For the love of chocolate
“I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process…. It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?”
There are legions of chocoholics and chocolate fanatics among us and the truthfully, how many of us can turn down an offer of chocolate? Its use dates back thousands of years when it was first used as a drink prior the Maya civilization. Now, whether it’s dark, milk or white- chocolate has become one of the most popular flavors in the world. Some say that part of the pleasure of enjoying chocolate is due to its melting point being lower than ours, causing it to “melt in our mouth.” And to think it all begins with the football-sized fruit of the cacao tree.
Now we’ve all had chocolate in many forms, and some does taste so much better than others. So what is it that makes them different? Are there “chocolate-tasting” events held much like “wine-tasting” events? Yes, there are! Many people plan home parties with a chocolate tasting theme – some even bringing in a resident “expert” stocked with a variety of quality chocolates for the guests to savor. Here are some simple ways to experience chocolate and learn to taste the difference. These are things you’ll want to keep in mind if you plan on using chocolate in your baking and want the best results. Here are some features to look for:
- How does it look? You’ll want it to be smooth and shiny looking. If it’s cracked and dull, it’s probably not very fresh and will negatively affect the results of your dessert dish.
- How does it smell? Much like evaluating wine, you’ll want to take sniffs of the chocolate. Fresh, tasty chocolate should smell good and make you want to eat it! If it doesn’t smell good, it won’t likely taste very good.
- Does it break nicely or does it crumble? A nice, clean break will indicate the quality is good.
- How does it taste? It should taste and feel good in your mouth. It should melt into a creamy texture and it should leave a pleasing taste in your mouth afterwards. It should taste and feel satisfying.
Want to learn more? Here’s some more great chocolate information!