What Are TruffleCremes? As the name implies, Dilettante’s chocolate TruffleCremes share the same decadent flavor as a traditional truffle made in a smoother, lighter form. These iconic treats come wrapped in vibrant foils and are a beloved Pacific Northwest treat. Created in 2006, Dilettante’s TruffleCremes feature soft chocolate ganache centers encased in an outer chocolate shell. Both the ganache and coating are made using a blend of West African and South American cacao. In addition, this chocolate uses a meltaway formula, letting the chocolate begin to melt as soon as it is eaten. Unlike o ..read more

Does Chocolate Have Caffeine Blog Post Found in certain beans and nuts, caffeine is a stimulant almost everyone is familiar with. Caffeine is coffee’s key ingredient, and its unique properties can provide energy throughout the day. However, frequent chocolate-enjoyers may experience similar side effects, leading some to wonder if chocolate also includes caffeine. Chocolate production begins with cacao pods, which grow in tropical climates. These seeds are large, only slightly smaller than the size of a football, and contain dozens of cacao beans inside. Chocolate is made by grinding and heatin ..read more

How Chocolate Espresso Beans are Made Leveraging its expertise in both chocolate and roasted coffee, Dilettante’s Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans provides an unforgettable flavor. These candies feature real espresso beans encased in couverture chocolate blends. Those who have never tasted this Pacific Northwest favorite are in for a gourmet treat. Dilettante begins creating its chocolate-covered espresso beans by roasting its medium-dark roast blend. Medium dark roast coffee provides a balanced flavor and acidity, perfect to pair with the sweet taste of chocolate. Dilettante ensures these bea ..read more

Stay Energized with Chocolate Fruit Flavors This summer has been one of the hottest in the Pacific Northwest. Consecutive days of ninety-degree weather can be uncomfortable and leave people exhausted by the end of the long summer days. Thankfully, there are many ways for people to protect themselves against the sun, including enjoying a handful of Dilettante's chocolate-covered fruit. One of the main reasons people feel tired after being out in the sun too long is because of UV light. While the sun helps the body produce Vitamin D and reduces blood pressure, it also can damage the skin. As a r ..read more

The Caramel-Making Process Beloved by many, salted caramels are treats that balance sweet and savory flavors. However, when making these chewy candies, confectioners must practice patience since making caramels can be a difficult process. Caramel is made by heating sugar, butter, and cream and stirring in salt and vanilla. After the caramel reaches its iconic golden-brown color, it takes several hours to set. The last step is to place each piece in dipping chocolate and cover in sea salt. The caramel-making process is very versatile, and altering the cooking time or the caramel ingredients can ..read more

Why Does Chocolate Melt in Your Mouth? A big part of what makes chocolate so delicious is its texture. The rich, woodsy flavor of cocoa beans works in tandem with its luscious and melty consistency. Chocolate’s unique qualities may lead some to wonder how it can melt in their mouth but remain solid in their hand. The secret behind chocolate’s unique meltaway quality is its melting point, which falls between 86- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit. This lands chocolate in a sweet spot, able to remain solid at room temperature, but after being placed in a person’s mouth, the cocoa fats break apart, and th ..read more

Enjoy Fondue During the Summer Warm summer nights make for great opportunities to treat others to high-quality chocolate fondue. The process of dipping and sampling different chocolate flavors makes chocolate fondue a social dessert, offering time to enjoy each other’s company. Although chocolate fondue fountains may take time to prep, they are easy and cheap to make and are well worth the time invested. No matter the occasion, fondues are a wonderful social dessert. How to Make Chocolate Fondue Making chocolate fondue doesn’t require any special equipment. Gather a saucepan, 8 ounces of choco ..read more

Visit the Mocha Café Local to the Seattle area, the Dilettante Mocha Café is the perfect place to stop by during the warm summer months. These cafés leverage Dilettante’s culinary and confectionery expertise for an unforgettable dining experience. Dilettante currently has four Mocha Cafés in Bellevue, Kent, and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Stop by to enjoy Dilettante’s full selection of handcrafted chocolates, artisan coffee, fresh pastries, and delicious meals. Dilettante’s Chocolate Scale Dilettante's Chocolate Scale At the Heart of the Mocha Café is the Dilettante Chocolat ..read more

Perfectly Balanced Flavor Caramels unite sweet and savory flavor profiles to achieve a perfectly balanced confection. There are many caramel-making recipes and methods, but Dilettante relies on its long history to craft its caramels. Talented confectioners follow Dilettante's specialty recipes in each piece. The result is a well-balanced caramel flavor, made from all-natural ingredients and non-GMO chocolate. What is Caramel Made of? All caramel candy begins by heating sugar. Through the process of caramelization, the grains of sugar melt into smooth, brown caramel. To bring flavor to the ..read more

Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee As summer gets closer, more and more coffee lovers are making the change from hot to iced coffee. Although the two may taste similar, preparing coffee hot or cold can make large changes to its flavor profile. For those looking to enjoy the most refreshing and delicious coffee, Dilettante suggests making cold brewed coffee at home. Although cold brewed coffee is a variation of iced coffee, the two are very different from each other. Normally, iced coffee is made simply by pouring hot coffee over ice. This leads to a watered-down coffee taste and melted ice, which w ..read more