How to eat fine chocolate ?

Fine chocolate is one of life's pleasures and one of society's permissible vices. Here's how to do justice to exquisite chocolate.

Step 1 :

Allow the chocolate bar to come to room temperature. Unwrap the bar and observe the colour of the chocolate. Milk chocolates tend towards lighter browns or coffee colours and dark chocolates are well darker in colour. Myth : while the labels on milk chocolate often show an enticing picture of cold, frothy milk, actual chocolate production does not use milk in liquid form. Fine chocolates do not contain artificial flavourings or colours. There should not be a white powder or bloom on the surface of the chocolate. Bloom occurs when cocoa liquor and cocoa butter separate; the condition will not make you sick, it merely looks unappetizing.

Step 2 :

Hold the bar firmly between the thumb and forefinger at each end and briskly snap the bar in half. Fine chocolate should give a satisfying snap and result in a smooth surface along the break. You don't want a chocolate to crumble or be unduly "soft".

Step 3 :

Sample the chocolate's aroma by inhaling along the surface of the break. The aroma should be subjectively pleasing and smell like cocoa. You don't want a chemical or plastic smell or a curious lack of aroma altogether.

Step 4 :

Fine chocolate melts at body temperature. If you hold the chocolate in your hand for a minute or so, you should notice that it begins to melt.

Step 5 :

Taste the chocolate. Place it on your tongue for a moment before chewing and gently press it against the roof of your mouth. Again, a fine chocolate melts at body temperature and the chocolate should begin to dissolve just slightly on your tongue. Beware of chocolate that causes you to break a tooth ! Chew and swallow. Taste is entirely subjective, texture is not. You should not feel a waxy presence on the roof of your mouth, nor should the texture be especially granular. Smoothness is the key. A smooth texture and superb melting point indicates the chocolatier did not skimp on costly cocoa butter.

Step 6 :

Enjoy the aftertaste !