The last time a new type of chocolate was created in the 1930s Switzerland unveiled white chocolate, and we've been enjoying Milky Bars and the like ever since.
But now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality chocolate, Switzerland's , has presented a gamechanger. The company has created a whole new type of chocolate - and it's pastel pink (or 'millennial pink', as some are calling it).
Meet Ruby chocolate: it's made from the Ruby cocoa bean. It's said to be neither milky, nor bitter - it's reportedly very light, fruity, and Angus Kennedy from confection outlet Kennedy's Confection that it even acted as a palate cleanser, as it left the palate feeling "refreshed".
A spokesperson for Barry Callebaut , "[Ruby chocolate] is not bitter, milky or sweet, but a tension between berry-fruitiness and luscious smoothness."
The spokesperson clarified that this is not 'flavoured' chocolate, but is in fact the fourth type of chocolate, after dark, milk, and white.
No 'berry' flavouring is needed to make Ruby chocolate, the flavour comes solely from the Ruby cocoa bean: "To create Ruby chocolate no berries or berry flavour, nor colour, is added."
The new type of a chocolate was unveiled at an event in Shanghai, China, to a panel of chocolate experts (which is, without a doubt, one of the best jobs ever).
Callebaut spokespeople said that the creation of the new chocolate had taken years to perfect, and is the work of global R&D centres of Barry Callebaut, which are based in France and Belgium.
A representative from F.Mayer Imports, the Aussie representative of Callebaut chocolate, told SBS Food, "We are excited about this new product that has been developed by Barry Callebaut and it shows the innovative power behind this company in chocolate development."
The agency also confirmed that Australia may not see Ruby chocolate on the shelves straight away: "It’s expected that Ruby will be introduced in different product categories and brands within the Barry Callebaut company. Usually it’s takes 6 to 18 months to introduce products for mass consumption".
