Saturday 21 April 2012

What, More Chocolate?

Three more delightful chocolates have made it to my discerning palate.

Huge thanks go out to the ineffable force of nature that is @TheFlossieTP for the delightful little number from Hotel Chocolat, and to my sister Julie for the gingery delight by Bovetti (nope, not heard of them before either) bought back from a recent trip to France. I have to thank myself for the third one, the Dark Wasabi from Lindt.

Line Them Up!


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From left to right we have:


Chocolat Noir Gingembre by Bovetti


Even my limited language skills manage this translation to Dark Ginger Chocolate with Pure Cocoa Butter.


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Top marks for presentation. The packaging, while simple, looked good with quirky little pictures and their trademark ship on the back. The chocolate itself was also handsomely presented with individually worded blocks.


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But what about the taste?

I have to admit I have been disappointed with ginger chocolate in the past. Not this time though.
With 73% cocoa I was expecting it to be a little on the strong/bitter side but this was not the case.
It was crunchy with just a hint of the dark chocolate bitterness offset nicely with the subtle taste of ginger.


Chilli and Orange 70% Dark by Hotel Chocolat


The packaging claims:

“Zesty orange gives way to smooth dark chocolate then a gentle chilli tingle.”

They are not wrong and I could not have said it better.

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Admittedly, I am a sucker for orange chocolate (yes, I love chocolate oranges) so this was getting points before we started.

Opening the packet I was greeted with the intoxicating mixed aromas of chocolate and orange; I was in heaven.

Even better than this was the surprise of there being not one, but two bars hiding inside!

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Again, here I have to give top marks for presentation for the markings and the embossed Hotel Chocolat insignia.

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The taste experience was as advertised on the packaging. The orange flavour hits you first followed by the dark chocolate and finally when you wonder where the chilli is it hits you, starting slowly building to a nice warmth which stays with you to remind you of the delightful experience.


Dark Wasabi by Lindt


I always head to the chocolate aisles in supermarkets in the hope of finding something different. On this particular day I was not disappointed!

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Wasabi is not an obvious choice to mix with chocolate but I am willing to try anything and when it comes from someone like Lindt you have to have a little faith.

I am not sure about everyone else but wasabi hits me in the nose and has a tendency to make my eyes water and sneeze.

Yes, you guessed it, the chocolate did the same thing.

The wasabi taste was very strong and noticeable but so was the chocolate. My first impression was that of this was a disconnection of tastes rather than a smooth mixture.

Regardless, it was a tasty chocolate and when handed out to colleagues at a recent work event seemed to go down well and in some cases was rated above some of the chilli chocolates.

Not to everybody’s taste but well worth trying!


The Scores on the Doors

The winner here today, hands down, has to be the Chilli and Orange from Hotel Chocolat. The subtle flavour and gentle release of the chilli makes this an obvious choice.