Did you know that filter coffee has more caffeine than espresso? Or that cocoa naturally contains more vitamins and minerals that any other food?

Guest Writer @AYankInBlighty picked up an array of facts as well as treats on he  Coffee and Chocolate Tour with Chocolate Ecstasy Tours.

Spring has definitely made it’s way to London the past few weeks and that is good news for food tours. I recently spent an absolutely gorgeous Saturday wandering around Notting Hill with Jennifer from Chocolate Ecstasy Tours. I was on their new Coffee and Chocolate Tour and I not only enjoyed myself but also learned the two facts above and more!

Colourful Notting Hill

Now I have to say that I’m not a big fan of coffee. I’ve tried it a few times in a few incarnations and it’s just never really been for me. It’s bitter and no matter how much milk, sugar, or even chocolate that goes in I just can’t count myself a fan. So while I was super excited for the chocolate part of the tour… I was dreading the coffee part a little. However, luckily for me on this tour you start with the coffee and finish on the chocolate.

And boy did we start with coffee from the beginning! We met under the overpass where the Portobello Green Market is and once everyone arrived Jennifer poured our first taste of coffee from a thermos. As I said, I’m not a fan of coffee - but I also didn’t want to wimp out and not give it a go for the tour so I had a few tastes. The first coffee wasn’t really for me, but it also wasn’t as bad as I expected. And she served it with a pastel de nada that was basically cream and sugar to go with the coffee. What a genius move that was!

Coffee under the overpass

Pastel de Nata

We soon moved on to our first main stop at a local cafe where we tried a few different coffees. We spent quite a lot of time at the cafe and had a nice large table reserved for our group. While we were sitting. Jennifer really showed how knowledgeable she is. She told us about where coffee beans are grown, how they are harvested, how they are roasted and of the different methods for brewing. Another fun fact I learned is that big chains like Starbucks actually burn their coffee when roasting it to give a more consistent flavour. Although that’s the last fact about coffee I’ll give you - if you want more you’ll have to go on the tour yourself.

Then we tried an espresso and a couple coffees. I have to say we had one coffee which was served black and I drank it and enjoyed it - no need for sugar or milk or anything. I absolutely could not believe it!

Coffees at the cafe

Truffles

100% Dark Chocolate

Chocolate bars to taste

Then once we left the cafe we started the chocolate element of the tour and this was what I was waiting for. We went to several different shops. Both places that make their own chocolates and places that sell chocolate made by others.

We had the chance to try chocolates I didn't even know existed like 100% cocoa. Now it's only been in the past few years that I've even learned that I like dark chocolate after years of thinking milk chocolate was as good as it gets. The 100% dark reminded me of how I felt about dark chocolate a few years ago. It's so rich that it actually tastes bitter. So I'm not quite a convert for that high a percentage. But we also tried a variety of bars with different amounts of cocoa - including a dark milk chocolate, which was awesome.

More truffles

Lots of truffles

In addition to trying varying richness of pure chocolate, we also had the opportunity to try truffles from a few different makers with a variety of flavours. It sort of opened my eyes to just how many options there are when it comes to chocolate truffles. Though I’m sure I’ve just scratched the surface! At one location, we got to see some truffles being filled by a chocolatier which was quite exciting.

Jennifer's knowledge of what goes into making chocolate is at least as extensive as her knowledge of coffee. We talked about the stages of chocolate production and were able to smell, touch and even taste some of the stages of chocolate including the cocoa bean itself.

Making truffle and macaroons!

Filing truffles

cocoa bean

Our last stop was probably one of the most interesting. We were sat around a large table under a canopy of cacao trees (or at least photos of them) and we were served the thickest richest hot chocolate I've ever had. We also had the opportunity to try some of the strangest chocolate flavours including tobacco (I abstained - something's I don't think even chocolate can make appealing to me!).

This tour is probably the most educational I’ve been on yet. Jennifer was able to seamlessly weave in the history and production of coffee, chocolate and the Notting Hill area while we wandered from place to place. And it never felt like you were being lectured at - just a nice conversation with a group of friends…but you’re learning. I was really impressed with her delivery and enthusiasm for the subject.

Chocolate table

Rich hot chocolate

I come from a line of chocolate lovers and am already tentatively planning to take my mom to Chocolate Ecstasy’s Mayfair Tour on her next visit! I think it’s just the type of thing she’ll enjoy and is a great way to show her parts of London.

Website :www.chocolateecstasytours.com
Twitter: @chocolatetours
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChocolateTours

Perfect quote about chocolate