Lynn Maleh is a friend of mine who's a foodie and a USC Graduate. She wrote this for "The Chocolate Life" on behalf of [Editor: Link to site deleted - obvious shilling for traffic to a non-chocolate site]. 

By virtue of being a chocolate lover, I already know you’re a disciple of decadence. Some prefer over-the-top indulgences like bright red convertibles, while others seek out physical ones like aromatherapy massages, but if you’re an Epicurean…

1879 marks a significant shift in the world of chocolate. If you define chocolate as a solid substance that is eaten (not drinking chocolate) that melts in your mouth with a creamy smooth deliciousness, then this is the birth year of chocolate. It was the conching of the chocolate to break down particle sizes and sugar crystals to a fine liquid as well as to reduce the sour flavors, that defined chocolate from that moment on.

Ever since that moment ,it was the chocolate maker…

the Esprit range by Van Wees in Amsterdam is amazing.The purity of the product is from a time long forgotten and absolutely natural.De Ooievaar Stokerij is in the Jordaan, situated in the old city and is known for its artisan Jenever and Liqueurs.

the Almond Esprit is phenomenal as are the Rose and the Apple.

check it out here:

http://ning.it/LS7nCf

What cacao makes the best Single Origin Dark Chocolate bar?

Whether watching your favorite TV cooking show or perhaps observing a gourmet chef create a unique and decadent chocolate dessert, you constantly hear: “make sure to use the best quality chocolate you can find.” But what is…

The cacao forest that surrounds our chocolate factory is much like many other forests around here. It was planted about 120 years ago as part of a big push to prevent the Panama disease from reaching the banana plantations in the Caribbean Costa of Costa Rica. Once the fruit was coming, the harvest was plentiful and the cacao was good quality.



Sadly, about 40 years ago a mold called monilla infected the fruit and many cacao trees were chopped down and replaced with banana. Some…

On the web page for "1906" Tumaco dark chocolate, the following two statements are made:

"Minimum 53% cocoa content" -- and -- "Luker 1906 Tumaco Extra Dark Chocolate 85%".

So is it 85% cocoa or "minimum 53% cocoa content"?  And Just what does "Dark Chocolate 85%" mean?