The NEWTREE Blog

Current Mood: Playful

In our two previous posts, we shared our tips on how to taste chocolate, as well as what foods to combine it with,  in order to reveal its aroma and taste to the fullest. Today, we propose a very interesting combination for you to experience: NEWTREE chocolate and Port wine from Portugal.

Reasons? First of all, NEWTREE is present on the Portuguese market.  Second of all, we simply love Port that comes in so many subtle varieties!

We have discovered several ways of how to combine it with many delicious flavours of NEWTREE chocolate.

Port wine, also known as Vinho do Porto or Porto, originates from the Douro Valley or Portugal. Many sommeliers in Portugal have matched it successfully with several flavours of NEWTREE chocolate that they use in their wine tastings. Here is a list of Port wines that combine well in NEWTREE, and our Portuguese team is happy to share it with you today.

Current Mood: Flirtatious

In our last blog post, we gave you some tips on how to taste and enjoy chocolate. As chocolate is to be experienced, not simply eaten, today we want to talk about how you could enhance this experience. One way of doing this is by pairing chocolate with other foods in order to reveal its aroma and taste to the fullest.

Here, we’ve listed our favorite ways to enjoy the flavors of NEWTREE.

SWEET AND SAVORY HORS D’OEUVRES

Top a toasted slice of baguette with a little bit of olive oil, a slice of brie cheese and a sliver of CASSIS ETERNITY, dark chocolate with blackcurrant.

It may seem counterintuitive, but tasting extra virgin olive oil with dark chocolate can enhance the flavor of both. Sip the olive oil, it will cleanse your palate, then nibble a piece of NOIR CACAO PLEASURE, pure 73% dark chocolate.

CHOCOLATE TREATES WITH A TWIST

Drop a piece of MENTHE ETERNITY, dark chocolate with mint, into a mug and pour rich, hot milk over it. Stir. Top with whipped cream and MENTHE ETERNITY shavings for the ultimate hot cocoa.

Use a double boiler to melt down CERISE ETERNITY, dark chocolate with cherry, and drizzle over scoops of ice cream. Top with whipped cream and shaved CERISE ETERNITY for an indulgent ice cream sundae.

Current Mood: Playful

There’s a lot written on how to taste wine, but do you know that chocolate tasting is an art and science on its own?

Chocolate should be experienced, not just eaten.

And you can experience it in so many ways! Breathe in the chocolaty aromas, gaze at the glossy brown surface, listen for the distinctive snap of a gourmet chocolate bar being broken.

Similar to wine tasting, chocolate tasting is an experience that expands far beyond taste. It engages all of your senses at once so it’s better to take time to savor chocolate in order to have a profound tasting experience.  Here are some tips:

TAKE SOME TIME TO ENJOY THE SMELL OF CHOCOLATE

The smell of gourmet chocolate can be as rich as the taste. Fresh chocolate smells sweet and well, chocolaty. Close your eyes, breathe, and take in its tempting characteristics - floral lavender, sun-ripened apricots, subtly spicy ginger.

SAVOR THE BEST FOR LAST

Avoid sensory overload by tasting small pieces. Did you know that the melting point of chocolate is the same as body temperature? Let the chocolate melt in your mouth for a few seconds and enjoy the primary flavors and aromas. Quality chocolate feels firm and will melt cleanly without waxy, sticky or grainy textures. Biting into the chocolate will release secondary flavors, but don’t stop there.

Roll the chocolate around on your tongue to awaken the four taste zones - sweet and salty (tip of the tongue), sour (sides) and bitter (back).

RINSE AND REPEAT

Cleanse your palate and indulge again! If you want to know which foods to combine chocolate with, read this post.