Friars Blog

02/08/2022
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How Is Caramel Made? | Friars

Have you ever asked yourself, “How is Caramel made”? It’s an intriguing question really. We all know how good it tastes, how smooth it can be and dare we say how delicious it is when clad in some of the UK’s finest chocolate. But it doesn’t come exclusively in a fine coat of the chocolate kind. It can be in praline form, caramel apples, creme brulee amongst others, all of which are great examples of a confectionery favourite. So the answer to the question, how is Caramel made, is really... Read More

02/08/2022

Why Does American Chocolate Taste Bad? | Friars

Why does American chocolate taste bad is a question often asked when travellers from the UK partake of some chocolate, ‘over the pond’. There’s no doubting just how different it is from our own chocolate offerings. Routinely described as ‘sour’ and ‘tangy’ tasting by those newly introduced to the American brands. Some go as far as to suggest it smells of vomit! Really, vomit scented chocolate? Surely not? Well, maybe they are not too far off the mark as to just why American chocolate does taste so bad to us... Read More

12/07/2022
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Why Am I Craving Chocolate? | Friars

Why am I craving chocolate you might ask. Well if you have asked yourself that question you’re probably not alone. Theres something about chocolate that makes it an almost addictive “go to” when the urge strikes. Comfort, feel good, celebratory, rounding off a meal, all valid reasons to indulge, but just why am I craving chocolate to fulfill these needs? Well, its probably best to not get overly technical or scientific as to why you might be craving chocolate. Suffice to say that some chocolate ingredients are involved in giving... Read More

29/06/2022
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Why Is Dark Chocolate Good For You? | Friars

Why is dark chocolate good for you people ask. Can chocolate really be good for you at all say some. In way of response it is perhaps good to know that essentially chocolate is a plant based product and thus should be good for you. Obviously there are limits to the quantity of chocolate one should consume, but isn’t that true of all foodstuffs anyway? For example apples are hailed as healthy and blueberries classed as a superfood, but it wouldn’t be wise, or advised, to munch your way through... Read More

24/06/2022
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How to Temper Chocolate | Friars

How to temper chocolate is not about making your favourite box of confectionery angry as you probably already know. No, to temper is a very necessary process undertaken in the manufacturing of our chocolate. More widely known for it’s use in metal working, most of us will have heard of tempered steel, tempering is an important part of the product making cycle. Essentially to temper something is to bring it to a workable state and in the case of chocolate the tempering is the final part of the process. Because... Read More

24/06/2022
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How is White Vegan Chocolate made? | Friars

White chocolate is in itself an intriguing affair, but how is white Vegan chocolate made and how does it differ? The intrigue is mostly because its a contradiction in terms, but also because its a rather nice take on our favourite type of confection. For some people white chocolate is a rich creamy delight to be enjoyed occasionally and savoured always. There’s something about that creamy sensation as the chocolate melts and coats the tongue with that flavour which is quite distinct from other forms of chocolate. Incidentally, the melting... Read More

24/06/2022
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What Does Cacao Percentage Mean? | Friars

The obvious point to consider before answering the question relating to cacao percentage is what in fact is cacao? ‘Theobroma Cacao’, derived from the Greek, which translates to “food of the gods”, is the tree whose pods provide us with the beans that ultimately, form the most desirable part of our chocolate. What Does Cocao Percentage Mean? Cacao percentage is the processed bean mass in whichever of its forms that our chocolate contains. Many refer to the tree and unrefined seeds as cacao. Once processed into one of a number... Read More

08/06/2022
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Should You Store Chocolate In The Fridge? | Friars

It may seem a strange question; “Should you store chocolate in the fridge”? However, for many chocolate lovers it’s a pretty worthwhile one. With summer fast approaching it’s also fairly relevant as we try to keep our treats from becoming a gooey mess on the kitchen worktop or in a storage cupboard, as the temperature rises. Many of us have had that awful, and to be fair deeply disappointing moment when we unwrap a chocolate bar to find the contents oozing out in an almost liquid slick. Salvaging what we... Read More

24/05/2022
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Ice Cream Flavoured Chocolates | Friars

Ice Cream Flavoured Chocolates If the very title; ‘Ice cream flavoured Chocolates’, doesn’t have you thinking of summer, then we believe if you try them, then pretty soon you will be. We are confident our Ice cream flavoured truffles will melt away some winter blues and herald thoughts of a warm summer to come. There’s something special about truffle centres anyway. Put them into a chocolate with some of the worlds favourite ice cream flavours and the result can only be delicious. There are few resorts or sea fronts amongst... Read More

16/05/2022

Why Self Care Is So Important? | Friars

We should all take the time to ask why self care is so important. Asking it of ourselves is perhaps the first step toward understanding why and eventually building upon and improving our own well being. There are organisations that can help in this search for our inner wellness, for example the Self Care Forum, a national charity whose aim is to further and embed into everyday life a practice of self caring. Self care is really about the actions that individuals take for themselves, whether that be with or... Read More