Chocolate can be enjoyed as-is but have you tried chocolate pairs? This amazing treat is versatile enough to be paired with a lot of ingredients. There surely are some conventional pairings chocolate lovers are a fan of. But did you know that you can create your own combinations too. Sounds fun, right? Trust me, indulging in the right chocolate pairing can be a heavenly experience. Are you new to chocolate pairing? Or looking for something different than your regular combos? Hey both of you, try out the following chocolate pairings and thank me later.
Must Try Chocolate Pairings |
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Dark Chocolate |
Milk Chocolate |
White Chocolate |
With |
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Red Wine Dry Fruits Almonds Hazelnuts Blue Cheese Espresso Chili |
Port Wine Peanut Butter Berries Bananas Mint Caramel Coffee |
Sauternes Port Wine Strawberries Coconut Cardamon Hazelnuts Matcha Tea |
What are the Best Chocolate Pairs to Try?
You can pair chocolates with fruits, nuts, caramel, wine, and so much more. Also, different types of chocolates go with different types of stuff. Therefore, there can be endless chocolate pairs. Yes, that’s right! When pairing chocolate, you can just pick any ingredient. But why so? What makes it go with so many ingredients? Well, this is all because of the rich and complex flavor profile of this treat.
“Usually, chocolate has a fruit-forward flavor profile with deep earthy notes.”
Moreover, chocolate flavor pairings are a great opportunity to expand your taste buds too. After all, they are a delightful quest of taste, texture, and aroma. Here are some pairs that will surely elevate your chocolate experience. Get ready to send your taste buds to an otherworldly ride of pure bliss. So, let’s unwrap the decadence:
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Dark Chocolate Pairings
What is the most perfect dark chocolate pair? Is it with wine or with fruits? You should know that this type of chocolate goes with a variety of things. Mostly, it pairs well with either complementing ingredients or the ones with similar flavor qualities. Here are some of the most popular chocolate pairs you can’t miss out on:
- Red Wine
- Dry Fruits
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Blue Cheese
- Coffee
Dark chocolate with red wine is the classic combination – they perfectly complement each other. The tannins in wine cancel out the fats in chocolate. So, together they offer a smooth tasting experience to die for. You may be wondering why chocolate and coffee. Well, both espresso and dark chocolate have an intense flavor. When paired together, they enhance each other’s taste. And who doesn’t love a crunchy and bittersweet combo of this chocolate with nuts? – it’s like a party in your mouth. Want to try something different? Try blue cheese with dark chocolate. The tangy and salty taste of cheese is just the right match for chocolate. You can even pair chocolate bonbons with wine or cheese.
Have You Tried Dark Chocolate & Chili?
Dark Chocolate and Chili is the most unusual yet totally delightful pairing. A little bit of chili adds a kick to the fruity and earthy flavor of chocolate. This combo of bittersweet and spicy is surely an enjoyable one. You can even find chocolates spiked with chili by a lot of brands. Even artisans are usually selling their own chili chocolate as a delicacy.
Did You Know? People have been enjoying chocolate with chili since ancient times. |
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Milk Chocolate Pairings
Undoubtedly, people love milk chocolate. After all, it is creamy, dreamy, and perfectly sweet. Also, it is the most popular type because it caters to a majority of taste palates. Furthermore, it goes well with a lot of stuff. Let’s indulge in some of the best and must-try milk chocolate pairs. If you miss out on these, you miss out on pure joy:
- Port Wine
- White Wine
- Peanut Butter
- Berries
- Bananas
- Mint
- Caramel
- Coffee
Port wine is the best companion of desserts and milk chocolate is not any different. Furthermore, it complements the cocoa fats and leads to a smoother tasting experience. Besides, milk chocolate and fruits are a classic combination. I mean, YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE! Get your favorite berries out of the fridge, melt some chocolate and get ready to indulge in a burst of flavors. And what else can we say about peanut butter and caramel with chocolate than: utter perfection!
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White Chocolate Pairings
For those who’ve got a serious sweet tooth, we have some really amazing chocolate pairs to try. Moreover, white chocolate is not like the other types. In fact, it’s not even the same color as them. Many people think this treat won’t pair well with a lot of ingredients. But this is not true; white chocolate makes a lot of delectable combinations. Here are some of them:
- Sauternes
- Port Wine
- Strawberries
- Coconut
- Cardamon
- Hazelnuts
- Matcha Tea
You may think what’s a white chocolate gotta do with matcha. But trust me, you will fall in love with this combination. The earthiness of matcha and the sweet profile of this chocolate is intriguing enough. Try this out and it’ll cast a spell on your taste buds. And if you haven’t tried chocolate with strawberries, are you even a chocolate lover? Don’t tell me you’ve missed out on the tart-sweet combo. If you are into nuanced flavors, match this treat with some cardamom. And for a play of textures, you can make chocolate pairs with coconut or hazelnut.
Some Adventurous Chocolate Pairings
If you are into experimenting with chocolate pairs, here are some you can bite into. Check these out if you like food combinations that are different from the usual. To amp up your chocolate pairing experience, get premium treats by J. Patrice. Anyway, back to adventurous pairings…
Chocolate with Caviar – An Unusual Delight!
Many fancy places have started serving caviar with white chocolate. And food connoisseurs absolutely love it. You may wonder, why white chocolate and not any other type? Well, the choice was made based on aesthetics only. But the match is surely a hit. Why so? The fatty and creamy notes of caviar become even better with the sweetness of white chocolate. Don’t believe it? Well, try it out and see for yourself. Caviar also perfectly complements dark chocolate. After all, the bitterness of chocolate and the salty flavor of caviar are an absolute pair.
Chocolate with Vegetables – Yay or Nay?
These pairings are quite popular but is combining chocolate with vegetables really worth it? You should know that chocolate becomes a pair with a lot of vegetables. However, whether they are good or not, depends on your taste preferences. You’ll be amazed to know that bakers have even paired chocolate with roasted onions. Cauliflower with cocoa powder is another hidden gem you should try at least once. Surprisingly, avocado puree gives a banana-like taste when paired with milk chocolate – another must-try chocolate pairing.
Conclusion
Chocolate pairings give you countless options to indulge in. No matter what your taste preferences, there is an ideal combo for you waiting to be discovered. If you want to stick to the basics, wine and chocolate is surely a classic choice. However, if you want to try out something adventurous, pair your veggies with chocolate. In other words, you can pair your favorite chocolate with your favorite food item. And there are high chances that it’ll taste delicious. After all, the amazing taste profile of this sweet creation complements a wide range of other ingredients.