Introducing Dark Chocolate Dipped Orange Gift Boxes

Gabriel Purdey
3 days ago
2 min read

Introducing Dark Chocolate Dipped Orange Gift Boxes

We have recently launched our new dark chocolate dipped orange slices. They are considered a truly luxurious gift and have become popular within the shop amongst a small but very loyal group of repeat customers. They are essentially the original chocolate orange and offer a more upmarket option than simply an orange-flavoured chocolate, as they retain some of the bitterness of the orange peel, which pairs exceptionally well with dark chocolate.

When did chocolate dipped orange become popular?

Chocolate dipped orange is not quite as old as you might think, considering how old chocolate itself is. The combination became particularly associated with Italian and French confectionery during the 19th century and grew in popularity during the Victorian period. Originally, chocolate dipped orange was often served as an after-dinner treat, but as chocolate gifting expanded rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, products such as candied orange dipped in dark chocolate became far more common.

Why does chocolate and orange work so well as a combination?

Chocolate and orange work fantastically well together due to their contrasting flavours. Dark chocolate, which is typically used, is naturally slightly bitter and earthy. Combined with the acidic yet sweet taste of orange, the two balance each other perfectly without either overpowering the other.

Of course, the flavour combination grew hugely in popularity in Britain during the 20th century due to the famous Terry's. Whilst we certainly do not look down on that incredible invention, the combination originally became popular because real orange peel and dark chocolate naturally work so well together.

How to make dipped chocolate candied orange

Producing dipped dark chocolate candied orange is actually fairly simple. We typically produce it at the end of a dark chocolate production run.

Place the dark chocolate into a mixing bowl and ensure there is at least 10cm of space between the surface of the chocolate and the top of the bowl.

Then individually take out the candied orange slices, they will often stick together, so you may need to use both hands, and dip them until around 50% of the orange is submerged in the chocolate. Move the orange around slightly to ensure the chocolate gets into all of the small gaps and adheres properly to the surface.

After this, lift the orange slice out and allow any excess chocolate to drain back into the bowl.

At this point, the slices can be laid flat onto greaseproof paper and allowed to set. Ensure the greaseproof paper is placed onto a surface such as stainless steel so the chocolate cools quickly. A wooden table will retain more heat, increasing the risk of fat bloom if the chocolate sets too slowly.

Read about tempering chocolate to learn more about fat bloom.

There you have it, a brief history and the how to guide to make these delicious dark chocolate dipped oranges. Be sure to check out of chocolate gift boxes to view the entire range.