Gourmet Chocolate
Indulge in a Bit of Decadence
There are very few people who don’t enjoy the taste of a sweet and creamy piece of chocolate. And, that’s not just true among people today; even the ancient Mayans, Incas and Aztecs served up a warm drink called chocolatl. It has often been said that Montezuma, an Aztec emperor, loved it so much he drank upwards of 50 glasses of the stuff per day.
Today you’ll find chocolate just about everywhere. You can eat it yourself, or give it as a wonderful, gourmet gift. It comes in various forms including bars, candies, cookies, gourmet treats, and more.
Dark chocolate has high levels of cacao in it. You can find dark chocolate in both semi-sweet and sweet versions. Then there is white chocolate, which is a combination of milk, cocoa butter, sugar, and flavoring.
Most chocolate comes in milk, semi-sweet, bittersweet and unsweetened forms. The flavor depends on the amount of sugar that has been added. The most common flavor is milk chocolate. Regulations in the United States say that in order to be milk chocolate, it must contain at least twelve percent of whole milk.
Gourmet chocolates are often considered pricey, although it is because they are handmade or made with premium ingredients. Some varieties to look for include truffles, nougats, mousses, pastries, chocolate waterfalls, as well as chocolate dipped nuts, coffee beans, and fruits. Some stores even carry sugar-free versions of gourmet chocolates.