Buying fine chocolates

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 10, 2000

After our own heart Love's sweet reward is in good hands. Pierre Vivier, a Frenchman turned Floridian, excels in the art of chocolate, all the better for discriminating palates who savor bittersweet as much as sauvignon.

Labels of chocolate products are confusing, as they are not required to list the percentage of chocolate used. However, there are clues.

In the United States, baking chocolate does not contain sugar but may have vanilla; it has the most chocolate content.

Sweet or dark chocolate contains 15 percent to 35 percent chocolate liquor and less than 12 percent milk solids. (The richest in this category are bittersweet and semisweet chocolate, which must be 35 percent chocolate liquor.)

Milk chocolate must contain 10 percent chocolate liquor and at least 12 percent chocolate liquor.

White chocolate contains no chocolate except cocoa butter.

On labels, ingredients are listed in order of amount.

Where to look

In addition to the products sold by major U.S. and foreign companies, the following small Florida chocolatiers sell truffles and other fine candies:

• Artelle Chocolates, 5507 38th Ave. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 343-3693. Truffles, $1.50 each, sold in boxes of 6, 12 and up.
• Chocolates by Michelle, north entrance of Gulfview Square Mall, 9409 U.S. 19, Port Richey; (727) 849-7502. Small truffles, 65 cents; large truffles, $1.50; assortments at various prices.
• Debbie's Chocolate Delight, Grand Plaza, 14453 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 983-2298. Large truffles, $15.95 per pound.
• Pierre Vivier, French Chocolatier, 2104-3 Gilliam Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32308; (850) 877-0343; toll-free (800) 368-4882; http://www.pvchocolates.com on the Internet. Assortments from $15.95 to $31.95, plus shipping.

Sources: Chocolate Manufacturers Association; Chris Sherman

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.