Millions of people may not be aware that they are eating chocolate "wrong".
According to food experts, there is a particular way that sweet treats should be enjoyed. Food scientist Natalie Alibrandi has revealed the top blunders people make when enjoying a sweet treat, including tucking into it at night and eating too much in one go.
Putting chocolate in the fridge the biggest 'no no', according to food experts. This is because humidity levels are too high.
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Instead, the sweet spot in terms of optimum temperature was found to be 18C. The tell-tale signs your chocolate has been stored incorrectly include it lacking a sharp snap when you break a square off.
Poorly tempered chocolate will also be crumbly or melt too fast in your fingers. Other perils of storing chocolate in the fridge are sugar blooms, oxidation, and transfers of taste and odour to the chocolate. Despite this, a study of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Galaxy, found 78% confessed to storing their chocolate in the fridge.
The food expert also claims 11am is the best time to eat chocolate, as cacao contains caffeine and sugar, making it a good pick-me-up ahead of lunch - something one in five (20%) do. Food scientist Natalie Alibrandi said: “Chocolate is a deep and complex delicacy with many layers to be explored.
"Understanding the need for the chocolate to snap, both visually and aurally, brings a sensation that dances on your taste receptors and increases flavour. Eating chocolate earlier in the day with a fresh palate is also a key finding that many Brits will be surprised about, making it a good mid-morning snack choice to help keep us firing on all cylinders before lunch.”
The study also found Britain is a nation of chocoholics, with 34% scoffing chocolate daily. And 58% said it’s their favourite treat.
But while 74% claimed to be ‘chocolate chewers’, according to experts, this will limit the duration of the sensorial experience. Instead, you should allow chunks to melt in the mouth, so that the flavours can develop, giving a more indulgent experience.
The 10 commandments for how to eat chocolate the "right" way
1. Chocolate at Elevenses
Consume earlier in the day with a fresh palate for a great mid-morning caffeine boost to help power through until lunch
2. Do not store in the fridge
Store chocolate at 18 degrees to prevent oxidation, sugar bloom and any transfer of odours
3. Let it melt, don’t chew
By letting it melt you’re allowing cocoa butter to coat your mouth, allowing you to experience all flavours
4. Eat in small quantities
Eat up to six pieces of 4-gram portions to prevent overstimulation of the tastebuds
5. Use all your senses
Sight, smell, texture, and even hearing is all part of the experience
6. Make it snappy
When chocolate snaps, it means it is tempered correctly and has the right structure and quality
7. No distractions
Chocolate has so many volatiles and nuances, give it as much attention as it deserves, this will boost the overall experience
8. Unexpected pairings
Try sweet chocolate (milk or white) with bitter foods or bitter chocolate with saltier foods
9. Wait for the aftertaste
Some chocolates can leave a 45-minute aftertaste, but in most cases a 15-minute wait will suffice
10. Don’t mix
Mixing different types of chocolate can overstimulate tastebuds, so avoid mixing different types (e.g. milk and dark chocolate)
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