The Rules Of Chocolate

[furrycelt]

The Rules Of Chocolate
...

And I obey these rules!

I love/revere/worship/lust for chocolate. Heck, I even married a woman from Hershey PA!

If you love chocolate, I strongly recommend this brand: Dagoba. They make the best super-dark chocolate that I have found in the United States. The only thing better I have had was from Italy. Dagoba sells their bars with a percentage rating on the label. Think of it as "octane"! They also make a 74% bar with chili in it. Yes, chili... the chocolate actually burns... but in a good way... yeah baby!

-ian

[calmac]

And I obey these rules!

I love/revere/worship/lust for chocolate. Heck, I even married a woman from Hershey PA!

If you love chocolate, I strongly recommend this brand: Dagoba. They make the best super-dark chocolate that I have found in the United States. The only thing better I have had was from Italy. Dagoba sells their bars with a percentage rating on the label. Think of it as "octane"! They also make a 74% bar with chili in it. Yes, chili... the chocolate actually burns... but in a good way... yeah baby!

-ian

That sounds great, I don't suppose you can buy it on the internet? :mrgreen:

[furrycelt]

That sounds great, I don't suppose you can buy it on the internet? :mrgreen:

I've not tried. There are a few stores around me that sell it. Whole Foods Market is a chain, but I am not sure how far they cover. I like to describe them as hippy grocery stores. They are big on selling fruits'n'nuts to fruit'n'nuts. Don't get me wrong I love the place, and would shop there more often if I was in a higher tax bracket. I will occasionally see a few Dagoba bars sold at other normal grocery stores too.

It looks like you can use Froogle to find some online. And the company's website sells it as well.

-ian

[calmac]

I've not tried. There are a few stores around me that sell it. Whole Foods Market is a chain, but I am not sure how far they cover. I like to describe them as hippy grocery stores. They are big on selling fruits'n'nuts to fruit'n'nuts. Don't get me wrong I love the place, and would shop there more often if I was in a higher tax bracket. I will occasionally see a few Dagoba bars sold at other normal grocery stores too.

It looks like you can use Froogle to find some online. And the company's website sells it as well.

-ian

Thanks for the info, I can't wait to try chili flavoured chocolate.

[furrycelt]

Thanks for the info, I can't wait to try chili flavoured chocolate.

Allow me to elaborate. I wouldn't describe it as "chili flavoured". You can't really taste the chili, but you do feel the heat. What you taste is a richer more intense chocolate. For some reason, having chili in chocolate makes the chocolate hit your senses stronger.

Alton Brown of the TV show "Good Eats" spoke of this in one episode. He said it was discovered by the ancient Aztecs. Brown's hot cocoa recipe even calls for a small pinch of cayenne pepper. I intend to make that someday to try it.

-ian

[davedove]

Allow me to elaborate. I wouldn't describe it as "chili flavoured". You can't really taste the chili, but you do feel the heat. What you taste is a richer more intense chocolate. For some reason, having chili in chocolate makes the chocolate hit your senses stronger.

Alton Brown of the TV show "Good Eats" spoke of this in one episode. He said it was discovered by the ancient Aztecs. Brown's hot cocoa recipe even calls for a small pinch of cayenne pepper. I intend to make that someday to try it.

-ian

That has been common a practice for many Mexican cooks. You don't put in enough to taste the chiles, or even really feel their heat. Just a pinch will "wake up" the taste of the chocolate.

I've been known to put cocoa powder into a pot of chili. Same principle, but in the opposite direction. The cocoa gives the chili a richness that is wonderful.8-)

[Southern Breeze]

Here's the receipe from Good Eats. This great when hiking. :grin:

Hot Cocoa

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
Hot water

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.

Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

[Iolaus]

I've been known to put cocoa powder into a pot of chili. Same principle, but in the opposite direction. The cocoa gives the chili a richness that is wonderful.8-)

Interesting concept; I'm gonna have to try that next time.

How much would you throw in for... say, a two quart pots worth? (I'll start small, before filling the 25 qt. cauldron I usually use! ;)) Are we talking teaspoons, or half-cups?