Different Types of Truffles

The credit for creating the first chocolate truffle goes to M. Dufour of Chambery, France in 1895. However, recognition of the sweet treat didn’t truly spread until the establishment of the Prestat chocolate shop in London, which to this day, still sells the original recipe for ‘Napoleon III’ truffles. Today, you can choose from three main types of chocolate truffles in the world: American, European, and Swiss.

The “American truffle” typically uses a blend of dark or milk chocolates with butterfat. It comes in a half-egg shape coated with chocolate. In Canada, graham cracker crumbs and peanut butter are added to what is called the “Harvey truffle.”

Cocoa powder, milk powder, fats, and other ingredients are paired with syrup to create the “European truffle.” At least 10% of the truffle should include butter, which is then mixed with ganache cream. Butter creates an enhanced flavor and a melt-in-the-mouth experience.

Melted chocolate combined with a boiling mixture of dairy cream and butter creates the base of the “Swiss truffle.” The mix is then poured into molds to set. A sprinkling of cocoa powder finishes off the confection. It is a must to eat this kind of truffle within a couple of days.

Ways to Vary Your Truffles

If you are interested in making chocolate truffles from scratch, there are plenty of ways to spice up your recipe. Add Frangelico to your chocolate and cream mixture to create a hazelnut-flavored truffle, and then coat with chopped hazelnuts. Truffles with a coffee flavor are achieved with the addition of one tablespoon of espresso powder into heated cream, and Kahlua to the truffle mix. Adding two tablespoons of fruit puree or jam to a recipe will make fruit-flavored truffles.

Valentine tins, Share the Love tins and Big Love Pails are popular Bittersweet signature gifts.  The Mint Tin includes Dark Chocolate Holland Mints and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Shortbreads while the Fruit and Nut Tin features Dark Chocolate Dried Strawberries, Dark Chocolate Cherries and Dark Chocolate Pistachios.
 
The Share the Love Tin provides a quarter pound each of Mint Mix (Dark Chocolate Holland Mints, Dark Chocolate Peppermint Shortbreads) and Fruit and Nut Mix (Dark Chocolate Dried Strawberries, Dark Chocolate Cherries, and Dark Chocolate Pistachios), Solid Milk Hearts and Solid Dark Chocolate Hearts. 

Fabulous handmade Bittersweet truffles are available in a variety of flavors, from hand-rolled dark, Fleur de Sel, raspberry liquor-spiked Framboise, and the scintillating Spicy, to the elegant finish of heart-shaped Blood Orange, Passion fruit and Cinnamon.

Other unique Bittersweet Valentine offerings are the Love Letter and the Tasting Tins.  The Love Letter is a modern-retro envelope, enclosing a note card, one New Tree Alpha Disc (an unusual and incredibly delicious bar -flax seeds give it an unusual crunch and make it rich in anti-oxidants) one of their best-selling Vosges Mini Bars and a $10.00 Bittersweet Gift Card.  

Tasting Tins include How Many Ways Do I Love Thee (a wide selection of small bits of some of the world’s most delectable chocolates) and the popular Heart of Darkness Collection.   The collection also includes an outline of the most recent findings about the health benefits of chocolate with high cacao content.

And, for those quick and inexpensive gift needs, Bittersweet is offering Chinese Take-Away Valentine Boxes with Solid Dark and Milk chocolate hearts, along with Raspberry Cream, Caramel and Mint Crunch Hearts.

About Bittersweet  Origins and Café
Bittersweet Origins is a manufacturing and retailing company which creates craft chocolate and coffee in handmade, micro-batches to engage the senses and the mind.  Bittersweet Café retail stores’ ambience and furnishings reflect the one-of-a-kind nature of its chocolate bars, chocolate drinks and coffees.  The warm and welcoming spaces furnished with unique tables, benches, carts and artwork from local craftspeople and artists create a gathering place for the community to savor locally made chocolate delicacies, coffee and tea.  The Bittersweet Cafes are located in San Francisco on Fillmore Street, College Avenue in Oakland and the Rose Garden Shopping Center in Danville.  For more information, visit www.bittersweetcafe.com/ or call 510-705-1860.

Chocolate Inked Sweet Shoppe is located in the historic Village of Metamora, MI. Metamora dates back to the 1800′s and is also known as “horse country.” The building that CISS is located in was built over 150 years ago and has quite a history. It was recently purchased by friends and has been in the process of a complete renovation, the chocolate shoppe is located in the back half of the building. The outside of the building is in the process of being completed now, though when you walk into the shoppe  you will be taken back to years gone by. It gives you a quaint, warm and cozy feeling when you see the signature colors of teal and brown. The fireplace will make you want to sit at one of three tables that remind you of a old fashioned ice cream shoppe. You can enjoy the warmth of the shoppe as you wit with your laptop to access the only shoppe in the village with WiFi or you can relax as you watch a favorite program on the large plasma T.V. 
 
Sharon and Kevin make a variety of handmade chocolates, which include their signature handmade salted caramels, molded caramels, molded chocolates, truffles, specialty chocolates, nutty and krispy barks, dipped nuts, fruits, pretzels, cookies, and so much more. They offer muffins, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and even Sharon’s signature cake that will truly bring you back. The signature cake can be ordered in any flavor with infused ganache, a chocolate whipped cream, or a fruit filling. Each cake is then drizzled with dark, milk and white chocolates. It is a mouth watering cake that will have you wanting more. “CISS” also does gift baskets for all occasions. One unique product that they have is chocolates that can be printed with photos, logos, and text. These chocolates are not made by Sharon and Kevin, they are made by their supplier in a nut free facility. They do personalized chocolates for all occasions, weddings, graduations, birthdays, funerals, etc. “CISS” also offers Cook’s Farm Dairy Ice Cream. Cook’s is a  working dairy farm and is well known in the Metamora area. You can order ice cream cones, handmade waffle cones and bowls that are dipped in chocolate, great tasting shakes, smoothies, sundaes, parfaits. Coffee, sweet tea, lemonade, canned soda, bottled water are other items that are available. You never know what may be available on any given day, there is always something different.
 
Chocolate Inked has a website for the personalized chocolates and you can call them with any questions and to place your orders. You can access the website at: www.chocolateinked.com
 
You will be pleasantly surprised when you enter the world of “CISS.”  With a tag line of “Have you been CISS’d today?” first time customers will leave with a special chocolate “CISS” so that they too,  “Have been CISS’d today!”
 
Chocolate Inked Sweet Shoppe
70 E. High St.
Metamora, MI. 48455
810-678-2022
Fax: 810-678-2022

About Chocolations

Founder Maria Valente opened Chocolations in December of 2006.  Located in Mamaroneck, NY Maria Valente creates these local sweets by hand from local and fresh high quality ingredients. Maria’s creations include hand dipped truffles, creative barks, cheerful pops, cupcakes, and beautiful holiday figures such as bunnies and hens.  Her newest creation, rice crispy cakes!  You have to see it to believe it!

photo courtesy of Chocolations.com

Maria’s creations are award-winning. Westchester Magazine named Valente’s truffles best in Westchester in Febuary 2008. In November of 2008, Maria Valente’s antioxidant rich Good For You bar (with dark chocolate, dried blueberries and almonds) won as one of the top three chocolate bars in the United States.

Chocolation’s Mission Statement

Create fine affordable chocolates using excellent ingredients. Give entrepreneurial woman or those with a socially conscious focus a showcase for their goods, and share my resources with them. Model an environmentally friendly, socially conscious business.

Specialties

Crispy Cakes:

One of the latest specialties out of Chocolations,  is their Crispy Cake.  It starts with their homemade Crispy Treats shaped in a number of different ways.  Delicious butter cream is then added to decorate, and it’s finish with solid chocolate pieces to enhance the effect.  This is more than just a cake, it is the centerpiece, and a conversation piece all in one.  Great for weddings and parties.

Truffles Available:

Caramel, Peanut Butter, Classic Milk, Amaretto, Ginger Honey, Hazelnut, Jasmine, Latte, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Toasted Coconut, Concord Grape, Cappuccino, Classic White.

Good for You Bar:

Chocolations Good For You Bar’s are delicious candy bars filled with health benefits. The bar is a combination of dark chocolate, dried blueberries and almonds. All of which are an excellent source of antioxidants, which protect the body against free radicals. Aside from it’s defensive capabilities, the Good For You Bar is a combination off your favorite flavors in a tasty little convenient bar. This “Not-So-Guilty” pleasure is easy to fall in love with, but of course,  in moderation!

Contact Infomation:

Chocolations
914.777.3600 ph.
914.777.2948 fax
www.chocolations.com

Lindor Truffles; photo courtesy of mai-ke

I was browsing the net the other day and guess what I found out! Lindt (the very famous Swiss chocolate company that we mentioned in our Chocolate Manufacturers – Guide for Chocoholics) is giving away 12 months of Lindor Truffles!! I had to share this, my friends! I have to confess: Lindor Truffles are my weakness… or at least, one of them :D 

For those of you who have never seen Lindor Truffles, I attached an awesome image from flickr.com.

Giveaway Details:
*The 12 Months of Free Lindor Truffles Giveaway contest is open for entries from July 27, 2009 through August 31, 2009. No purchase is required for entry. There will be one winner chosen on September 1, 2009 from all online entries submitted via this website. This giveaway is also available in Lindt Chocolate Shops, where one winner will be selected per location. The winners will be contacted by a Lindt representative and provided with detailed information on how to receive their prize. Store location winners will receive a redemption booklet for 12 consecutive months of (1) free 28-count Lindor Truffle bag to be picked up at the store location per month. The online winner will be shipped (1) 28-count bag of Lindor Truffles per month for the next 12 consecutive months.

If you are interested, you can visit their contest page for more info. Good luck! I hope one of you wins!