How does white chocolate differ from real chocolate?

Dear Cecil: How does white chocolate differ from regular chocolate, other than the color? Jared Anderson, Blacksburg, Virginia

Cecil replies:

One distinction of some possible significance is that, legally, white chocolate doesn’t exist. True chocolate contains pulverized roasted cocoa bean, consisting of cocoa butter and cocoa solids. White chocolate contains no cocoa solids and thus technically is “white confectionery coating.” Beware — some white confectionery coatings don’t even contain cocoa butter. Even in “real” white chocolate the chocolate flavor is subtle at best, being to real chocolate what white soul is to soul. But whatever floats your boat.

Cecil Adams

Send questions to Cecil via cecil@straightdope.com.