Cocoa Amore, Leicester’s finest chocolatiers, not only sell some delicious handmade chocolates, but they also offer chocolate making workshops. It is a great experience and one I would recommend. Here is more information on the Chocolate Making at Cocoa Amore.
The workshop is informal and full of information and fun. We started off with a chocolate cocktail which came as part of our experience. The cocktails were so tasty and perfect to get us ready for some interactive learning.
You normally get a hot drink on arrival and one at the end too.
Duration: 2.5 – 3 hrs Group Size: 2 -10 Price: £45.00 per person.
Our tutor/chocolatier was Dan and he made the experience enjoyable.
History
You start off by learning the history of Cocoa and then the processes of making it. It is an eye-opener and makes you realise there is a reason some chocolates are so cheap.
Some information I picked up from the workshop that may be useful to you:
- The type and quality of chocolate depends on a few variables. Firstly the type of cocoa bean used. Then the combination of the main ingredients in chocolate which are Cocoa mass/liquor, Cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla and Lecithin (emulsifier).
- To this, you can add milk for all the milk chocolate varieties. White chocolate obviously has no Cocoa in it but the rest of the ingredients so a lot of fat.
- The percentage of dark chocolate that you see on chocolates is based on the ratio of cocoa liquor to cocoa butter.
- All chocolatiers like Cocoa Amore import chocolate pieces from different places on the Cocoa belt.
They then use their own recipes to make and temper the different chocolate types. Cocoa Amore uses a similar recipe to the Belgium chocolates hence why they are so delicious and smooth.
Cocoa Amore uses Luker from Columbia. You can read more about them http://www.cacaofinodearoma.com/en/.
During the workshop, you get to try and feel the different forms of cocoa and taste chocolates from different parts of the world. My favourite was Columbia and worst was Madagascar because it was too bitter for me. Cocoa Amore’s house dark is from Columbia. Dark chocolate actually is not meant to taste so bitter and acidic; it depends on the composition and the way it is made.
The chocolate making
You get to make eight truffles and a box of about 16 flavoured chocolates, both of which are well packaged. We used Cocoa Amores’ House Dark (70% Cocoa) and House Milk (40% Cocoa). We also got to take home our leftover filling too (almond and tonka).
You cannot keep the ones you make for too long due to the environment you make them in and the chocolate temperatures you use (obviously they won’t last more than a day). This is an open workshop and not in the conditions that would normally be used for making chocolate.
Whilst making the chocolate you can try as much as you want so perfect for chocolate lovers. You pick up great skills on how to make similar treats at home.
Cocoa Amore serves one of the best hot chocolates in Leicester. You get actual chocolate drops to add to your milk and get to add any flavoured chocolate too.
With each hot chocolate, you get to pick one of their chocolates.
The shop has an extensive range of chocolates to choose from. It’s definitely worth visiting.
We had 4 people in our class which was perfect. One of the participants was a Vegan and she was catered for too. The workshop is a great gift idea or a perfect treat for chocolate lovers.
COCOA AMORE
Address: 34 Silver Street Leicester
E-mail: info@cocoa-amore.co.uk
Phone: 0116 2623278
At Cocoa Amore you can also have a truffle making experience.
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