Most of us know what chocolate tastes like. But have you ever paid attention to what it sounds like?
Listen carefully and it will tell you its secrets.
In this episode of The Sporkful, Madre Chocolate's Nat Bletter, PhD, explains that you can tell a chocolate's quality by the sound it makes when you break it. A crisp snap means the chocolate is well tempered, so it retains its glossy finish and won't melt on your fingers as easily. If, upon breaking, the chocolate sounds meek and sad, it's probably poorly-tempered. That means it's less durable and likely to accumulate that unattractive white dust on its exterior.
Nat also delineates three types of chocolate eaters: melters (who let it melt in their mouths), chompers (who bite into it), and chomelters (a hybrid of the two). Nat says different chocolate bars are made for different styles, so if you know your type you'll know your chocolate.
(Side note: We're giving away free Madre Chocolate! You just have to be on our mailing list by October 3. Sign up here. We won't bug you too much, promise. Full contest rules below.)
And Nat's not the only food supernerd on this week's show. I also talk with Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks, about how our brains play tricks on our tongues, and Coco Krumme, an MIT behavioral economist, about why charging more for wine can make it taste better.
It's the geekiest, nerdiest Sporkful ever! Moreso than usual, I'm the dumbest person in this show.
Subscribe to The Sporkful podcast in iTunes.
Interstitial music in this episode by BWN Music:
- "Funky Love Baby" by Steve Pierson
- "Bunyan's Bunion" by Cullen Fitzpatrick
- "Agree To Disagree" by Cullen Fitzpatrick
- "Odd Ball" by Cullen Fitzpatrick
Photo: Flickr CC / John Loo
Madre Chocolate Newsletter Signup Contest Rules
HOW TO ENTER: No purchase or pledge necessary. Entries can be made by entering your email address at http://www.sporkful.com/newsletter and signing up to The Sporkful newsletter from September 8, 2014 12:00PM to October 3, 2014 12:00PM. Current newsletter members are automatically entered.
ELIGIBILITY: Anyone 18 years of age or older can enter the giveaway except employees of WNYC and its related organizations, their immediate family or persons living in the same household. Void where prohibited by law.
PRIZE: Chocolate from Madre Chocolate
Value of Prize: $35
SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF WINNER: 1 winner and 3 back up names will be selected by random drawing no later than October 6, 2014. Winners will be notified via email. If the winner does not respond within 3 days, or is unable to collect their prize, the unawarded prize will go to the first back-up and subsequent back-ups thereof until prize is awarded. The chances of winning are dependent upon the number of entries. A list with the winners' names will be kept on file at WNYC and are available by writing WNYC Listener Services, 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013.
GENERAL: By participating in the giveaway, participants agree to the Official Rules, and that WNYC, its agents and employees will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from their use of the prize or their participation in the giveaway. Prize is nontransferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. There can be no substitutions for a prize. WNYC Radio may use winner’s name for publicity purposes without further compensation.
RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply. By participating in the giveaway, a participant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, and by all decisions of the contest judges. One entry per person. Anyone who enters multiple times will be disqualified.
