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 of the ganache helps to temper the sweetness. There are many different types of cream that can be used and sometimes butter is added too. Other unusual ingredients like condensed milk or double thick yoghurt are also being used today. Once again, the ingredients used in a particular product will appeal to some and not to others.
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.
When making a choice the type and quantity of alcohol is another consideration. Some people only want a mild flavor while other people want to taste more alcohol. A number of different kinds of alcohol such as cognac and brandy as well as liqueurs like Cointreau or Kahlua go well with a truffle. However, champagne provides a subtle taste preferred by many people. When the smooth creamy center is infused with just enough the flavor can be recognized but it does not overpower the other ingredients.
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.
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 of the ganache helps to temper the sweetness. There are many different types of cream that can be used and sometimes butter is added too. Other unusual ingredients like condensed milk or double thick yoghurt are also being used today. Once again, the ingredients used in a particular product will appeal to some and not to others.
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.
When making a choice the type and quantity of alcohol is another consideration. Some people only want a mild flavor while other people want to taste more alcohol. A number of different kinds of alcohol such as cognac and brandy as well as liqueurs like Cointreau or Kahlua go well with a truffle. However, champagne provides a subtle taste preferred by many people. When the smooth creamy center is infused with just enough the flavor can be recognized but it does not overpower the other ingredients.
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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