There’s a reason why there’s a whole day leading up to Valentine’s Day that’s dedicated to chocolate. Not only is chocolate a symbol of love, but science says dark chocolate is an aphrodisiac too. But did you know that just like you and your loved one make for the perfect couple on Valentine’s Day, there are ingredients that enhance the flavour of chocolate by pairing with them like only a great partner can?
We have here a list of 10 such amazing ingredients that marry so well with chocolate that you’d think they were a match made in heaven. We aren’t listing the most obvious pairings—berries, rum and nuts—for good reason, because you already know about them. If you’re thinking of gifting some chocolates to your Valentine, then here’s an idea: Why not pick the ingredient (more than one too, if you like) from this list and gift them to your loved one too? That gift card will just write itself with such a lovely combo, trust us.
Orange
Chocolate is rich, luscious and intense. Orange is zesty, fruity and fresh. These contrast in taste is the main reason why oranges pair so well with chocolates. Best paired with milk chocolate, oranges are also in season. Need any more reason to pair these two?
Wine
If chocolate tastes intense, then imagine what effect a silky wine extracted from the best grapes can have. The result is shockingly good, but you need to know which chocolate to pair with which wine. Dark chocolate pairs best with Cabernet Sauvignon, while Pinot Noir goes well with milk chocolate. Merlot matches up to the flavours of both dark and milk chocolates, while Riesling, Moscato and Rose enhance the flavours of white chocolate.
Blue Cheese
How can something sweet gel well with something savoury? But experts reveal that the darkest of chocolates (70 to 90% cocoa) actually intensify in taste when paired with the bluest of cheeses. Try blue cheese varieties like Stilton and Fourme D’Ambert with plain dark chocolates, and let the revelation unfold on your taste buds.
Whiskey
This combination is simply intoxicating, and not just because whiskey is involved. Chocolate originating from a single region (instead of those whose beans are sourced from multiple places) pair best with whiskey. If your whiskey is rye-based, it will give milk chocolate a spicy note. If your whiskey is aged and smoky, it’ll go best with a 70% dark chocolate.
Fennel
Fennel has a naturally sweet flavour with undertones of anise or licorice. The addition of dark chocolates—at least 45% cocoa—only intensifies this flavour, making for a brilliant, balanced match. Often, fennel and dark chocolate are also paired with raspberries to cut through the sweetness.
Peanut Butter
If peanuts go well with dark chocolate, then peanut butter marries best with milk chocolate. Milk chocolate is already creamy and rich in taste, and the addition of this popular nut butter makes it even more so. And that hit of saltiness on your palate at the end of the bite makes it all worth it!
Tequila
This one is so good that it might knock your socks off! Tequila is made of blue agave, which has a toasty note. So, it goes well with creamy milk chocolates. While milk chocolates flavoured with fruits or mint go best with tequila, pairing the drink with cinnamon and chilli-flavoured chocolates will add a spicy hit.
Saffron
If you and your Valentine are fans of white chocolate, then this pairing is tailor-made for you. Saffron is a gentle spice with a light but easily discernible flavour, which is why it goes really well with white chocolate. You could gift these two together, or whip up a simple saffron-infused white chocolate bark for the perfect homemade gift basket.
Matcha
Matcha, the green tea variety from Japan, has a naturally bitter flavour profile. This makes it the perfect ingredient to go with white chocolate—which is creamy, buttery and very sweet indeed. You could also try a sweet milk chocolate with matcha if you and your Valentine are in an experimental mood.
Pumpkin
Naturally sweet and slightly fruity, pumpkin is an exceptionally festive vegetable. And yes, it pairs really well with dark chocolate. A good quality, 70% dark chocolate is perhaps the best celebratory partner pumpkin could ever hope for, since the sweetness of pumpkin is perfectly balanced by the bitterness of the chocolate.