Finding Flavors in Chocolate - Stage One (Part Two of Four)

This one is straightforward enough.

If you want to find flavors in chocolate then you’ve got to start trying everything. And we mean EVERYTHING. And not just different chocolate bars, but any foods you can get your teeth into.

But we also realize that there’s a lot out there and it can feel overwhelming! Seriously, where to start? (We compare it to endlessly scrolling on your TV streaming service and taking hours to even pick a movie) So we’re writing up something that helps you to just start running.

So welcome to talking flavors with us!

What this is about.

If you’re eager to talk and find flavors, you’re in the right place.

We all look forward to that first bite of something delicious, whether it be

• The unexpectedly messy bite into a perfectly ripe pear
• experimenting with exotic spices
• or simply enjoying your favorite meal.

Enjoying that first bite is one thing. But each bite is an opportunity to uncover something new. Finding ways to enjoy those next few bites can take eating to that next level. And not just for your tastebuds, we’ve found it’s been good for our heads (it’s been quite calming….!)

Finding flavors is a weirdly relaxing experience. You need to switch off and engage all your senses, and that means a moment in time without distractions (and in this tech age, we’ll jump at any distraction free moment).

Plus by tasting a variety of ingredients and using your senses to zone into each bite, you’ll gradually build a deeper appreciation and understanding of food and flavors. And we’ve got some little helpful tips to get your flavour ball rolling.

All you need to do is find different things and taste them

Honestly, if you’re not up for reading an entire article on this (which is fair!) all you need to do is taste different things.

• Have a teaspoon of something. An example would be peanut butter (smell it, then taste it, and keep inhaling as your tasting as that’s how you’ll find most of the flavours)
• Then have a bite of something else peanut related. Maybe some peanut brownies, even just a handful of peanuts And same thing again, smell and then take a bite.
• And for each item you taste, link it to a memory – Peanut butter could be as simple as sandwiches you used to eat at school or a newspaper cone of hot and toasty roasted peanuts.

And if peanuts aren’t your thing, then take a handful of berries and compare that to jam. Think about the difference in sweetness, is one tangier than the other? Which one do you like more? All while while reminding yourself of a berry dessert your grandmother made.

Or even try a slice of raisin toast. And then take a handful of raisins and a handful of currants and try and pick the difference. And dream about some brandy soaked Christmas cake while you’re at it.

It All Comes Down to This:

• Step 1: Try something (smell and then taste)
• Step 2: Try something similar and think about the differences.
• Step 3: Link it to something you remember.

And then taste and taste and taste again.

Some people like to keep journals and write notes (which we didn’t value at first… but we’ve realized using a pen to write something down helps makes that bit of information stick).

But that’s completely up to you.

Just keep trying new things. Your flavor memory bank will grow exponentially over time.

And if you really want to sink your teeth into this – see below!

Why we think finding flavors is important

With all the fast food becoming part of our everyday lives, we’ve lost sight of being adventurous with our foods and have slowly forgotten that new meals and new flavors can be fun and exciting.

We’ve lost some of the genuine enjoyment that comes with eating. Finding flavors is just a small step towards making our way back to eating delicious food again.

How do we get started

While there is a science behind all of it – anybody can use their tastebuds to find flavors. You just need to:

• Choose something to taste. This can be something as simple as a piece of fruit, or if you’re feeling adventurous go for something with multiple ingredients.
• (Struggling to start? We’ll be back with a list of foods soon!)
• Find a quiet space and get comfy
• And then use your senses
  • Sight: Have a look and notice it’s color and texture. Are there any flavor hints?
  • Smell: Inhale before tasting. Smell has so much to do with flavor (ever notice how food tastes bland when you have a blocked nose?)
  • Touch: Take a bite and notice the texture with your mouth. Texture has so much influence!
  • Taste: Just think about what you can taste.
  • Compare: And compare it to something else. That’s when the individual flavors show their true colours. Go back and forth, really focussing on how each item tastes.

• Rinse and repeat!

And the secret is being able to link that flavor to a memory. What does it remind you of?

Relating flavors to personal memories makes flavor identification that much easier. It’s how our noses, tastebuds and brain have been wired, and as time goes on you’ll find those memories becoming stronger and stronger, like exercising a muscle. The taste of a particular spice might remind you of a cherished family recipe, or a specific fruit might bring back fond memories of a summer vacation. Linking the food you’re tasting to memories helps your flavor memory bank grow.

And all of a sudden you’ll find yourself eating something new and remembering something you haven’t thought about in years.

So get some food in you – dive in, taste widely, and let your tastebuds guide you. Where will you go? And where have you bean?

Over time we’ll be sharing our chocolate tastings – as individual bars or in themes to help us all explore something new. Come join us at our First Stop – The Philippines!

And yep, all up, this one is a pretty obvious post. To learn how food tastes and find flavors, you have to eat different things and compare it to other foods (it’s a no brainer).

But it’s an introduction. Part Two (If at first you don’t succeed, bite and bite again) will give you more to play with.

In the meantime,

• think about our food while you’re eating it
• go for the adventurous option instead of the standard sandwich
• be open to eating food that isn’t your favorite.
• Who knows, you might find something delicious that you never knew existed.

We’ll be back really soon with Stages Two and Three (if you missed it, here’s the intro!)

Til then, have a bite of something else and think about it. Let us know what you find!

Where to next?

Well if you’re new, we recommend:

And if you’re curious, we recommend:

And if you’re still not so sure, check out what events or makers are in your area:

Talk Beans with us!

Got any questions? Feedback? Want to hi say? Reach out below – we’re always happy to chat!

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