; and to
break the cells down into
particles too small
for the tongue to detect as separate, gritty
grains. Because the nibs are around 55%
cocoa butter, this fat becomes the continu
ous phase, and the solid fragments of the
cells—mainly protein, fiber, and starch—are
suspended in the fat. The final grinding, or
refining, brings the particle size down to
0.02–0.03 mm. Swiss and German choco
lates have traditionally been ground
smoother than English and American.