Cocoa mass

Cocoa mass refers to the paste produced by grinding roasted, shelled cocoa beans until heat and friction liquefy them. Made up of roughly equal parts solid particles and cocoa butter, it is the foundational ingredient of dark and milk chocolate. Solidified without sugar, it becomes unsweetened cocoa liquor with an intense, bitter flavour. Pressing it separates the cocoa butter from the defatted cocoa cake used to make powder.