What is white chocolate? And is it really chocolate at all?

For most, the word, “chocolate” elicits feelings of happiness and excitement. It’s the perfect addition to cakes, cookies, fruit and ice cream, and it’s a wonderful treat all on its own. Milk and dark chocolate are both popular and they differ in their ratio of milk and sugar to cocoa.

But the words “white chocolate” can evoke varying reactions, from utter disgust to neutrality, to pure joy. There can also be some curiosity about what it even is, what it tastes like, what it’s used for, and what its nutritional value may be. We aim to answer these questions so you can make smart dessert decisions.

What is white chocolate?

White chocolate combines milk, sugar, and cocoa butter. You are likely familiar with milk and sugar, but cocoa butter may be new. It’s the fat content found in cacao beans. Milk and dark chocolate contain both cacao beans and cocoa butter, while white chocolate only contains cocoa butter.

Making hot chocolate from scratch: Just follow these steps.

Is white chocolate officially chocolate?

This can be an inflammatory question for chocolate aficionados. Although they taste very different, they are both still chocolate because the ingredients are derived from the cocoa bean.

However, you want to be careful that you are getting “real” white chocolate, which the FDA specifies as no less than 20% cocoa butter. Some lower-quality products may not reach this mark.

When all chocolate is being made, first, the cacao beans are grown on trees and harvested. They are then surprisingly, fermented. This process helps break down the coat of the beans and helps bring out their distinct flavor. Next comes the drying phase, followed by roasting, and then the refining or "winnowing" stage, where the chocolate matter or nibs are separated from the cocoa butter. Here is where types of chocolate diverge – milk and dark chocolate utilize the nibs while white chocolate only uses cocoa butter.

What is the point of white chocolate?

Although a foreign concept to many, some people enjoy the taste of white chocolate more than the taste of milk or dark chocolate. The sweet and subtle vanilla-like taste of white chocolate also pairs well with certain flavors. Some popular recipes that use white chocolate include white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, white chocolate hot cocoa and white chocolate-dipped strawberries.

What are the health benefits of chocolate?

Chocolate can have some health benefits – like being a source of antioxidants and minerals like iron. In a previous interview with USA TODAY, Dr. Travis Nemkov, an assistant research professor in biochemistry and molecular genetics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, discussed the essential role of iron in the body, “Iron is critical for the body to produce hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that uses iron to transport oxygen throughout the body.”

What iron-rich foods are on Nemkov’s list of recommendations? “Rich sources of iron include fortified cereals, red meat, poultry, fish, oysters, kidney/red beans and lentils and chickpeas, tomatoes, tofu, spinach, dark leafy greens, potatoes, cashews and, most importantly, dark chocolate (45-69% cacao),” he explains.

While dark chocolate makes this list of iron-rich foods and is considered one of the healthier desserts when consumed in moderation, the same doesn’t apply to white chocolate. Most of the benefits are derived from the chocolate nibs, which aren’t present in white chocolate, and white chocolate contains more sugar and fat.

What is the healthiest chocolate? How milk, dark and white stack up.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is white chocolate?