Yes, I talking about doing a chocolate sampling while soaking in your Hot Spring Spa!!

(On the way into bed you’ll brush you teeth, of course).  What a fabulous way to end your day-sampling the best chocolate while hot tub soaking!  I got the idea for chocolate “flights” in the hot tub from my friend Robin. She told me last week that she and her husband do chocolate flights in bed every night. That is they sample various kinds of yummy chocolate (a lot of it made right here in Seattle), but then they have to get out of bed to brush their teeth which I think is not as relaxing as sampling in the hot tub.

Anyway, my husband and I have been sampling chocolates in the tub and Fran’s Classic Grey & Smoked Caramels are top choice for hot tub soaking-or anytime. Lindt Dark Chocolate with Fleur de Sel is the runner-up. I’m sorry Godiva.  We couldn’t finish your dark chocolate bar. Way too bitter.

How to conduct a chocolate tasting?

1. Atmosphere: By holding the tasting in the hot tub, you’ll be in a relaxed and quiet environment.  You can focus all of your attention on tasting and assessing the flavors experienced in the chocolate.

2. Temperature: Have the chocolate at room temperature for the best flavor.

3. From 0 to 100%: Begin the tasting chocolate with the lowest percentage of cocoa. For example, start with several milk chocolate types and progress to  dark chocolate. Gradually work up to higher percentage dark chocolate varieties.

4. Neutralize the palate:

Do not eat any highly spiced foods before the tasting. When trying several varieties of chocolate, cleanse the palate with room temperature water, white bread or weakly brewed, lukewarm rose hip tea or green tea.

• Amount:

Don’t try 15 varieties at once. Too many varieties will dull the palate, especially for the novice chocolate connoisseur. Keep the tasting to 5-7 varieties. Allow approximately 1/2 ounce of each chocolate that is to be tasted per person.

• Take notes as you taste! In the hot tub, you’ll need a waterproof tablet from Rite in the Rain.

You know how commercials say: “Don’t try this at home”? Well, this IS a great thing to do at home in your own hot tub! Oh, you are thinking what about the calories? That is something to consider, alas. So, don’t do it every night 🙂

SANUM PER AQUA

. Latin for Health through Water.

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