Chocolate blog

A Brief History of Porto

After speaking on a river criuse along the river Douro  on board the magnificent MS Gil Eanes about Portuguese empire and its chocolate links. I was encouraged to blog  a brief history of Porto

The lowdown on Pastel De Nata

I have viisiited Portugual many times and thought I would blog about these little gems so here is the lowdown on Portuguals tastey Pastel De Nata

The History of Pralines

There seems to be at least three different versions of Praline here is my attempt at to explain.

Pumpkin Fruit Leather

Pumpkin Fruit Leather the Autumn Bounty That Keeps Giving

Pumpkin spice, is an North American spice used as an ingredient in pumpkin pie.

In europe we often use mixed spice, which is a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice

How to Pair chocolate and coffee

Coffee and chocolate are a natural, delectable pairing. Done right, this combo can make the finest chocolate taste richer and the highest quality coffee feel like drops of sweet silk in your mouth. Done wrong, it can taste like a mouthful of dirt. To get the best pairing, you need to understand the flavour, acidity, and textural components of both your coffee and your chocolate and how they play together

What are bitters and can chefs use them to cook with?

Bitters are amazing, essential, and potent flavouring extracts that can elevate and transform any drink to which they’re added.

I like describe to bitters as “seasoning or salt and pepper” for cocktails. They add a little kick to some drinks but are the real essence in others like the old fashioned and Manhattans.

Bitters are amazing, essential, and potent flavouring extracts that can elevate and transform any drink to which they’re added.

What is a spice?

Spices are plant parts that are more densely loaded with flavour than most other ingredients used in cooking. Whereas herbs always come from leafy parts, spices tend to derive from seeds, fruits, roots, stems, flowers, or bark, and are usually dried. 

Black pepper or white?

Hundreds of years ago, traders gave black pepper the name 'king of spices'. It was like 'black gold,' it was one of the very first items to traded between India and Europe.

It became such an important trading commodity that many expeditions were speculativly set up and funded in hopes of transporting this black gold back to Europe.

The origins of white chocolate

From humble yet tasty beginnings, discover the rich and long history behind one of the most iconic white chocolate bars

What is the cut test

Cut tests are one analyses that can be done at on the farm to evaluate fermentation, producers and buyers can examine the quality of the processing, from the fermentation box/pile to the completion of the drying,

using sensory methods smell, sight, sound and touch. (After drying, cacao samples are roasted and a taste profile test using cacao.) Cut tests can be used to evaluate cacao bean health.

Can chocolate make us feel GOOD?

We’ve all experienced it! that moment of bliss that good chocolate brings when we first bite into a square of chocolate, close our eyes and savour the moment! but can chocolate make us happy?

How to eat Chocolate Mindfully

I am often asked What is mindful eating?

Well I think mindful eating is (i.e., paying attention to our food, on purpose, moment by moment, without judgment) is an approach to food that focuses on individuals' sensual awareness of the food, environment and their experience of food.
Being mindful of the food you eat can promote better digestion, keep you full with less food, and influence wiser choices about what and when you eat in the future.

Add Smoke to Flavour to a Dish cooked Indoors

A subtle hint of woody smoke is one of my favourite flavours in a dish it reminds me of visits to origin where most things are cooked on the open flame meat or plant based is good.

Chocolate on the Brain

We all know how special a piece of chocolate can be – from even the unboxing experience, the moment you touch it to the reassuring snap it makes, releasing the amazing aromas and then finally as you take the first bite to the way it coats your taste buds in a rich, velvety layer of pure flavour filling your olfactory with some of the 1500 aromas it connecting you to the rain forest it was grown in. And then when that’s finished,...

Cocoa butter silk

I keep reading that "Cocoa Butter Silk Is a major Step forward in chocolate tempering" is it just like the commercial products Barry C make?

It tempers perfectly virtually every time, It reduces the number of steps needed to temper so in turn makes tempering less complecated..

Mindful hot chocolate

Enjoy a mindful Cocoa experience…

To get the most from drinking Cocoa why not try the experience of a mindful hot chocolate meditation to help you connect with the sensory deliciousness of your drink.

Cocoa vinegar @ home

Vinegar has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

modern research on its health benefits focuses on the acetic acid component of the vinegar.

but its super easy to make at home.

The Chocolate Story

The chocolate story begins in the far away land of Mesoamerica, known today as Mexico.  The Aztecs, with a population of 15 million, ruled fearlessly for over 200 years 

Thanks to Lydia for this post from Coeur de Xocolat Australia

Coeur de Xocolat goes down under!

exciting times as Lydia takes Coeur de Xocolat on walk about to Australia

Why we eat mince pies at Christmas

Some of us eat them by the dozens as Christmas approaches but there’s more to the mince pie than you may have realised.

We think the first mince pie was known by a few different names, “Christmas pie, mutton pie, and shrid pie" Usually filled with minced lamb, not dried fruit like we eat them today.

Mendiants are the prefect lockdown treat

Get your home chocolate making started here Chocolate mendiants are atruly delicious French confectionery traditionally given out at Christmas time, each one a little bite sized treat of both sweetness and crunch, they are colourful way to round up a dinner or a luxurious little treat to enjoy with a coffee or glass of whiskey.

Advent calendars and the story behind them

On the first of December, children and chocoholics all around the world will be opening the first door of their Christmas Advent Calendars, excited to see what image and chocolate, is hidden inside. 

Let’s make 2020 a chocolatey Christmas

Chocolate advent calendars are a great token of your affections, they have gone by Christmas day, so they are not the only option for chocolate-lovers.

Virtual Team building

Are you looking for some effective team building exercises to bring your team together?

Then why not try chocolate tasting with an award winning company

Can You temper chocolate via Sous Vide?

Water traditionally the enemy of melted chocolate. The smallest amount can make it seize, giving you grainy, ugly, chocolate—dry everything well before sealing!

Lets try Sous Vide Tempered Chocolate

The interesting past of chocolate covered raisins

I love reading about the origins of food and particularly chocolate this confection dates back years before the introduction of the relative new kid on the chocolate block Raisinets in 1927 across America

Religion and chocolate

Having done lots of research about chocolate and its history and some theology studies, I have found its just about impossible to separate chocolate and religion,

How to make a sour dough starter

While we are staying away from the high street and trying to fill our enforced free-time now is the time to dust off the the pinny and learn how to make bread again.

Elevate your barbecue with cocoa and flame rubs

Is it is grilling season yet?

for me more half the meals I cook at home involve the open flame, charcoal, or wood. I love to grill meat and fish but also vegetables for side dishes fruits for desserts.

Chocolate safari Dubai

Dubai with its ultra modern buildings and scorching heat isn’t the first place you’d think to look for premium chocolate let alone an award winning bean to bar maker artisan chocolate factory.