Seaweed & Chocolate: 5 Reasons They're Made for Each Other
Maud de Rohan WillnerSeaweed doesn't make chocolate taste "fishy". Instead, it enhances the rich cocoa flavours, adds balance and introduces a subtle savoury depth that makes every bite a little more interesting.
To celebrate World Chocolate Day, here are five reasons why seaweed and chocolate are a surprisingly perfect match.
1. Umami adds depth to chocolate
Seaweed is naturally rich in umami, often called the fifth taste. Rather than overpowering chocolate, umami enhances its rich cocoa flavour, creating a deeper and more rounded taste.
2. A touch of salt brings out chocolate's sweetness
One of the oldest tricks in baking is adding a pinch of salt to chocolate desserts. Seaweed naturally provides that subtle salty note, helping to balance bitterness while making the chocolate taste even richer and sweeter.
3. They share earthy, complex flavours
Dark chocolate and many seaweeds both have naturally earthy, slightly bitter flavour notes. These similarities allow them to complement one another beautifully, creating a balanced flavour profile that's both familiar and unexpected.
4. Seaweed adds a delicate crunch
Whether sprinkled over chocolate bark, folded into cookie dough or mixed through granola bars, seaweed introduces a light, crispy texture that contrasts beautifully with smooth chocolate.
5. A hint of savouriness makes every bite more interesting
The best desserts are all about balance. A subtle savoury note from seaweed helps create a more complex flavour, making the chocolate taste less one-dimensional and keeping you coming back for another bite.
Discover Our Seaweed Chocolate Collection
Curious to experience the pairing for yourself? We've partnered with award-winning master chocolatier Craig Alibone to create two handcrafted chocolate bars that showcase just how beautifully seaweed and chocolate work together.
Dark Chocolate with Sugar Kelp
Crafted with rare, single-origin Madagascan cocoa beans, this dark chocolate has a bright, fruity character with notes of red berries. A touch of our umami-rich Sugar Kelp from Lofoten adds depth and balance, enhancing the chocolate's naturally rich cocoa flavour.
White Chocolate with Raspberry & Smoked Dulse
Smooth and creamy white chocolate with delicate notes of fresh milk and vanilla, complemented by sharp raspberries and our gently smoked organic Dulse from Lofoten. The result is a beautifully balanced chocolate with a subtle savoury finish.
Perfectly balanced flavours and silky smooth textures come together to create two truly indulgent chocolate bars, handcrafted in small batches and inspired by the flavours of the Norwegian coast.
Recipes to Try
Ready to explore the combination for yourself? Here are four of our favourite chocolate recipes featuring seaweed:
Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sugar Kelp
A classic cookie with a subtle umami twist. Sugar kelp enhances the buttery caramel notes and perfectly complements dark chocolate.
Vegan Brownies with Arctic Ocean Greens
Rich, fudgy brownies made even more indulgent with a sprinkle of Arctic Ocean Greens for added depth and balance.
Seaweed Muesli Chocolate Bars
A delicious snack packed with oats, seeds, chocolate and seaweed for the perfect combination of crunch, sweetness and umami.
Chocolate & Kombu Ice Cream
An unexpected pairing that works beautifully. Kombu adds a subtle savoury richness that makes the chocolate flavour even more intense.
Whether you're baking cookies, making brownies or experimenting with homemade ice cream, seaweed might just become your new favourite ingredient to pair with chocolate.
