On occasion I get asked to donate my time and expertise to lead a local “Chocolate Tasting” class/event (or a Chocolate and Wine pairing event!) for a fundraiser, silent auction, or raffle. I always donate and, oddly enough, even when someone buys it or receives it, very few winners take me up on it.

My most recent idea was to create a gift basket – or “chocolate kit” if you will - containing all the chocolates that would be needed for a tasting event. I also included a brief but detailed explanation of how I would conduct the tasting using the materials provided.

And it worked!

I was contacted by the buyer of one of my “chocolate kits” and we scheduled a time for a “Good For You” chocolate tasting. The “Good For You” basket included seven chocolates that are specially crafted in small batches to preserve high levels of antioxidants, keep sucrose low or remove sucrose, and use only organic and fair trade ingredients.

Many of the chocolate bars are made with raw or heirloom cacao. Some use a lower glycemic coconut sugar instead of cane sugar. One had almond butter instead peanut butter. All were dark chocolate 60% and higher. Most importantly, each bar delivers great flavor and chocolate craving satisfaction!

In case you’re curious, here is a list of those chocolate bars:

• Raaka Lemon Coconut Cream
• Raaka Green Tea Crunch
• Madecasse Honey Crystal
• HU Crunchy Mint
• HU Almond Butter and Puffed Quinoa
• Primal Chocolate Signature Dark
• Primal Chocolate Crunchy Caramel

Favorites of the Tasting Gift Basket?

The hands down favorite among the tasting group was the Madecasse Honey Crystal Dark Chocolate. This is an organic bean to bar, 63% dark chocolate made from single origin, heirloom Madagascar cacao. The most common comment for this chocolate was “the little bursts of honey and crunch were delightful!”

The runner up (but nearly tied with first) was the HU Almond Butter and Puffed Quinoa. This bar has a layer of creamy almond butter enrobed in 70% dark chocolate. One person exclaimed, “My husband complains about how expensive good chocolate bars are and I feel hesitant to buy them. But with this chocolate bar, I would totally ignore him!“ 

Raaka Green Tea Crunch and Primal Chocolate Signature Dark scored very high with the group. Many were surprised at how much they were enjoying dark chocolates because they usually stayed away thinking they would be too bitter or not as flavorful as sweeter chocolates.

Want More Chocolate Tasting?

You can join us right now. Learn all about chocolate tasting with milk chocolates, dark chocolates, even white chocolate. Refine your taste buds with expert guidance.

Take a Look at Our Online Chocolate Class!

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Bryn Kirk

Course Facilitator at Chocolate University Online

Bryn worked for nearly 10 years in a research and product development for Ambrosia Chocolate Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now she develops all of the CUO lessons and coaches the members of the Primal Chocolate Club.

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