Flavoured Chocolate

Exploring Chocolate: What is Flavoured Chocolate?

Chocolate is made from roasted and ground cacao beans from the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. The flavour of chocolate is dictated by its base, chocolate liquor (or cacao liquor), which, despite its name, contains no alcohol. Chocolate liquor is a thick, dark brown paste created from ground cacao nibs, the inside of the cocoa bean. It is 100% pure cocoa, with no other added ingredients. Chocolate liquor is used to make all sorts of chocolate, including dark chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and various flavour-infused chocolate varieties. It's worth noting, however, that white chocolate is not considered real chocolate because it does not contain cacao or chocolate liquor.

Diverse Flavour Profiles of Our Flavoured Chocolate

Chocolate is often described as the "food of the gods," thanks to its rich, complex, decadent, sultry, and irresistible flavour. Indeed, eating chocolate is very much a sensory experience that involves not only the palate but also the nose. Chocolate, according to experts, can be divided into five distinct experiences: taste, flavour, texture, mouthfeel, and melt.

The most desirable flavour profiles in chocolate are those that are balanced in terms of astringency and bitterness, with an enjoyable cacao aroma and a variety of subtle notes such as fruity, floral, spicy, herbal, nutty, or others.

Chocolate pairs exceedingly well with a variety of flavours. These include:

• Caramel
• Citrus: orange and lemon are the most traditional, but grapefruit and lime also work well
• Coconut 
• Essential Oils/Flavoured Oils
• Flower Petals 
• Honey (including manuka honey)
• Nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts
• Pretzels 
• Sea Salt 
• Spices: anise, cayenne, cinnamon, clove, curry, cayenne, ginger, saffron, etc.
• Spirits (bourbon, rum, etc.)
• Tart fruits: cranberries, ginger, pomegranates, and pineapple
• Vinegar

... and many other bolder, more adventurous blends. 

Why Choose Our Flavoured Chocolate: Final Insights

If you're a chocolate aficionado and just can't get enough of the stuff, exploring different flavour profiles and varieties of chocolate can be a genuine culinary adventure. Visit your neighbourhood health food store or favourite online retailer to see the options they have to offer! For the best flavour in terms of depth and complexity, nothing beats 100% natural and organic varieties made from fair-trade cacao and other ethically sourced ingredients.