Chocolate's Complex Flavours - Thorntons

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- Like wine, chocolate has a complex flavour profile that consists of hundreds of attributes. Actually, it contains over 1500 flavour components. The most common notes are sour, bitter, astringent, fruity, figgy, raisiny, floral, nutty, smoky, hammy, and even "chocolatey," the essence of cacao beans themselves.

And just like wine and coffee, many influences are at work creating these nuances. These influences include the type of cacao beans used in the blend, whether criollo, forastero, or trinitario; specific regional variations; the process of fermentation and roasting as well as the beans' growing conditions.

According to allchocolate.com, “where cacao comes from has a great influence on the final flavour. These are the flavours to look for by region:
Brazil: Bright acidity. Well-balanced cocoa flavours.
Colombia: Moderately fruity, lightly bitter with deep cocoa flavor.
Costa Rica: Fruity with a balanced cocoa flavor.
Dominican Republic: Deep earthy flavor with fragrant tobacco notes.
Ecuador (Arriba): Fruit and well-balanced floral (jasmine flower) notes.
Ghana: Deep, classic cocoa flavor. Lends balance to more complex beans.
Indonesia (Java): Appealing acidity balanced with clean cocoa flavors.
Côte d'Ivoire: Deep, classic cocoa flavor. Lends balance to more complex beans.
Jamaica: Bright and fruity. Appealing aromas. Often reminiscent of pineapples.
Mexico: Bright acidity.
Madagascar: Light citrus flavors somewhat like tangerines, with bright acidity.
Panama: Classic cocoa flavor highlighted by subtle fruit and roasted nut flavors.
São Tomé and Principe: Classic cocoa flavor that's very well-balanced.
Trinidad and Tobago: Complex fruitiness plus appealing spiciness such as cinnamon.
Venezuela: Complex fruit flavors that evoke ripe red plums and dark cherries.”
If you are searching for Fathers day chocolates, try Thorntons’ Classics Dark - the Chocolate Truffle, Creamy Fudge and chewy Country Caramel get a dark chocolate makeover that makes the mouth water. If your dad loves dark chocolate, then this is the perfect gift for him.