Chocolate is the new black

Chocolate has become the new black in New York, with New Yorkers demanding rare cocoas, gourmet chocolate and unusual flavours.

According to the Vienna, Virginia-based Chocolate Manufacturers Association, sales of gourmet dark chocolate rose 17% in the U.S. last year. With an increase to retail sales of all chocolate by 3.9% it now means that the U.S. spends $15.1 billion a year on the humble, and not so humble cocoa bean products.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in New York, where $million appartments house the newest chocolate connoisseurs, and high-end chocolateries are opening to cater for their advanced chocolate tastes.

Chocolatiers are unveiling seasonal collections, echoing the fashion industry, and haute chocolate lovers are demanding rare cocoas and flavourings such as chipotle chilli peppers, kalamata olives, Earl Grey tea, Indian curry, Hungarian paprika and wasabi.

Chocolate fountains are also big chocolate business at the moment, the chocolate fountain rental business having tripled since the beginning of the year, with 40% of the events being bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs.

Choco-tourism is also flourishing with dedicated connoisseurs travelling wherever the latest chocolate sensation is debuting.

With more and more people understanding the difference between $5 a pound chocolate and $50 a pound versions the U.S. market is finally taking on the chocolate culture that Europeans have enjoyed for a long time.