Truffle Mixture

• ¼ pound bittersweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon sweet butter, at room temperature

Dusting Mixture

• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon matcha (powdered ceremonial green tea)

Break the chocolate into pieces, then chop it fine using the steel blade of your food processor. Transfer the chocolate to the top of a double boiler and melt it over simmering water. Stir gently.

In a small saucepan, mix the sugar and cream together. Scald this mixture.

Stir the scalded cream and softened butter into the melted chocolate. Stir to combine well, then allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. With an electric mixer, beat the mixture until it resembles buttercream. Cover and chill thoroughly. (You can even freeze it if you like.)

With a small spoon (or a large melon bailer), scoop out thirty portions of the truffle mixture. Roll these in 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and chill until ready to serve.

Combine 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar with the powdered green tea. Using half of this mixture, roll the truffles again. Place them on a tray and sift the remaining tea-and-sugar mixture over them. Ideally the shapes should be slightly rough, like pebbles, with a dusting of “moss.”