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Nº 361 Setúbal Moscatel Chocolate
Cakes & Sweet Breads · Lisbon

Setúbal Moscatel Chocolate

Also known as: Setúbal Moscatel Chocolate · Moscatel Bonbon

A dark-chocolate gem with a Moscatel de Setúbal heart.

Origin
Palmela · Setúbal Peninsula
Region
Palmela · Setúbal Peninsula
Season
Year-round, with production limited in hot weather
Sweetness
Richness
Difficulty

Bombom de Moscatel de Setúbal is a small chocolate created in Palmela to concentrate two symbols of the peninsula in one bite: fine chocolate and the local fortified wine. Nuno Gil's version, made at Confeitaria S. Julião, uses Moscatel supplied by Quinta do Piloto and has a faceted appearance that its creator associates with a diamond.

A Moscatel filling sits beneath the chocolate shell. Alcohol makes the confection technically demanding: fluidity, aroma and stability must be balanced without sacrificing the snap of the coating. It is served as a small after-dinner sweet or alongside the same wine in guided pairings.

Ingredients
  • dark chocolate
  • Moscatel de Setúbal
  • creamy chocolate filling
Taste & texture

Intense dark chocolate followed by the aromatic, citrusy, vinous sweetness of Moscatel.

Variations

Other regional chocolates use Moscatel, Moscatel Roxo or grape spirit; they should not be conflated with Nuno Gil's Seven Wonders entry.

Where to try it

In Palmela, notably at Retiro Azul and Setúbal Peninsula Wine Route events; availability can be seasonal because chocolate is heat-sensitive.

Pairs well with

Lightly chilled Moscatel de Setúbal or espresso.

History

Palmela was already exploring the union of Moscatel and chocolate when, in 2012, the municipality unveiled a purple jewel of dark chocolate and Moscatel Roxo developed by chef Nelson Félix and ESHTE. The commercially established specialty that reached the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Sweets was created by Nuno Gil of Confeitaria S. Julião in partnership with Quinta do Piloto. In 2019 it became one of Setúbal district's seven finalists, in the Innovation Sweets category. It continues to feature in municipal Moscatel tastings and menus.

Sources: cm-palmela.pt · cm-palmela.pt · cm-palmela.pt · diariodistrito.sapo.pt · cm-palmela.pt · caruspinus.pt

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