As any chocolate lover can tell you, there is no end to the knowledge one can gain about cacao and chocolate. From the history of each to the methods of processing them to their places of origin, any topic related to this amazing food can be extensively researched.
As chocolate lovers, it’s our duty to learn more about CHOCOLATE, This could mean attending chocolate tours and tastings, as well as investing more money in bean-to-bar brands. But let’s start with something easier: here are 10 books you can read to expand your knowledge on everything cacao and chocolate.
1. THE CHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR by Chloé Doutre-Roussel
Chloé Doutre-Roussel is an expert on chocolate, and this book is a must-have for anyone who loves the sweet stuff. In it, she shares her knowledge and passion for chocolate with readers who will learn to differentiate between good and bad chocolate, discover wonderful new brands to savor, learn how to select brands that reflect their mood and time of day, and finally learn how to taste chocolate like a connoisseur.
2. RAISING THE BAR by Pam Williams and Jim Eber
Raising the Bar: The Future of Fine Chocolate tells the story of what the next movement in fine flavor chocolate might hold. Told in four lively parts, covering everything from genetics to manufacturing and bars to bonbons, this book features interviews with dozens of international stakeholders across the fine flavor industry to consider both the promises and pitfalls ahead.
3. A BITTERSWEET SAGA OF DARK AND LIGHT by Mort Rosenblum
In this engaging narrative, foodie Mort Rosenblum explores the complexities of chocolate. From ancient Mexico’s mole poblano (chile-laced chicken with chocolate) to contemporary French chocolatiers who produce bite-sized gold-flecked bricks of dark chocolate, he follows the trail around the world.
4. THE NEW TASTE OF CHOCOLATE by Maricel Presilla
Culinary historian, author and renowned chocolate expert Maricel Presilla takes you on a journey from the Maya and Aztec’s chocolate rituals to cutting-edge genetic discoveries, exploring the significance of the cacao bean through the ages. This definitive illustrated reference has been revised and expanded to immerse chocolate lovers in the rich history and science of their favorite treat. More information here
5. THE CHOCOLATE TREE by Allen M. Young
In The Chocolate Tree, Young describes the production of this essential crop, the environmental price of Europeanized cultivation, and ways that current reclamation efforts for New World rain forests can improve the natural ecology of the cacao tree.
6. DISCOVER CHOCOLATE by Clay Gordon
In Discover Chocolate, author Clay Gordon offers more than a hundred gorgeous photographs of chocolate and truffles, but this is a guide that also includes a handy rating system, maps of where cacao is grown, advice for pairing chocolate and wine, and where to shop for the best chocolate in the world.
7. MAKING CHOCOLATE: FROM BEAN TO BAR TO S’MORE by Dandelion Chocolate
This book is the first complete guide to making chocolate from scratch. You’ll learn the simplest kitchen hacks, like winnowing with a hair dryer, and the complex science and mechanics behind making chocolate. It also includes tips for scaling up production and 30 recipes, including maybe the very best chocolate chip cookies in the world.
8. BEAN TO BAR CHOCOLATE by Megan Giller
Megan Giller, an expert on artisanal chocolate, invites you to join her on a journey through the craft chocolate revolution in America. Learn what to look for in a bar of chocolate and how to pair it with coffee, beer, spirits, cheese, and bread. This book busts some popular myths (like “white chocolate isn’t real chocolate”), introduces you to more than a dozen of the hottest artisanal chocolate makers in the U.S., and provides recipes for making your own chocolates at home. View the book here
9. THE SCIENCE OF CHOCOLATE by Stephen T. Beckett
The Science of Chocolate, Second Edition is a journey through the history and science of this beloved sweet. It explores how confectionery is made and the way in which basic science plays a vital role. The second edition contains new chapters on topics such as nutrition–why chocolate is good for you–as well as how to stop it from melting in hot countries and fun methods such as how to put air bubbles inside a chocolate bar.
10. CHOCOLATE by Dom Ramsey
Discover how to identify quality when buying, learn how to taste like a pro, or make your own chocolate at home with the help of more than 20 step-by-step recipes for truffles, fondant, cake, ice cream, and more. Eight step-by-step techniques provide mini master classes for tempering, flavoring and even making your own bean-to-bar chocolate. More information about the book here
And there you have it–10 books to help you learn more about chocolate. If you’ve read any of these books, we’d love to hear from you and get your feedback. We are @cocoterra_co on Instagram and Pinterest and @cocoterraco on Twitter and Facebook.
