| | | | | | each other. To be good at this job |
| | | | | you need a lot of discipline.” |
| | | 5 | | Just as a wine connoisseur can |
| | | | | judge the finest vintage wine, |
| | | | | Doutre-Roussel is able to judge the |
| | | | | finest flavour of cocoa bean, a skill |
| | By David Rose | | | | which developed from a sweettoothed |
| | | | | | hobby. “When I was |
1 | | IT MAY be every little boy’s | | | | growing up I spent my pocket |
| | and girl’s dream job - eating | | | | money on dark and milk chocolate, |
| | chocolate and sweets all day with | | | | tasting the difference and wanting |
| | melt-in-the-mouth impunity. While | | | | to find new varieties,” she says. |
| | Johnny Depp stars in Roald Dahl’s | | | | “Later, I learnt more about the |
| | film Charlie and the Chocolate | | | | subject and gave talks about it.” |
| | Factory, most supermarkets and | | 6 | | Backgrounds in sales or marketing |
| | food stores have their very own | | | | can be useful for food |
| | Willy Wonkas, who appear to | | | | buyers, with starting salaries in the |
| | indulge every chocoholic’s fantasy. | | | | �17,000-�20,000 range, but the |
| | But don’t be fooled by the | | | | main credential is a passion for |
| | decadent job title; these | | | | flavour and quality. Doutre- |
| | confectionery buyers and tasters | | | | Roussel, 38, applied for her job |
| | are nothing if not serious about | | | | after friends saw it advertised and |
| | chocolate. | | | | suggested that it was perfect for |
2 | | Chlo� Doutre-Roussel, | | | | her. “It’s not just knowing the |
| | confectionery buyer for Fortnum | | | | product, it’s a case of listening |
| | and Mason, the London luxury | | | | to your taste buds and your |
| | store, starts work at 5am each day | | | | body,” she says. “I’ve been |
| | to ensure that her taste buds are | | | | working here for two years but |
| | perfectly primed. | | | | I consider myself to have 25 |
3 | | “After I wake up, I sit with my | | | | years’ serious tasting behind |
| | laptop, surrounded by chocolate | | | | me. With enough practice you |
| | to taste,” she says. “To do this | | | | can find a whole variety of flavours |
| | properly, you need to be slightly | | | | and nuances you would not have |
| | hungry, not eat anything else | | | | noticed before.” |
| | beforehand and be far away from | | | | |
| | things with strong tastes or smells, | | | |
“To do this
properly you
need to be
slightly hungry
and very
disciplined.” |
|
| | such as tea or coffee.” | | | | |
4 | | Also, this is not a job for | | | | |
| | gluttons, she says: “If you taste | | | | |
| | more than four to six chocolates | | | | |
| | your taste buds become saturated. | | | | |
| | I will always only compare equivalent | | | | |
| | types of cocoa contents with | | |