Limited Edition Advent Calendar 2020
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Notting Hill Advent Calendar
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CBD – The Green Goddess and Dark Chocolate
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Chocolate Hampers
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New recipes from the Melt kitchen
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Sea Salt And Chocolate – Here’s Why It Works So Well!
When craving for something sweet, we tend to expect as much sweetness as possible. However, have you ever wondered why all those brownie and other sea salt chocolate cookie recipes call for a pinch of salt? Sure, this might sound counterproductive; but as per the professional chocolatiers at Melt (or any confectioner, for that matter!), the addition of salt not only balances the sweetness of the entire dish for a pleasant taste but also makes the sugar in it all the more sweeter. Whilst these are two of the reasons why sea salt and chocolate works so well, in this blog, we’ll be getting to the bottom of why exactly choco creations such as our sea salt chocolate bar and dark/milk sea salt discs taste so good! Before that, let’s go back in time and take a look at the history of salt and cacao. History of Salt and Cacao In ancient times, salt was a difficult product to get your hands on! This is one of the reasons why they were so scarce and expensive; so much so that, it was not only considered as a highly valuable commodity but was also used as a form of currency. In fact, the term “salary” is derived from the Latin word “salarium” which actually means “salt money” (now it’s all coming together, isn’t it?). What’s more, similar to the preciousness of salt, cacao too was considered as a valuable product amongst Aztecs. Not only was it used to make chocolate drinks during ceremonies but was also employed as ready cash! Put simply, everytime they drank chocolate beverages, they were literally drinking money. Fast forward to thousands of years later, while both sea salt and chocolate can’t be used as a trade item, they definitely make for the best combination in most decadent sweet treats. 3 Reasons Why Sea Salt and Chocolate Work So Well Now that you know a little bit about the history of both cacao and salt, let’s take a look at why they make for the perfect pair! 1. Salt Helps Your Taste Bud Detect Sugar All of us have at least once wondered why professional chocolatiers add “a pinch of salt” in their dessert recipes. Well, paradoxically, salt is known to intensify your taste buds’ ability to experience the sweetness present in the sugar. In other words, when sodium is present in a dish, it enables your tongue to process the glucose as sweet. This means, the addition of salt not only activates your “salt sensitivity” but also triggers the “sweet sensitive” reaction of your taste buds, making them more attuned to sweet flavours. It’s like your taste buds are being notified about you eating chocolates. Moreover, salt makes the intrinsic flavours of chocolate “pop”, giving energy and life to the luxurious sweet treats. Click here to discover some of our top sea salt and chocolate combinations. 2. Salt Adds Flavour and Texture to the Chocolate Often, it’s the crunchiness and grainer or coarser texture that makes chocolates all the more intriguing (depends on your personal taste, of course!) and brings it to glory! This means, when professional chocolatiers use salt with chocolate, they do it for two reasons: To make the flavours of chocolate “pop” To actually make you taste the salt in their creations In the first instance, salt merely […]
A Short Guide On Tempering Chocolates the Right Way
Cooking with chocolates – as easy as this may sound, working with chocolates is no mean feat! It doesn’t matter whether you’re trying your hand at something as simple as making brownies or a complex dessert like homemade praline, you need to follow its recipe to the T. Not only that, while making desserts, the most crucial thing that you need to know is – how to temper chocolates. This is because tempered chocolates can give your cocoa creation a professional quality while also enhancing its overall taste – thanks to its nice, smooth and shiny texture. However, when it comes to tempering chocolate, you need a lot of patience and precision from your end to get it right. At Melt Chocolates, our professional chocolatiers have vast industry experience, meaning they know a thing or two about tempering chocolates. Take a look at this guide to learn about the best tempered chocolate tips. Before that, let’s understand what it means to temper chocolates and the two crucial melting rules. What is Tempering Chocolate? The process of tempering chocolates involves slowly heating and then slowly cooking the chocolates while constantly stirring it. This is primarily to make sure the fat in it crystallises uniformly and creates a coating that’s not only glossy and smooth but also has a satisfying “snap!” Sure, this might seem quite intimidating at first, but with patience and constant practice, not to mention the right tempering chocolate tips, you can certainly nail the process. To understand the process better and learn from the experts, why not sign up for our chocolate master class? Melting Chocolate Techniques – Two Crucial Rules When learning how to melt or temper chocolates the right way, there are two crucial things you need to keep in mind. These include: Do not heat the chocolate above 120 to 130°F as that might ruin its flavour. Do not expose or add water (not even a droplet from steam) to your melted chocolate as that will cause it to seize and result in a lumpy texture. Now that you’ve got a basic idea of what tempering chocolate means and the two important rules, let’s take a look at our tempered chocolate tips. How to Temper Chocolates – Our Top Two Tips When it comes to tempering chocolates, the one thing that you need to keep an eye on is the temperature! Since the process requires you to have good control over the melting, cooling and reheating of chocolates within a specified range of temperature (120 to 130°F to be precise), ensure you’re using a thermometer. While you’re at it, also ensure that your worktop, tools and pans are completely dry because even a drop of liquid can ruin the texture of the entire chocolate. Here are our top two tempered chocolate tips: Tip #1 – Tempering Chocolates In a Microwave The process of tempering chocolates in a microwave includes four simple yet crucial steps. These are: Step #1 Chop or grate 12 oz of chocolate in your silicon or plastic bowl and place it in the microwave for 30 seconds on high; take it out and stir the chocolate using a spatula. Step #2 Again keep it in the microwave for 30 seconds, followed by 15 and 10 seconds. Make sure you’re stirring the […]
Our Top 5 Alternatives To The Traditional Chocolate Bar
Eating chocolate is such an experience! But what are the alternatives to the traditional chocolate bar? Why we Love Chocolate? It not only makes us feel good but also sets off several minor chemical reactions that make our brain and body happy. We all know about the feel-good hormones, don’t we? Well, eating chocolates releases serotonin and dopamine which makes our chocolate eating experience what it is – comforting and divine! While traditional chocolate bars are a favourite, there are other sweet alternatives that you can feast on without compromising on the experience you crave. At Melt, we have compiled a list of our traditional chocolate alternatives, that’ll leave you wanting more. Let’s take a look! 1. Orange Slices Dipped in Dark Chocolate Perhaps the dreamiest combination of flavours to be put together ever, enjoy soft and citrusy orange slices dipped in dark chocolate, straight from our luxury chocolate boutique! To enhance the palate, even more, our chocolatiers sprinkle it with divine cocoa nibs and cardamom. An easy sweet treat, perfect for any occasion, our chocolate-dipped orange slices are perfect for after dinner sweet cravings or as a special gift to a loved one. We wrap it up in our chic gift box to make the recipient feel extra special and loved! Place your order today to enjoy some citrusy goodness! 2. Milk Sea Salt Discs Perfect for snacking, gift-giving, birthdays and other special occasions, milk sea salt discs are one of our favourite alternatives to a traditional chocolate bar. Imagine appetising thin discs of chocolate with a light seasoning of flaky sea salt – almost like little bits of a snowflake. Now imagine biting into this heavenly combination – the light saltiness makes the dark chocolate flavour, more prominent than ever. If you wish to experience a combination of flavours exploding in your mouth, these chocolate discs are simply perfect for the occasion. Our sea salt discs amplify the inherent creaminess and richness of the chocolate with the end result being out of this world. Gift these luxury sweet treats to your loved ones or better yet, treat yourself to this toothsome yumminess today! 3. Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Also known as hokey pokey or sponge candy, our milky honeycomb chocolate is one of the most exquisite traditional chocolate alternatives. Deliciously rich and crunchy, our honeycomb treats are handmade using organic milk chocolate in our Holland Park kitchen. Its noteworthy airy texture that resembles a honeycomb is what sets it apart from other traditional chocolate alternatives on our list. For a truly delectable experience, place your order today! 4. Orangettes Orangettes are perfect for when you need something sweet but not too indulging and chocolatey. At Melt, our mouth-watering and flavourful orangettes are made using candied orange peels dipped in dark chocolate. Once you’ve tasted these, there’s no going back. Our orangettes are an addictive sweet treat that’ll keep you hooked with its satisfying chocolatey snap on the outside and squishy and scrumptious orange peels on the inside. Place your order today to indulge in this amazingly tasty traditional chocolate alternative! 5. Chocolate Caramel One of the most sought after Melt classics, our chocolate caramel is quite popular among our customers. Don’t believe us? Well, order yours today and see yourself coming back to replenish your stash of caramels! Chocolate caramels are wonderful all year round – they are soft and […]
5 Tips And Tricks To Get The Perfect Homemade Praline
Adapted from old French and Belgian recipes, pralines are a sweet confection made up of sugar, milk, butter and nuts. Usually used as a filling for chocolate, these delicious treats have a prominent place in the heart of every true chocolate lover. However, like many other confections, a homemade praline recipe might require a little time and effort to get it right from the get-go. From using the correct ingredients and equipment to following the right method, there are many details that you need to pay attention to for the best homemade praline. Since there are different varieties in praline, you’ll also need to narrow down on the type you’d like to make. At Melt, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks for any homemade praline recipe to help you get the perfect and delicious confection. So without further ado, let’s take a look! 1. Keep Your Ingredients Ready And Prepare Your Worktop The biggest concern in any easy homemade praline recipe is time; the entire cooking process is time-sensitive and needs to be done quickly. While pralines aren’t quite as fussy, when compared to other types of confections, during the cooking process you can’t pause or take a break. This means, you need to have all your ingredients measured out and ready. You’ll also need to have your equipment and parchment in place for the pralines as prepping your kitchen beforehand can make things much easier. Additionally, consider keeping your workspace clean and covered with parchment paper or aluminium foil to take out the molten praline. 2. Abide By The Recipe Let’s face it, many of us are guilty of tweaking recipes from time to time. While some sweet and savoury dishes do allow you to get creative with your ingredients, certain recipes may face a significant change in quality and texture and with pralines, it’s usually the latter. By altering the traditional praline recipe, you might come across challenges that will affect the end result. From the sugar taking too long to melt to the syrup hardening in the pot, there might be unwanted changes that can affect your praline. Due to this, you may end up with hardened blocks of sugar. To avoid this, sticking by the recipe is usually a wise decision unless you’re a professional and you understand the technicalities involved in the process. 3. Always Have A Separate Candy Thermometer Especially important for beginners, a candy thermometer is a crucial piece of equipment you must have if you want to get the best homemade praline. Whether you’re creating a praline filling for your bonbon or truffle or just making a classic almond praline, a thermometer will help you identify the exact moment the mixture needs to be taken off heat and cooled. Since the praline making process requires you to keep an eye on the mixture at all times, having a candy thermometer informs you of the different stages the syrup has reached. This further makes it easier for you to move on to the next step. While those who are amazing at candy and desserts might be able to figure this out just by looking at the consistency, for those who haven’t quite reached that level yet, a candy thermometer is a perfect aid. 4. Try Praline Making On A Cool, Dry Day Humidity […]
A Beginners Guide To Making Chocolate Bonbons
With so many chocolate desserts and other delectable cocoa treats we truly are spoiled for choice when it comes to customising chocolate according to our palatal preferences. However, when it comes to the best gourmet cocoa treat of all time, the chocolate bonbon recipe is a classic favourite. Dating back to 17th century France, these delicious sweets have always been a crowd favourite, and for good reason! With their hardened chocolate exterior and a flavoured filling that usually consists of liqueur, they’re absolutely scrumptious. While they’re often mistaken for truffles, bonbons are hardened chocolate with a filling, differing from truffles that have a softer texture and a ganache filling. With this in mind, if you’re looking to make your own box of delicious chocolate bonbons, we have just the thing for you. At Melt, with our bonbon making class, we know all the right steps and ingredients to make these delicious confections. With our beginner’s guide, you can create delicious bonbons at home. Let’s take a look! What Are Bonbons? A thin yet hard chocolate shell with a delicious filling – that’s what a bonbon is all about. The different textures of this cocoa treat enhance the chocolate experience, thereby making this a unique confection. After taking a bite, the chocolate shell gives way to the rich caramel, ganache or perhaps a fruit filling that oozes out. This harmonious amalgamation of different textures makes chocolate bonbons a truly blissful experience. Chocolate Bonbon Recipe – Here’s How To Get Started Before you start with your chocolate bonbon recipe, you need to ensure that you have the right equipment and ingredients to create the required amount you’re aiming for. After this, you can start with the creation process. Ingredients And Equipment The first main ingredient is, unsurprisingly, chocolate and you’ll need to get some with high-quality cocoa for better flavour and intensity in the bonbon. From single-origin chocolates with rich flavour to simple milk bars, there’s a type of chocolate that suits every taste bud. However, it’s always better to have a little extra so that you don’t run out of ingredients. About 500-600 grams of chocolate will be enough to start with. The next thing you need to prioritise is the moulds. While looking for moulds, opt for ones made of a stronger material with a detailed design. With these, your bonbons will look more authentic and elegant, thanks to the intricate detailing. Additionally, make sure to have a pastry scraper or pallet knife as well for ease and better efficiency in scraping the moulds. Make sure you have the filling ready in a piping bag beforehand so that you can work quickly and prevent the tempered chocolates from hardening. The Bonbon Making Process Step 1 – Temper The Chocolate And Prepare The Molds For the bonbons to be smooth and shiny, tempering the chocolate is very important. Since this is essentially a process of heating and cooling the chocolate, you need to do it correctly so that your chocolate shell will have a nice snap to it when you bite into the bonbon. To find out more about the right way to temper chocolate, give this a read. In case you want your bonbons to […]
Our Top 6 Best Wedding Favour Chocolates
The biggest challenge anyone faces while selecting wedding gifts for guests is to cater to everyone’s tastes. This is what makes chocolates as wedding favours such a brilliant choice. With numerous things to decide, order and plan for the wedding, having certain tasks taken care of can make all the difference. That said, chocolates serve as universally liked gifts that bring joy; they’re a great wedding favour idea. The temptation of these delectable cocoa treats is irresistible to many and with the numerous options available, you can find a flavour profile that will appeal to everyone. At Melt, our scrumptious chocolates crafted by world-class chocolatiers serve as one of the best wedding favour sweets. With sustainable and elegant packaging around these delicious gourmet treats, all your wedding guests are going to be impressed by these wedding favours. With this in mind, we’ve put together our top chocolates for wedding favours that are mouth-watering and delectable. Without further ado, let’s take a look! 1. Bespoke Wedding Bars Crunchy feuilletine in silky milk chocolate – that’s what Melt’s wedding bars are all about! We’re currently in the process of launching our new wedding chocolate bars – perfect for wedding favour boxes, or as gifts to the bride and groom. These divine bars are enclosed in minimalist yet aesthetic packaging that increases their appeal. To place your order and for other inquiries, give us a call today! 2. Love Milk Bar The silkiness of milk chocolate when combined with a crunchy feuilletine, creates an irresistible milk bar and that’s what Melt’s Love Milk Bar is all about! A delicious cocoa treat, this milk bar comes in simple yet elegant packaging. Moreover, since it has a straightforward classic flavour profile, this chocolate bar is a great idea for wedding favours. 3. Personalised Gift Boxes In Cream Our beautiful set of 20 cream gift boxes are the perfect choice for weddings. If you’re looking for personalised chocolate favours, we highly recommend these stunning gift boxes. You can select any two flavours of your choice that will go into these beautiful soft cream boxes. We also offer duck egg blue colour boxes that go well with many colour schemes and are another great choice for you to consider. 4. Maldon Sea Salt Caramels If you’re looking for something different from the usual gourmet chocolates, our Maldon Sea Salt Caramels are something you should consider. The combination of caramel and sea salt work harmoniously to create a classic and unforgettable taste; they’re sure to appeal to various palettes. Additionally, its soft and creamy texture further enhances the taste of the chocolate making it a great wedding favour sweet. 5. Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Discs Sea salt and dark chocolate have become an increasingly popular combination amongst people of all ages. The subtle rich taste of dark chocolate combined with the salt creates a collision of delicious flavours. Melt’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Discs are delicately crafted thin chocolate discs sprinkled with sea salt. These sea salt discs are also vegan-friendly. This means if you’re looking for luxury chocolate wedding favours, these amazing chocolates are definitely something you should consider! 6. Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate If you’re looking for sugar-free chocolates, our Dark Chocolate […]
Your Guide On How To Eat Chocolates
When we think about chocolate, we think about being comforted by an old friend. We feel good about the idea of relishing a delicious bar of chocolate as the silky sweetness teases our taste buds and satisfies our sweet cravings. The very thought of a beautifully wrapped luxurious chocolate hamper is enough to bring joy. When something so simple has the power to impact our emotions so drastically, it only makes sense that we do justice to it and eat it correctly. You’ll be surprised to find out how many of us are missing out on enjoying chocolate in the best way. Yes, you read that right, there is a wrong way to eat chocolate. If you are a self appointed chocolate lover, it only makes sense for you to pay close attention to the next few points. Although we all choose to enjoy our favourite snacks in our way, we assure you it will help you make the most of your chocolate eating experience. The expert chocolatiers at Melt bring to you detailed insights on how to savour the many flavour profiles of chocolate just right! Without further ado, let’s take a look! 1. You Need Not Store Chocolate in the Fridge Since being refrigerated has next to no impact on prolonging your chocolate’s shelf life, it’s pointless to condemn it to the confines of your fridge. Also, being hardened from the cold hinders your chocolate eating experience by making it unnecessarily time consuming. So, when decoding the mystery of how to eat chocolates right, this is the best place to start. 2. Before Eating, Rub the Chocolate Just a Tiny Bit While this may sound strange, to amplify the flavour of your delicious chocolate bar or block, press your thumb gently to it before popping it into your mouth. According to our luxury chocolate boutique, this helps soften the chocolate which in turn releases more of its rich natural aromas. This brings us to… 3. Smell Your Chocolate First For a fulfilling chocolate eating experience, it’s important to engage all your senses. To add to your anticipation, it is important to smell and look at your chocolate before biting into it. This way, you are aware of what’s to come as you ready yourself for all the flavours that’ll explode on your tongue. Smelling your chocolate is a lot like smelling wine. The bouquet of flavours hits you deliciously, preparing you for when you actually take a bite. This bouquet of flavours can be a mix of cocoa, caramel, hazelnut, milk or coffee. Basically, you sensitise yourself to all the prominent ingredients that make up your chocolate. So next time you eat a chocolate, take a deep breath and see what it smells like. Continue doing so till you single out other hidden flavour profiles in the mix. 4. Break Your Chocolate Before You Eat It There are so many ways of eating your chocolate wrong and one of the more prominent injustices that you can inflict on yourself (and your chocolate) is not breaking it before you eat it. The chocolatiers at Melt recommend snapping your chocolate bar or breaking your chocolate blocks into pieces before you feast on it. The snapping sound […]
