What Are the Weirdest Chocolate Additives That Are Gaining in Popularity?
Nowadays, if you want to get noticed, you have to stand out from the crowd. The specialty chocolate space might seem crowded, but there’s still plenty of opportunities to show off.
Recent years brought many innovative trends and ideas to the world of chocolate manufacturing. A plain bar of milk chocolate is not enough anymore to satisfy customers who want to experience new flavors and eat sweets that were carefully crafted to meet their demands.
Salted caramel, sea salts, and nuts are still popular, but the growing interest goes beyond those. Quinoa — a grain popular among health enthusiasts, should prove exciting enough for most taste buds, but those who want even more can try chocolate with figs or bars that were dipped in beer before being put in a wrapper.
On the other hand, with its rich, high cocoa content milk chocolate, dark milk is excellent for consumers who like milk but are on the fence about dark chocolate. The combination of the sweetness of the milk chocolate and CBD or Delta 8 is also gaining popularity among more adventurous consumers.
Here’s more on the weirdest and most exciting chocolate additives that have recently been on the rise.
Quinoa
Quinoa is gaining popularity among consumers looking for something healthy. However, this ingredient is also becoming more popular in desserts, including chocolate. The seeds of the South American plant are known to contain essential amino acids, complex carbohydrates, magnesium, iron, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6.
The quinoa plant is also known for its unique flavor. It is savory but not overpowering. It has a nutty taste and is often used instead of rice or couscous. Its unique texture is crunchy like a grain but soft like a seed.
Chocolate with quinoa might seem weird, but it is delicious. It brings a level of nutrition to chocolate that you won’t get from regular milk or dark chocolates. It has a sweet flavor that compliments the bitter cocoa of the chocolate bar. It adds a little extra kick of flavor that makes it a perfect choice for people who want a healthier chocolate bar without compromising taste.
Beer
Some manufacturers are using beer to create unique chocolate bars. They claim that the bitterness of beer compliments the sweetness of chocolate perfectly and makes each bite more exciting than the last. Some of them go even further and say that they believe beer is the future of chocolate bars.
Chocolate bars dipped in beer manage to catch the attention of customers who want something new and exciting when they buy their next bar. Beer chocolates tend to be less sweet than traditional milk and dark chocolates, and they tend to be less creamy. On the other hand, they offer a different texture and a new experience that many people enjoy and appreciate.
Figs
Figs are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which is essential for optimal digestion. They are also known to contain potent anti-inflammatory agents which could prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
If you like something a bit more unusual, there is always fig chocolate. Its woody and sweet taste and soft and chewy texture make the fig a delicious and satisfying addition to chocolate. Combining the fruity and aromatic flavor of dried figs with the rich flavor of dark chocolate is sure to delight your taste buds.
Figs are popularly known as natural energy boosters due to their high levels of natural sugars and excellent iron levels, which could significantly improve your energy levels. Moreover, these tasty fruits are also known to improve brain function due to their high levels of manganese which is an essential mineral for cognitive function.
CBD or Delta 8
CBD or Delta 8 in edible products comes in many shapes and sizes. If you want a chocolate bar with an extra kick, try one that has CBD or Delta 8 added to it.
The hemp-based extract is known for its relaxing properties, making it an excellent addition to any sweet treat. Adding it to chocolate makes it even better. Whether you get the bars in dark or milk chocolate, you will feel relaxed and destressed after eating one or two pieces.
Moreover, CBD has also been praised for its abilities to calm anxiety, relax sore muscles, ease inflammation, bolster productivity, and stop acne. Chocolate’s inherently strong flavor will complement and cover the earthy flavor of high-quality CBD. While you won’t get high from eating CBD chocolate bars, they will help you relax and destress.
Conclusion
People are always looking for something new to try, so the demand for more exotic flavors is only growing. To stay competitive, manufacturers need to develop new ideas that push the envelope just enough to set their products apart from the competition. They are constantly innovating and expanding their products to include a variety of tastes, textures, and effects.
The article above shows that the market is still wide open for those who want to make it big. If you are willing to experiment with adding CBD, figs, or quinoa to the chocolate you produce, you have a high chance to gather a large following and make it in the competitive chocolate market. Good luck!
