

  On 3/14/2025 at 7:49 AM, scubascuba3 said:

People think dark chocolate is healthy because its lower sugar than milk chocolate but it's high fat so not healthy really

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Only 'not healthy' for people still using sugar as their body fuel.

Once in Ketosis, the body burns fats as fuel, so our Keto diets need to be about 75%-80% fat, and zero sugar.  It took a year, but I went from 110kg down to the 72.5kg that I've maintained for the past 4 years following the Keto lifestyle.

AND... you can eat as much chocolate as you'd like!

 

Yes, my Cholesterol IS high. But it's the HDL cholesterol that is up.

The LDL and triglycerides are waaay down!
If anyone wants to lose weight easily, and keep it off, and needs help, just let me know.

[scubascuba3]

  On 3/15/2025 at 1:15 AM, FolkGuitar said:

 

Only 'not healthy' for people still using sugar as their body fuel.

Once in Ketosis, the body burns fats as fuel, so our Keto diets need to be about 75%-80% fat, and zero sugar.  It took a year, but I went from 110kg down to the 72.5kg that I've maintained for the past 4 years following the Keto lifestyle.

AND... you can eat as much chocolate as you'd like!

 

Yes, my Cholesterol IS high. But it's the HDL cholesterol that is up.

The LDL and triglycerides are waaay down!
If anyone wants to lose weight easily, and keep it off, and needs help, just let me know.

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I prefer a balanced healthy diet, I'm 74kg, but yes it seems people lose weight on keto but I've also heard that often people end up heavier in the long run

[CharlieH]

 

 

[PoorSucker]

  On 3/14/2025 at 4:26 AM, garygooner said:

What's your go to dark chocolate?

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Vacation in Africa?

[garygooner]

The 219 baht price is at Villa.

Just noticed 85% is still 189 baht at BIG C. (for now) 

Might have to continue with Lindt as it does taste really good. 

[msbkk]

  On 3/14/2025 at 7:14 AM, watchcat said:

 

Macro?

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Macro does not offer this.

[bkk6060]

Dark Chocolate is something that should be greatly enjoyed as a delicacy.

Unless it is outrageous, which 200 b is not; who cares unless a person is an extreme cheap charlie or so poor cannot afford a bar of Chocolate. 

[riclag]

  On 3/14/2025 at 5:05 AM, KhunLA said:

Homemade ... recipe calls for

... 1/3 c 100% cacao powder 

... 1/3 c Coconut Oil

... 1/3 c Sugar (I use < 1 Tbsp honey)

 

Tasty stuff, and less sugar than store bought.

Go easy, as high saturated fat & caloric count, if concerned about weight.

 

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I could consume mass quantities !

To die for !  

[RayWright]

A Cherry Ripe Double Dipped Dark Chocolate bar, accompanied with a Dark Chocolate Bounty bar. 2 of your 5-a-day. Simples.

[newbee2022]

  On 3/14/2025 at 4:26 AM, garygooner said:

Used to buy Lindt dark chocolate around 80% cocoa. However, the price has risen about 70% in just a few years.

Now it's 219 baht for a 100g bar. 

(It's £3 back in the UK)

What's your go to dark chocolate? 🍫

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There are brands at Rimping or Tops or Makro or Central and others. Take your pick. Or make your own chocolate 👍

[FolkGuitar]

  On 3/15/2025 at 1:36 AM, scubascuba3 said:

I prefer a balanced healthy diet, I'm 74kg, but yes it seems people lose weight on keto but I've also heard that often people end up heavier in the long run

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How long is 'the long run?'
I've been following Keto, now going into my 6th year.  How long before I start putting on weight?  I'm an old guy. If it's another 6 years, that will be fine with me. I probably won't live much longer than that! 🙂

[DD86]

  On 3/14/2025 at 7:49 AM, scubascuba3 said:

People think dark chocolate is healthy because its lower sugar than milk chocolate but it's high fat so not healthy really

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Fat isn't the problem.

[Greensprout]

  On 3/14/2025 at 4:26 AM, garygooner said:

What's your go to dark chocolate?

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Hands down Ritter Sport regular dark (50% cocoa).  Lindt has an icky butter taste to me and a greasy texture.  I don't care for Ritter's higher cocoa content versions, and their milk chocolate is not as good as Cadbury, in my opinion.  But Ritter Sport regular dark is truly sublime.

[DD86]

  On 3/14/2025 at 4:26 AM, garygooner said:

Used to buy Lindt dark chocolate around 80% cocoa. However, the price has risen about 70% in just a few years.

Now it's 219 baht for a 100g bar. 

(It's £3 back in the UK)

What's your go to dark chocolate? 🍫

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Try a bag of Intense Dark Chocolate compound coins from Tulip. 235 Baht 1000 g Macro. Eats away easy as well.

[hotandsticky]

  On 3/15/2025 at 7:48 AM, DD86 said:

Fat isn't the problem.

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..and he ignored the benefits of polyphenols.

 

I have lost 31 kgs in the last year or so, having 2 squares of 90/99/100% dark chocolate (c.110 calories) - pretty much every day.

[Stiddle Mump]

Gonna try and make a batch.

 

When it's all mixed do yer put it in the fridge or the freezer?

[Keeps]

  23 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

..and he ignored the benefits of polyphenols.

 

I have lost 31 kgs in the last year or so, having 2 squares of 90/99/100% dark chocolate - pretty much every day.

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That is an incredible weight loss. I'm working on the assumption that's not a typo.

 

I honestly don't mean to be rude but how heavy were you to warrant such a weight loss? Genuine question. Are you now at your optimum weight?

[Keeps]

I was in the French bakery this morning near the corner of Jomtien beach road ( name escapes me) but near Tinnie's pies.

 

I noticed they had some dark chocolate in the display cabinet alongside some of their more exotic pastries. They were in clear cellophane packets so I'm assuming home made. 140 baht for a decent size bar but it didn't display the weight (maybe 100g).

 

I might give one a try next time I'm in getting a baguette.

[hotandsticky]

  23 hours ago, Keeps said:

That is an incredible weight loss. I'm working on the assumption that's not a typo.

 

I honestly don't mean to be rude but how heavy were you to warrant such a weight loss? Genuine question. Are you now at your optimum weight?

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Long story....but 133 kg down to 102 kg (target 99 kg by the end of May - but that is not important)....then 95 kg and 90 kg by my 70th birthday next March.

 

Quality of food and balance of exercise and lifestyle is more important....but the weight loss follows - and all indicators are good.

[wwest5829]

  On 3/14/2025 at 4:32 AM, ricklev said:

Not to hijack your thread, but I had been sort of reading about Dubai Chocolate for a few months now and was in 7-11 buying a chocolate bar and noticed that along with the other candy bars they were selling something labeled as Dubai Chocolate that was about the same size as a normal candy bar for 95 baht.  I had to wonder who their market was.  

 

Anyway, back to dark chocolate.  I still buy the Lindt because it is readily available.  Never paid that much attention to the price, but I will now.  

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Availability not an issue here in Chiang Mai as it is locally produced. Might want to check out availability to you.

[KhunLA]

  23 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Gonna try and make a batch.

 

When it's all mixed do yer put it in the fridge or the freezer?

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I stick it in the frig.  Next day, all firmed up.   Will melt in you hand rather quick, if holding, since no crap in it.  Melts in your mouth, so freezer is good option also.

[Stiddle Mump]

  23 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I stick it in the frig.  Next day, all firmed up.   Will melt in you hand, as no crap in it.  Melts in you mouth, so freezer is good option also.

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Fantastic Sir.

 

Thanks for that. Gonna make a batch soon. i'll take some pics and report back.

 

My daughter will love this.

[scubascuba3]

  On 3/15/2025 at 7:47 AM, FolkGuitar said:

 

How long is 'the long run?'
I've been following Keto, now going into my 6th year.  How long before I start putting on weight?  I'm an old guy. If it's another 6 years, that will be fine with me. I probably won't live much longer than that! 🙂

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I guess people change diets and go back to old habits, maybe it gets boring, a couple of nutrition focused youtubers have experimented with different diets, both said it screwed their hormones up, i vaguely remember 10 years being mentioned

[scubascuba3]

  On 3/15/2025 at 7:48 AM, DD86 said:

Fat isn't the problem.

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of course it is, you're just on the carb phobic bandwagon 

[FolkGuitar]

  22 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I guess people change diets and go back to old habits, maybe it gets boring, a couple of nutrition focused youtubers have experimented with different diets, both said it screwed their hormones up, i vaguely remember 10 years being mentioned

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Wonderful! That gives me another four years to not think about it. Thanks.

[Pogust]

Some years ago I planted a number of cocoa trees. Most for fun, why not when I'm in a tropical climate suitable for cocoa. They grow were well and are now producing fruits. So next step was to read up on chocolate production. And buying necessary equipment to make chocolate myself. I have now made 40 batches of around 2 kg each and starting to get the feeling for it.  Fermenting and drying the beans was the challenge in the beginning when I didn't have so large batches of beans. 

 

It was a test for fun, but as the production now exceeds my consumption by far there might be an opportunity for Wife to start a small business. We have given away most to friends, but increasing prices of cocoa butter make it difficult to continue without some money back. Cocoa butter was 400 bht per kg a year ago, now it's almost 2000. 

 

We could supply chocolate of various cocoa and sugar content to interested persons in small amounts. For batches of 2 + kg we can do them to order regarding % of cocoa and sugar or other ingredients. Not much profit in it mostly for fun. It takes around 5 hours work to produce a batch from beans to bar. Let me know if someone is interested.

 

Cocoa fruits

 

 

[Tazmo]

I also use the cacao nibs ( gift from my sister in law), I have a lot.

 I use dates for my sugar. Soak them in some warm water to soften them, after re the seeds. Then blend it together with te nibs and peanut butter.

I vary the texture, sometimes to get brownies, or chocolate or thinner for chocolate spread.

But, hey, each to their own.

[KhunLA]

  22 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

of course it is, you're just on the carb phobic bandwagon 

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Sugar has no nutritional value, except quick energy boost.   Along with insulin spiking.

 

 

Fat's on the other hand ... 

 

 

Call it carb phobia ... I call it better eating.  Carbs don't give me anything that I can't get elsewhere, without the sugar & insulin spikes.   I'm usually very picky with my carb intake, and try to stick to fibrous (greens) carbs.  Avoiding most of the starchy carbs, as they really don't agree with me.

 

 

On Topic ... as always ... Chocolate is great, though I do try to stick with just the cacao powder (100%), added to things (milk kefir yoghurt mostly), though if cool temps, hot chocolate drink always nice break from coffee.   Or Mocha coffee.

 

When I make chocolate bars, I have a hard time walking pass the frig.  Too addicting 😎

[RayWright]

  23 hours ago, Keeps said:

I was in the French bakery this morning near the corner of Jomtien beach road ( name escapes me) but near Tinnie's Pies...

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