Haunted by Chocolate Tastings
A word from the Chocolate Maven...

There are several possible ways to do a tasting, and I like to work that through with the folks putting on the event to decide what chocolates to include. I normally suggest 4 to 5 tastes, but we can do more or less. In general, we don't usually work with filled chocolates or truffles, but ultimately, that's up to the host of the event. 

As a side note, I like to start out with folks tasting some cacao nibs. These are the pieces of the roasted cacao bean, and starting this way is often an eye-opener for people. Cacao nibs, by the way, are great in salads and on ice cream and cake.

Here are a few possible ways to go -- but remember there are so many chocolates out there, and so little time...

1) Samples of different cacao content percentages, starting high (very dark) and ending lower. We can include a high cacao percentage milk chocolate (a dark, or deep, milk chocolate) or not.We can also vary the origin countries, or simply stick with a focus on cacao content

We can often do this with one chocolate maker, since a number of them produce chocolate with varying cacao content. However, if the aim is to introduce the styles of different makers, it may be that the samples come from two or more producers.

2) Samples of the same or similar percentages of cacao, but with originating beans from different countries (can be done with the same producer or different). E. Guittard produces several chocolates for this purpose. People can really taste the difference in chocolate produced with different country-origin beans especially when the samples come from the same chocolate maker.

3) Samples of chocolate produced by one maker of different origin, different percentages, with a focus on the style of the chocolate maker.

4) Samples of flavored/spiced chocolate of the same flavor/spice, different chocolate makers.

5) Samples of different favored/spiced chocolate from the same chocolate maker. Some chocolate makers, such as Vosges Chocolates produce some incredibly interesting and delicious combinations.

These are just a few ways to go, but naturally I can work with you to match your needs and expectations. 

More recently, I have conducted chocolate and wine pairings both at wineries and private parties. I also can pair fine chocolates with beer and ale, and with cheese. In fact, a chocolate, wine and cheese event brings three great things together!

What Happens at the Tastings
Naturally, there's a lot of eating chocolate!

Everyone is provided with a tasting notes sheet, and instruction on what to pay attention to while tasting. All of the senses are involved, and the tasting reflects this. People are asked to share their perceptions along the way.

Beyond that, during the tastings I provide a bit of history, where cacao comes from, information on how chocolate is made, fun facts about chocolate from pop culture, a bit about the health benefits that are coming out these days, and of course (and in some respects most relevant), background on the chocolate makers whose wares we are samplin. (Yes, I said we -- don't think I'll miss out on any chocolate, do you?) 

The tasting sessions average 60 - 90 minutes. However, I will work with you to make sure this works within your time frame. Past tastings have been as short as 30 minutes (fewer samples) and as long as two hours (more samples, a little psychic entertainment, and more fun facts)

How much does this cost?
Pricing for a Haunted by Chocolate event is based on:
* A base fee depending on the size of the event (we can provide additional personnel for very large groups)
* The chocolates to be tasted (what kind)
* The number of samples to be tasted
* The number of people who will be attending (affects how much chocolate is needed)
* Any additional services you'd like, such as adding a little psychic entertainment (chocolate focused of course) or whether you'd like to provide additional chocolate (bars, samples) to your guests to take home.

Do keep in mind that a chocolate tasting is a wonderful memory-making experience for your next dinner or celebration party, or family, organization or business event. We can handle audiences of two to a couple of thousand.

For a quote for your event, or more information, contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].

Make your event Chocolate! Make it an event that people will remember every time they have good Chocolate. 

Chocolate Tastings for Parties
Make your next party more than memorable. Instead of a traditional dessert course, offer a chocolate tasting. Great fun for bridal and baby showers, engagement parties, dinner parties, anniversaries, holiday parties and all of your special occasions. Available for any size group. Book early for holiday parties! 

Chocolate Tastings for Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and Banquets
Make your event a tasty one. For special events like this, let us set up a "Chocolate Bar" (one or more, depending on the size of your event) -- stations for people to visit and try a "flight" of chocolate samples, all served up with fun facts about the samples, their makers and chocolate in general. 

Chocolate Tastings for Your Business 
Chocolate tastings are an engaging, fun, safe choice for corporate (or small business) events, team building, and entertaining clients.
Available for any size group, from small team meetings to all-employee company meetings. 
Available as a Skype presentation (we get you the chocolate in advance, presentation is done live via Skype)

Chocolate Tastings for Your Conference 
Need something entertaining, exciting and tasty for conference attendees or a spouse/partner event? Provide the opportunity for a chocolate experience.
Available for any size group. 
Available as a Skype presentation (we get you the chocolate in advance, presentation is done live via Skype)

Chocolate Tastings for Your Organization Need to reward your members? Need something special for a fundraiser? Want to attract lots of people, and have them talking? Chocolate tastings are the way to go!
Available for any size group, as Loyd Auerbach can work with you to make sure everyone has the same chocolate experience. 

Chocolate for your Events, Gifts, and More
Now that he makes his own chocolate products, Loyd Auerbach can provide special chocolate pieces or truffles of a variety of flavors for any and all events, for gifts and giveaways and of course, just for eating. His custom dark and dark milk chocolate blends and special truffle flavors were developed over many months and lots of taste-testing (feel sorry for his friends and family...Not!)

Want to make a great impression with a gift? Haunted By Chocolate is the way to go!


Loyd Auerbach is known best as an expert on the Paranormal, the author of 9 books on the subject (and a 10th on Self-Publishing & Promotion), and a frequent face seen on paranormal TV shows. He lectures on the subject around the country, and teaches both local and distance learning Parapsychological Studies courses, as well as "Publishing & Media" for JFK University.

But he is also a life-long Foodhist, a Chocolate Maven - and the author of an upcoming book on Chocolate. His research for the new book has led him to lead Chocolate Tastings for a variety of audiences, big and small.As of 2010, he is also a professional Chocolatier, with some of his own unique products.

That's not all: he is a professional psychic entertainer (and former magician) - which means he can build some unusual surprises and entertainment for people who attend -- as if the Chocolate weren’t enough! 

For something really different, bring Loyd in to do Chocolate Readings using his Cocoa Oracle Fortune System. Folks choose a piece (or two or three) of chocolate with a hidden symbol (hidden until they unwrap it) and receive an interesting (and fun) reading -- and eat the chocolate, of course!