Question about culinary tastes: do you think chocolate tastes more intense when salt is added?

13 comments

1. Salt brings out the base flavors and lowers bitterness found in pure chocolates.

   But it’s a preference thing.

2. Best chocolate is dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa

3. If you’re using Cocoa powder you can add a little bit of red pepper flakes. That actually brings out the chocolate flavor.

4. Yes. I can’t account for what you’re personally experiencing. But that is what salt does on a chemical level, as it diminishes bitter flavors.

5. Chocolate-covered pretzels are elite. That’s all I know.

6. Not for me, bitter Chocolate does the trick for me.

7. Yes. But it’s not just chocolate.

   Salt is a flavour enhancer, not just something we use to make things taste salty. I don’t know how it works, but if you’re trying to make something super spicy or something, and it doesn’t seem to be working, add a bit of salt, and you magically get the taste you’re looking for. Or if something tastes bland, add a bit of salt, and you suddenly taste all the flavours.

8. I greatly enjoy dark Chocolate with sea salt.

9. Try drinking coffee with the chocolate for a deeper chocolate experience.

10. Optimal levels of tastants vary widely by individual and their interactions also vary.

    Genetic variations such as the coriander/cilantro or parsley tasting like soap, and “super tasters” (up to 25% of the population) or “non-tasters” (also up to 25% of the population) also have a major effect.

    Salt does not chemically alter flavor. It can (for some people) change your perception of a tastant, and this effect varies by concentration, and your individual taste perception.

    For me, salt makes chocolate salty and doesn’t alter it’s other qualities. Other people perceive a decreased bitterness (I don’t).

11. Yes but only a little. Taste buds are inherently subjective though, eat whatever chocolate you like

12. More gross

13. Salt and chocolate = salty chocolate.