Today, September 22nd, is National White Chocolate Day.

White chocolate is not so much white in colour as it is a pale yellow or ivory. It is also not strictly speaking actually chocolate.

True chocolate contains cocoa solids - which is often indicated by the percentage listed on dark chocolate. The lack of these cocoa solids means that white chocolate lacks the antioxidants present in other chocolates.

White chocolate uses cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and salt. Dark chocolate is bitter, milk chocolate is in between and white chocolate is sweet. Too sweet for some tastes.

In the United States and the European Union, white chocolate must contain at least 20% cocoa butter.

These days, as well as the old-fashioned kids white chocolate - like Milk Bars - there are also more luxury versions for adults. Which are also rather more expensive.

Image: By Evan-Amos (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons