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How to Store Chocolate

Grenada Bars2

How to Store Chocolate: Essential Tips for Maintaining Quality

Chocolate is a beloved treat, but improper storage can affect its quality and taste. Here are some key tips to ensure your chocolate stays fresh and delicious:

1. Ideal Storage Temperature

  • Keep Cool, Not Cold: Store chocolate at a consistent temperature between 15-18°C (59-64°F). Avoid refrigeration unless necessary, as it can cause sugar bloom.
  • Avoid Heat: High temperatures can cause chocolate to melt or develop fat bloom, leading to a whitish appearance and altered texture.

2. Humidity Control

  • Low Humidity: Maintain a humidity level below 55%. Excess moisture can lead to sugar bloom and affect the texture.
  • Use Airtight Containers: If refrigeration is unavoidable, use airtight containers to protect chocolate from moisture and odors.

3. Avoid Strong Odours

  • Chocolate Absorbs Odours: Store chocolate away from strong-smelling foods and substances. Its fat content can absorb nearby odours, affecting its flavor.

4. Light Exposure

  • Keep in the Dark: Light can cause chocolate to degrade. Store it in a dark place to maintain its quality and taste.

5. Handle with Care

  • Minimal Handling: Handle chocolate as little as possible. The warmth from your hands can melt the surface and leave fingerprints.

6. Long-Term Storage

  • Freeze with Caution: If you need to store chocolate for an extended period, freezing is an option. Ensure it’s well-wrapped and airtight. Thaw it gradually in the refrigerator before bringing it to room temperature.

By following these tips, you can enjoy your chocolate at its best, preserving its rich flavor and smooth texture.

For more detailed information, visit the To’ak Chocolate blog.

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Supporting Grenada Disaster Relief Efforts

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Hurricane Beryl

We wanted to inform you about the recent activation of the Grenada Disaster Relief Fund following Hurricane Beryl’s devastation. Our beloved cocoa farms and the community need your help.

Learn more and support the relief efforts here. Together, we can make a difference and help those in need. Thank you for your support.

July 10th 2024

Summary of telephone conversation with Mr William September Farm Managing Partner of Grococoa land.

“Firstly we give thanks that no lives have been lost. 

The impact of Hurricane Beryl has been very, very bad. The whole village of St Patricks and the region of Hermitage has been badly damaged, after the eye of the storm completely flattened our neighbouring island of Carriacou. 75% of all the cocoa trees on the farm have been uprooted. The large mango tree beside the Mott Green Memorial Bridge has fallen over, the roots form part of the integral structure of the bridge foundations. I am very concerned that it might undermine the bridge, then we will have no access to the land. 

I am going to get a crew together with chain saws so we can clear the land and plant new trees, this will cost money and may need heavy machinery. I personally feel very shaken when I see the impact of the hurricane of the people and the land, It may take 5 years for the cocoa to be back to full productivity.”

We are currently raising funds to pay for this work. If you would like to support directly, please email chantal@chocolatedetective.co.uk 

Photo the Late Edmond Brown, last of the three founders of Grenada Chocolate Co walking over the Mott Green Memorial bridge April 2015. Mango tree on the right felled by Hurricane Beryl July 2024

Photo the Late Edmond Brown, last of the three founders of Grenada Chocolate Co walking over the Mott Green Memorial bridge April 2015. Mango tree on the right felled by Hurricane Beryl July 2024

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Where Our Eggs are “laid”

Caramel Eggs

Birds Eggs “laid in France”

As part of our CURATE collection, we have sourced these eggs from a company that I have worked with for over 40 years. I trust their sourcing of cocoa and I can share that they moved away from West African cocoa because they were not happy with the practices there, and not able to control them. They bought a large cocoa farm in Ecuador  (San Fernando, see link and more information below) and have been working directly with the farmers.

The chocolate eggs are made from this cacao (their house couverture is bean to bar) so there is clear provenance, traceability and good working practices which avoid child labour or deforestation.  They are committed to protecting the local people and the environment; AND they are certified by the Rainforest Alliance. (see more below.)

So although the cocoa is not certified ‘Fair Trade’, they are not part of the commodity trading market, they use the Direct Trade model which is even better as they produce their own chocolate from the beans and it’s 100% traceable.

We have fact checked this with an Ecuadorian cocoa farmer friend Susana Cardenas who is also a cocoa farmer in Manabi province and she has confirmed everything above. 

We also sell her very rare and special heritage cocoa chocolate when we can get it…

https://www.cardenaschocolate.com/

Chantal Coady, January 2022

The following information comes from the supplier who make the eggs. 

  • Plots are classified as agricultural (no deforestation) and there is no conflict with local communities (no land grabbing).
  • No deformation of primary forest.
  • Child labor is strictly prohibited.
  • Workers receive training on their rights, the environment, working conditions, agricultural practices (overall, they must be made aware of all aspects of certification).
  • The supervision of workers is cared for by the presence of a full-time nurse and a doctor present one day a week on the plantation.
  • Structures minimize load carrying and workers have adequate protective equipment.
  • The salary of the employees is higher than the Ecuadorian minimum wage.
  • Employees are affiliated with Social Security, can be members of trade unions, enjoy legal holidays and work 5 days out of 7.
  • The use of water is rational (archived registers, leak management, use of sustainable sources).
  • Effluent control mechanisms are in place (outgoing water analysis).
  • Maintenance of uncultivated areas on the plantation of several hectares (wooded areas).
  • Meals with good nutritional value are provided FREE. 

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Rosamund Coady – Ceramicist at Townhouse Spitalfields

Rosamundcoady

Rosamund Coady is a ceramicist who studied ceramics at Camberwell School of Art and Crafts in the 1980s.

In 1999, she became Artist In Residence at Bruce Castle Museum in Tottenham. Her first solo exhibition there was called “Crocks in the Castle”.

Coady has participated in group shows at the Jewish Museum in Camden, Earth & Fire at the Harley Gallery Welbeck, and Cambridge Contemporary Art. She recently created a group of works for Twenty Twenty Gallery’s “Spring Flourish” exhibition.

Other solo projects include installations of Japanese cups in the Brutalist Lumen Church in Bloomsbury, and a food inspired show of plates when she was guest artist for Copperbeech café in Dulwich.

Coady’s work has been featured in publications like The World of Interiors, the Financial Times magazine, The Guardian, Country Home, Good Housekeeping and The Times magazine.

She creates simple ceramic forms but reworks them three-dimensionally with experimental glazes, creating combinations she calls “wild glazing”. Glazes are central to her ceramic practice – she mixes them instinctively, sometimes blending leftover glazes to get unpredictable effects.

Rosamund Coady and Reed Wilson join forces in the exhibition Layers at Town House
Spitalfields
16th – 24th September, for London Design Festival/Shoreditch Design Triangle.

Downloadable PDF:

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Foraging and Father’s Day


– story about meeting Lucy at Rendezvous tasting The Tidal Rum – on YouTube

This June we have a very special limited edition collection with The Tidal Rum and three of our chocolates that we have tested carefully to be sure they compliment the rum beautifully – This is your chance to gift some lucky person, of course it does not need to be your dad or even a man, just someone special who will appreciate this magical combination and maybe even share with you. In our family this kind of gift is known as a boomerang, and we love those! 


Meet Kazz the forager and this special ingredient, called Truffle of the Sea or Pepper Dulse on YouTube.

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Fishermans Birthday

Are you looking for a fun way to celebrate the summer solstice? Look no further than the Fisherman’s Birthday celebration on June 24th, 2023! This family-friendly event takes place from 12pm to 8:30pm at the Kingsbury Green Primary School Playing Fields in London.

The Fisherman’s Birthday celebration is a unique event that celebrates the ancient tradition of fishing. There will be plenty of activities for all ages, including fishing contests, live music, and delicious food. Don’t miss out on this fun and festive event!

For more information, please contact NUTMEGMACESPICEASSOCUK@GMAIL.COM.

To learn more about the important life saving work that the funds raised here are used for.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fishermans-birthday-uk-21st-anniversary-family-fun-day-tickets-615186247627
Fisherman’s Day
29 June is St Peter and St Paul’s Day. They were two of the twelve Apostles in the Christian religion.St Peter is the patron saint of fishermen because he was a Galilean fisherman by profession He was chosen by Jesus Christ as one of his twelve apostles. St. Paul is the author of 3 of the 27 books of the bible, and he’s the hero of another, Acts of the Apostles. He was born in Tarsus, located in present-day eastern Turkey. He was a tentmaker by profession and was a Roman citizen. Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul Traditions, Customs and Activities image: Jesus and St PeterMany of customs carried out are centred on the sea, fish and fishermen because St Peter was a fisherman. In Central and South America as well as across Europe, fishermen have their boats blessed by the local priest.England: Nearest Sunday to St Peter’s Day (June). Blessing of the Sea and Fisheries at Folkstone, Kent, England. The service is led by the vicar of St Peter’s Church (the Seafarers’ Church).
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Paul de Bondt’s chocolate roulade

Chocolate Roulade photo by James Murphy

A lovely celebration cake.

I first met Paul de bondt & his wife Cecilia in 1996, at the Eurochocolate festival in Perugia. He is one of the best chocolatiers and pastry chefs in Tuscany, based in Pisa. We spent a weekend running a cookery school, sharing our recipes – I demonstrated my tapenade and this is one of his recipes – it’s a really light Genoise sponge, and makes the perfect foil to a creamy filling or ganache. 

For the filling you could choose a variety of things…

Soft berries, crème fraiche, chocolate truffle….

Coffee, Tea, or water ganache, which is dairy free…

Serves 8

Prep 30 mins

Cook 12 minutes

Ingredients

  • 75g strong white flour
  • 25g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 eggs, separated
  • Pinch of salt
  • 100g caster/ sugar

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Line a rectangular baking tray (approx 30x 40cm) with greaseproof paper.
  2. Sieve the flour and cocoa powder together into a bowl. 
  3. Beat the egg whites in a spotlessly clean bowl with the salt and sugar how, until they reach meringue consistency. Gradually mix in the egg yolks, then gently fold in the flour and cocoa with a large metal spoon until well combined, keeping as much air in as possible. 
  4. Spread the roulade mixture onto the lined tray and bake for about 12 minutes, or until just cooked, test with a skewer or the palm of your hand. 
  5. Cool on wire rack
  6. Turn out of the tray and remove the paper, although you can keep it as a base to make rolling easier. Spread your whipped cream and ganache or whatever you choose, roll and dust with cocoa powder & icing sugar. 

Keep cool until consumed 

Chantal Coady 

Mastering the Art of Chocolate Published by @wnbooks Weidenfeld & Nicholson 

Photo by @jamesmurphyphoto 

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Environmental Statement 

Image 09 11 2022 At 18.17

Since the Chocolate Detective started it has been an imperative to avoid the use of plastic unless completely unavoidable.

We use recycled or recyclable materials wherever possible. 

Our new egg cartons are made from bagasse, a by product of sugar cane. The result is an elegant, smooth white food that is safe board, so we no longer need to line the boxes with tissue, they are also home compostable.

Made in Lancashire, powered by water.

We are really delighted to have got to the point where we could have this beautiful paper printed, and proud to be working with this British company. http://www.roachbridgetissues.com/what-we-do/take-our-environmental-responsibilities-seriously/

New Arrival!

Our new black and white tissue paper is printed using water-based inks on historic mill site of Roach Bridge harnessing the power of the river Darwen. 

Soon we will soon be offering this beautiful tissue paper as standard wrap for all our web orders, and soon with a carrier bag as a gift option online. In the meantime we will be using it at every excuse and in particular at all pop-up events.

Any clear bags we use to pack the chocolate are made from Natureflex TM which is a wood based home compostable material. They may look like plastic but they are not! 

Natureflex Circular Economy

There’s much debate about composting as some materials need an industrial process to break them down, we aim for home compostable components.

The one thing we have struggled to source because of our tiny scale is a chocolate tray (for protecting chocolate bonbons inside a box). In this instance we have compromised by using a PET1 plastic that is fully recyclable by its similar to a plastic water bottle. It’s made from the same material as a plastic bottle.

This area of packaging is rapidly evolving and we will be keeping our eyes open for any new innovations.