How to Heal a Cold Sore Naturally

Cold sores are caused by a form of the Herpes Simplex Virus known as HSV-1. They exhibit as painful ulcers around the mouth and lips. Cold sores are also called fever blisters and are very common. This virus is similar to (but not the same as) the virus that causes genital herpes, which is HSV-2. While they are different viruses, both can be found on the lips and on the genitalia. Those infected with either virus can also spread the viruses through close personal contact during kissing, oral sex, or any oral contact.^[1][2][3]

Steps

Healing a Cold Sore Through Diet

1. Eat lysine-rich foods. Lysine is an amino acid that some studies have shown to help treat and prevent cold sore outbreaks by blocking arginine, which is another amino acid that is required for viral growth.^[4][5][6] Lysine-rich foods include fish, meat (poultry, lamb, beef), dairy products, mung bean sprouts, and beans.^[7]
   
   • You can also take a lysine supplement. The dosage is usually 500-1000 mg every day taken on an empty stomach. The safe limit of lysine is less than 3000 mg a day, so don’t take any more than the recommended dosage.^[8]
2. Avoid foods that are high in arginine. Arginine is also an amino acid, but one that serves as a building block for the herpes virus, helping it to spread. The highest concentrations of arginine are found in whole grains, seeds, nuts and chocolate.
   
3. Stay away from acidic foods. This is particularly important if they will come in contact with the cold sore should you eat them. The herpes virus thrives in an acidic environment, so it is important to keep all acid away from the sores. Acidic foods to avoid include citrus fruits, tomatoes and anything with vinegar.
   
4. Take a daily zinc supplement. Zinc may help boost your immune system and help prevent future cold sores. The recommended dose to boost your immune system is 10 mg/day for adult men and women.^[9] For children, consult their pediatrician.
   
   • There are also zinc creams that you can use. An example is Virunderim gel, which contains 10% zinc sulfate.^[10] You can use this for up to twelve days at the first symptoms of a cold sore to help minimize the duration.
5. Eat to boost your immune system and help your body to fight off the virus. Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet daily. Some of the best choices for boosting the immune system are cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, onion and garlic.
   

Treating with Household Items

1. Ice the cold sore as soon as you feel it forming. Repeat the application regularly. The herpes virus requires a moist, warm environment to grow. Cool the sore and keep it from warming back up to prevent it from growing bigger and to speed up healing.
   
2. Apply lemon balm or lemon extract directly to the sore.^[11] Soak a cotton ball in the lemon balm and dab it on the cold sore 2 to 3 times a day.
   
3. Make a salt, milk and lemon juice treatment. Add a little lemon juice and milk to salt. The acid in the lemon juice is buffered by the protein in the milk, so it won't sting as much. Roll the mixture into a ball. Dab on the cold sore once a day. After application, dab a little aloe vera on the cold sore.
   
4. Put salt on a cold sore.^[12] Moisten your finger and then dip it in regular table salt. Put your salty finger on the cold sore and press gently for 30 seconds to allow the salt time to enter the sore. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water after touching the sore.
   
5. Apply a teabag to a cold sore.^[13] Soak a tea bag in hot water, allow it to cool, and then apply the wet bag to the sore for 5 to 10 minutes. Use a fresh tea bag and repeat the process every 1 to 2 hours.
   

Treating with Herbs

1. Use a topical oil, such as lavender oil or melissa oil. Both are known to speed the healing of cold sores. Apply the oil to the sore several times a day.
   
2. Use an herbal remedy.
   
   • Dab the sore with the topical form of Saint John's wort several times a day, following packaging instructions carefully. Topical Saint John's wort should only be used externally, and never while taking other forms of Saint John's wort, as too much of the herb can be dangerous.
   • Take 1 teaspoon of strong Echinacea root 3 times a day. Swish it around in your mouth for 2 to 3 minutes, then swallow it.
   • Apply chamomile tincture to the sore a few times a day. Or, drink chamomile tea and let the hot liquid linger on the sore. Chamomile contains bisabolol, a substance that helps to heal sores on mucous membranes.

Trying Other Solutions

1. Avoid touching the cold sores. In addition to aggravating the cold sore, touching it can transfer the HSV-1 virus responsible for cold sores to your fingers. This makes it easier to spread the virus by accident due to other contact. The virus can infect the skin cells with which it comes in contact even when they’re skin cells on another part of your own body. Avoid this complication by avoiding contact with the cold sore as much as possible.
   
2. Wash your hands often. Even when mindfully trying not to touch a cold sore, people often poke at them without thinking. Wash your hands often, especially after realizing that you have touched the cold sore or the general area around your lips and mouth.
   
   • This is especially true before and after eating.
3. Stock up on toothbrushes. The virus can continue to live on surfaces such as toothbrushes. To avoid potentially spreading the area in which you get cold sores, start using a new toothbrush as soon as you feel symptoms coming on, and throw it away when the cold sore has healed.
   
   • As an additional safety measure, ensure that your toothbrush does not come into contact with the opening of the toothpaste tube when applying toothpaste.^[14]
4. Don’t share objects. Avoid sharing towels, razors, eating utensils, or washcloths with anyone. Make sure you wash anything that has potentially come into contact with your cold sore with hot, soapy water.
   
5. Use an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen. One of the known triggers for cold sores is sun exposure.^[15][16] By using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, you can help the cold sore heal by minimizing the damaging effects of the sun.
   
   • Consistently using sunscreen around the area even without an outbreak will help to minimize the recurrence of future cold sores as well.
   • Remember to wash your hands both before and after applying the sunscreen.
6. Use a moisturizer. You can apply a tiny dab of petroleum jelly or propolis with a Q-tip. Organic moisturizing products that contain lysine are also helpful, such as Basic Organics Lysine Ointment or 100% Pure Lysine + Herbs by Ariva.
   
   • Propolis is a natural, nutrient-rich resin made by bees.
7. Make your own moisturizer. If you prefer to know exactly what goes into your natural moisturizer, you can make your own at home with propolis and essential oils. A 3% propolis ointment has been shown to reduce the pain of cold sores.^[17] To make the ointment, take 0.5 ounces of propolis (equal to one tablespoon) and add 48.5 ounces of pure coconut oil, which works great as a moisturizer.^[18] From there, add one drop of each of the following:
   
   • Camphor oil, which helps with pain reduction
   • Echinacea oil, which is an antiviral herb that can help boost the immune system^[19][20]
   • Licorice oil, which has effective properties against HSV-1^[21]
   • Andrographis oil, which has both antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties^[22]
   • Sage oil, which also has antiviral properties to help dry out a cold sore and it a good alternative if you have trouble finding andrographis oil^[23]

Minimizing the Risk of Future Outbreaks

1. Examine your risk for future outbreaks. Many of those who test positive for the HSV-1 virus do not experience cold sores, and many more don’t have recurrent cold sores after initial outbreaks.^[24] However, those at a higher risk for recurrent cold sores include those with:^[25]
   
   • A weakened immune system, i.e. are immunosuppressed
   • HIV/AIDS, which is a cause of immunosuppression
   • Eczema
   • Cancer who are taking chemotherapy
   • An organ transplant, which means the patient is taking immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection
   • Severe burns
2. Examine your potential outbreak triggers. Certain triggers are tied to the likelihood of a person experiencing future outbreaks as well. These triggers include:
   
   • Fever of any kind (whether from another viral or a bacterial infection)
   • Menstruation
   • Stress of any kind (physical, mental, or emotional)
   • Fatigue
   • Sun Exposure
   • Surgery
3. Avoid too much time in the sun. Since sun exposure is a trigger for cold sore outbreaks, you should minimize your time in the sun. Remember always to wear sunscreen as well to minimize effects when you are outside.
   
4. Eat a balanced diet. A balanced, nutritious diet can help reduce triggers like fatigue and stress. The main components of a healthy diet include:
   
   • Lots of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Include a variety of both fruits (except citrus) and vegetables. Both fruit and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fiber to keep you as healthy as you can be.
   • Complex carbohydrates versus simple sugars. This means that you should stay away from processed and packaged foods. They often seem simpler, but during the processing and packaging, all kinds of sugars are added, including high-fructose corn syrup.
   • These sugars are associated with glucose-intolerance (pre-diabetes), diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease as well as alterations in the gut bacteria.^[26][27]
   • Increased amounts of fish and lean poultry in your diet (as well as decreasing the amounts of red meat).
   • Beans and legumes, which are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals. They do contain phytic acid, but normal cooking should release most of the minerals and allow them to be absorbed by your body.
   • Don’t forget to keep drinking water and staying hydrated. Drink at least 6-8 8-ounce glasses of water each day.
5. Get plenty of sleep. Poor sleep schedules have an effect on both stress and fatigue levels. Ensure that you get 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.
   
6. Avoid stress. Though often unavoidable at work or at home, try to avoid stressful situations as much as possible. This can mean walking away from a situation or something as simple as taking a few minutes away from your desk at work. Other steps you can take to avoid stress or at least balance it include:
   
   • Spending time with friends^[28]
   • Going for a walk or to the gym^[29]
   • Introducing deep breathing or meditation techniques into your daily routine^[30][31] You can find a guide to these techniques at How to Breathe Deeply and How to Meditate.
7. Boost your immune system. In addition to diet and exercise, you can take other steps to boost your immune system as well. These steps include not smoking, drinking only in moderation, avoiding sickness and other infections by washing your hands regularly, and controlling your blood pressure.
   
8. See your doctor. Cold sores rarely lead to any complications, and they don’t typically require a trip to your doctor. However, you should make an appointment to see your doctor if:^[32]
   
   • You get cold sores more than 2-3 times a year
   • Your cold sores don’t heal within two weeks
   • You get sick frequently, which may signify a weakened immune system
   • The cold sores are very painful
   • Your eyes are irritated when you have a cold sore, which may indicate further infection

Warnings

• There are many other theories on how to heal cold sores. Some of them include applying things like nail polish remover, astringents or toothpaste. Most of these remedies are not effective, and some could burn your skin or cause other complications. Consult your doctor before trying them.
• Many people get HSV-1 as infants and children. The virus can be spread by skin-to-skin contact; from kissing; using the same eating utensil; or sharing a toothbrush, razor, lip balm, lipstick, towel, or washcloth. HSV-2, on the other hand, is primarily transmitted through some form of sexual contact.^[33]
• Cold sores are caused by viruses and usually occur around the mouth or lips. They are not the same thing as canker sores, which have no known cause and occur inside the mouth.
• Don't use lysine without checking with your medical provider if you are pregnant or nursing.

Related wikiHows

• How to Tell if You Have a Cold Sore
• How to Prevent a Cold Sore from Spreading
• How to Prevent a Cold Sore from Forming
• How to Treat a Cold Sore or Fever Blisters

Sources and Citations

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How to Get Into Duke University

Duke University is an elite institution with a tradition of admitting the most qualified students. On average, only about 13% of applying students are admitted. The admission process includes official applications, recommendations, an essay and submission of standardized test scores. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, learn the basic requirements for admission and some tips for making yourself stand out.

Steps

Fulfilling the Basic Requirements

1. Complete your high school education. Duke is an elite university, highly competitive, and it's necessary to complete your high school education with excellent academic standing to apply. While you attend school, it's important to specialize in broad curriculum, high-level classes, as well as supplementing your application with diverse extra-curricular activities and above-average grades.
   
   • Take courses in high school that include natural science, 3 years of mathematics, a foreign language, 4 years of English and social studies. Include electives that demonstrate your willingness to be challenged and expand your knowledge base and makes you an erudite.
   • If you plan on applying to the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke, coursework in calculus and physics are strongly recommended during high school.
   • While you may technically apply to Duke having attained a High School equivalency, like the GED, it's very difficult to get into Duke without a nice high school record. It's important to finish High School and graduation with outstanding grades if you want to get into Duke.
2. Take Advanced Placement courses or honors classes, if possible. Duke University looks for students who have taken accelerated classes, and these course may, in some cases, be counted for credit at Duke. If AP courses are available at your high school, find out what it takes to enroll, and do so.
   
   • Typically, AP courses are offered during 11th and 12th grade, are somewhat more advanced, and will end with a standardized AP test, in addition to a final. Typically, the AP test itself is optional, but you'll want to take it and do well if you want to get into elite universities like Duke.
   • If you take AP courses and tests, you'll also typically need to arrange to have these sent to the Universities to which you hope to apply. The sooner you know you want to go to Duke, the sooner you can arrange to have your AP scores sent.
3. Get involved with extra-curricular activities. To get into Duke, you need to display that you've received a well-rounded education and were fully engaged in a diversity of activities at your school. Get involved in a school sport, band, club, or other organization to make your application really stand out.
   
   • The Duke Office of Admissions cautions students from involving themselves with too many activities. Duke officials stress that it is the quality of the participation that counts, not the number of activities. Pick one or two that you really care about, instead of joining up with the Xbox club just to have something to put on your app.
4. Keep your GPA as high as possible. Your grade point average is a demonstration of your consistency and ability to achieve at all levels in high school. Trying to maintain a consistently high GPA is a good way to stand out among your peers and demonstrate that you're a consistent and serious student and potential Duke grad.
   
   • Pay attention to your class rank, as well. If you're somewhere near the top 25 or even top 10 of your class, this is important to keep in mind when you're applying to Duke. While the GPA is the most important thing, it looks nice and tidy if you can also let them know you were one of the best students at your school.
   • Your GPA is another good reason to take AP courses, which are typically offered on a 5 point, as opposed to 4 point, scale. That means an A in an AP course is typically worth more GPA points than an A in a regular course, so you can skew your GPA higher as a bonus.
5. Take the required standardized tests. Duke University requires that students submit test scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), so it's a good idea to sign up for one or both as soon as possible to give yourself enough chances to get a high score. While Duke does not have a specific minimum score requirement for admission, accepted students typically fall into the upper 50th percentile.
   
   • Typically, for admission, students score above 29 on the ACT as a potential Arts & Sciences student, and above 32 as a potential engineering student.
   • On the SAT, students typically score at least 680 on the verbal section, 690 on the math section and 660 on the writing section.
   • On average, students accepted into Duke received scores slightly higher than the minimum requirement, between 700 and 800 on both sections of the SAT and roughly 31-35 on the ACT.^[1] All students accepted into Duke are in the top 50th percentile.
6. Have your high school transcript sent to Duke. Coordinate with your school's guidance counselor to send official grade reports and a high school transcript to Duke University as soon as possible upon your graduation, and talk about acquiring unofficial transcripts to complete your application.^[2]
   
7. Acquire two recommendations from teachers who know you well. While you're still in high school, it's important to cultivate good relationships with at least two teachers who will be willing to write you glowing recommendations. Duke University requires recommendations be from teachers who have instructed you within the last two years.
   
   • If possible, find out whether or not any of your teachers have attended Duke in the past. Letters from Alumni typically stand out more than recommendations from other teachers.
   • Be sure to ask for a letter as early as possible in the application season, preferably early in the Fall semester, if you want a good letter. Teachers will quickly get swamped with requests, and you want to be early in the line.

Filling Out the Application

1. Complete the Common Application. The Common Application is a standardized college and university application used by numerous institutions in the United States, including Duke University. The application itself is fairly straightforward, requiring you to fill in information concerning your contact information, schools attended and other questions. All materials are due by November 1st for Early Decision and January 15th for regular decision.
   
   • Early Decision requires a first-quarter grade report and commits students to enrolling if they are accepted for admission, in exchange for an earlier notification of your acceptance.
2. Fill out the Duke Student Supplement Form. This form is part of the basic Duke application package, and it involves questions specifically related to Duke University, such as whether you have relatives who graduated from Duke University or are employed at Duke University. The form also includes optional questions about why Duke University is a good fit for you.
   
   • Good answers to this section will involve familiarity with the program to which you're applying, your ability to name specific instructors or cite the reputation of the program, and the way Duke will help you achieve what you hope to achieve during college.
3. Submit all of your official standardized test scores to Duke University. When you take the ACT or SAT, you need to request that the scores be sent to the school's admissions office by the application due date. Duke University's SAT code is 5156, and the ACT code is 3088.
   
   • Duke requires that your entire test history be sent to the admissions office when you apply. So, if you're not happy with the first score you receive on one of the tests, it's important to know that, even if you retake it to hope for a higher score, you'll still have to report your initial score.
4. Write, revise, and submit the essays for your application. Each application will require that you respond to one of five long essay prompts, which will need to be about 750 words long, as well as a shorter essay of about 150 words, in which you address why Duke is right for you. One of the most important and useful ways of standing out on your application is in completing the essays and making them as polished, unique, and articulate as possible. The prompts will change somewhat, but are usually some variation of the following:
   
   • Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
   • Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
   • Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
   • Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
   • Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.^[3]
5. Consider submitting supplementary artistic material with your application. If you're applying as a liberal arts student, you're encouraged to include samples of your work. Students gifted in the arts should include a portfolio of samples in any of the following categories:
   
   • Dance
   • Video/Media arts
   • Photography
   • Music
   • Theater
   • Visual Art^[4]

Standing Out and Getting Accepted

1. Consider attending a Duke Youth Program in the arts before you apply. Part of Duke Continuing Studies, the Duke Youth Programs provide summertime academic enrichment for academically gifted students. If you hope to go to Duke eventually, participating in this type of program during a summer off from school will make your application stand out, and it can be a fun experience. You may participate in a Duke Youth Program any time between 4th and 12th grade, in any of the following programs:
   
   • Duke Young Writers' Camp
   • Duke Action Science Camp for Young Women
   • Duke Expressions! Fine Arts Camp
   • Duke Creative Writers' Workshop
   • Constructing Your College Experience
   • Duke Drama Workshop
2. Participate in the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP). TIP is a summer-time program available to 5th-12th graders who are interested in hard sciences, local history, and architecture. The program is designed to challenge gifted students by exposing them to rich and engaging hands-on studies that will respect their intelligence and ability. The specific programs vary, depending upon your age group, but you can apply and enroll on the Duke TIP website, found here. Programs are typically available in:
   
   • Mathematics
   • Neuroscience
   • Criminal Trial Advocacy
   • Appalachian Voices
   • Robotics
   • Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology
3. Research the program to which you hope to apply eventually. The more you know about the department you want to end up in, the more your application will stand out. Try to familiarize yourself with the faculty, their specialties, and the reputation of the program you're applying to. This is a good way to show your seriousness as a candidate, and that you're serious about Duke being the correct place for your education.
   
4. Make your application essays unique. The essays are possibly the most important single part of the application, more so than your GPA or your transcript. You want to show your personality, your unique character, and your memorability as a potential Duke student. Most of the essays will be cliché and forgettable, so if you write one that sticks out of the pack, you'll be much more likely to be accepted.
   
   • Avoid cliché essay topics. Literally thousands of admissions essays have been written about the time your sports team lost, then practiced hard, then won again, and the mission trip that made you aware of how poor some parts of the world are. Avoid these topics.
   • Find a specific, quirky, or unique thing about yourself and connect it to your strengths. You're obsessed with butterflies? You've got the state's biggest collection of geodes? Pick something memorable to tell people about yourself.
   • The essay isn't for highlighting things on your transcript. You don't need to include your GPA or your school successes in the text.
5. Go on a campus visit, if possible. While campus visits aren't tracked or considered along with your application, getting some face-time admissions officials and seeing the campus for yourself is an excellent way to learn more about the school before you apply, as well as get some insider tips on getting in. And you never know whether or not the person you meet with will remember your name and your friendly face when going through applications.
   
6. Talk to alumni. If you know someone who has gone to Duke, they can be an invaluable resource in getting you insider information and tips on the application process. Alumni might be in contact with former professors, likewise, who will be able to offer you guidance and might be able to put in a good word for you at the admissions office. You never know.

Tips

• Applicants may apply using the online application method or can mail a paper application to Duke University.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get Into MIT
• How to Get Into Columbia University

Sources and Citations

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How to Make Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate truffles (named after the earthy, dirt-covered fungus that they resemble) are a wonderful and luxurious way to treat someone special (including yourself). With these instructions, you can make them in the comfort of your kitchen and enjoy the fresh, rich flavor of homemade chocolate truffles.

Ingredients

• 250 g - 8 3/4 oz dark chocolate or any other chocolate (see Tips)
• 150 g - 5 1/2 fl oz cream
• 40 g - 1 1/4 oz unsalted butter
• 75 g - 2 3/4 oz dark cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons water

Steps

1. Prepare the double boiler (also known as a bain marie). Place a medium cooking pan in a high heat and pour around of water. Bring the water to a simmer.
   
2. Place the chocolate bar on a chopping board and cut or break it into squares. Usually, following the lines on the chocolate will suffice, unless the bar is divided into very large pieces.
   
3. Add 2 tablespoons of water into the pan (to help the chocolate melt--this is optional, as some people believe doing this encourages the chocolate to seize, as described in the Warnings) and then put the chocolate pieces in.
   
4. Place the small cooking pan containing the chocolate into the medium one (containing the water). Try to keep the bottom of the small pot from touching the water in the big pot.
   
5. Stir constantly as the chocolate melts. This step should take around 8 minutes.
   
6. Add the cream gently and combine well to make the ganache. Do not remove the pan from heat; keep it at melting temperature and continue stirring until the cream is completely mixed with the chocolate.
   
7. Remove the pan from the heat source and leave it to rest until cool.
   
8. Add the butter.
   
   • Bring the water to a simmer again and place the pan containing the ganache on the heat once more.
   • Add the butter and stir to fully melt it. When done, turn the heat off and remove the pan.
9. Pour the ganache into a large bowl using the spatula to remove the rest from the pan. Line the surface of the ganache with plastic wrap (this prevents a film from developing at the surface). Put the bowl in the fridge until the mixture is stiff (about an hour).
   
10. Make the truffles.
    
    
    • Take the bowl from the fridge and place it in the work surface.
      
    • Place the cocoa powder into the medium bowl.
      
    • Use a melon baller, small ice cream scoop, or teaspoon to get small amounts of the ganache.
      
    • Make small balls, rolling them into the palm of your hands as quickly as possible before they melt too much.
      
    • Put them into the bowl with the cocoa powder and roll around until they are coated.
      
    • Place the truffles into a serving bowl or on a tray.
      
      

Tips

• As you're scooping the ganache, work quickly or else the ganache will get too warm and start sticking to the scooping device and your hands, reducing the amount of chocolate that makes it into your truffles. If necessary, make the truffles in batches, putting the bowl back into the fridge to re-chill before starting again.
• Some traditional recipes do not use butter. To try it, follow the steps above, with only a few differences:
  
  
  • Chop the chocolate into finer pieces, preferably shards.
  • Boil the cream before adding it to the chocolate.
• Use the best chocolate you can find. If you're going to make decadent chocolate truffles, don't skimp by using cheap, ridiculously sweet brands. Cheap baking bars are usually packed with extra sugar and can make for a grainy ganache. Some high quality brands worth trying are: Michel Cluizel, Perugina, Wedel, Domori, Amedei, Valrhona, Neuhaus, Marcolini, Lindt, Felchlin, Guittard, Scharffen Berger, Santander, Malagasy, Weiss, El Rey, Theo, Bonnat, Pralus, Castelain, Slitti, Dagoba, Green and Black's, Schokinag, Calletbaut and Ghirardelli.
• The chocolate to cream ratio should always be around 2:1.
• Before making your own special truffles, buy some from a gourmet provider. Their packaging shows their ingredients and can inspire you.
• To give the truffles a hard, outer coating, you will need to learn how to temper chocolate, which is an advanced technique beyond the scope of this article.
• You can experiment with different flavors and coatings.
  
  
  • You can stir in small amounts of flavoring (like liqueur) after the ganache is prepared but before it is cooled in the fridge, and you can coat the truffles in a wide variety of coatings other than cocoa powder such as nuts, cinnamon, powdered sugar and coconut.
  • You can boil flavorings into the cream. Get creative using different kinds of tea flavors like chai or earl grey, or instant coffee crystals. You can also boil in jam or add herbs to the cream and then strain it before adding it to the chocolate.
  • Another good way to add flavor is to stir it in with the butter, but this only works for flavorings with butter-like consistency, like peanut butter.

Warnings

• Do not cover the chocolate as it's being heated. The steam will cause the chocolate to seize, where the chocolate clumps up into an oily mess.
• Do not expose the chocolate to direct heat. It is very sensitive to heat; that is why the double boiler is used. Most chocolate melts at a temperature which feels warm, not hot, to the touch; if your chocolate feels stiff as you're stirring it, but feels hot, remove it from heat immediately or it will seize.
• If the chocolate seizes, try adding some liquid (cream, or melted butter) gradually while stirring fervently until the mixture is smooth. At this point, the ganache may or may not be suitable for truffle making; if the ratio of liquid to chocolate is too high, the ganache won't be solid at room temperature. If so, more liquid can be added to the mixture to make it into a rich chocolate syrup. Sometimes, seized chocolate can also be recovered by allowing it to cool, then remelting it with small amounts of chopped chocolate.

Things You'll Need

• 1 chopping board
• 1 medium cooking pan
• 1 small cooking pan
• 1 large bowl
• 1 medium bowl
• 1 large knife
• 1 teaspoon
• 1 spatula
• 1 whisk
• 1 small tray or serving bowl

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Strawberry Balsamic Truffles
• How to Make a Chocolate Bouquet
• How to Make White Chocolate Truffles
• How to Make Dairy Free Chocolate Ganache
• How to Make Sugar Free Chocolate Truffles
• How to Make Coconut Truffles

Sources and Citations

• Make Chocolate Truffles on Video Jug -- Original Source of Article, Used with Permission
• eHow.com - How to Melt Chocolate in a Double Boiler
• Wikipedia article on Ganache

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