Salty Bitter Sweet Symphony at the Thorn Tower

Recently, our team managed to take advantage of a sunny day to have a wee lunch break outside, talking about our plans, tastes, and flavours. It was made even more special as the lovely folks at Blendsmiths had sent us some Chill'd Salted Chocolate powder made with cocoa, organic coconut sugar, and Blackthorn Salt. So we brainstormed with milkshakes!

Those delightful salted caramel notes have depth and a discernible savoury element too, leaving a lasting taste that brings much happiness. It wasn’t just the youngest among us who approved - they were rich, velvety, and sweet with subtle hints of the sea, so we couldn’t resist having more.

It’s fascinating how salt and cacao have been intertwined throughout world history. Both have been used for monetary purposes since ancient times; for example, the Aztecs used salt and cacao as currency and also made chocolate drinks during holy ceremonies.

Today, these two ingredients still complement each other perfectly in salted drinks and desserts. Salt has a unique way of playing with our taste buds, amplifying sweet flavours and making them more pronounced. Our Salters work hard to ensure that Blackthorn Sea Salt enhances each of the five basic tastes that humans are genetically programmed to find appealing: salty, bitter, sweet, sour, and umami, making flavors pop.

We are extremely proud that Blackthorn Salt is chosen over other British sea salts by so many artisan manufacturers to highlight specific flavours, and we are always excited by chocolatey combinations—it brings us so much joy! Blendsmiths’ Salted Chocolate is a great example where the character of the drink really stands out and shines.

Founded by friends Ryan and Chris, Blendsmiths celebrates lifelong friendships, uniting people through conversation and smiles over their beautiful drinks from natural ingredients. Like us, the Blendsmiths team is dedicated to the planet and its people, using ethically sourced ingredients and making sustainability a core principle in all their decisions.