Balancing Complex Flavors

Crystelle successfully balanced cardamom, orange, and pistachio flavors where each element remained distinct yet harmonious. When combining multiple strong flavors, start with smaller amounts and build gradually. Create a flavor map: base notes (like cardamom), bright notes (citrus), and rich notes (nuts or chocolate). Test combinations in small batches before committing to a full recipe. The judges praised how you could taste each component individually while they worked together as a cohesive whole.