With Easter just around the corner how can we be sure that the chocolate used to make is good quality read on for my tips

Look at the Label

Good quality chocolate eggs packaging will tnclude the cocoa % country of origin and its ethical credentials

Read the ingredients. 

Good quality chocolate will have a short list of ingredients, with cocoa butter and chocolate liquor listed first.

Avoid chocolate that contains high amounts of sugar, or other additives.

Check the colour. 

Good quality chocolate will be a deep, rich colour. If the chocolate is pale or has a greyish tint, it may be low quality.

Touch

Does the chocolate feel divinely smooth and dry or sticky and waxy?

 

 

Listen

Does the chocolate have a crisp snap or is it an unpleasant dull thud?

The higher the cocoa content the louder the snap will be.

 

 

Smell the chocolate. 

Good quality chocolate will have a rich, complex aroma. If the chocolate smells bland or artificial, it may not be high quality.

 

 

Taste the chocolate. 

Essentially it’s the same technique as tasting bars we need to use all our senses but there are a few different things to bear in mind

Good quality chocolate will be smooth and creamy, with a rich, intense flavour. If the chocolate is dry, crumbly, is too sweet or has a bitter aftertaste, it may not be high quality.

 

The shape of chocolate

Shape can have an impact on its taste and flavour. The shape of chocolate affects how quickly it melts in the mouth, which can affect the way the flavour is released.

For example, a round chocolate will melt more quickly than a square chocolate, which means that the flavour will be released more quickly. This can make the chocolate taste sweeter or more bitter, depending on the type of chocolate.

In addition, the shape of chocolate can also affect its texture. A smooth, round chocolate will have a different texture than a rough, square chocolate.

This can also affect the way the flavour is perceived.

* Round chocolates were rated as sweeter, less bitter, and more creamy than angular-shaped chocolates.

* Chocolates with a large surface area melted more quickly than chocolates with a small surface area.

* The shape of chocolate did not affect chocolate liking.

Overall, the study suggests that the shape of chocolate can have a significant impact on its taste and flavour.

Consider the price. 

Good quality chocolate will typically cost more than low quality chocolate. However, it is important to remember that price isn’t always an indicator of quality. There are many affordable brands of chocolate that are made with high quality ingredients, and conversely some very expensive brands are made with poor quality chocolate but have been packaged to look like they are quality.

Read reviews. 

If you are unsure about the quality of a particular brand of chocolate, read online reviews to see what other people have said about it. This can be a helpful way to get an idea of the quality of the chocolate before you buy it.