Chocolate Pairing
Whether it's girls night out, an afternoon brunch with friends or just because, any time is the perfect time for entertaining with chocolate pairings. Below we've shared expert food & beverage pairings for our Intense Dark rich chocolate flavors as well as signature SQUARES.
Intense Dark Chocolate Pairings
SQUARES Chocolate Pairings
Intense Dark
72% Cacao
HINTS OF MOCHA, BLACKBERRY, & DARK CHERRY
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with hints of mocha, blackberry and dark cherry.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Fruit-forward red wines
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cognac
- Black tea
- Light roast coffee
To eat:
- Spanish Manchego or Dry Jack cheese
- Toasted almonds
- Sweet baguette
- Dried fruits (figs, raisins, cherries)
Intense Dark
86% Cacao
HINTS OF DARK CHERRIES AND DRIED PLUMS
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with full-bodied flavor and hints of dark cherries and dried plums.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Vintage ruby Port
- Dry red wines (Syrah)
- Sauternes (French dessert wine)
- Stout beer
- Espresso coffee
To eat:
- Fig spread on a slice of toasted baguette
- Roasted and salted macadamia nuts
- Gourmet marshmallows
- Fruit jellies (pate de fruits)
Intense Dark
92% Cacao
BALANCE OF FRUIT-FORWARD AND EARTHY NOTES
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with the perfect balance of fruit-forward and earthy notes.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Full-bodied red wines (Zinfandel, Malbec)
To eat:
- Savory gougère
- Berries
- Spiced nuts
Intense Dark
Sea Salt Almond
ROASTED ALMONDS AND SEA SALT
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with roasted almonds and sea salt for an irresistible combination of salty and sweet.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Añejo tequila (aged tequila)
- Syrah
- Porter or stout beers
- Espresso coffee
To eat:
- Candied orange peel
- Stilton, Irish cheddar or aged Gruyere cheese
- Dried, sweetened black cherries
- BBQ potato chips
Intense Dark
Raspberry
BLEND OF RASPBERRY BITS & FLAVOR
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with a blend of raspberry bits and raspberry flavor infusions.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Full-bodied red wines (Zinfandel)
- Grand Marnier
To eat:
- Charcuterie plate
- Pecans
- Dried apricot
Intense Dark
Roasted Hazelnut
ROASTED WITH CRUNCHY ROASTED HAZELNUTS
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with the texture of crunchy roasted hazelnuts.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Coffee or coffee-flavored liqueurs
- Red wines – full-flavored, soft tannins (Barbera)
- Nut-flavored liqueurs (Frangelico)
To eat:
- Biscotti
- Buttery shortbread
- Dried, sweetened ginger pieces
- Fresh figs
Intense Dark
Blood Orange
BLEND OF BLOOD ORANGE BITS & FLAVOR
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with a blend of zesty blood orange bits and blood orange flavor.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Dessert liqueur
- Pinot noir
To eat:
- Gelato
- Aged balsamic
- Spicy roasted almonds
Intense Dark
Cherry Almond
BLEND OF CHERRY BITS & ROASTED ALMONDS
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with a blend of tangy cherry bits and crunchy roasted almonds.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Rosé wine
- Semi-sec rose Cava (sparkling wine)
- Coffee
To eat:
- Assorted cheese platter (including Manchego cheese)
- Marcona almonds
- Salty, crunchy, fried corn
- Candied walnuts
Intense Dark
Salted Caramel
CRUNCHY CARAMEL PIECES & SEA SALT
Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with crunchy caramel pieces and sea salt for an irresistible combination of salty and sweet.
Pairing Suggestions
To drink:
- Dessert wines (Port)
- Cabernet
- Merlot
To eat:
- Pecan shortbread
- Pretzels
- Nuts
Chocolate is such a natural culinary partner to tea and coffee that it's hard to find a combination you don't love. Put the kettle on and spend the afternoon in delicious exploration!
As a rule, pick complementary flavors that enhance rather than overpower one another. Pair dark chocolate with bolder, darker roast coffees and milk chocolate and caramel with medium or light roasts. Enhance the fruity flavor notes in coffee with fruit and chocolate combinations like Dark & Raspberry.
Herbal teas are a great source for flavor complements to chocolates—pair mint with mint, fruit with fruit, spice with spice, etc. Delicate floral teas like chamomile or jasmine pair best with white and milk chocolates and caramel chocolate flavors. Here are some of our recommended pairings with our signature Ghirardelli SQUARES:
Milk & Caramel
Creamy milk chocolate is a natural with the roasted, toasty flavors of oolong or hojicha teas. For a coffee pairing, try it with light or medium roasts that include notes of cardamom, clove and vanilla.
Dark & Mint
A black tea and mint blend holds its own with dark chocolate and mint, and the flavors of mint and rum in dark roasts pair nicely with this Ghirardelli SQUARE.
Dark & Raspberry
Select an herbal tea that combines berries and black currant for bright, fruity flavors that are a perfect pairing for chocolate and raspberry. Any herbal tea blend with berries is going to give you the same complementary tasting.
Dark & Sea Salt Caramel
Smoky Lapsang Souchong with milk offers an intense and complex complement to dark chocolate, while the caramel brings out the underlying sweetness in the tea. For coffee, nutty blends are a perfect partner here as well. Don't forget the cream!