The Chocolate and Salt Combination
March 15, 2023
We put salt in a lot of our dishes. It tastes great on any food, as well as on chocolate. But where did the sweet and salty combination of chocolate and salt come from? And why do they taste good together? Here's why.
History of Chocolate and Salt
Both cacao and salt have a history of being highly valued trade items since both are scarce and expensive, which is why they were also used for monetary purposes.
In fact, the word salary comes from the Latin word "salarium", which actually means "salt money". It makes sense, right? So when the Aztecs used cacao to make drinks during ceremonies, they were literally drinking money!
Fast forward to today when both cacao and salt are already readily available for us, that even though they are not used as currencies anymore, they still make a great combination in our treats. But it’s not just a trend, chocolate and salt really works well together and will continue to do so for the years to come.
Salt intensifies the body's ability to taste the sweetness in the sugar
Do you always see a “pinch of salt” in our recipes? Salt plays an important role in triggering our taste receptors to process the sweetness of glucose. It makes us more receptive to sweet flavors and alerting us that we are eating something sweet.
Aside from that, salt can make even the simplest flavors pop. This is why most recipes include a small amount of salt, and chocolate is not an exception.
Salt contrasts sweetness, adds texture and flavor
While a small amount of salt brings the intrinsic flavors to the surface, a significant amount can contrast the sweetness in chocolates. You can add salt to give your chocolate a grainy texture or give it a salty crunch.
Of course, not all chocolate bars are sweet, it will still depend on the percentage of cacao present.
Caramel flavored bars, or milk chocolates, can usually reach an overwhelming sweetness and adding salt to the mix can balance our palates. Sometimes I eat salty chips with my chocolates just to balance it out a little bit.
Conclusion
Salt is versatile, and the combination of chocolate and salt is just chef’s kiss. It’s a kind of pairing that will never go out of style!
At the end of it all, eating chocolate has both health benefits and risks. And as long as it gives you happiness, and taken in moderation, chocolate can be a great partner in your health journey. Store your chocolate stash properly to be able to use them longer. Follow these simple tips.
Have you tried salt in your chocolate? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for more fun and interesting chocolatey ideas!
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