Hotel Chocolat : Everything you need to know about couverture

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Whether you're a cocoa connoisseur or are just feeling generally curious about chocolate, you might be keen to learn about couverture. If you've heard the term but aren't quite sure how it fits into the chocolate universe, have no fear. Here's everything you need to know about couverture…

Put simply, couverture is a type of high-cocoa chocolate. Chocolatiers often favour couverture chocolate for pastries, truffles and bonbons.

So, how does couverture differ from dark chocolate, you may wonder. Well, ultimately, it has a far higher cocoa butter content and an exceedingly fine texture. You could say that couverture is 'real chocolate', as opposed to compound chocolate. Compound chocolate, which is what many commercial chocolate bars are made from, often contains vegetable oil in place of cocoa butter.

At Hotel Chocolat, we believe that cocoa should always be at the heart of chocolate. That's why we ensure all our products contain plenty of rich, satisfying cocoa. In the UK, white chocolate must contain at least 20% cocoa butter to be sold. Our white chocolate contains 40% cocoa butter, giving it a smoother mouthfeel and irresistible melt.

High-quality couverture consists of the same ingredients as any other chocolate bar, just in slightly different proportions. Couverture is made up of:

When it comes to couverture, the higher percentage of cocoa butter means the chocolate can melt more quickly. This attribute makes it easier to work with, and it's ideal for tempering to a glossy sheen - perfect for chocolate works of art that delight the eye as much as the taste buds.

Chocolatiers find that tempered couverture offers the perfect consistency for enrobing truffles, fruits and biscuits. In fact, the term 'couverture' comes from the french word meaning "to cover" or "to blanket." So, when chocolatiers are looking to dip or garnish their creations, couverture is the go-to.

Couverture also works well in chocolate moulds, as you can coat the mould in a generous layer of the shiny, tempered liquid. When you turn the moulds out, you'll have a crisp casing for filled chocolates, liqueurs and truffles. Take, for instance, our Dark Chocolate Rum Truffles - a dark truffle base laced with Saint Lucian golden rum, is sealed in a snappable 70% dark chocolate shell.

It's worth noting that you must temper couverture after melting, or it may develop a matte appearance and chocolate bloom.

While couverture is excellent for enrobing truffles and creating beautiful chocolate sculptures, it can also work well in baking. However, because of couverture's high cocoa butter content, it also contains a high level of fat. Therefore, it may alter your bake if you use it within a recipe.

If you're looking to decorate your cakes and bakes, though, then couverture is a great option. It's ideal for recipes that require a delectable chocolate flavour and glossy shine. It also offers a satisfying snap, making it ideal for chocolate shapes and for coating cake pops. The crisp outer layer will contrast with the softness of the sponge cake inside. Delicious!

As well as decorating cakes, couverture makes for a divine chocolate eating experience. Not only is it lower in sugar than other types of chocolate, but the extra cocoa butter means it melts sensationally in the mouth.

A little goes a long way, and you'll find that just a few bites of high-quality couverture can curb any cocoa craving. So, why not sit back, take a bite of a luxurious 70% Dark Chocolate Baton, and experience all the magic a high cocoa butter content has to offer.

Disclaimer

Hotel Chocolat Group plc published this content on 09 October 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 10 October 2021 01:31:00 UTC.