Dark chocolate with apple: how to taste it and what to pair it with

By Sérgio Carvalho, co-founder of Ra-Ro · View profile

About a 5 minute read

Dark chocolate with apple brings together the intensity of cocoa and fruit: the small pieces of dried apple add natural sweetness, a touch of acidity and a texture that crunches between your teeth. Porta da Loja Dark Chocolate with Dried Apple is made with Porta da Loja apples, an old variety from Minho, and has a minimum of 50% cocoa. Taste it slowly, at room temperature, and pair it with cider, apple gin, brandy and aged cheeses.

Dark chocolate with apple in short

• What it is: a dark chocolate bar with small pieces of dried Porta da Loja apple, 5% of the total.
• Ingredients: cocoa mass and cocoa butter, sugar, dried apple and apple and vanilla flavourings.
• Cocoa: minimum 50%, above the 35% that EU law requires for a product to be called chocolate.
• How to taste: look, snap, smell, let it melt and taste again with your drink.
• What to drink: Apple Cider, Apple Gin or an aged brandy.
• At Ra-Ro: the Dark Chocolate with Dried Apple costs €8.80.

What dried apple brings to chocolate

When an apple loses its water, its sugar and aroma are concentrated into a small piece. Inside chocolate this does three things. First, it adds a fruity sweetness that does not come from the sugar in the bar. Second, it brings a light acidity that cuts through the bitterness of cocoa and freshens the mouth. Third, it changes the texture: among the smooth chocolate there are little pieces to chew.

And this is not just any apple. Porta da Loja is an old variety, irregular and full of character, which the Casais family has been reviving in Tibães, in Minho, an area linked to the history of the Tibães Monastery. We tell the apple's story in Porta da Loja apple, and you can taste it fresh with the Porta da Loja Apple (approx. 1kg), for €5.30.

What "minimum 50% cocoa" means

The cocoa percentage is the part of the bar that comes from cocoa: cocoa mass (the ground bean) and cocoa butter (the fat of the bean). In a chocolate with a minimum of 50% cocoa, at least half the weight is cocoa; the rest is mostly sugar, plus the apple and the flavourings.

In the European Union, a product must contain at least 35% total dry cocoa solids to be called chocolate. A 50% chocolate sits in the middle: it has the bitterness and depth of cocoa but is still sweet enough to let the fruit shine. A higher percentage does not mean better; it means more intense and less sweet.

How to taste chocolate: five steps

1. Temperature: take the bar out of the cold in advance. Chilled chocolate releases almost no aroma.
2. Look and snap: good dark chocolate has a shine and breaks with a clean snap. Notice the pieces of apple at the break.
3. Smell: bring the square to your nose. Look for cocoa, vanilla and fruit.
4. Let it melt: place a piece on your tongue and do not chew straight away. Let the chocolate melt and only then bite into the apple.
5. Finish: notice what stays in your mouth after swallowing. Sip some water and taste again, this time with your chosen drink.

Which drinks to pair with dark chocolate with apple

The simplest rule is fruit with fruit. Since the apple is already in the chocolate, drinks made from the same apple build the bridge.

• Cider: Porta da Loja Apple Cider (€6.60) has a tangy touch that comes from the apple itself. That acidity and lightness clean the palate between squares.
• Apple gin: the Apple Gin (€33.70) combines apple with juniper, coriander, angelica, lemon, orange, cardamom and liquorice. The citrus and spices go well with cocoa. Serve it as the maker suggests, in a wide glass with plenty of ice and tonic water, or try a little neat beside the chocolate.
• Brandy: Aguardente Lourinhã Matriz (€51.10) has citrus notes, vanilla and wood, and its vanilla meets the vanilla in the chocolate. Pour a small amount and sip slowly. Read more in Aguardente DOC Lourinhã.

Chocolate and cheese: is it worth it?

Yes. The salt and fat in cheese balance the bitterness of cocoa, and the apple plays the part of the fruit that usually comes with a cheese board. Aged cheeses with a strong flavour work best, such as an aged sheep's cheese or a blue cheese. Serve the cheese in thin slivers, put a square of chocolate on top and add a small spoonful of Porta da Loja Extra Apple Jam (€7.70) for those who like more fruit. Avoid very fresh, mild cheeses, which the cocoa overwhelms.

A gift box with the Porta da Loja apple

To give as a present, put the three Porta da Loja products and the jam in one box: the Dark Chocolate with Dried Apple (€8.80), the Apple Cider (€6.60), the Apple Gin (€33.70) and the Porta da Loja Extra Apple Jam (€7.70). That is €56.80 in total and a gift with a single story: an old apple from Minho in four different forms. The products are made to order. More ideas in A different gift and in our guide to handmade Portuguese Christmas gifts.

Where to buy dark chocolate with apple

At Ra-Ro, where Porta da Loja Dark Chocolate with Dried Apple is on sale for €8.80, shipping to Portugal and abroad. You can add the drinks and jam from the same family, or other products from Minho.

Frequently asked questions

What is in Porta da Loja dark chocolate with apple?

Cocoa mass and cocoa butter, sugar, dried Porta da Loja apple (5% of the total) and apple and vanilla flavourings, with a minimum of 50% cocoa.

What does minimum 50% cocoa mean?

That at least half the weight of the bar comes from cocoa, counting cocoa mass and cocoa butter together. The rest is mostly sugar.

How do you taste chocolate?

At room temperature: look, snap, smell, let it melt on your tongue without chewing and notice the finish. Sip water between tastings.

What drink goes with dark chocolate with apple?

Drinks made from the same fruit, such as cider or apple gin, and aged brandies with notes of vanilla and wood.

Does dark chocolate go with cheese?

Yes, especially aged cheeses with a strong flavour, such as an aged sheep's cheese or a blue cheese. The salt in the cheese balances the bitterness of cocoa.

Where can I buy Porta da Loja dark chocolate with apple?

At Ra-Ro, for €8.80, shipping to Portugal and abroad. It is made to order.