When you think about what chocolate tastes like, what do you imagine? For many people, it’s the rich, sweet flavor of a classic milk chocolate bar. But did you know that there are actually many different flavor bouquets of cacao beans? They can taste fruity, nutty, floral, and so much more. Let’s explore the different flavor bouquets of cacao beans!
Different Types of Flavor Bouquets
There are three well-recognized varieties of cacao beans: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. While these three varieties are commonly used to categorize cacao beans, many people consider them too simplistic – especially since there are more than 600 known flavor bouquets!
Every kind of cacao bean has its own distinct flavor, texture, and aroma. The most popular flavor bouquets of cacao beans are:
- Floral
- Fruity
- Nutty
- Herbal
- Spicy
- Caramel/Malty
What Determines the Flavor of Cacao Beans?
Many factors can influence the flavor of cacao beans, including:
- The specific type of cacao beans
- The cacao beans’ origin and what the environment is like there
- The way the cacao beans were processed (especially the way they were roasted)
- The skill level of the chocolatier processing the cacao beans
Besides influencing the cacao beans’ flavor, all of these factors also have an impact on the mouthfeel, texture, and aroma of the completed chocolate bar. Try tasting two different milk chocolate bars from reputable chocolatiers, one after the other – you might be surprised by just how different they are! As we mentioned above, the chocolatier processing the cacao beans has a big impact on how the flavor is translated to the completed chocolate bar. Here at Zotter Chocolate, we take steps to strengthen the natural flavor bouquets and aroma profiles of different cacao beans. This results in uniquely indulgent chocolate bars with flavors such as lemon, sour cherry, and blackcurrant. Shop our selection of In•Fusion Chocolates to try these delicious chocolate bars today!