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How To Select The Best Chocolate?

May 26th, 2020

Selecting the right chocolate can be a challenge. There is a lot of chocolates out there vying for eating/ baking/ cooking dollars. With so much to choose from, it’s good to know the varieties and how to pick the chocolate that best suits your needs.

What Is Chocolate?

This product comes from the seeds or nibs of the cacao tree. The latter are roasted and ground to create a paste or a liquid, called chocolate liquor. This liquor can be separated into cocoa powder and cocoa butter. By tweaking the ratios of cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sugar and other ingredients, different kinds of chocolates in the market can be produced. Many types of chocolates can be used for sending chocolate gifts UK.

Kinds of Chocolate

There are various kinds of chocolate and you can select them as per your needs:

  • Baking chocolate

This is a bitter chocolate without sugar. This contains 50 to 58% cocoa butter and is ideal for baking and cooking.

  • Bittersweet chocolate

Darkest and with strongest chocolate flavour, this item contains at least 35% chocolate liquor. Some of premium versions contain 70% or more cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Ideal for eating, cooking and baking.

  • Semi sweet

It is used often in place of bittersweet but has more added sugar. Contains 35% chocolate liquor. Ideal for eating, cooking and baking.

  • Sweet chocolate

Has more sugar than semi-sweet and 15% chocolate liquor. Also, it has minimum 12% milk solids to provide a creamy and sweet taste. Ideal for eating.

  • White chocolate

Not really chocolate as it doesn’t contain chocolate solids but has 20% cocoa butter. Ideal for eating, cooking and baking.

  • Cocoa powder

Can be bitter or sweet. Made by drying and grinding chocolate liquor and removing most of cocoa butter but retaining at least 10 to 20% of latter. Ideal for drinking and baking.

  • Couverture

Loved by makers of candy. It contains around 32% cocoa butter that renders it glossy and free to flow when tempered or melted. Ideal for baking and melting.

  • Cocoa nibs

Created by roasting and breaking up cocoa beans. Contributes crunchiness to dessert garnishes and cookies. Ideal for baking.

Choosing Chocolate

Selecting chocolates must be a sensory experience. Before you send chocolates UK, consider how it appeals to your five senses.

Firstly, it should look good to your sight. The chocolate must have a glossy finish and free from blemishes. In case surface is grey, cloudy or scarred, it may indicate that the chocolate is old and damaged.

Secondly, try to break the chocolate into pieces. You will want a chocolate making the sound of a clean and hard snap. In case it crumbles or bends, the chocolate may be old or of low quality.

Next you must smell the chocolate. Good chocolate will have a strong and typical aroma. Rub your fingers against the chocolate and smell the bar. If it does not have typical chocolate aroma but smells of vanilla or other ingredients, it is not a good chocolate. It is natural for chocolate to pick up smells from its surroundings, so take care lest your chocolate smell of tea, coffee or other aromatic food stuffs.

Finally, you must actually taste the chocolate.  Take note of how it melts in your mouth- is it dense, unpleasantly chewy or waxy? Does it leave a slightly slippery texture? Is it sandy or smooth? The best chocolate will have a smooth and velvety feel.

These are all some facts about selecting chocolates.

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Is White chocolate really a chocolate?

May 19th, 2019

Who does not like chocolate? With more varieties being introduced in the market, people of all ages do find it simply irresistible to have one and cannot ignore it. The fact is that chocolates can be had at any point time and whenever desired. According to the experts, white chocolate is not chocolate actually, since it comprises of milk and not cocoa solids. Often, palm oil or some filler are used along with plenty of sweeteners. It derives its rich colour and creamy texture due to cocoa butter (more…)

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Chocolate: Some interesting fun facts to know

May 6th, 2019

Chocolates are considered to be among the most purchased and consumed edible items all over the world. This is one product that is found in different varieties and simply enjoyed by all ages. This edible delicious item can be given on all occasions and for all purposes and to anyone without any hesitation. They do make excellent gifts and can be given with flowers, cards and other items. (more…)

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Perks of Gifting Chocolates

March 16th, 2019

When it comes to classic gifting options, chocolate undoubtedly wears the crown with pride and deservedly so. So, if you have any special occasions coming up or just want to bring a bright smile on your loved ones’ face then chocolate is your trusty comrade and here are only a few perks of gifting this sweet treat to your near and dear ones.

  1. You can find it online

Whether you have a busy day or you are just not in the mood to hop around a crowded market place, online shopping has got your back. Head over to the right online gifting store and you can find a plethora of chocolates flooding the store but each one of them promises quality. So, just with a few taps on your keyboard you can while lounging can assist you in gifting your loved ones a token of your love from wherever in the world you happen to be.

  1. You can get one without burning a hole in your pocket

When you buy chocolates online you can rest assured that you will definitely find something that will fit your budget. Even if you go for budget friendly options from a reliable store they will make sure not to compromise on the quality of the chocolates even if they are one an exciting sale. However, if you are in the mood to splurge the right store will have you spoilt for choice with their enormous variety.

  1. Chocolates are rich in antioxidant

Quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content above 80% has shown to have more antioxidants that some famed berries and fruits which make it a great boost to one’s health. Antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds which fights bravely with the toxic free radicals emitted by the body. This, in turn, protects your cells from damage, keep infections at bay, keep your skin glowing from within, encourage tissue growth are just a few of its assigned tasks in the system.

  1. One of the greatest mood enhancers

Chocolates, especially dark chocolates, have shown to stimulate the production of a hormone called endorphins which are a group of hormones that have a subtle analgesic effect on the body. In addition to that chocolate is also famed for improving the levels of serotonin in the system which is often referred to as the “happy hormone” and happens to be a major contributor in elevating ones mood. So, when you send chocolates uk, you are basically gifting happiness in a wrapper.

  1. No fuss

When it comes to eating this delectable sweet one does not have to worry about anything. They can have it anytime of the day whenever they feel like it. They also do not have to worry about the situation as you can sneak in a little bar of yumminess into anywhere you please whether it is a classroom or a boardroom. What more? There is no need of a spoon, fork, dish or bowl to snack on a bar of chocolate for some quick burst of energy.

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Occasions When Gifting Chocolates Is Appropriate

March 14th, 2019

Most people only think of gifting chocolates on romantic occasions like the Valentine’s Day to give their partners or lovers. But chocolates can be gifted to people on various other occasions too. Chocolates are something that you know the other person will enjoy. So you wouldn’t have to think much on the gift. Most of the time when you are gifting a person deciding on the perfect gift for the person that he or she will like is the most difficult part. But when you go with chocolates, you already know that the person will definitely enjoy them unless they fall in the rare percentage of people who don’t like chocolates.

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