New exciting flavours are in every mouthful of chocolate these days, but the good news for chocolate lovers who are wanting a healthier option, is that there’s a big move among chocolatiers to include superfoods, such as spirulina, goji berries, reishi mushrooms, and our humble rooibos in this delicious treat.
Rooibos is rich in health-promoting antioxidants, which help protect the body against cell damage caused by free radicals. Its naturally sweet taste also makes it an obvious choice for chocolatiers.
Swiss master chocolatier, Daniel Waldis, founder and owner of SA’s popular chocolate franchise, Le Chocolatier, affirms the growing demand for healthier chocolate products and says he has been experimenting with rooibos for some time, adding that rooibos and chocolate share many similar characteristics – from the fruity, floral and nutty aromas to the slight levels of astringency, making it an ideal match.
Rooibos tea pairs particularly well with white chocolate as its citrusy undertone cuts through the richness of the chocolate, while the smokiness of rooibos complements the nuttiness of hazelnut milk chocolate.
Rooibos praline – a combination of white and milk chocolate along with a concentrated rooibos tea ganache – is a hot favourite with chocolate lovers.
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