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!