Choosing Decadent Champagne Chocolate Truffles

By Tanisha Berg


The original truffle, a French invention, consisted of a bite-sized ball of ganache rolled in cocoa powder. Although there are many variations of this confection today, what all the versions have in common is that they are balls, squares or other shapes, filled with ganache. Several companies make delicious champagne chocolate truffles and these make great gifts, especially when presented in a special box.

The first truffle, as legend has it, was created in the kitchen of one of the great French chefs. An apprentice was trying to make pastry cream and he poured hot cream into a bowl of chocolate chunks by accident. As the mixture hardened, he discovered it could be worked into a rough ball. He coated it with cocoa powder and was struck by its resemblance to the precious fungus found in the Perigord region of France.

There are a great variety of these products available today and choice of a particular kind depends very much on personal taste. Some people love a rich, sweet variety. Others prefer a more bitter taste. Many products offer a combination of bitter and sweet, using different types for the center and the coating.

The cream of the ganache helps to temper the sweetness. There are many different types of cream that can be used and sometimes butter is added too. Other unusual ingredients like condensed milk or double thick yoghurt are also being used today. Once again, the ingredients used in a particular product will appeal to some and not to others.

Originally, the truffle was simply coated in cocoa powder and many people still use this coating today. However, they are also experimenting with many different coatings, even ones that offer an extreme taste contrast like paprika or peppercorns. Icing sugar, sprinkles or chopped nuts are commonly used. A tempered coating is used for a more elegant appearance and when bitten into, gives a lovely crackle, contrasting with the soft interior.

When making a choice the type and quantity of alcohol is another consideration. Some people only want a mild flavor while other people want to taste more alcohol. A number of different kinds of alcohol such as cognac and brandy as well as liqueurs like Cointreau or Kahlua go well with a truffle. However, champagne provides a subtle taste preferred by many people. When the smooth creamy center is infused with just enough the flavor can be recognized but it does not overpower the other ingredients.

Tasting a sample provided by a store or requested from a website is the best way to determine whether the product is suitable. Trying out a particular product before giving it as a gift helps to ensure it suits the tastes of the person to whom it is given. A very sweet variety with plenty of alcohol will not be appreciated by someone who has more bitter, subtle tastes.

A mass produced product found in a supermarket will not be the same as one purchased from a reputable chocolatier. When giving gifts, one wants them to be special and today there are many chocolatiers offering their quality products online. The way they are made and the attractive presentation in elegant boxes ensures that they will be much appreciated when given as gifts on special occasions.




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