Moutai has officially announced another product, this time it’s Dove! Do you want to buy two chocolates with liquor filling for 35 yuan?

Recently, two well-known brands "combined" to launch a chocolate with liquor filling, which caused heated discussions on major social media.

The picture is taken from the promotional materials of the relevant content manufacturer's Weibo

So, is this thing delicious? Is there anything you need to pay attention to? Let's talk about it today.

Why is the combination of wine and chocolate so delicious?

Let me make a bold guess first, this thing is probably not bad to eat. As an adult, I often eat it secretly (good children please don’t imitate me)…

So why pair wine and chocolate?

First, the combination of liquor and chocolate is more conducive to preservation and can extend the shelf life of chocolate. Secondly, the combination of liquor and chocolate can enhance the taste of each other.

The strong aroma of wine can cover up the bitterness of pure cocoa butter chocolate and make sweet chocolate less greasy. The bitter or sweet taste of chocolate can also alleviate the spiciness of liquor, and the thickness of chocolate can also prevent the aroma of wine from spreading.

Image source: unsplash.com Photographer: EgorLyfar

In addition, using different wine combinations will also bring different flavor experiences. Commonly used ones are rum, brandy, whiskey, etc.

Rum + Chocolate: Rum is a distilled liquor made from sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice through fermentation, distillation, and oak barrel aging. [1] When paired with chocolate, it has a sweet, rich, full-bodied taste with a long-lasting aftertaste and the rich, smooth aroma of chocolate.

Brandy + Chocolate: Brandy is made from fruit through fermentation, distillation, storage and aging. According to international practice, brandy refers specifically to grape brandy. If brandy is made from other fruit ingredients, it should be named after the corresponding fruit, such as red date brandy, apple brandy, peach brandy, plum brandy, etc. [2] When paired with chocolate, while tasting the chocolate, you can also experience the fruity aroma and aged woody aroma of brandy.

Whiskey + Chocolate: Whiskey is a distilled liquor made from malt and grains through saccharification, fermentation, distillation, aging and blending. [3] When paired with chocolate, you can enjoy the malt aroma, smoky flavor and unique flavor of the spirit while also enjoying the smoothness and sweetness of the chocolate.

Moutai + chocolate? Moutai is a traditional specialty liquor in my country, with a prominent sauce aroma, elegant and delicate taste, mellow body, long aftertaste, and a long-lasting aroma even when the cup is empty. [4] Imagine this kind of liquor paired with chocolate... Tsk tsk, anyway, I'm already curious!

Can chocolate with liquor filling lead to drunk driving?

The liquor content in the fillings of most chocolates with liquor fillings on the market is mostly 4~7 ml, and traditional chocolates with liquor fillings are mostly strong liquor with an alcohol content of more than 40%vol.

Eating 1-2 chocolates with liquor fillings at a time is equivalent to consuming about 10 ml of alcohol, which is not intoxicating. But if you can't stop eating, and you can drink more than ten or even twenty at a time, you may really get drunk. In this case, you obviously shouldn't drive at all. And consuming too many chocolates with liquor fillings at a time is actually similar to drinking alcohol, which is not good for your health. What about eating a little bit? We can make a simple estimate based on the current data.

According to the national standard "Blood and Breath Alcohol Content Thresholds and Inspection for Vehicle Drivers":

Driving under the influence of alcohol when the blood alcohol content of the driver is greater than or equal to 20mg/100ml and less than 80mg/100ml.

Driving with an alcohol content greater than or equal to 80mg/100ml is considered drunk driving.

Take the very popular sauce-flavored latte some time ago. A local traffic police once conducted a test on it. After taking a sip of sauce-flavored latte, the police blew out immediately. The result of the instrument showed that the alcohol content in the blood was 10mg/100ml, which has not yet reached the standard for drunk driving. However, it is hard to say if you drink too much.

Image source: Changsha Police WeChat Official Account

The concentration of alcohol in alcoholic chocolate is much higher than that in sauce-flavored latte. Previously, there was a case in which a man ate 7 pieces of chocolate with alcoholic filling and was fined by the traffic police.

Picture from Weibo

Therefore, in order to avoid trouble, it is best not to eat chocolate with liquor filling before driving.

Chocolate with liquor filling will go bad easily if not stored properly

Since it is not recommended to eat too much at one time, you have to consider the preservation of the chocolate with liquor filling.

Unlike other foods, chocolate should never be stuffed into the refrigerator. This is because chocolate can easily bloom if it is not stored properly, especially chocolate with a filling. White frost will form on the surface of bloomed chocolate, which is composed of sugar and fat frost that have been precipitated from the chocolate. This will cause the quality of the chocolate to deteriorate, lose its luster, and become worse in taste.

Some literature mentions that chocolate is more likely to bloom when stored in an environment below 15°C than in an environment between 20 and 25°C. When placed in an environment with large temperature fluctuations between 18 and 30°C, the rate of blooming increases as the temperature rises. [5]

Of course, chocolate should not be placed in a high temperature environment. When the temperature reaches 32-34°C, the chocolate will melt, affecting its consumption. If the temperature drops further, the fat crystallizes into an unstable crystal form, causing the chocolate to bloom. [5] In addition, environments with large humidity fluctuations will also make chocolate prone to blooming.

When chocolate is stored at room temperature of 20°C, it can remain frost-free for one year. [6] Therefore, the chocolate you buy can be stored in a cool and dry place. Some chocolates with liqueur fillings will have storage conditions marked on the packaging, and you can store them according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

These people should be careful when eating chocolate with liquor filling

People who are losing weight should eat less: the calories of chocolate with liquor filling are still quite high. In order to make the liquor filling more delicious, extra sugar may be added. For example, the picture below is a nutritional table of a very popular brand of chocolate with liquor filling. One piece is about 7 grams. If you eat 3 pieces at a time, the calories you consume are about 104 kcal, which is equivalent to eating half a small bowl of rice. It is not a big problem to taste one piece, but if you can't stop eating, even if you don't get drunk, you will become more and more plump.

Children and adolescents: Children are not fully developed yet. Consuming foods containing alcohol will affect their physical development and cause damage to the brain, so it is best not to eat them.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Drinking alcohol or eating foods containing alcohol during pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome, increasing the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and other fetal complications. Eating foods containing alcohol during breastfeeding can cause the alcohol to enter the baby through breast milk, affecting the baby's sleep and psychomotor development. [7]

People with poor sleep: Chocolate with liquor filling not only contains alcohol, but may also contain caffeine, which can make people nervous and difficult to fall asleep. It can also affect the quality of sleep, especially for people who are sensitive to caffeine.

People who are taking medication: People who are taking certain medications should be cautious. For example, it is best not to eat foods containing alcohol while taking antibiotics such as cephalosporin and metronidazole. Even if you are taking other types of medications, you should consult a doctor.

People who are allergic to alcohol: Although chocolate with liquor filling only contains a small amount of alcohol, people who are allergic to alcohol should not eat it.

Summary: The chocolate with liquor filling allows us to enjoy the silky smoothness while also feeling the strong aroma of liquor. However, it is not suitable as a snack for children. For adults, eating too much will not only "drinking is harmful to health", but may also make you fat. Don't eat it if you are going to drive!

In addition, I have to remind friends who have dogs: Never feed it to your dog, as it may cost the dog’s life!

References

[1] Wang Linliang, Ai Jingwen, Liu Gongde, Luo Xiaojie, Ye Xueying, Xie Chaomin, Ren Erfang. Research progress on rum flavor substances[J]. China Brewing, 2014, 33(9): 9-12

[2] Wang Xin, Li Hua, Wang Hua. Research progress on aroma components of brandy[J]. Food Science, 2018, 39(19): 287-295

[3] Wu Sijia, Yang Yigong, Huo Xingsan, Liu Cuiping, Shen Guoquan, Zhao Zhiyun, Li Jingming. Effects of two distillation processes on the characteristic aroma of whiskey[J]. Food Science, 2023, 44(10): 341-350

[4] Niu Yunwei, Zhu Quan, Xiao Zuobing. Aroma composition of Moutai liquor and synergistic effects among key aroma components[J]. Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology, 2021, 21(10): 215-226

[5] Wang Fengyan, Wang Xingguo, Tao Guanjun, Zhou Shengli, Jin Qingzhe, Liu Yuanfa. Research progress on chocolate blooming[J]. Food Science, 2011, 32(5): 301-305

[6] Zhou Peiwen. Research on preparation and temperature control equipment of heat-resistant and frost-resistant chocolate[D]. Jiangnan University, 2022.DOI:10.27169/d.cnki.gwqgu.2022.002064.

[7] Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents[M]. People's Medical Publishing House. 2022

Author: Xue Qingxin, one of the first nutrition instructors of the National Health Commission, and a registered nutritionist in China

Review | Han Hongwei, Director and Researcher of Risk Communication Department, National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center