Chocolate
I taste fine chocolate. Usually craft chocolate. Most days it is for pleasure, occasionally I’ll taste professionally, either way it is typically a delicious learning experience.
What I've found is that some bars are quick to reveal their flavor notes. Bold. Up front. Hard to miss. Often these ones are memorable.
Other bars are quiet and take careful focus and concentration to taste the flavor notes. Such bars are typically extremely complex. They will take you on a fabulous journey with a symphony of flavors, but only if you listen.
Recently I tasted Fruitions’s Hispaniola made from beans grown in Dominican Republic. A tremendous bar full of flavor, beautiful melt. Still, I was at a loss for words to describe what I was tasting. I needed to slow down, focus more intently on what I was tasting.
Only after I slowed down and taste again did I unravel the complex notes of this beautiful chocolate bar.
People
I had a similar experience a few years ago when I met Mary (not her real name). She was quiet, reserved, never said much at meetings. Kept to herself. Swiftly went about her business and left the office when she was done. No flamboyant clothing, accessories, or cars. On the outside there appeared to be nothing special or even very interesting.
We had always been pleasant, exchanging a “hello” as I sped on my way in my typical turbo mode. One day, I don’t remember why, a conversation started. Only when I slowed down really listened enough to understand Mary did I find out what an interesting person she was. She has fabulous hobbies in which she is very well known and respected around the world with a huge following. Pervious to her current career, she had been very successful at another which she chose to leave, just for a change of pace. How many people are brave enough to do that?
Now every time I see her I learn a little more about who she is and more about her complex personality, which is actually quite bold even though she doesn’t appear to be from an outsiders view.
Mary was like one of the quiet chocolate bars but I never would have known unless I had slowed down and listened. I wonder what I would find if I slowed down and listened to people more often?
By the way, I finally found the words to describe Fruition’s Hispaniola bar. Notes of a deeply roasted peach. Intense chocolate flavors touched with a hint of raspberry. Smooth rich melt and a long finish.
Find more about my chocolate tasting adventures at www.findingfinechocolate.com
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