Beyond the Candy Bar

[Placeholder for brief introduction]

---

🍫 Experience of the Month: A Taste of Pure Chocolate Perfection 🍫

Dear Fellow Chocolate Enthusiasts,

Prepare your taste buds for a journey into chocolate nirvana! This month, we’re diving into a frozen delight that will revolutionize your chocolate experience.

🌟 Spotlight: Frozen Hot Chocolate at Dandelion Chocolate 🌟

Imagine sipping on a drink that’s not just chocolate, but a veritable explosion of cacao flavors. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco and Las Vegas!

Why It’s a Must-Try:

• Pure, bean-to-bar chocolate perfection
• Intense flavor meets refreshing chill
• A multi-sensory experience that will awaken your palate

The Secret Behind the Magic:

Dandelion’s commitment to quality shines through in every sip. Using only cacao beans and organic sugar, they let the true essence of chocolate take center stage. The result? A complex, bold flavor profile that dances on your tongue.

Founded in 2010 by Todd Masonis, Dandelion Chocolate is a San Francisco-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker that has captivated chocolate lovers worldwide. Known for their commitment to crafting high-quality, small-batch chocolate, Dandelion is all about letting the cacao beans speak for themselves. Each chocolate bar is made with only two ingredients: cacao beans and organic sugar, allowing the distinct flavors of the beans from various regions to shine through.

But beyond their celebrated chocolate bars, one of their most indulgent creations is the Frozen Hot Chocolate—a drink that, in my opinion, is a chocolate taste explosion.

🍫 Chocolate Savant’s Tasting Notes 🍫

When you take your first sip, prepare for:

1. An immediate hit of intense, real chocolate flavor
2. A perfect balance of sweetness and slight bitterness
3. A creamy, frosty texture that enhances every nuance

Frozen Hot Chocolate at Dandelion Chocolate is not your typical chilled chocolate drink. It’s a decadent combination of rich, high-quality chocolate, expertly balanced to give you the perfect blend of sweet, refreshing, and satisfying.

When you take your first sip, you’re immediately hit with the intense flavor of real chocolate—smooth, bold, and slightly bitter—followed by the creaminess of milk, perfectly blended into a frosty texture. The drink delivers layer after layer of flavor, thanks to Dandelion’s expertise in using single-origin beans. The complexity of the chocolate, combined with the refreshing chill, makes it a taste explosion in every sense.

Pro Tip: Let it melt on your tongue for a moment to fully appreciate the layers of flavor!

Why Is It a “Taste Explosion”?

The secret lies in Dandelion Chocolate’s commitment to purity. The Frozen Hot Chocolate is crafted using their bean-to-bar chocolate, which preserves the authentic taste of cacao. Unlike mass-produced chocolate drinks, which often contain artificial flavors and unnecessary additives, Dandelion’s version lets the natural complexity of the cacao take center stage. The icy texture enhances the intensity of the chocolate flavors, creating a multi-sensory experience that truly explodes with taste.

📍 Where to Find This Chocolate Treasure:

San Francisco:

• 16th Street Factory: This is the main hub for Dandelion, where visitors can take factory tours, enjoy drinks and pastries in their indoor café, and learn about the bean-to-bar process through classes.
• Valencia Street Café: Located at 740 Valencia Street, this café offers drinks, pastries, and a cozy indoor seating area for visitors to enjoy their chocolate in a laid-back environment.
• Ferry Building: At 1 Ferry Building, this location focuses on drinks and pastries, perfect for grabbing a chocolate treat while exploring the iconic San Francisco marketplace.
• Fillmore Street: This location is primarily a retail shop where you can pick up Dandelion’s famous chocolates to-go.

Las Vegas:

• The Venetian: A more recent addition, Dandelion Chocolate also operates a café at The Venetian in Las Vegas, offering tastings, drinks, pastries, and their premium chocolates.

🏠 Bring the Magic Home:

Can’t make it to a Dandelion location? Fear not! We’ve got the recipe for you to recreate this chocolate marvel in your own kitchen.

Click to reveal the Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe

Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe With Cocoa Nib Cream Ingredients: – ¾ cup water / 170 grams / 6 ounces – 2/3 cup / 92 grams / 3 ¾ ounces chopped 100% chocolate (preferably bean-to-bar) – 2 cups chopped 70% chocolate / 297 grams / 10 ½ ounces – 1 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar / 205 grams / 7 ¼ ounces – 2 1/2 cups whole milk / 567 grams / 20 ounces – 1 tablespoon light corn syrup / 20 grams / ¾ ounce Instructions: 1. Combine the water, milk, sugar, and corn syrup in a large pot and bring to a low boil over medium high heat. 2. Add both chocolates to the liquid, begin whisking the mixture and reduce the heat to medium. 3. Keep whisking until all the chocolate is melted. Then reduce the heat to low and whisk the mixture constantly for two to three minutes until fully combined and the syrup is shiny. 4. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool. The chocolate syrup can be used right away; any leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator. 5. For each serving blend 1 cup of ice with 1/2 cup chocolate syrup for 20 to 30 seconds in a blender, until the mixture is thick; It should resemble a thick milkshake. 6. Serve immediately topped with cocoa nib cream. Cocoa Nib Cream Ingredients: – 2 cups heavy cream / 470 grams / 16 ounces – 2 tablespoons sugar / 25 grams / 1 ounce – ½ cup cocoa nibs / 60 grams / 2 ounces Instructions: 1. Combine the cream and sugar in a small saucepan set over medium high heat and bring to a boil. 2. Turn off the heat, add the nibs and stir. Infuse the cream for 30 minutes; steeping the cream for too long will cause a bitter after taste. 3. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer and discard the nibs. 4. Chill the infused cream until cold as warm cream will not whip properly. 5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or using a hand mixer, whip the cream until medium peaks form. 6. Keep the whipped cream chilled until ready to serve, use within one day. 7. Dollop a generous spoonful on top of the frozen hot chocolate. Enjoy your chocolate taste explosion!

👨‍🍳 Chef’s Note: While delicious at home, nothing beats the real deal at Dandelion Chocolate. The single-origin chocolate they use adds an extra layer of complexity that’s hard to replicate!

Whether you’re a chocolate enthusiast or simply looking for the ultimate refreshing treat, the Frozen Hot Chocolate is an experience like no other. The rich, bold flavors of single-origin chocolate, combined with the creamy and frosty texture, make it a standout on the Dandelion Chocolate menu.

---

Stay tuned for our next issue!

---