MINT

Chocolate, FlavoursOfPlaces, Herbs & Spices, Morocco

Mint is one of my favourite flavour addition to chocolate – I love that clean, fresh taste that bites through strong, dark chocolate. And I especially enjoy mint chocolate after a curry, it’s the perfect dessert to clean the palate of those intense eastern spices.

Mint is a native Mediterranean herb & is probably one of the original flavours which Europeans attempted to combine with cocoa, when it started to flow from Central America during the 16th century. Some Europeans hated the taste of the bitter cocoa, whilst others looked for cheaper substitutes to the expensive traditional cocoa mixers which came from Mesoamerica, such as Vanilla.

The herb is now found much further afield & used in a whole range of delicious recipes. The Vietnamese use lots of mint to garnish their national dish, Pho (pronounced fur), which is a delicious, fragrant meaty soup. Mint is also the main ingredient of Touareg tea, which is popular across North African & Arab countries. The two most common mints consumed are Peppermint & Spearmint. Peppermint has always been the most popular to combine with chocolate, however I also love the less-intense flavour of Spearmint, especially the Nanah variety from Northern Morocco.

Here’s a simple but beautiful Mint chocolate recipe, developed by the extremely talented Ferran Adria from El Bulli…

Mint & Chocolate

Buy yourself a bunch of fragrant mint & pick off around 100 nice leaves & place them on a chopping board or tray. Then melt 50g of quality couverture in a bain-marie until the chocolate is smooth, silky & around 88 degrees fahrenheit. Use a spatula to cover each mint leaf & allow to cool & set for about four hours. The results are amazing – the thin coat of chocolate melts in your mouth & leaves you with a layer of crunchy mint leaf. I also love the two-tone colour combination of the leaves – shiny dark brown on top & lush green underneath. I’d recommend eating these soon after cooking as the mint leaves will lose their flavour & texture. And if you’re wondering what to do with the rest of your mint, I’d highly recommend a pot of hot, refreshing mint tea!

21.12.2012 – END OF THE WORLD?

Mexico

Aswell as being one the earliest consumers of chocolate, the Mayans are also known for their famous calendars – one of which is about to reach a dramatic milestone.

On Friday 21 December 2012, the Mayan Long Count will read 13.0.0.0.0 for the first time in 5,125 years, meaning the completion of 13 cycles & marking the creation of the human world. The earliest known Long Count was recorded in 32AD at Chiapa de Corzo in the Southern Mexican state of Chiapas, which was the one of first & largest settlements of Mesoamerica.

According to the Popol Vuh, the Mayan sacred book, the previous creation ends at the start of the 14 cycle or b’ak’tun, which some doom-mongers are interpreting as meaning the end of the world. However, many historians believe that Mayans simply saw the end of a cycle as a time for huge celebrations – celebrations which may have featured plenty of chocolate.

RAVI SHANKAR : 7 APRIL 1920 – 11 DECEMBER 2012

India

Indian musical legend Ravi Shankar sadly died yesterday aged 92, but he will always hold a special place in my heart for his impact on some of my favourite British music. I especially love the Indian flavour to the brilliant Revolver lp by the Beatles.

Ravi started young, touring Europe & the United States with the dance group of his brother, Uday, from the age of ten & learned to dance & play various indian instruments whilst embracing western music & culture.

He returned to India as World War II grew closer & looked to concentrate solely on Indian classical music, notably the sitar. By the mid 40s, he began to record music for radio & HMV India & by the mid 50’s, he was composing music for legendary film director, Satyajit Ray & his Apu Trilogy.

Shankar’s reputation was now growing internationally & by the 60’s, his music was inspiring the Byrds, the Beatles & the Rolling Stones amongst others. He continued to flourish as an international artist, including work with Philip Glass, Andre Previn, an Academy nomination for his soundtrack to the film Gandhi & famous collaborations with George Harrison – I especially love the Shankar Family & Friends LP. Performing up until a month prior to his death, Ravi Shankar will be sadly missed.