Definition

Noun: A type of dark chocolate made primarily from chocolate liquor (cocoa solids and cocoa butter) with added sugar, vanilla, and usually lecithin. It contains less sugar than sweet chocolate, resulting in a flavor that is both rich and slightly bitter.

Usage

This term refers specifically to the food product itself. It is used as a mass noun (uncountable) to describe the substance and as a countable noun to refer to a specific type or piece of this chocolate.

Examples

• As a mass noun:
• As a countable noun:

Advanced Usage

• Culinary Context: In baking and confectionery, "bittersweet chocolate" is often specified for its intense cocoa flavor and lower sweetness, which balances well in desserts.
  • The chef noted that bittersweet chocolate provides a more sophisticated taste profile than milk chocolate.

Variants and Related Words

• Semisweet Chocolate (n): Often used interchangeably with "bittersweet chocolate" in general usage, though it may contain slightly more sugar. The distinction is not strictly regulated.
• Dark Chocolate (n): A broader category that includes bittersweet and semisweet chocolates, characterized by a high percentage of cocoa solids and little or no milk.
• Chocolate Liquor (n): The ground, melted cocoa bean mass that forms the base of all real chocolate, containing both cocoa solids and cocoa butter.

Synonyms

• Dark Chocolate (general synonym)
• Semisweet Chocolate (near synonym)

Different Meanings

This compound noun has a single, specific meaning related to food. The adjective "bittersweet" alone has a separate, figurative meaning describing a mixture of happiness and sadness.

Noun

1. chocolate liquor with cocoa butter and small amounts of sugar and vanilla; lecithin is usually added