Here’s How Terry’s Chocolate Oranges Are Made!
Terry’s chocolate oranges are a classic Christmas treat, with over 32 million pieces consumed annually in the UK. You can also find them in many supermarkets across the US. Considering their popularity, you may want to make your own Chocolate Oranges.
So, in this article, you will find out exactly how Terry’s Chocolate Oranges are made as well as how to make chocolate oranges yourself!
How Are Chocolate Oranges Made?
Chocolate oranges are made using chocolates and orange oil. Producers pour tempered chocolate into single-sided molds, which explains why the details only appear on one side. After unmolding, 20 slices are arranged to form a sphere, and warm tempered chocolate is dripped into the middle to hold them together.
They can apply the chocolate to the bottom by hand with a pastry bag or squeeze bottle. For larger batches, manufacturers may use a depositor to drop measured amounts into the center. A jig likely holds several loose parts together in each instance until the chocolate “glue” in the middle hardens.
The segments will easily split apart if the wedges are relatively cool when the center chocolate is applied. The amount of chocolate is less important than the temperature difference.
Where Do They Make Terry’s Chocolate Orange?
Carambar & Co makes Terry’s chocolate orange in their production plant in Strasbourg, France. The original factory that carried out its production was in York, England.
US food giant Kraft took over the brand in 1993 and maintained the plant for some time. However, the company closed the York factory in 2005 and moved production to its facilities in Poland, Slovakia, Belgium, and Sweden.
Then in 2017, Carambar & Co took over the brand from Mondelez (Krafts’ new name) and moved production to its current location in France in November 2018.
How to Make Chocolate Oranges at Home?
To make Chocolate Oranges, you will need some chocolate bars and orange oil. Dark chocolates are best as they’re more stable and easier to temper than white or milk chocolate. Two regular-sized dark chocolates like Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense 72% CacaoBars (which is my favorite chocolate for this purpose) should be enough.
You will also need to get an orange slice mold. This 3D Tangerine Slice Silicone Mold is a good option because it is silicone, so it’s easy to push the chocolate oranges out of the mold. Traditional Terry’s chocolates come in 20 segments, but this one will work perfectly.
First, you break the chocolate bars and grind or chop them into tiny bits. Then you temper the chocolate by slowly heating it. Turn off the heat and stir three drops of orange oil into the mixture. Cool it while stirring to give it a fine glossy look.
Once you are done, pour the chocolate into the molds and leave it to cool, or you can refrigerate it. After that, remove the chocolate from the molds and hold the segments together. Once they are secured, turn some tempered chocolate into the center to give you that “tap and unwrap” effect.
Who Made the Original Chocolate Orange?
Joseph Terry Jr. made the first chocolate orange in 1932. Fascinatingly, the company did not start out making these treats. When Terry’s began making chocolate products, their first product was the chocolate apple.
When the chocolate orange came in, it became more popular than its predecessor. Finally, it pushed the apple variant out of production in 1954.
