Liven up Autumn with a Chocolate Tasting Party

Autumn is the perfect time to hold a chocolate tasting evening, what can be more enjoyable than good friends and great chocolate?  In this article we will tell you how to taste chocolate and give you some helpful tips to make your evening an enjoyable one.

What makes good chocolate?

Chocolate that has been stored properly and tempered well will have a lovely glossy finish to it and an even colour.  It isn't recommended to store chocolate in the refrigerator, not only will you lose the gorgeous glossy finish but the taste will be dulled down.

Good quality chocolate has a wonderful aroma.  The minute you open the packet your senses should be on full alert with chocolaty goodness.

Chocolate that has been tempered well should snap when you break it, not slowly tear apart.

Tasting evenings

If you are holding a tasting evening this is a fun way to do it.  Get everyone to bring a block of chocolate with them, try and get your guests to be adventurous; you don’t want to spend an evening eating the same chocolate. 

The host needs to remove the wrappers and break the blocks into small pieces and put them on numbered plates, the same type on the same plate.  Make sure as host you know what type of chocolate is on what plate.

Give your guests paper and pens to rank each type of chocolate.

Start with the lightest chocolate first and get your guests to rank the look, the aroma, the crack when they bite it and finally the taste, discuss the chocolates as you go through.  In-between each chocolate have plain crackers and water for your guests to cleanse their palates.

Descriptions for chocolate are similar to wine, for example when you are looking at colour is it even, rich or warm?  Does the taste linger or disappear quickly.  Is it full bodied, have fruit undertones, earthy, bitter or sweet.  Is its texture gritty or smooth?

After you have tried all the chocolate reveal what brand they are and what type of chocolate it is.  Your guests will probably find they liked something they had never tried before. 

And then....you get to eat the rest of the chocolate!

There is more detail in the book “for the love of chocolate” available in all of our stores.

Happy Tasting!