Truly, this is the gift of ultimate luxury.
— Maren Muter
That chocolate, crafted with reverence for tradition, is handmade with the same meticulous care that has defined our process for nearly three decades. And, you may wonder, how does one transform these humble beans—after they have been liberated from their pod, fermented, and sun-dried—into the ambrosial delicacy we know as chocolate? Allow me to share the steps of this alchemical process:
Step 1: Roasting
Begin by roasting the beans in a preheated oven. Common temperatures range from 145 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, with a roasting time of 10 to 15 minutes. I prefer a gentler approach, often choosing a lower temperature around 118 degrees Fahrenheit, to coax the beans into releasing their subtle complexities without haste.
Step 2: Winnowing
Next, the beans must be relieved of their husks, akin to peeling the delicate skin of a peanut. One may undertake this task by hand or employ a more whimsical method: using a hairdryer and a bowl to separate the nibs from the husks. The husks are whisked away, leaving behind the prized nibs, ready for the next stage.
Step 3: Grinding
The grinding of the beans is an art in itself. I favor the timeless method of using a rock and shallow stone bowl, or a mortar and pestle. However, we also employ a Melanger—a modern stone grinder—to create a smooth cocoa liquor or paste from the nibs.
Step 4: Refining and Conching
For this crucial step, the Melanger is again brought into service. Its stone wheels crush and refine the cocoa liquor, smoothing the particles and blending them into a velvety mass. It is here that one may introduce sugars, spices, and other ingredients, according to taste. For the most intimate of batches, this can be accomplished with a traditional metate, a flat stone slab used for hand-grinding.
Once your chocolate is formed, the possibilities are boundless. Add fruits, nuts, or any treat that strikes your fancy, or savor it in its pure, unadorned form. For it is in this simplicity that chocolate reveals its most profound truths, inviting you, with each taste, to explore the boundless richness of the present moment.