Tasting

The section Chocolate Tasting presents a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of chocolate experiences. We will talk about various chocolates—dark (bittersweet), milk, or white, with or without flavors. We will teach you how to properly taste chocolate – from its appearance, aroma, and structure to perceiving flavor notes.  Let yourself be inspired and experience new flavors with us!

Chocolate tasting is a great experience. Much like wine or coffee, premium bean to bar chocolate offers a fascinating range of tastes, scents, and aromas worth discovering. In this article, we will look at how to properly taste chocolate and everything that can be discovered.

1. Selecting the right chocolate

The first step to a successful tasting is choosing high-quality chocolate. It is important to realize that not every chocolate is suitable for tasting. Industrially produced chocolates are not made from high-quality cocoa beans. Artisan chocolates use cocoa beans labeled Fino de Aroma. These are the highest quality cocoa beans and are characterized by a unique taste. Chocolate made from them smells wonderful and has a balanced, full flavor with fruity, floral, and nutty notes. Industrially produced chocolates are often made from over-roasted cocoa beans, which is why they taste bitter. At the same time, they contain additives that overpower the taste of the cocoa beans, such as excessive amounts of sugar and sweeteners, preservatives, or vegetable fats replacing cocoa butter. For a true gourmet experience, it is best to choose bean to bar chocolates.

At the same time, it is good to experiment with different types of chocolate – from dark (bittersweet) to milk to chocolates flavored with exotic ingredients such as chilli, salt, spices, or fruit. A special category is so-called „single origin“ chocolates, i.e., chocolates made from cocoa beans originating from one specific area, which affects their unique flavor profile. All chocolates from Míšina čokoláda are single origin.

2. Preparation for the tasting

Chocolate tasting should be a relaxing experience. If you come to us for a guided chocolate tasting, we will take care of the pleasant atmosphere and guide you through the tasting. If you are tasting alone or with friends, it is important to set aside time and space where you will not be disturbed. Ideally, the environment should be well-lit and pleasant so that all senses can focus on the chocolate.

Before tasting, it is good to cleanse your palate, for example, by drinking a glass of water. Some recommend neutral foods like unsalted bread or polenta to remove any lingering tastes in the mouth.

3. The first step is appearance

When tasting chocolate, you use all your senses and should start with the appearance of the chocolate. Look at the surface of the chocolate – high-quality chocolate should have a shiny, smooth surface without spots or bubbles. The color can range from dark brown to black for dark (bittersweet) chocolates and from light brown to creamy for milk chocolates. White chocolates are usually creamy in color, but depending on the flavor, they can be any color - green, pink, purple, or even orange. The appearance of the chocolate can tell you a lot about its quality – the shine indicates correctly performed tempering, which is a process that ensures gloss and proper melting of the chocolate.

4. Aroma – key to the chocolate world

Aroma is important when tasting chocolate. Smell it before you even taste it. High-quality chocolate should have a distinct cocoa aroma, complemented by various undertones such as nuts, fruit, or spices. The aroma can tell you a lot about the quality of the cocoa beans and the way the chocolate was processed.

5. Structure and snap

The next step is examining the texture and the snap of the chocolate. For high-quality chocolate, the snap should be sharp and clean. When you break the chocolate, it should snap. This indicates proper tempering and high-quality production.

If the chocolate is too soft to the touch or crumbles, it may mean it was exposed to unsuitable storage conditions or is of lower quality and contains vegetable fats.

6. The taste itself – the peak of the tasting

Finally comes the most important part of the tasting – the tasting itself. Put a small piece of chocolate in your mouth and let it gradually melt on your tongue. You should never bite the chocolate because you will deprive yourself of the taste experience.

Notice the first flavors that appear. Gradually, as the chocolate melts, other layers of flavor can emerge, such as fruitiness, floral notes, nutty or earthy tones. Each type of chocolate offers a different palette of flavors that change according to what kind of cocoa beans were used in production and what the processing method was.

It is also important to monitor the texture of the chocolate in the mouth. High-quality chocolate should be smooth and creamy, without a feeling of graininess. It should melt on the tongue. The mouthfeel is one of the indicators of whether the chocolate was made well and with high quality.

7. Aftertaste – the lingering of flavors

After swallowing the chocolate, observe how long the flavors linger in your mouth. High-quality chocolate should have a long-lasting aftertaste that gradually reveals further flavor nuances. This „aftertaste“ is considered very important when evaluating chocolate because it speaks about the complexity and balance of flavors.

8. Tasting different types of chocolates

For advanced tasting, it is interesting to taste chocolates from different locations. Single origin chocolates, i.e., chocolates made from beans from one area, have specific flavor profiles that can reflect the climate, soil, and cultivation method of the cocoa trees in that area. For example, chocolate from Peru may taste like citrus, pineapple, and bananas, and chocolate from Madagascar may taste like fresh red fruit.

Another level of tasting is tasting chocolates with additives. Chocolates with sea salt, fruit, or spices offer a new flavor dimension and can bring unexpected combinations of flavors.

9. Pairing

Similar to wine, it is interesting to try various combinations with drinks during chocolate tasting. Pairing chocolate and drinks can significantly highlight or even reveal hidden flavors in the chocolate, thus enriching the overall experience.

Chocolate tasting, like wine or coffee tasting, brings new flavor experiences. So next time you treat yourself to high-quality chocolate, try to enjoy it according to our instructions and you will be surprised what you discover.