cocoa butter

cocoa butter   n.  A yellowish-white fatty solid obtained from cacao seeds and used as an ingredient in cosmetics, tanning oils, chocolate, and soap. Also called cacao butter.

Main Entry: cocoa butter
Variant: or cacao butter
Function: noun
: a pale vegetable fat obtained from cacao beans that is used in the manufacture ofchocolate candy, in cosmetics as an emollient, and in pharmacy for making suppositories called also theobroma oil

cocoa butter

pale-yellow, edible vegetable fat obtained from cocoa beans, having a mild chocolate flavour and aroma, and used in the manufacture of chocolate confections, pharmaceutical ointments, and toiletries. It is valued for its melting characteristics, remaining brittle at room temperature or lower but melting just below body temperature. One of the most stable fats known, cocoa butter contains antioxidants that discourage rancidity and allow storage life of two to five years. Its use with other fats improves their stability. Treatment of cocoa butter to remove aroma and colour also removes antioxidants, increasing susceptibility to rancidity.

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