How Do I Host a Chocolate Tasting?

We think of a chocolate tasting as a formal event sponsored by a chocolate company, club, or fund raising group, but it can also be done informally and among friends. Having a chocolate tasting event at a party, a bridal shower or even among some close friends can really be fun. Think about hosting one yourself.

It’s simple to do. All you need are samples of chocolate treats, friends willing to taste them, and some simple guidelines for them to use to choose the best chocolate.

Here are some guidelines chocolate tasters use to select the best tasting chocolate. They examine the chocolate's taste, smell, appearance, and the sound it makes, for example, as its being broken. Suggest to your guests (judges) the following criteria to use when judging the sample chocolate. But remember they don’t need to take the judging too seriously; they can trust their own tastes and just have some fun. These are just suggested guidelines only.

1. The chocolate’s taste can be examined by taking a bite of the chocolate and letting it slowly melt in your mouth. Let your tongue and walls of your mouth feel its texture. How does it feel? Does it taste fresh? What tastes do you encounter? Is it smooth and milky or do you taste various bits of fruits or nuts and how do their favors mix with the favor of the chocolate? It is creamy soft or rough? Enjoy this part of the tasting event especially!

2. The appearance of the chocolate is also going to affect how it tastes. Does it have a smooth, even glossy surface? Does it look fresh?

3. Smell is important too. Do you smell a chocolate aroma? Does it have that smell of freshness? Does it have a smell of caramel, fruit, even flowers or mint?

4. Finally, how does it sound when you break a piece of it off? Does it have a nice, fresh and clear snapping sound?

Prepare written cards for each judge with these questions on them. Ask them to score the chocolate using these four criteria. And for fun, start with less expensive milk chocolate samples and progressively end with the richer, darker ones.

Your menu could include:

I find serving a nice gourmet coffee or a good dry wine to my judges as they savor the chocolate only increases the joy they seem to experience. Its about finding joy after all.

I particularly like having some smooth jazz playing in the background. And voila. Everyone is having fun and I am hosting my own chocolate tasting event. But come up with your own style of doing it and enjoy.