Pomegranate TCHO Dark Chocolate Clusters

Are you looking for something healthy and sweet for Valentine’s Day? Dark Chocolate and Pomegranates make the perfect pair for a heart-healthy month!



Pomegranate seeds are full of B vitamins, potassium, and folic acid. They’re also a great vegan source of iron. Read more: Superfood: 10 Delicious Pomegranate Recipes



The above photo shows Lindt 85% cocoa bar as well as the TCHO. Two chocolate company I prefer and are local in the San Francisco Bay area are TCHO and Guittard

TCHO is located in San Francisco at Pier 17 in San Francisco, on the Embarcadero. They have public tours that run twice daily, 7 days a week. The tour is free and accommodate up to 29 people.

Guittard is located in Burlingame, California (about 10 minutes outside of San Francisco proper). It has a start to finish chocolate making process on their site. Below are a few links to the process.
1. Making Chocolate
2. Growing Cocao
3. Harvesting, Fermenting and Drying Cacao

Adding small amounts of this dark chocolate to your diet can lead to appetite control, reduced stress, heart health and liver protection. Read more: 75% Dark Chocolate Health Benefits



Start one or two hours before you want to make the Pomegranate TCHO Dark Chocolate Clusters. You'll need to let the pomegranates dry for at least an hour after you soak them. You do not want to use wet or damp pomegranates.

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The best way to break away arils from the membrane is in a bowl with cold water. Keep the pomegranate submerged in water while breaking them apart. It will save you on the clean-up time. Side note: Do not wear anything white while making this recipe.



I don't have a double boiler, so I use a cast iron pot on low heat and stir continuously until chocolate is smooth. I use a mini silicone spoon spatulas or a spoonulas. I purchased a set of four at William-Sonoma for about 20 dollars. A must have in ones arsenal of cooking weapons.

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After an hour, see if the pomegranates are dry.

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1. In a candy size cup or mini cupcake liners, drop a spoon full of dark melted chocolate
2. Layer with pomegranate
3. Repeat one more time



I added a little coconut as a topper



Ingredients:
- 1 pomegranate cut into quarters
- 1 or 2 bars of TCHO dark chocolate. A local San Francisco company.
- Handfull coconut

Gluten Free Option for Chocolate: Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Gluten, Dairy, nut & Soy Free, Mini Chips, 10-Ounce Bags

Cool information from the Guittard Chocolate Company in Burlingame, CA 94010
Cacao, pronounced 'ka-KOW', is the raw, agricultural ingredient used to make chocolate. It is grown in various parts of the world along the Equator, where humid temperatures and jungle-like surroundings provide ideal conditions for growing this colorful fruit. In shades of red, orange, yellow and green, cacao pods sprout from the trunks of cacao trees, and cacao beans (seeds actually) are found inside the pods where a delicate, sweet, fruity pulp surrounds the cacao bean cotyledons (which later become nibs). Cacao pods are harvested throughout the year as they reach optimal ripeness, mainly from October though May.

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Blogging about food requires several photo sessions - after a couple of different tries I was able to get a few good photos. It's fun to eat the mistakes!



What is Valentine's Day?