At Delysia Chocolatier it’s safe to say we have an international flair. Chef Nicole takes inspiration from her family’s heritage, her travels and her Texas roots to come up with creative pairings that please the palette in familiar yet new ways.
Our new International Collection Chocolate Truffles from the Aspen FOOD & WINE Classic are a celebration of tastes from around the world. The collection includes some of the most adventurous flavor combinations we’ve ever created. Since it is International Chocolate Day we’re opening a box and taking a closer look at other interesting chocolate flavors from across the globe.
Spanish-Style Paella Chocolate Truffles
We’re kicking things off with one of our own creations. For the Paella Chocolate Truffle, Chef Nicole selected the savory elements of classic paella and blended them with white and dark chocolate. White chocolate infused with saffron, seafood seasonings, red peppers and tomatoes make up the center. Dark chocolate then coats The creamy, sweet and savory mixture in a shell.
Mushroom-Filled Chocolates
We add actual mushrooms to our Chicha Morado chocolate truffle, but in Japan Meiji Kinoko no Yama candy creates mushrooms out of chocolate. The mushrooms are a popular combination of biscuits and chocolate. If you’re looking for real pieces of shiitake with your cocoa, there are Bachhalm chocolates that have dried mushrooms sprinkled on top.
New Zealand Treat Pascal Pineapple Lumps
Another unique ingredient of the International Collection shows up in Pascal Pineapple Lumps. We cover a lot of fruits in chocolate, but pineapple isn’t the most common choice in the U.S. However, in New Zealand they’ve discovered the amazingly sweet combination, which is very popular among chocolate lovers.
Sweet Potato KitKats
The KitKats we know in the states aren’t always the same in other countries. In Japan KitKat has created sweet potato chocolates that are purple. Eat your veggies and have a little chocolate too!
Chocolate and Peanuts . . . and Ketchup?
For a limited time Zotter made a chocolate bar to commemorate President Obama’s second run for president. The bar combined three popular U.S. flavors — 70% dark chocolate, peanuts and ketchup. The chocolate bar didn’t actually have ketchup in the center though, but there was a tomato-based layer that was more fruity than salty.
Refreshing Cucumber-Filled Chocolate
Cucumber can be just as refreshing in chocolate as it is in your water. Mixologists have begun mixing cucumber, mint and chocolate together in their adult beverages. Now chocolatiers are beginning to do the same with chocolates that contain cucumber. Even amateur chefs are using cucumber in place of zucchini to bake super moist, healthy chocolate cake.
Curry and Chips Chocolate
This International Chocolate Day you can enjoy a meal that’s popular around the world in a single bite. Curry and chips (French fries to us Yanks) sounds like something that was dreamt up in the Delysia Chocolatier kitchen. Delysia has used curry in a few of our truffles, but we’ve never combined it with the saltiness of french fries. A UK company, Mighty Fine Chocolate, beat us to it.
As we look around the world for the flavor-filled taste sensations this International Chocolate it’s awe-inspiring and encouraging. There are so many flavors we’ve yet to discover, but Delysia Chocolatier is certainly at the cutting-edge of cocoa experimentation. Keep checking back to find out what flavors we’ll combine next!