But cocoa butter is a special fat for many reasons. For one, it melts at body temperature, meaning that it can be stored as a solid but becomes a liquid when it comes into contact with the human body. This makes it ideal for lotions. Moreover, it contains natural antioxidants, which prevent rancidity, so it can be stored for years without going off (compare that to butter made from milk, which has a shelf life of only a few weeks). This is good news for face cream makers but also for chocolate manufacturers. Cocoa fat has another trick up its sleeve: it forms crystals, and these are what give
...more
