Chocolate Tasting 101

Blind chocolate tasting. Mmmmmm.

I got to sit in on a chocolate tasting class the other night.

...and it was hardcore! Fair trade experts Judy Lonbak of Kallari chocolates and Katie Landry of Guayaki tea hosted a chocolate tea party Tuesday night at Chocolate and I New York (CINY). We sampled a buffet of dark chocolates (and a raw cocoa bean!) with no-nonsense cocoa content, ranging from 70 to 85 percent. Ayayay. The roster included three different bars from Kallari and guest appearances by Lindt, Ghirardelli, and chocolate royalty, Valrhona. Full post coming soon, I have some juicy chocolate facts to tell you. 

Whew. Valentine's week is crazy time for chocolatiers--and chocolate lovers too. I'm exhausted, but I aint complaining (though I really wish I had more time to blog this week). Tonight I'm off to see French Culinary Institute's Dave Arnold and WD-50's Alex Stupak for CINY's "Taste Art. Drink With Taste" chocolate tasting event. Life is sweet.

Can it be Valentine's week all year? Pretty please?

- Kris Alcantara

PS.
Coming Soon: Chocolate Polenta Pie review, Guayaki chocolate teas, and my favorite Valentine's Day product!