Sweet and Decadent: A Brief History of Chocolate Truffles (2024)

FAQs

What is the story behind chocolate truffles? ›

The chocolate truffle got its start in France in 1895. Pastry chef Louis Dufour combined chocolate and cream in very specific ratios to create the delicious creamy center called ganache. He then rolled the ganache into balls and dusted them with cocoa powder.

A: Truffles originated in France in 1895 and it was here that the ball of chocolate ganache dusted with cocoa received the name, truffle. As it turns out, truffles are named after the mushrooms of the similar name because of their resemblance to the dark and rumpled mushroom.

Chocolate truffles can be expensive for several reasons, including the cost of base ingredients, the production process, and their reputation. Firstly, even when produced on an industrial level, gourmet truffles require high-quality chocolate, cream, and butter, all of which can be expensive by themselves.

The chocolate truffle's robust chocolate shell gives it a delightful crunch and makes it simpler to handle. The lusciously creamy ganache interior makes it even more delicious! This decadent, bite-sized dessert combines rich, chocolatey flavors and textures for a truly indulgent treat.

From their ancient beginnings to their cultivation and modern culinary applications, truffles continue to be a symbol of luxury and gastronomic refinement.

Truffles are underground fungi that have a mycorrhizal relationship with the host tree where they grow. They flourish slightly beneath the surface of the earth, growing on the roots of different trees. Truffles are irresistible because their aroma is composed of chemicals that mimic mammalian reproductive pheromones.

Rich And Creamy Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles

Before I turned vegan, Ferrero Rocher were one of my favorite 'guilty pleasure' treats.

Truffles contain a lot of important vitamins and minerals for our bodies such as vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and iron. They are also high in protein and fibre. In fact, studies have found that truffles may even be a complete source of protein, providing you with all the nourishment you need.

They bear the same lump shape as their mushroom counterpart but taste completely different. A chocolate truffle is a sweet dessert, whereas a truffle is a fungus that grows underground. Consequently, they taste completely different and only bear similarities in their looks.

If you're planning to store chocolate truffles for an extended period or live in a hot, humid area, refrigeration or freezing is the way to go. This method prolongs their shelf life significantly, but be aware that it can also affect their texture and taste.

How much is 1 ounce of truffles? ›

Put half of the truffle in your mouth and let the flavors bounce around on your tongue. Move the chocolate to the roof of your mouth and let it melt.

The Best Chocolate for Truffles

Look in the baking aisle for chocolate with 60% or higher cacao content. Guittard makes chocolate baking bars with 64% and 70% cacao content. Ghirardelli's also makes baking bars with 60% and 70% cacao content. We also like Scharffen Berger.

While it depends on the type of truffle, all truffles have a strong, unique scent. Truffles have a short shelf life and are difficult to harvest, in addition to being hard to find and preserve. These characteristics contribute to them being known as a delicacy, as does their general uniqueness in flavor and smell.

GEORGES ESCOFFIER

The invention of chocolate truffles is often attributed to an accident in the kitchen of a French chef called Georges Auguste Escoffier. The accident involved one of his apprentices making pastry cream. However, he poured the hot cream into a bowl of chopped chocolate instead of sugar and eggs.

While the earliest mentions of truffles appear in the writings of ancient civilizations like the Neo-Sumerians and Theophrastus in the fourth century BC, scientific studies reveal that truffles have been on Earth for much longer—likely between 360 and 280 million years ago.

While it depends on the type of truffle, all truffles have a strong, unique scent. Truffles have a short shelf life and are difficult to harvest, in addition to being hard to find and preserve. These characteristics contribute to them being known as a delicacy, as does their general uniqueness in flavor and smell.

A French invention, the original chocolate truffle was a ball of ganache, chocolate and cream, often flavoured and hand rolled in cocoa powder. It was named after the prised black truffle because it looks like one when it's covered in cocoa powder to resemble the soil from the forest floor.

Much like animals, humans are attracted to truffles because of the scent they produce. The aroma and taste of truffles is often described as musky, earthy, and pungent and can be attributed to the pheromone androstanol and other volatile compounds. Truffles need to be recovered (foraged) from under the soil.