So the chocolate tasting was a success

Here is a testimonial from someone who went to the chocolate tasting at The Cocoa Tree. The folks from The Cocoa Tree were just in New York City for the Fancy Food Show. I hope that went well for them and perhaps someone can tell us all about soon.

Corey Webb

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The chocolate tasting was amazing! Thank you for letting me know.

Bonus Part was the fact that I was eating great chocolate, washing it down with chocolate and won a raffle prize for a $50 gift certificate to a Moment's Peace Day Spa!

Amanda

Chocolate Tasting with Dorie Greenspan

After baking authority and author Dorie Greenspan did a Valrhona chocolate tasting with the company's sensory expert, she stopped by the show to share what she learned. As she and Lynne sampled Valrhona's Manjari Grande Cru, Dorie explained the seven steps involved in tasting chocolate:

Look: note the color and sheen (shininess is a sign of good tempering)
Smell: breathe in the odor (what you smell when breathing directly through your nose)
Break: assess the "snap." A crisp snap indicated good tempering.
Put in mouth: note the texture.
Melt in mouth by pressing the chocolate against the roof of your mouth with your tongue.
Distinguish aromas: fruity, floral, warm, heavier (toasted nuts, woods)
Taste: you taste acidity first and bitterness last



This comes from the Splendid Table.