A Chocolate-Tasting Party

An invitation to your chocolate- tasting party will be coveted.

Experience the lighter and darker sides of chocolate by hosting a tasting party. Serve desserts and samples of the chocolate that went into each recipe. As with any tasting, start with the mildest flavor. Taste progressively assertive chocolates, finishing off with the darkest, richest ones.

Here's how to get the most out of your chocolate-tasting experience.

Get closer to your chocolate.

Appearance: Examine the color, but don't let it be your sole guide; darkness varies by the type of beans used and how they're processed.

Chocolate should be shiny, but don't be put off it there is a slight grayish cast. It's called "bloom" and means that the chocolate has experienced temperature fluctuations. Any effect it has on the taste and texture is minor.

Aroma: Break off a small piece and rub gently until the chocolate just begins to soften. Then take tiny sniffs; in addition to chocolate, you'll discover such scents as apple pie, flowers, caramel, citrus, berries, grass, and cedar.

Describe the flavor in a word.

Flavor: Pop the piece in your mouth, but don't chew! Let it melt on your tongue for 20 seconds. Some of the flavors you'll encounter include vanilla, fruit, and nuts. Other words that might come to mind: fudgy, smoky, malty, earthy, and tart. Be sure to savor the balance of nuttiness, acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.

Texture: The texture is a result of the manufacturing process. The longer it is processed during the "conching" process, the smoother the resulting chocolate will be.

Is it smooth, velvety, creamy, soft? Or is it a little gritty? All these textures can be wonderful in chocolate because of the way they interact with the flavors. Some people think that smooth chocolates emphasize the fruity, flowery flavors, while gritty chocolates bring out the earthy and nutty tastes.