Chocolate crumb, the secret ingredient you have never heard of.

What is Chocolate Crumb?

Milk chocolate, there is nothing quite like it.  That smooth, creamy, uniquely flavoured luxurious treat, why does it taste so good? Well, in some parts of the world, including the UK, the US and Europe, there's often a key ingredient behind that delicious magic that you've probably never heard of: "Crumb." So, what is crumb exactly?

In the chocolate industry, "crumb" most commonly refers to chocolate crumb (sometimes called "milk crumb", "milk chocolate crumb" or just simply "crumb"). Traditionally, chocolate crumb is a crucial intermediate ingredient in the production of milk chocolate. It's essentially a dried mixture of milk solids, sugar, and cocoa liquor that has undergone a specific heating and drying process. This process, involving cooking, followed by carefully controlled roasting of the ingredients under vacuum in an effort to trigger Maillard reactions – the same chemical process responsible for the delicious browning and flavour development in baked goods and roasted coffee. This reaction is key to the unique flavour profile and texture we associate with some of the most well know brands of milk chocolate.

Now, you might be wondering if there are other types of "crumb". Indeed, there is also white chocolate crumb (sometimes referred to as "white crumb", "blond crumb", or "blokmilk"). Similar to milk chocolate crumb, this involves a drying and roasting process, but typically with milk solids, sugar, and cocoa butter instead of cocoa liquor. This process helps to develop the characteristic milky and slightly caramelized notes found in white chocolate. 

The Tiger & Bean Innovation: Dairy-Free Chocolate Crumb

At Tiger & Bean, we're passionate about creating delicious chocolate that everyone can enjoy. That's why we've been focused on developing a new generation of crumb: dairy-free crumb.

Traditionally, the "crumb process" relies on cow's milk. However, we've pioneered techniques to create dairy-free versions of this essential ingredient using ingredients such as tigernut, sunflower seed and cashew nut. 

Our products include dairy-free milk chocolate crumb and dairy-free white chocolate crumb, which can be used to produce exceptional dairy-free milk chocolate and dairy-free white chocolate.

We believe our "crumb process" offers a significant advantage in the world of dairy-free chocolate. Often, vegan alternatives to milk chocolate and white chocolate can lack the depth of flavour and the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth feel of their dairy-containing counterparts. Our unique approach, leveraging the distinct flavours derived from the Maillard reactions inherent to our crumb process, helps to elevate the taste experience. These reactions add complexity and richness to what can otherwise be inherently bland-tasting vegan powders and chocolate bases.

We are the only independent manufacturer of dairy-free crumb in the world. If you would like to make your own dairy-free milk chocolate, get in touch if you would like to learn more about our exciting range of dairy-free crumb.