Today, we were introduced to our first taste test. When I entered the classroom, there was a paper plate on my table with several different types of chocolate. Before today, I had obviously tasted different types of chocolate from different companies, some light and some dark. However, I had never really compared chocolate head to head or really known what to look for in a taste test. I feel like that is all about to change with this class, though.
Our first test was a blind test between three chocolates. Being my first taste test, I do not have the vocabulary I really need to describe what I am tasting but I was able to tell a difference between the three. The first was sweet and slightly fruity. The second was not quite as sweet as the first one. It was fruity as well, and slightly bitter although not overly bitter. The third chocolate had a slightly tart aftertaste.
Next we tasted a piece of 100% chocolate. I knew what to expect on this one, so I only took a small nibble. It was absolutely terrible; extremely bitter and tart. This is not something I ever want to put in my mouth again. We also tasted a cocoa bean, which tasted almost exactly like the 100% chocolate, and I was amazed thinking that it is really hard to believe that this is where chocolate comes from. The nibs we tasted had a similar taste. However, I can see how they would be good for cooking.
We tasted a piece of 60% chocolate, which I enjoyed much more than the 100%. This one is much less tart. Although it still is slightly tart, the sweet overtones more than make up for it.
Next, we tried regular cocoa powder and Dutch cocoa powder. The regular had a very strong aftertaste. It was soft and dissolved relatively quickly. When I tried it with sugar it was very good. The Dutch had a very strong flavor as well, but the aftertaste was not as potent. Neither of these powders are something that you want to eat on their own.
We learned that white chocolate has no cocoa in it but it does contain cocoa butter. The white chocolate was very, very sweet.
We then did a taste vs. smell test with corriander seeds. We learned that their are two different types of smell, orthonasal and retronasal. When I held my nose and did not breathe, the corriander seeds and no taste whatsoever, but when breathing it suddenly seems to have a flavor. The reason for this is our retronasal sense picks up a scent, but none of the six tastes apply.
The last taste test we did was red jello. At first I had no idea what flavor it was because I knew it wasn't cherry, strawberry, or watermelon. I decided to close my eyes to try to discern the flavor and I then thought it was lime. It turns out it was lemon, but it really goes to show you that our perceptions influence our tastes a lot. If it was colored yellow, I probably would have immediately known it was lemon.
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