Welcome to Xocolat Amante
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Indulge in the origins of Chocolate
Are you a Chocoholic or a discerning Chocolate Connoisseur?
Xocolat Amante offers you the opportunity to find out. Here you can experience the world of fine chocolate, from the most exclusive and interesting chocolate bars, to the story and history of chocolates.
We aim to provide our customers with access to the best single origin and single variety chocolates. See our fabulous on-line Chocolate Shop for a selection of premium international chocolates.
What is Single Origin Chocolate?
Single origin chocolates are made from cacao beans grown in a single location, country or plantation.
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Much like the flavour variations experienced when tasting wines that are grown in a particular location, the cacao that constitutes a single origin chocolate embodies unique flavour characteristics that reflect the climate and soil types experienced by the cacao tree. These growing conditions are referred to as “terroir” in the wine world. |
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What is Single Variety Chocolate?
Single variety chocolates are made using cacao beans from a single variety of cacao tree.
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There are three broad categories of cacao tree and many many other subcategories. The Theobroma Cacao tree is quite promiscuous, allowing genetic mixing of different varieties quite easily. This means that producing truly single variety chocolates can be difficult and expensive. Only the most dedicated manufacturers attempt this type of chocolate. |
What is Blended Chocolate?
Blended chocolates are made from a blend of cacao beans sourced from different locations and varieties.
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Blending can allow the manufacturer to achieve a consistent result year in year out. It is for this reason that blending is favoured by all the mass chocolate manufacturers. Blending also allows manufacturers to substitute different cacao beans thus providing flexibility for mass producers of chocolates. However, blended chocolates need not be inferior, indeed there are many chocolate connoisseurs and industry specialists who regard blended chocolates as the only way to truly experience a rounded chocolate experience that encompasses all the flavour components chocolate can provide. |
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Tasting Chocolates
Back to back tasting of single origin, single variety and blended chocolates can offer a depth of experience not otherwise available. Besides offering the ability to compare the flavour variations, it also adds a dimension by allowing the discerning chocophile to identify regional and varietal characteristics in the blended chocolate.
To gain the most from your tasting experience, we suggest using a standardised tasting process. Some suggestions as to how to construct your own process can be found in our Chocosaurus, along with interesting facts about the world of chocolate that we hope will enhance your chocolate experience.
