even if you haven’t heard the term, it’s likely that you’ve encountered this at some point in your life as a chocolate lover.

chocolate bloom is a white coating that can sometimes be found on chocolate. there are two different types of chocolate blooming— fat bloom or sugar bloom.

fat chocolate bloom comes from chocolate being exposed to high temperatures, melting and re-hardening. you may have noticed this if you’ve ever left chocolate out in the summertime heat or if you live in a particularly warm climate and don’t store your chocolate in the refrigerator.

this process is essentially the cocoa butter separating from the rest of the ingredients, which creates the telltale white coating of fat chocolate bloom.

the other type of bloom is sugar chocolate bloom. sugar chocolate bloom occurs when the chocolate is exposed to a moist or humid environment. the humidity causes the sugar inside of the chocolate to crystalize, which causes the white coating over the surface of the chocolate.

fortunately, chocolate bloom of either kind does not affect the flavor or the shelf life of your favorite chocolates. it is purely aesthetic. the best way to prevent bloom of any kind is to store your chocolate in a cool, dry place with a consistent temperature.