Best Chocolate Pairings
Let's face it -- chocolate is great alone in pretty much any form. When the cravings kick in, it's hard to hold back from gnawing on a block of the stuff, and the cravings tend to hit at a time when there is not time or energy for much else. Indeed, 22% of all chocolate is consumed between 8pm and midnight, and 91% women prefer to eat chocolate, more than the 87% of men who do. It's internationally loved, with yearly worldwide consumption of chocolate estimated to be at least 7.2 million metric tons. Indeed, however much we love chocolate in the States, Europe consumes significantly more, with 50% of the world’s chocolate retail sales occurring on the European continent.
Even though chocolate more than does the job itself, there is no denying that it pairs very well with many other flavoring, beverages, and dishes. Here are the top three best pairings for everything from dark chocolate, chocolate truffles, and gourmet chocolates for you to enjoy with loved ones or alone:
Wine
Sounds classic, doesn't it? But you'll be surprised at how daunting this task is, since wine and dark chocolate have such intense flavors! The rather counter-intuitive secret to this pairing is to match sweet with sweet. Sweeter dark chocolates go very well with dessert wines like a Vintage Port, Madeira, or sweet sherry.
Coffee
One of the greatest joys in this world is the afternoon cup of coffee. Taking a break from a long school or work day for this simple pleasure is only enhanced when complimented by a sweet treat. Pair robust coffees, like a Sumatra or Italian roast, with darker chocolates.
Salt
Salty treats in general -- think potato chips, pretzels, and bacon -- go wonderfully with chocolate. This is probably because our bodies constantly crave sugar and salt, so the combination of the two represents a double whammy of positive brain receptors!
Make sure to source your chocolatey treats from the best wholesale chocolate supplier, and look into options like
organic dark chocolate, kosher chocolate, and baking chocolate. Things like organic dark chocolate and fair trade chocolate come from responsibly sourced beans without unnecessary chemicals and preservatives.