Tasting Chocolate with Intention- a guide to exploring flavor

TASTE WITH INTENTION

A GUIDE TO EXPLORING FLAVOR

Great chocolate rewards curiosity. This guide shows you how to taste like a pro.

Tasting chocolate is about more than sweetness or darkness—it's about discovering the incredible range of flavors cacao has to offer. Use the Cacao of Excellence Flavor Wheel and these simple steps to unlock a deeper experience.

the cacao of excellence flavor wheel

This wheel is a tool to help you identify and describe the many flavors found in fine cacao.

Start with a small bite and notice the broad outer categories first. Then taste again, letting the chocolate melt slowly as you move inward toward more specific notes.

download professional tasting form

Every bar is an opportunity to discover something extraordinary.

Take your time. Trust your senses. Savor the journey.

Get as specific as you can.

Start broad on the outer ring.

Taste again and move inward.

how to taste chocolate

look

Examine the color and luster of the chocolate. Notice any pale patches (often referred to as bloom), which suggest that the chocolate has been exposed to temperature fluctuations. While still safe to consume, they will affect the chocolate's delicate flavor profiles and overall quality.

smell

Smell the chocolate. What's the first scent you notice? As this sense matures, you may detect more nuanced aromas like figs, orange peel, burnt caramel, bourbon, or spices; just to name a few.

listen

Snap a segment from the bar and pay attention to the sound it produces. A distinct, sharp snap often signals good tempering of the chocolate; critical to the experience.

taste

Place the chocolate in your mouth. Instead of chewing, gently use your teeth to divide it into smaller fragments, then allow it to naturally dissolve. While it's melting, swirl it around your mouth, similar to how you would savor a sip of wine, ensuring it reaches all areas of your taste buds for the most expansive experience.

feel

Pay attention to the feel of the chocolate on your palate. It might be luxuriously smooth or have a subtle graininess. Notice the rate at which it dissolves in your mouth – does it melt swiftly or leisurely? Consider its texture as it melts – is it light, rich, creamy, or perhaps velvety?

tasting tip

Taste with a clean palate. Avoid strong flavors like coffee, mint, garlic, or citrus immediately before tasting. As you explore a chocolate, take several small bites and allow the flavors to unfold. When switching to a new bar, cleanse your palate with room-temperature water and, if needed, a plain cracker or piece of bread.

build your vocabulary

The more you taste, the more confident you'll become in identifying flavors. Use the wheel to help put words to what you're experiencing. Over time, you'll develop your own unique flavor memory.

build your vocabulary

The more you taste, the more confident you'll become in identifying flavors. Use the wheel to help put words to what you're experiencing. Over time, you'll develop your own unique flavor memory.

the rabbit hole...

Bean variety, the origin of the bean, and the terroir all impact flavor.

bean types →

origins →

terroir →