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 […]
5 Nuts That Go Well With Chocolates
When it comes to the perfect combination, there are few things that beat the crunch of nuts paired with delicious chocolates. Moreover, in the confectionery realm, chocolates and nuts are considered soulmates (more like a match made in heaven!) and at Melt we’re no different! While these crunchy sweet treats have proved to be a popular choice for hundreds of years, not all nuts give you the same delicious results when paired with chocolate. At Melt Chocolates, we’ve been working in the confectionary world for over a decade and our professional chocolatiers know exactly the nuts that go well with chocolates. That said, in today’s blog, we’ll be guiding you through the different nuts and chocolate combinations, as well as some of the luxury treats that we offer. Before that, let’s understand… Why Are Nutty Chocolates So Delectable? Deliciously moreish, when it comes to the best chocolates with nuts, one can never be enough. However, the real question here is – why are these treats so irresistible? Well, to get to the bottom of this, we delved a little deeper into the realm of food science and did some research of our own. In a nutshell (pun intended!), the research revealed that our taste buds tend to love when contrasting flavours are used in food. The sweetness of chocolates combined with the saltiness of nuts is every taste buds dream. What’s more, this phenomenon also has a scientific name to it – ‘Dynamic Sensory Contrast’. So, the next time you indulge in a box full of nutty chocolates, blame your taste buds! Nuts that go Well with Chocolates – Our Top 5 Picks It’s been proven that the best chocolates with nuts are prepared in confectionery heaven! However, with so many nut chocolates available on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which type of nut you want in your sweet treat. Luckily, we’re here to help. In this blog, we’ve put together the top five delicious nut chocolate combos. From cashew and macadamia to almonds, we’ll provide you with a scoop on all those nuts that pair really well with dark, milk and white chocolate. We’ve also included some of the chocolates that we offer. Before you read on, be warned – by the time you reach the end of this guide, you could be left with some serious nutty sweet treat cravings! 1. Chocolates with Hazelnut Delectably indulgent and creamy, the combo of chocolate and hazelnut is nothing less than a heavenly dream. What’s more, since hazelnuts are naturally mellow and sweet, when you pair them with chocolate you can easily create a luxurious goodness that warms your taste buds. From chocolate-covered hazelnut slabs to chocolate hazelnut gianduja, this is a beloved combination that’s used in countless appetising treats. While milk chocolate is considered to be the best companion to hazelnuts since their creaminess can offer you a unique velvety texture, they are also often coupled with dark chocolate. This is because the bitterness of dark chocolate along with the nut’s creaminess creates an exciting edge, making this pair a tasty treat. 2. Chocolates with Walnuts The rich sweet flavour, nobbly texture and satisfying crunch of walnuts paired with the chocolate’s […]
5 Things You Wouldn’t Think Go With Chocolate, But Do!
While chocolate may be the ultimate comfort food for many, it’s seen a fair share of experimentation and development, especially in terms of flavours. From home cooks to chocolatiers, many tried to enhance this delectable cocoa treat by adding unique flavours to it; some of these unusual chocolate pairings worked out well, while some of them missed the mark. That said, if you’re a true dessert connoisseur looking to try out deliciously stunning chocolate combinations, we might have just the thing for you. At Melt Chocolates, our expertise in luxurious and gourmet chocolates has equipped us with just about everything there is to know when it comes to chocolate. We’ve put together a list of some of the best unusual chocolate pairings that deliver well on varied taste and flavour profiles, making them an absolute must-have for all chocoholics across the world. Without further ado, let’s take a look! 1. Ginger And Dark Chocolate We all know that chocolate is a versatile ingredient that can be used to cook many sweet and savoury dishes. It’s no surprise that it goes particularly well with ginger, making it a great combination to try out, especially with dark chocolate. The bitter notes from a rich dark chocolate compliment the slight heat from ginger to create a stunning contrast. The delectable flavour of this harmonious union between chocolate and ginger makes this combination a must-try for all chocolate enthusiasts. Since ginger is used across many different desserts, it works well with dark chocolate with each ingredient balancing the other. If you like the sound of this scrumptious combination, try out Melt’s Candied Ginger Sticks and Yuzu and Ginger chocolate; it’s sure to leave you wanting for more! 2. Honeycomb And Milk Chocolate Honey and chocolate have always been a popular sweet combination across the globe. However, honeycomb takes it up a notch and further adds to the delicious quotient of the cocoa treat. Different textures in food and sweets always work great in elevating the overall experience; the crunchy texture of honeycomb encased in a smooth milk chocolate coating produces a skilful mix of textures that increases the appeal of the sweet treat. Additionally, the contrast of the sticky-sweet honeycomb with the smoothness of milk chocolate is a combination made in dessert heaven! Melt’s Milk Chocolate Honeycomb and Dark Chocolate Honeycomb are some of our popular and delicious sweet treats. To get your hands on these scrumptious chocolates, place your order today! 3. Mascarpone And Chocolate Another unusual chocolate flavour that works surprisingly well is mascarpone and chocolate. The immense popularity of this food pairing has led to mascarpone being used with a variety of chocolate textures and desserts. Commonly used as a dip or additional ingredient, the rich and creamy mascarpone cheese is used to create chocolate frosting, mousse, tarts, and many more delicious recipes. Additionally, a dollop of this creamy cheese with a sensational chocolate brownie can serve as one of the best and easiest desserts to make. 4. Chocolate With Beer Chocolate and beer is another decadent yet unusual flavour pairing that works together brilliantly. The perfect combination of bitterness and sweetness creates a sensational flavour that’s incomparable. That said, stout beer is commonly used […]
5 Reasons to Enjoy Our Vegan Chocolates
Are you as excited about the “chocolate revolution” happening across the world as the professional chocolatiers at Melt? With the increase in interest and demand for high quality, handmade chocolates, made of sustainably sourced ingredients, the number of chocolatiers offering different kinds of incredible creations has also increased. This is where we step in! Being a gourmet chocolate boutique, Melt Chocolates brings together all types of sweet treats – from conventional dark and milk chocolate to sugar free and the ‘ever-increasing-in-popularity’ vegan chocolates – we have it all! However, amongst all these heavenly and lip smacking treats, today we’d like to focus on vegan chocolate benefits. In this blog, we’ve collectively come up with our top five reasons why vegan, sugar free chocolates are (undoubtedly) an incredible and guilt free way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Sugar Free Vegan Chocolates – What Are Its Benefits Believe it or not, studies have shown that eating a moderate amount of dark chocolate actually has various health benefits. Since it’s made mostly using cocoa powder and cacao beans, it’s considered to be vegan and therefore, we don’t think it’d be a stretch to say that similar benefits apply to vegan chocolates too. That said, let’s take a look at the various vegan chocolate benefits you could enjoy by gorging on these delicious treats. 1. Rich In Nutrients Did you know that the cacao powder used to make vegan chocolates is produced from unroasted cacao beans… well, now you do! Since these beans aren’t processed at a high temperature, it ends up retaining almost all of its nutrients like vitamin C and minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron – this is what makes vegan chocolates a healthier option when compared to its counterparts. What’s more, vegan chocolates don’t contain milk; however, they’re rich in fibre and protein, and have a host of antioxidants which can be found in most veggies, berries and fruits. 2. Boosts Healthy Blood Sugar Given that sugar in our body plays a vital role in developing ATP (an energy molecule that’s responsible for cell and organ function), eating sugar free vegan chocolates is an ideal option for people with diabetes. It’s also the best choice for people on a diet and those who prefer dairy free products. However, one of the biggest benefits of vegan chocolates is that they not only help maintain a healthy sugar level but also boost the functioning of your cells. 3. Acts As a Mood Booster Vegan chocolates consist of anandamide and raw cacao; meaning when you eat them, they bind your brain receptors and create a sense of happiness and peace. Additionally, there are certain elements in this chocolate that also improve your serotonin levels (commonly known as the ‘happiness hormone’). Why not head to our website and order from our collection of vegan chocolates to boost your mood? 4. Improves Blood Circulation and Heart Health Yet another benefit of gorging on vegan chocolates, these sweet treats are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. This means they not only help reduce your cholesterol levels but also boost your blood flow, preventing issues like blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, these chocolates are also rich in magnesium and copper […]
Cooking With Chocolates – All You Need to Know!
Chocolate is perhaps the most versatile ingredient in the world, but that doesn’t mean that cooking with chocolate is easy. While it features in brownies, biscuits, cakes and mousses, the science behind cooking with chocolate is different for each recipe. At Melt Chocolates, we regard ourselves as gourmet chocolate experts, meaning we know a thing or two about cooking with chocolates. Take a look at this definitive guide to find out more about how to cook with chocolate. Cooking Chocolate VS Normal Chocolate When baking with chocolate, you probably think using regular chocolate will do the job. What you might not know is that there are certain elusive differences between normal and cooking chocolates. Let’s understand what these are to use the right type of delectable, luxurious chocolate for all your delightful creations. Cooking Chocolate The primary and also the most dominant difference between cooking and normal chocolate is the sugar content. Cooking chocolate contains considerably greater amounts of cocoa with little to no added sugar. This gives it a rather prominent and strong cocoa flavour, making it perfect for baking. Thanks to its relatively low sugar content, you can control how sweet you want your dessert to be. This way, you can ensure that your sweet treats don’t become overly sugary; this will ensure that it’s perfect for bringing out the intense flavour of dark chocolate. Cooking with Chocolates the Melt Way We all know how versatile chocolate can be, which makes them so easy to add to any sweet culinary composition. Cooking with dark chocolate in particular is a great way to add some cocoa goodness into any baked goody. At Melt, our seasoned chocolatiers retain the perfect chocolate flavour profile in all our creations. We explain this further in our virtual on-site chocolate tasting class. Be it for cooking or for eating, at Melt, our luxury chocolates never disappoint. We also have sugar free and vegan alternatives that help keep your preparation as healthy and environmentally conscious as possible. Our dark chocolate collection is perfect for cooking as it melts evenly and smoothly to create an exceptional baking experience. If baking is not on the agenda, you can simply snack on our delectable chocolate bars. If you’re craving a delicious chocolaty beverage, order from our hot chocolate range! Tempering Chocolate – What Happens? If you plan to use chocolate to decorate your baked and other creations, you need to learn how to effectively temper chocolate. This is an extremely important step, especially if you wish to maintain the satisfying snap and the glossy shine. You will need a thermometer to pull off the perfect finish. If you temper your chocolate incorrectly, you’ll be left with a bland, matte look that tastes fine but wrecks the overall aesthetic of your chocolaty preparation. At Melt, we temper our chocolates to perfection meaning you are guaranteed to hear the appetising snap, not to mention the flawless shine as you bite into it and feel the flavours disintegrate in your mouth. Take your pick from our collection of chocolate blocks, slabs and bars to enhance the flavours of your chocolate dish. Edible Accessories If you wish to create your own edible accessories to decorate your chocolate […]
