Discovering the World of Chocolate

Artisan Chocolate | Choosing Chocolate | Tasting Chocolate

What is artisan chocolate?

Artisan chocolate comes from the finest quality beans that have been processed slowly, using age-old production methods. Much like coffee or wine, the quality of the chocolate depends upon the skills and methods of the chocolate maker.

Artisan chocolate is produced more slowly than mass market chocolate, with an eye towards building excellent flavor. The tools of the artisan are:

High quality beans farmed with taste in mind
Fermenting and roasting times that build flavor
Conching times that reduce the acidity of the beans ("conching" is an aeration process that decreases acidity)
Minimal sugar and perhaps some vanilla and soy lecithin (a natural emulsifier)
No substitute oils and no artificial flavors (e.g., vanillin)

While all these variables are important in creating artisan chocolate, the quality of the final product comes down to taste. Just because a chocolate was produced using quality methods does not mean you will like the taste. The only way to confirm how you feel about a particular chocolate is to taste it.