Wairarapa’s Schoc Chocolates continues to explore and push the boundaries of chocolate tastes.
Next month, the Greytown based Chocolate Studio will debut a new tablet at the inaugural New Zealand Chocolate Festival, which is one of many events in this year’s VISA Wellington On a Plate culinary festival.
Murray Langham, who is now the sole owner of Schoc Chocolates, is looking forward to unveiling one of many new products at the Festival being hosted by the InterContinental Wellington from August 12-14. The qualified chef, culinary judge and counsellor, who specialises in Chocolate Therapy, says people can expect their taste buds to be zinging after savouring his new creation.
‘I’m currently playing with a smoked tablet and for the Chocolate Festival will be releasing our much anticipated Curry and Poppadom Tablet,’ he says. ‘But will it be in white, dark or milk chocolate? People will have to find out at the Festival.’
Schoc Chocolates opened in Greytown in 2002 with the aim of creating a unique blend of gourmet hand-made chocolates and self-exploration. Murray also created the expression Chocology, which examines an individual’s choice of centres and shapes above others and determines how these choices can be interpreted to identify habits of behaviour.
‘I set out to combine the joy and health benefits of consuming quality chocolate with a deeper understanding of one’s inner self,’ says Murray. ‘Now nine years on I am still passionate about pushing chocolate’s boundaries and sharing my passion for creating new and exciting tastes with others.”
Murray, who will also be guest speaking, at the Culinary Master Class with chocolate tasting at the Te Papa Soundings Theatre on July 24, says the secret to Schoc Chocolates success is the delicate balance of flavours.
‘Because I believe chocolate is savoury, not sweet, it allows me to look at flavour combinations one wouldn’t normally associate with chocolate,’ he says. ‘Sugar is used as a flavour enhancer to marry the combinations within the chocolate.’
Schoc Chocolates was also one of 85 international Chocolatiers featured in the recently released book ‘Chocolate Unwrapped’ and the only one from New Zealand.
The Schoc range includes tablets, truffles, moulded and dipped chocolates, as well as Christmas and Easter special editions. They feature over 85 flavours, from classic strawberry and caramel to chilli/lime or smoked tea. Flavourings are organic and where possible sourced locally.