الأحد، 10 أغسطس 2014

Choosing Decadent Champagne Chocolate Truffles

By Tanisha Berg


The original truffle, a French invention, consisted of a bite-sized ball of ganache rolled in cocoa powder. Although there are many variations of this confection today, what all the versions have in common is that they are balls, squares or other shapes, filled with ganache. Several companies make delicious champagne chocolate truffles and these make great gifts, especially when presented in a special box.

The first truffle, as legend has it, was created in the kitchen of one of the great French chefs. An apprentice was trying to make pastry cream and he poured hot cream into a bowl of chocolate chunks by accident. As the mixture hardened, he discovered it could be worked into a rough ball. He coated it with cocoa powder and was struck by its resemblance to the precious fungus found in the Perigord region of France.

There are a great variety of these products available today and choice of a particular kind depends very much on personal taste. Some people love a rich, sweet variety. Others prefer a more bitter taste. Many products offer a combination of bitter and sweet, using different types for the center and the coating.

The cream has a moderating effect on the sweetness of the truffle and gives a delectable richness. Some versions are being produced today where the cream is replaced with anything from condensed milk to a combination of whipping cream and butter. Again, choice depends on individual taste and how much sweetness is desired.

The modern coating used for a truffle strays quite far from the original one which was coated with cocoa powder. There are those who still like this rustic coating but a tempered chocolate one offers more elegance and extra crackle. Dessicated coconut, chopped nuts and icing sugar are just a few of the other coatings used. Some even offer a real taste contrast like chili or paprika.

There are different types of alcohol that can be infused into the center of a truffle such as champagnes and liqueurs. Some people really like to taste the alcohol while others prefer a subtle taste that does not overpower the taste of the other ingredients. Many different champagnes are used and these all produce subtle differences in taste.

It is often possible to taste a sample in a store or request one from a company website. If this is not possible reading online reviews can be helpful to find out what other people thought of the taste of a particular product. Of course one can also place a small order for oneself to gauge quality before giving it as a gift to others. A gift like this is perfect for a romantic occasion and in fact any other special occasion.

Factory produced items from supermarkets may look good but often do not have the same depth of flavor as when purchasing from a specialist chocolatier. There are many online chocolatiers offering quality products. A reputable supplier must be chosen, especially considering the problems that can occur when shipping a product like chocolates.




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