By Stacey Hawley / Co-Founder Forté Flavors
Flavored chocolate is a crowd-pleaser, rapid prototype, and it’s easy with the right tools. First off, oil-soluble flavors are a must to prevent the chocolate from seizing. Oil-soluble flavorings also help maintain a smooth and creamy texture consumers expect with eating chocolate. My go-to tool for this application is a candy melting pot. Although this little gizmo will not temper the chocolate, it will gently melt the chocolate and then keep it melted at the right temperature while you are working. A little goes a long way, so I typically make 100 grams of flavored chocolate at a time. I waste less raw materials and can create multiple options very quickly. Use different shaped molds for each flavored prototype so you can quickly identify the flavor profile in use.
Chocolate is an excellent delivery system for CBD. Carefully calculate the dosage per piece, so your tasters know precisely what they are ingesting. I use a CBD concentrate derived from 100% hemp plants grown in Oregon. Our top pick flavor profile for this CBD application is Forté’s allergen-free, Natural Hazelnut Type Flavor. The nutty profile pairs well with the astringent tang from the CBD. To make way for subtle profiles such as Vanilla Bean, add in Forté’s Natural Masking Type Flavor along with the characterizing flavor.
Forté is here to help you find your forte. Reach out to us if you want flavor samples or a taste of our latest, rapid prototype.
Keep well!