So, we get back from Texas (we were at the IRI CPG Summit—did you follow us on Twitter?) and there’s this bulky package on our desk. We open it, and lo and behold, there are itty-bitty, bite-sized pieces of chocolate and cocoa powder in Ziploc bags. Color-coded, too. Yikes! Reminds us of the time we served on the jury of a major Philadelphia narcotics bust. The National Confectioners Association’s Chocolate Council apparently sent us these chocolates, and they’re part of an educational, behind-the-scenes look at chocolate making. (The press kit even comes with an instructional CD, complete with two videos by master chocolatier Jacques Torres.) The white chocolate, for instance, is made of "a blend of cocoa butter, milk, sugar and flavor. No chocolate solids are present, which explains the lack of brown color," the Chocolate Deconstructed Tasting Guide says. Gotta give ’em props—the package caught our eye. But even our senior researcher, Jim English, who loves all things sweet, took a pass on it. Stuff that comes in little baggies is a tad scary.
—Posted by Elaine Wong