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.


Shop Now
Chocolate Pairing
 

Intense Dark Chocolate Pairings

60%
Cacao

60% Cacao

Notes of Ripe Red Fruit

Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with robust cacao flavor and notes of ripe red fruit.

Pairing Suggestions
To drink:

  • Latte

  • Full-bodied red wines (Zinfandel - ideally late harvest)

  • Vin Santo (Italian dessert wine)


To eat:

  • Coconut macaroons

  • Dried fruit (mango)

  • Caramel popcorn

  • Salty snacks (pretzels) 


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao
72%
Cacao

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) 


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao
86%
Cacao

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) 


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao
92%
Cacao

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


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate 92% Cacao
Sea Salt
Almond

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


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almond
Raspberry

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 apricots


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Raspberry
Roasted
Hazelnut

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


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Hazelnut
Blood
Orange

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


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Blood Orange
Cherry
Almond

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


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond
Salted
Caramel

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


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel
Toffee
Almond

Toffee Almond

Blend of Crunchy Toffee & Roasted Almonds

Tasting Notes
Dark chocolate with a blend of crunchy toffee and roasted almonds.

Pairing Suggestions
To drink:

  • Chardonnay

  • Riesling (ideally late harvest)

  • Chai

  • Drambuie (malt whiskey)

  • Dark roast coffee


To eat:

  • Salty snacks

  • Salt & vinegar chips

  • Trail mix


SHOP NOW
Intense Dark Chocolate Toffee Almond


Ghirardelli SQUARES Pairings

 

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 Cherry Almond or 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.


Shop Now

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.


Shop Now

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.


Shop Now

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!


Shop Now