Did you know that USU has a chocolate factory? We certainly did not (it has come into existence since the last time we had a Chocolate Unit…which is nice as several other local chocolate makers have disappeared since then!). It's not really a "factory." More of a "building." But it's part of their food science department and it seems like such a great idea! Students get to learn about chocolate making and then participate in the process from start to finish. And then they sell their finished products (which are very good!). Daisy, aspiring hot chocolate shop owner that she is, would like to attend school there just to work at this place!
There is, in fact, another "bean to bar" chocolate company not far from us (Ritual Chocolate in Heber) but since they decided to be snooty and charge a million dollars for
their tours, we will leave them to the foodies who don't want children on their tours anyway, and go back to USU the next time we want to watch chocolate being made!
The
USU tours do have a cost also, but they give it back to you as a credit to spend at their chocolate store, so we were happy to pay it! :)
Chocolate wrapper "convader belt," as Gus calls them. The chocolates weren't being wrapped at the moment but we saw a video of when they were.
The student who gave us the tour was so nice. She liked the kids too, because they were interested and asked lots of questions. Too many? Maybe. I tried to rein them in somewhat. This machine in the picture was cool—it was just a table that wobbled very quickly back and forth. The students placed the chocolate molds on it so that the liquid chocolate would settle quickly in the molds and not leave any air bubbles. Good idea!
Cocoa butter
Chocolate that has crystallized past Phase V, and some good examples of fat and sugar bloom
Big mélangers. Yum! The chocolate starts to look so good when it's being mixed in these.
This is the old conching machine, which they apparently don't use anymore, but we took a picture because it's cool and because it's named Augustus Gloop. Incidentally, when we named Gus, I was worried because I was afraid everyone would only associate his name with Augustus Gloop, which of course isn't a very good association. But now I don't worry so much. He is Gus the Good and no one can think otherwise.
Here he is making a very strange face, though. Why?
We got to do a chocolate tasting as part of the tour and it was really fun. The tour guide was so encouraging and validated every person's tasting experience, telling them there was "no wrong answer" to the "what does this taste like to you" question. She gave us a little wheel to help us describe the flavors (
something like this), showing "fruity," "caramelly," "nutty," and so forth. It was interesting. My friend Tye helped us with something similar when she did a chocolate tasting with us.
Goldie contemplates the flavors she is experiencing
We chose some good things to try at the store (little bars of chocolate from different origins, for example). Here we are anxiously awaiting our hot chocolate and frozen hot chocolate.
And here we are trying them! Daisy looks disapproving, no doubt because they have to be shared among so many. :) Anyway, it was a great field trip, well worth the drive! We'd like to go back with Sam sometime!
And here is Ziggy with the chocolate factory he made when we got home…standing next to the shaking table that helps level off the bars in the chocolate molds.
