Truffles, truffles and nothing but truffles!
I first met Aaron, the chocolatier behind Intrigue Chocolate Co. a couple of years ago at the Chocolate Salon event in Seattle. Seeing him again was like running into an old friend even though we only met once. Just talking to him you can totally tell that he is passionate about his truffles, dedicated to his work and eager to share the excitement about his new discoveries.
This time around he was excited to show me his newest art, the rediscovered Fortunato #4, a rare cacao bean known to be extinct. He is one of the select few chocolatiers in Seattle to work with this chocolate due to limited quantities. To get another batch of cacao beans will take at least 7 years to grow these particular trees. Cross your fingers in hopes for any cacao pods as not all trees are successful. Trees must be in the right growing conditions. We shall see what happens in the next decade to see how successful this particular bean will be.
In the meantime, you have the opportunity to try Aaron’s other chocolate truffles. My faves is the Ghost Chili, Basil and of course the Fortunato #4. These truffles are full of flavor that melts heavenly on the tongue. The Ghost Chili sold out within hours of the festival opening. If you happen to have tasted this, you can see why – good bite of chili that finishes off smooth and creamy on the tongue. The Fortunato will take you on a journey of sweet to savory notes. Nothing needed to be added or taken away as it had its’ own personality. Basil… well if you love this herb, you will love how flavorful this truffle is.
Be sure to check out their Seattle retail store. Alternatively, you can order online thru their website: http://intriguechocolates.com
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