 |
 Mardi Gras |
 Casino |
 Music |
 School Events |
 |
|
|
|
|
• Party411 Home Shop Online
Personalize Your Party Plan Your Party Expert Advice • Door Prizes • Site Map |
|
Valentine's Day Chocolate Tasting Party
A recent study by Dr David Lewis of the University of Sussex indicated that the sensation of melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than the sensation of passionate kissing. So what better way to celebrate a passionate holiday like Valentine’s Day than to explore your ardent love for chocolate, and hold a Valentine's Day Chocolate Tasting Party!
Valentine's Day Chocolate Tasting Invitations
Invitations really set the mood for a party, so set the mood for your chocolate tasting party with some tasty chocolate! Start with a personalized chocolate tasting party invitation from Creations For You™. Include a fun size pack of chocolate candies to sweeten the deal.
Or send
personalized candy bars with
all the details of your get-together; and no one will send regrets.
Use rich colors like red and gold to create a delectable party atmosphere. Welcome your guests with a personalized Valentine’s Day cupid cutout (with your face added!) flanked with spectacular red metallic columns. Red and gold balloons interspersed throughout the rooms create a dramatic effect for a bargain price. Hang red crepe paper, or better yet, use red feather boas!
Set the mood with soft jazz music, love songs, or for something fun use the soundtrack to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!
Select your Chocolate
Chocolate experts say that the best way to test is by using chocolate bars and breaking them into small pieces, but don’t let that discourage you from including chocolate truffles, chocolate cakes, or chocolate fondues.
Setting up your Chocolate Tasting Tables
The guest of honor at your chocolate
tasting party is the chocolate, so decorate the tasting tables so they really
stand out. Cover the table with a rich
gold tablecloth
Break the chocolate into small pieces, and arrange them from light to dark. It may be wise to do the tasting in stages if you are sampling more than 15 types of chocolate, starting with the lower cocoa percentages and move toward the darker chocolates. If you start with a darker chocolate first, it will overwhelm your taste buds, making the lighter flavors more difficult to taste. Number or label all of the plates so you can identify the chocolates.
Heart centerpieces will draw even more attention to the buffet, so place one in the center of the chocolate table and another on the beverage and palette cleansing table. Let your guest know it is important to cleanse their palate between chocolates - it’s hard to taste the finer points of one chocolate when you can still taste the last chocolate you sampled!
Provide unsalted crackers, baguette bread, or thin slices of a tart apple like Granny Smith. This gives your guests a fresh start to the next tasting experience. A container of unground coffee beans is helpful to clear aromas from the nose since 90% of taste is smell.
Analyze the Chocolate
There are several things you can focus on when tasting chocolate:
Appearance of the chocolate includes color variations, whether or not the chocolate is shiny (it should be!), and the presence of any bloom. Bloom is the grayish discoloration chocolate that has been exposed to temperature fluctuations or moisture. Don’t worry, it’s still safe to eat and won’t ruin the taste!
Aroma of the chocolate can be a surprising discovery process. Rub the chocolate with your thumb to soften it, and then take a whiff. You could find scents of vanilla, cinnamon, fruit, cedar, or nuts. The possibilities are endless!
Texture is directly related to the length of time the chocolate went through a process called “conching”, the longer the time, the smoother the chocolate. Is your chocolate smooth or gritty? Does it have anything added to it that changes the texture?
Flavors of chocolate can be broken into two categories, the initial flavor, and the finish flavor. What flavors can you taste when you first put the chocolate in your mouth and it starts to melt? Is it fruity or earthy? Any what about after it’s gone? What type of flavour is left as an aftertaste?
Provide a worksheet for your guests to write down their observations, and compare everyone’s assessments. You’ll be surprised at the range of comments! Or better yet, print out this one I created for you and use it! Doesn’t that make life easier?
Valentine's Day Chocolate Tasting Party Favors
Send your guests home with a sweet reminder of your party. Personalized Chocolate Photo lollipops will allow guests to reminisce about the great time (and great chocolate) they had.
"Las cosas claras y el chocolate
espeso" is a Spanish proverb meaning “Ideas should be clear and chocolate
thick”. Take these ideas and throw a Valentine’s Day party that your friends and
family will be talking about (and trying to walk off) for the rest of the year! Valentine's Day Party Planning and Decorating Ideas from Party411.comValentine's Day Planning Guide
Creations For You! Valentine's Day Creations For You
Valentine's Day Decorating411 Valentine’s Day Decorating 411
Valentine's Day Party Themes - A Just Add Guests™ Party
- A red theme
party
Host a Chocolate Tasting Party!
Love is in the Air - A Just Add Guests™ Party
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day from the Party Girl and all of her little Cupids! © Party411®
|
