Are you looking for the best chocolate? Finding high-quality chocolate feels daunting because there are many brands in the market that promise the best quality. There are several factors that make good chocolate and one of them is the taste. You can tell a lot about a piece of chocolate by simply tasting it. How does the chocolate feel in your mouth? Does it melt naturally as you would expect with any quality chocolate?
If you are confused about the things to look out for when buying chocolate, this shopping guide is what you need to make the right decision.
How to choose chocolate
The first thing is to consider your tastes and preferences. Observe the chocolate closely for any signs of blemish and possible clues that it could have been mishandled. Chocolate with a cloudy or scarred surface may not be good due to possibility that it has been subjected to bad handling or extreme temperature, which definitely affects quality. Next step is to break the chocolate into pieces, and while doing so it must have that “snap”. If the chocolate bends or crumbles, it shows it has been in the store for a long period of time and may not be good for consumption.
Smell it
You should also smell the chocolate to know if it’s made from perfect cocoa. Warm the bar by rubbing a finger over its surface then smell it. Good chocolate must smell like chocolate, so if you detect other ingredients like vanilla, the chocolate probably will not give you the results you are looking for. Also note that chocolate picks smells from the environment, so if it smells like tea or coffee it could be a sign of bad handling.
Taste it
The last step is to taste the chocolate. If you are used to melting white chocolate, you will easily tell if the melting pattern of the chocolate conforms to the normal melting process. Any unpleasant tastes are a red flag and you should check that it’s not chewy or dense. Some bars may feel sandy and slippery, which is unusual for good chocolate. High quality chocolate should be smooth and have a velvety mouthfeel. The flavor should build up gradually and not burst up once. The chocolate should linger even after you have finished eating it. Your taste buds will tell you exactly whether the chocolate is in perfect state, so trust them when it comes to choosing chocolate.
Best chocolate brands
There are different chocolate brands you can buy from that offer you good chocolate. You can buy from Cacao Barry, Guittard, and Callebaut. All these are established brands and their chocolate rarely disappoints. You could also seek referrals from your friends and family to know which other brands offer good chocolate that can satisfy your needs.
Buying chocolate could seem like a daunting experience, but what you need is to understand the different pointers that tell you about chocolate brands and the quality you can get from them. Good chocolate should smell and taste like chocolate, so consider these points when out to buy chocolate. Use the tips shared here if you are looking for ideas on how to shop for high quality chocolate.
