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Chocolate and spices: pairings and suggestions

The best spices to pair with chocolate

When talking about the best chocolate pairings, it’s impossible not to mention the Food of the Gods and spices, a combination that has been around since the dawn of time. As a matter of fact, the Mayans used to infuse cacao paste with spices to create a nutritious and fortifying drink, which could well be the ancestor of our hot chocolate.  

Since then, the partnership between chocolate and spices has come a long way. Let’s see which combinations are the tastiest and most interesting.

Chocolate and chili: an aphrodisiac pairing 

Strong, bold, and with a bit of a kick, chocolate and chili are bound to deliver. Thanks to their beneficial properties, they aren’t just good for you; the combination of these two ingredients in the kitchen is also known to be an aphrodisiac. For a romantic dinner or a special anniversary, why not make our Chocolate and Chili Tart to add a stimulating twist to your evening?  

Dark chocolate and chili are also the basis of delicious dishes from all over the world. Veal steaks in the US are often served with a sweet and spicy sauce: this chili chocolate sauce, made of chocolate and red chili peppers, has a flavor so intense it can put even the toughest palates to the test. 

 

Ginger and chocolate 

Speaking of intense and spicy flavors, ginger is a root used for centuries in Eastern cuisine to season dishes and, in recent decades, it has finally made it to Europe as well. Together, dark chocolate and ginger make for a delicious pairing and create a perfect symphony on the palate. In summer, for example, you can make dark chocolate-covered ginger pieces, perfect as a fresh snack or an accompaniment to some chocolate-based summer cocktails.

 

Chocolate and cinnamon

Nicknamed the Spice of Kings by ancient peoples, cinnamon is considered to be a veritable medicinal plant thanks to its impressive digestive properties. The combination of cinnamon and chocolate is perhaps one of the most longstanding classics, and together, they form the basis of many desserts that bring cheer to the winter months. Our favorite recipe is also one of the simplest: a Venchi hot chocolate enriched with a teaspoon of cinnamon. If you’re feeling extravagant, you can top it with a swirl of whipped cream and an extra dusting of this luscious spice. 

 

Vanilla and chocolate: an iconic partnership 

Who among us has never used a vanilla pod to flavor some cream or prepare a dessert? Vanilla and chocolate has always been a winning combination as the intense, fruity aroma of the former blends perfectly with the unique taste of chocolate. 

The recipes you can create with these two ingredients are truly infinite, like chocolate and vanilla mousse: to make it, all you need to do is melt dark chocolate in a bain-marie, infuse the vanilla pod in milk and gelatin and bring to the boil. Then, combine it all together with fresh whipped cream and pour into a small bowl to refrigerate for half an hour. 

 

How to pair spices and white chocolate 

Dark chocolate lends itself most to original pairings, but the combination of spices and white chocolate is undoubtedly more unusual and refined. An example? Saffron and white chocolate can form the basis of a reinterpretation of the classic bavarois tart or even a plum cake, adding an elegant and sophisticated note to this dessert. 

White chocolate also pairs extremely well with cardamom, a perfect combination for making a panna cotta or some pralines to serve with coffee. If you’d like to surprise your guests with a new flavor, draw inspiration from the Middle East and season the coffee by adding a cardamom seed to the bottom of each cup.

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