Beyoncé fans are celebrating the release of her latest album, “Cowboy Carter,” in a myriad of ways, from fashion statements to TikTok dances. Denverites looking for a unique way to indulge in the action can boot-scoot to a local chocolatier selling sweets to satisfy the Beyhive.
Temper Chocolates and Confections (2669 Larimer St., Denver) recently debuted a series of bonbons inspired by and fit for the queen. The company is selling them in boxes of four Beyoncé-esque flavors, including Texas Hold ‘Em featuring a Paloma fondant with lime salt in a dark chocolate shell.
The others are Queen Bey, a honey- and lavender-infused dark chocolate ganache in a dark chocolate shell; Crazy in Love with white chocolate-hibiscus lemonade filling in a white chocolate shell; and Single Ladies, featuring a strawberries-and-cream white chocolate ganache in a milk chocolate shell.
How does one go about infusing the essence of Beyoncé into a confection?
“Inspiration is kind of like a chicken and the egg situation. Sometimes the team comes up with a flavor and asks ‘What name would work for this?’ or vice versa, we have a name we want and choose the flavor based on that,” Victoria Johnson, Temper’s lead chocolatier, said in a statement.
The Queen Bey, for example, was originally called the Bee’s Knees chocolate, but the team wanted it to be relevant to pop culture. Texas Hold ‘Em was the opposite – the name came first and then Johnson researched Texas cocktails and food to decide which flavors to feature.
This isn’t the first time Temper Chocolates and Confections has made music-inspired bonbons since opening in 2016. It previously sold sweets honoring The Beatles’ John Lennon and R&B singer Frank Ocean, and rotates them back into the store’s lineup occasionally.
Later this month, Temper will cater to Swifties and celebrate the release of Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” with another four-set of bonbons. Flavors include the Lavender Haze (lavender, blueberry, and lemon white ganache in a white chocolate shell), Lover (guava and strawberry white chocolate ganache with a dark chocolate shell), So Long London (earl grey and vegan milk chocolate ganache in a dark chocolate shell), and Florida!!! (orange and mint white chocolate ganache in a white chocolate shell).
Specialty boxes cost $14.15 or patrons can buy individual chocolates for $3.25 a piece. The Beyoncé box will be available all month and the Taylor Swift box will debut closer to the album’s release on April 19.