Fine Chocolate

WHAT IS FINE CHOCOLATE?

Telling the fine from the fashionable

The supermarket shelves are full of chocolate made with the “finest cocoa beans”. From the marketing, it can be confusing and sometimes difficult to differentiate between industrially made bars and chocolate that has been crafted to express the natural flavours of the beans.

You will hear fine-flavour chocolate also called craft and bean-to-bar chocolate. There no officially recognised definition or name for fine chocolate but with a little guidance you will soon learn to identify the fine from fashionable.

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TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

The answer is in the taste

You will learn that real fine chocolate tastes very different to industrially made chocolate. Its taste reflects the character of the beans it is made from.

It will take you on a flavour journey which is balanced, complex and distinctive, just like fine wine. Through tasting, you will become the judge of the fineness of your chocolate.

BUY BETTER

Discover fine chocolate ethics

It should taste good and also do good. The fine chocolate you are going to encounter is made by people who farm cacao and make chocolate with a focus on its natural flavours.

Craft chocolate makers are completely honest about their supply chains, so you will get to know whose hands have contributed to the flavours you are tasting: who has harvested and fermented the beans, and who has roasted and ground them.

chocolate slab, powder and cocoa beans | fine chocolate

MAKERS NEAR YOU

Fine, craft and bean-to-bar chocolate in the UK and Ireland

You will soon be able to find your local maker through the Craft Chocolate Makers Association of UK and Ireland. When you buy from an Association maker you know that they are a maker who:

“Craft the natural flavours of cocoa from bean to bar, sourcing beans from growing and trading communities who share our passion for flavour and transparency.”

Contact me for news on the new association or to identify your nearest maker.

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LEARN MORE

Learning to Identify Fine Chocolate

You need to have a bit of knowledge about the taste potential, the origins, the varietals, the processes from tree to bar and supply chain to be able to identify fine chocolate.

I have simplified these into three simple criteria: taste, transparency and craftsmanship (TTC). The TTC criteria will allow you to judge the quality of your chocolate:

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LEARN WITH BOOKS

Chocolate Book Clubs

Book clubs are an ideal opportunity for chocolate tasting.

If you are looking for a way to reinvigorate your book club and bring in new conversation starters then why not introduce craft chocolate into your meetings, you can even pair the chocolate to your book.

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