Customer Reviews

Discover Chocolate: The Ultimate Guide to Buying, Tasting, and Enjoying Fine Chocolate

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is absolutely awesome. I knew very little about chocolate before reading this book, but now feel confident in my chocolate knowledge. It has increased my interest in choclate, and am now able to scrutinize the chocolate wherever I go.

Furthermore, the author does a good job of conversing with the reader. One feels like they're having a conversation with Clay, rather than being lectured. Overall a great book, a must buy for anyone even remotely interested in chocolate.

I love this book! It provides the groundwork for your own personal exploration in the world of fine chocolate. The information is solid and applicable and I feel better prepared how to understand and evaluate the chocolate I encounter from now on. The chapter on tasting notes is especially good, considering how little is written on the subject. If you are a lover of chocolate, this is a must read.

Clay Gordon is a self-taught expert and dedicated chocophile from the US. This book sets out what he has learned about fine chocolate in the 15 years since he began his mission to become an expert. The book is split into four main sections covering how to taste chocolate, the story of chocolate from bean to bar (including a look at the genetics of cacao), how to judge and buy quality chocolate, and pairing chocolate with wine and other alcoholic drinks. Gordon writes with all the passion of an enthusiast and his style is both easy to read and quite winning. I think the sections of the book on how to taste chocolate and from bean to bar are particularly well written and laid out and worth the price of the book alone. The section on buying quality chocolate is interesting, while I could live without the section on pairings with alcohol. Another big plus for the book is that it contains an excellent glossary of terms used in the chocolate world, which will be very helpful to both beginners and keen amateurs alike. There are relatively few books on chocolate as a subject, as opposed to recipes using chocolate, and even fewer that seek to explore the world of high cocoa content, quality bean, fine chocolate. We are therefore lucky that the books that do exist are all complementary to each other and well written and/or inspirational. If I was advising a fine chocolate novice on getting started I might suggest first reading Chloe Doutre-Roussel's short and sweet "The Chocolate Connoiseur", then following up with this book, which is much more in depth, and then rounding off with Sarah Jane Evans's "Chocolate Unwrapped", which looks in detail at the leading 80 fine chocolate manufacturer's around the world and their bars.

This is an excellent overview of chocooate and its production. Well written, illustrated and authorative.

Great book - fun read, comprehensive, good suggestions for any chocolate lover. Author loves chocolate and his enthusiasm is contagious.

A ton of info packed into a 2 hour read. Thorough groundwork for the chocolate novice. Straight to the point and worthwhile.

This is so fascinating my boyfriend wants to read it too. Really an essential book if you work with chocolate or if you're a chocolate lover.

If you take chocolate seriously, this book is a good overview to understand it better. Loved the price on Amazon - the author sells it for $75 a copy on his web site!

I've read the book and love the author's method of conversing with the reader as well. The information flows freely, in an organized and easy to read manner. As a novice who is very interested in making chocolate at home, Clay's book provided plenty of information to get me started. The book has lovely images but is not overridden with pictures to the point where it takes space away from important textual information. Overall, a nice inspirational balance of information about and guide to chocolate.

Very good book for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge as well as apprection for chocolate. Makes a great conversation piece as well as a gift for any chocolate person, especially women.