Chocolate Creme Filled Cupcakes

Cocoa is the result of chocolate liquor with most of the cocoa butter (fat) removed. The lower fat proportion gives the cocoa a very concentrated chocolate flavor. Cocoa is made by pressing much of the cocoa butter out of the heated liquor as it turns into cakes. The cakes are then ground into cocoa powder. Two types of cocoa are available: natural cocoa, which is slightly acidic, and the less bitter cocoa, which has been treated with an alkali to raise its ph. It is a natural extract of the seeds of the cocoa tree (Threobama cocoa). Pure cocoa powder is very intense and bitter. It has many uses ranging from cold and hot drinks to icings. Cocoa has been shown to be rich in powerful polyphenols (antioxidants) which can protect against a range of diseases and reduce the effects of ageing.