Why Handmade Fine Chocolate Deserves a Special Place in Your Pantry

Working with chocolate can be challenging. The silky smoothness and reflective sheen of artisan chocolate are hallmarks of its perfect handling.

Chocolate is best kept in a cold, dark spot. Because heat and moisture can alter its texture and flavor, this is a good way to preserve it.

 

No Artificial Ingredients

Artisan chocolate differs greatly from mass-produced candies in that it is free of artificial flavors and colors. It is not necessary for artisan chocolate manufacturers to employ non-natural flavorings, although some do.

The production costs of industrially created candy are kept low by using artificial flavors, syrups, and fillings.

Furthermore, because artisan chocolate is handcrafted in small amounts, the appearance and flavor of each bar will vary somewhat. This gives the chocolatier a lot of creative leeway to use different textures and design elements.

A reader from nearby Connecticut who reads in Style describes her extraordinary chocolate-making process as “dipped and swirled.” Afterward, edible gold dust is sprinkled over each item, giving it a stunning sheen.

The bean-to-bar method is also employed by other artisan chocolate producers, such as Island Sharks Chocolate, in the production of their premium chocolates. By going straight to the source, we can guarantee that our cocoa beans are of the finest quality.

 

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No Preservatives

Those who enjoy chocolate are aware that authentic chocolate does not include any artificial components. Chemical preservatives have the potential to mask chocolate’s natural flavor and impart an unpleasant aftertaste.

The aroma of high-quality chocolate is robust and delightful. Also, make sure there are no blotches or streaks in the color. It could have absorbed aromas from other foodstuffs due to improper storage if it has an unusual or odd smell.

Cocoa liquor and sugar are the two essential ingredients for making authentic chocolate. Some unscrupulous chocolatiers will sneakily add additional ingredients to manufacture a cheap “chocolate-like” product.

Because these businesses often utilize small amounts of low-quality cacao beans and larger quantities of high-quality beans to compensate, it can be quite difficult to discern when they engage in this activity.

Only those with exceptional talent and high-quality ingredients may be called true chocolate makers. To further assure cocoa farmers and producers of ethically sourced beans, they will also make a promise to them.

 

No Additives

Soy lecithin is probably an ingredient in several of your favorite candy bars, such as Russell Stover hazelnut, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and Hershey’s chocolate chips.

Chocolate can avoid “bloom”—a light brown or whiteish powdered appearance that can happen when chocolate is old, broken, or heated and cooled too rapidly—and maintain its shape with the help of this ingredient. It also resists freezer burn.

Handcrafted chocolate does not contain additives, in contrast to most factory-made chocolate. This is because, instead of using industrial machinery to mass-produce chocolate, artisans are making each bar by hand.

Because of this, every bar of chocolate has its own distinct appearance and texture, and the baker is able to extract more nuanced flavors from the beans.

This handcrafted method also aids in the preservation of the natural texture of excellent chocolate. Graininess or chalkiness could be undesirable outcomes of excessive additive use.

 

No Genetically Modified Ingredients

Industrial machinery is used to make the majority of candies that are sold in stores. This makes all chocolate taste the same and adds unnecessary ingredients to every bar.

Typically, fine chocolate makers operate on a smaller scale and make each bar by hand. They are less reliant on mass production and enjoy a considerably deeper relationship with their ingredients.

As a result, you may rest assured that they will not contain any GMOs. If you want to know if the chocolate you’re buying has any genetically modified organisms (GMOs), you should check for the USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project seals.

Third parties must test foods and their ingredients to ensure they are unaltered in order to obtain these certifications.

If you’re looking for fair-trade chocolate, that’s another thing to look for. Carrying this seal of approval indicates that the company pays fair payments to cocoa producers and uses sustainable agricultural methods.

Additionally, they will not include rBGH-treated dairy products, which is a typical component in regular, less expensive chocolate.

 

No High Fructose Corn Syrup

You probably can’t even pronounce half of the components in most store-bought chocolate syrup. What they’re doing to your blood sugar levels and arteries is also unknown to you.

There are a lot of products at the grocery store that contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), an industrial food ingredient that has been through a lot of processing.

There is no need to worry about hidden HFCS when you make your own chocolate syrup; the process is simple and straightforward. It tastes as excellent as, or perhaps better than, Hershey’s syrup, and it’s easy to make.

Use it to make your own chocolate milk, garnish ice cream, or mix it into smoothies and other beverages. Store it in the freezer for later use by placing it in a glass jar or similar container.

Before using, sift the cocoa powder to remove any lumps. For a richer chocolate taste, use cocoa powder of better quality. After it cools, you can store the syrup in the fridge, although it tastes best when served warm.

 

No Sugar Alcohols

Not only is our chocolate wonderful, but unlike many mass-produced products, it does not contain any artificial sweeteners, syrups, or fillings.

Although these additives could satisfy your craving for something sweet, they lack the health benefits found in dark artisan chocolate.

There are natural sweeteners that come from plants, such as stevia and xylitol, but they don’t taste or feel like sugar. Also, some people have gastrointestinal distress after consuming xylitol, and stevia has a bitter aftertaste that can make them feel ill in their stomachs.

Plant extraction of rare sugar alcohols like erythritol and allulose is an expensive process. Sugar alcohols are a low-calorie alternative to regular sugar that tastes and feels just like regular sugar.

Your chances of finding these in chocolate goods offered at major merchants are low until their extraction and production costs decrease.

 

No Artificial Colors

Artificial colors are present in the great majority of commercially produced chocolate. This is because industrial machinery allows for mass production. This allows them to mass-produce chocolate with a uniform appearance.

Natural flavors are used in handmade chocolates, which are manufactured in small batches. The flavor profile of this chocolate is very different from that of the flavored varieties sold in supermarkets.

The syrups and artificial fillings used to make store-bought chocolate mask the chocolate’s natural taste.

The issue of sugar bloom, in which the chocolate forms a white covering on the exterior, is also considerably less common with handmade chocolate.

Wet chocolate is to blame for this. Both improper storage in the fridge and mass-produced chocolate from a major manufacturer that skips the tempering step might cause this.

 

No Artificial Flavors

There are no artificial flavors or preservatives in handmade chocolate; it is produced entirely of natural ingredients. For individuals who want a more natural flavor or have sensitivities to certain chemicals, this is the ideal option.

The original recipes for this one-pound Deluxe Assortment date back more than a century, and they are still handcrafted using the same traditional methods. Rich and luscious buttercreams, nuts, fruits, and caramels are the end product.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special event or simply prefer handmade chocolate, our selection is sure to satisfy.

A range of delectable fillings, such as buttercreams, roasted hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios, are available.

All of the candies are made by hand. Take note of the ingredients and manufacturing method when you purchase handcrafted chocolate. Go for it!

 

No Animal Testing

A high cocoa content, minimal sugar percentage, and few additives are the hallmarks of good chocolate. How the cocoa beans are acquired also plays a role in determining the quality of good chocolate.

Only cocoa beans from certain farms in specific countries are used by the finest quality chocolate manufacturers.

Each bar of fine chocolate is hand-crafted using time-honored techniques that bring out the full flavor of the cacao beans.

Industrial chocolates made in large quantities, on the other hand, are typically processed until they have a consistent texture.

 

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Conclusion

Support black-owned chocolate businesses on Valentine’s Day and every day by purchasing their products. This will help magnify black voices while also showing your support.

These businesses are doing wonderful things by giving back to the community through the sale of tasty chocolates.

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