Duffy's Corazon Del Ecuador - Milk Chocolate 43% Revisited

Willy Wonka is on TV and Oompa Loompas are running riot so I thought I would be the opportunity to sit down and do a little chocolate reviewing. 

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I have reviewed this bar a few weeks ago. The issue then related to texture which was caused by organic sugar used in the process of making the bar. So, I was delighted to have another chance to review this bar. Duffy informed me that he has been conching this chocolate for some considerable time to ensure it is absolutely perfect.

To those of you who are new to the complicated world of chocolate conching involves heating the chocolate to high temperatures somewhere between 54-71 C and stirring it continuously until if forms a pure homogenous liquid. During conching important chemical changes take place which help develop the chocolate's flavour. Some chocolate makers like to add Lecithin an emulsifier at this stage of the process. 

The Chocolate: This is an 80g single origin artisan milk chocolate bar made from Ecuadorian Calceta beans. At a 43% cocoa content this milk chocolate is close to becoming a dark chocolate so it should have plenty of flavour. On the surface the bar is beautifully tempered and shiny with a good snap! Ok, so it looks good but how does it taste? Well I'm pleased to say that the grainy texture has all gone and the chocolate is smooth and full of flavour. Duffy it was worth all that hard work! It's perfect! It's unbelievable! It's a miracle! Ok I'll stop quoting Willy Wonka but take my word for it this chocolate is so good.


According to the tasting notes on the bar's wrapper I should be picking up, deep warm flavours with hints of citrus, soft fruit and bananas. For me I'm only picking up rich, sweet cocoa flavours which are very comforting and moorish! I'm annoyed that I can't pick out the banana flavour but oh well. This particular bar contains organic sugar, cocoa beans, cocoa butter and milk powder.

Duffy's Corazon Del Ecuador 43% Milk 

Overall I give this bar 8/10 for flavour and presentation. At £3.50 for an 80g bar this is good value for money. Stock up before Christmas is my suggestion. Duffy's bars can also be found in Harvey Nichols stores around the UK.

To buy this park click on the link Red Star Chocolate


You might also want to read other reviews of Duffy's chocolate

Previous review of Duffy's 43% Milk Chocolate


Duffy's 72% Fine Dark Chocolate

GO*DO - Organic Dark Chocolate 60% - Espresso Coffee

Well we're on a roll so let's look at another dark organic chocolate bar this time flavoured with coffee. At this rate I will be on the ceiling all night! 


This bar is from a company called 'GO*DO' and they originate from Italy. I found them at the Chocolate Unwrapped event a few weeks ago and they were an extremely cheerful bunch of people who came across as being passionate about their chocolate. In Italian 'Go*Do' means a moment of pure pleasure. Well their website certainly suggests that you're about to eat some of the very best chocolate in the world. Not only is it organic but it is sustainable. Their cocoa is sourced from small farmers in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Peru, where the risk of deforestation is high. Apparently crops are managed according to the strict rules of organic farming. I'm not sure who actually does the managing as it's not very clear on their site.


The Packaging: They've done a good job with the packaging of this bar and like their stallholders at Chocolate Unwrapped they like to show off their fun side. On a serious note all the technical information about the bar is available and each bar carries the Certificate of conformity to the EU organic Regulations which defines Organic Agriculture and the foods derived from organic farming. Try saying that when you've had a few too many beers. The outer wrapper is fairly thick which protects the bar from the usual retail hazards that might befall it!

The Chocolate: Well no surprises when you open this bar up the espresso flavour envelopes you totally. The coffee used to produce this bar comes from pure Arabic coffee from Central America. The surface of the bar is covered in small pin prick holes which is becoming a trend. When you break open the bar there is a honeycomb texture and roughness from the organic coffee nibs that have been blended into the chocolate. If I had tasted this bar with my eyes shut I'd think I was eating sand as it is extremely crunchy and reminds me of sandwiches on the beach. 

Overall I'm not a fan of this chocolate due to the crunchy coffee nibs which leaves your mouth with lots of bits which you'll be crunching until dinner! I give this bar 7/10 for packaging and presentation but only 4/10 for texture, flavour and taste. Fortunately I have more bars from these guys to try, fingers crossed. I paid 70p for a 35g bar but it was on special offer however most retailers will sell this bar for 99p. 


In the meantime this is the link to their website, GO*DO

80% Dark Organic Hacienda Iara PURIST Bar

Hotel Chocolat has never been featured on this blog mainly because I've always been slightly disappointed with their truffles. I was unlucky enough to taste some of their truffles a couple of years ago when a friend gave us one of their big boxes. But I thought I would take a quick look round their Moorgate shop to see what was on offer. What harm could it do? Their shops are elegant and all the assistants seem as though they've just been weened off Mars bars they look so young! In their defense I have to say they are actually very good and are keen to offer you free samples of chocolate at every opportunity. Hotel Chocolat certainly know how to play the retail game with posh packaging, Vogue style assistants and freebies. I was hooked, there was no hope I wasn't going to escape without making a purchase. Having avoided all the Halloween offerings and what seemed like a never ending selection of bars I found the PURIST section. I was immediately taken in by the packaging and the fantastic selection on view. Well I came away with three PURIST bars and parted with my money. The assistant wished me Happy Halloween which has to be a first! Maybe they're trying a little too hard...


The Packaging: The bar is simply packaged for Hotel Chocolat standards in a clear cellophane bag with a paper label providing information and tasting notes on the bar which is very helpful. The bar is clearly identified as being organic and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The Chocolate: The PURIST range includes rare and vintage chocolate sourced from the finest cocoa in the world. Apparently only 5% of the world's chocolate production is considered to be in this category. To quote from their website, "Grown only on the coast and in the rainforest's of Ecuador, Nacional Arriba cocoa is unique for many reasons – not least its floral notes and fruity flavours. This well-balanced recipe brings out the best from the Nacional Arriba bean – naturally mellow, with a deep intensity and layered flavours of dried fruits, roasted nuts, hints of jasmine and a long finish". 

I have to say that the presentation of this chocolate bar is excellent they remind me of huge lolling tongues and I love the grooves, very organic feel to it. Once the packaging is opened the first aroma to hit you is that of tobacco and dark, dark cocoa. I've not tasted many 80% chocolates before so I'm expecting this to be bitter. Yes, it's slightly bitter as you'd expect but it is not making my mouth dry. Fruity notes are coming through and yes this chocolate is long in flavour. I'm not getting the nuts or jasmine but it certainly has a kick to it that just fills your mouth with woody flavours! Even after finishing this piece of chocolate some 5 minutes ago I'm still picking up the flavour. A 35g bar is all you'll need as it will last for ages.


Overall I give this bar 9/10 for great flavour and outstanding presentation. The attention to detail is excellent and I can't find much to fault it. For a 35g bar I paid £3.00 but as I purchased three I took advantage of their deal and saved £1.50. 


If you'd  like to buy this bar visit Hotel Chocolat now.


This post was by Richard....

Autumn Bar - by Paul Young

Ok, check calendar, look outside check trees for leaves, check angle of setting sun, temperature check warmish? Yes, it is still officially Autumn until 23rd December!  Phew! We're okay to talk about this bar we don't want any problems with trading standards who might be responsible for seasons! I do talk some rubbish sometimes..oh well.


Paul Young is a chocolatier/patissiere from the North of England to be more precise from a small mining town in Yorkshire. Having attended catering college Paul worked his way through some of Yorkshire's finest culinary abodes before Marco Pierre White, no less, grabbed him and scurried off with him to The Criterion Brasserie where he was Pastry Chef. From the very demanding Marco, Paul moved onto Quo Vadis in Soho. From here he did stints at Marks and Spencer and Sainsburys working on development projects. In 2006 Paul was invited to be an honorary member of the Academy of Chocolate. 

Paul Young Royal Exchange

Paul opened his first shop in April 2006 in Camden Passage and now has another shop in Royal Exchange right in the heart of the City of London. 


I passed by his shop in Royal Exchange on the way home from Chocolate Unwrapped and snapped a picture of the shop front and nearly applied for the position of chocolate underling (that's not the wording on the ad, ok) which was advertised in the window!

The Packaging: As with William Curley's bar packaging is kept simple and informative. Clear cellophane has been used to wrap the bar stuck down with a couple of labels and Paul Young logo on the front. This bar is so understated which is surprising considering how flamboyant his creations are. 

The Chocolate: Paul spent a bit of time talking to me about this bar and how he likes to keep things seasonal which is fast becoming the trend in the top restaurants. Some chefs will not even feature a tomato on their menu for nine months of the year unless it is in season. I might try that at home...maybe not.

Ok, this bar has a 70% cocoa content, cocoa butter, sugar, cocoa beans and four spices including cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cedar wood oil. I'm not sure where this chocolate has been sourced but Paul uses Venezuelan, Madagascan and Dominican Republic cocoa beans. For me the cardamom dominates and is the main aroma I get when opening up the bar. I can certainly taste the cinnamon and the cardamom but not the ginger. The cedar wood oil comes through as well but my taste buds are sending a myriad of signals to my brain which is confused at the best of times. However, cocoa finish is excellent and the bar is beautifully tempered. But, wait what is this, oh no it's a hole on the surface of the chocolate. Guys, c'mon sort these holes out, please!


I enjoyed this bar but again it is pricey at £3.50 for 50g of chocolate but then we know why we're paying for this. Overall I give this bar 8/10 for flavour and 7/10 for presentation and innovation for ingredients used.


I can't see this bar on his website but if you want to view his range of bars and other creations click here - Paul A Young

Cinnamon 32% Cocoa by William and Suzue Curley

Well I decided to take a lucky dip into the bag of chocolates that I amassed from my recent visit to Chocolate Unwrapped and pulled out a bar produced by William and Suzue Curley. I hadn't realized that this business is a husband and wife partnership. Their first shop opened in 2004 in leafy Richmond and accolades quickly followed. William was awarded the Best British Chocolatier accolade for 2007, 2008 and again for 2009 by the Academy of Chocolate.

To quote from their website, "Brought up in Fife, William's career began with an apprenticeship at Gleneagles. He then went on to spend 6 years at numerous Michelin-starred establishments, working with respected chefs including Pierre Koffman at La Tante Claire, Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and Marco Pierre White at The Oak Restaurant".

"He has won numerous awards, including The Caterer's Acorn Award, The Craft Guild Pastry Chef of the Year, The Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence and British Dessert of the Year. Having won the William Heptinstall Scholarship, he was given the opportunity to work under Marc Meneau at L'Espérance in France".

The other half of the team is Suzue who is also a highly respected patissier. Originally from Osaka, Japan, Suzue has worked at Claridges and The Savoy where she was in charge of the world famous Afternoon Teas. She has won many national competitions including Gold at Hotelympia in 2000". They are very much a class act with oodles of experience and awards behind them.

The Packaging: With all this experience there is no need to be extravagant with fancy packaging and that's exactly what you get with this bar. It is one of the most unassuming pieces of packaging that I've seen in a long time. A simple but elegant design with gold embossed lettering provides a reassuring feel of quality. The bar itself has been placed in a clear cellophane bag with William Curley's logo.

The Chocolate: This is a milk chocolate with a cocoa content of 32%. I'm a bit surprised by the finish of this bar as it has a few holes on the surface. I'm sure this one slipped through 'quality control' and is not representative of the usual high quality one can expect from William Curley. Well they say beauty is only skin deep and there is nothing flash about this bar in terms of presentation. I've decided not to use the picture of the bar purchased from William's stall at Chocolate Unwrapped as it had taken a few knocks and I believe that would be rather unfair of me.

The cinnamon aroma is intoxicating and conjures up thoughts of mulled wine, Christmas and apples, all in one chunk! The cinnamon is perfectly balanced and once this has gone you're left with the flavour of cocoa, caramel and sweet dreamy chocolate. Amedei chocolate is used exclusively for all their creations. Amedei, based in Italy, source their prized cocoa from Venezuelan plantations that use the best Criollo and Trinitario beans. They also source their chocolate from other countries including Madagascar, Ecuador, Trinidad, Jamaica and Grenada.


Overall I give this bar 8.5/10 for flavour but only 5/10 for final presentation especially when you are paying £3.50 for a 50g bar you expect it to be minus the holes. Look beyond the presentation and you'll find a very comforting bar of chocolate. Somebody else just finished the last piece of chocolate....grrr how annoying is that!


If you'd like to buy this bar visit William Curley's online shop
or you might like to visit shop in Belgravia to see their full range of delicious chocolates!

William Curley - Belgravia Shop

Green & Black's Organic 24 Miniature Bar Collection Box 360g

Just when I thought I had sufficient chocolate in stock to keep me going for the next couple of weeks Green and Black's asked me if I'd like to review their Miniature Bar Collection containing 24 iddy biddy organic chocolates! Well it would have been rude of me to refuse such a fantastic selection package.

The Packaging: To be honest I wasn't particularly wowed by the packaging but the clear plastic viewing panel allows you to see these delectable little chocolates. I hope I wasn't being a bit dumb but I thought the chocolates might slide out on the tray. I was wrong after much tugging I decided to gently tip them out on to the table. Well it's what's inside that's important which probably applies to lots of things in life.


The Chocolates: There are 24 bars weighing 15g each and there are 8 different chocolates including: Dark Chocolate with Cherries; Dark Chocolate with Ginger; Dark Chocolate 70%; White Chocolate with 30% Cocoa Solids; Milk Chocolate with 34% Cocoa Solids; Creamy Milk Chocolate with 32% Cocoa Solids; Milk Chocolate with Butterscotch; Milk Chocolate with Almonds.

I don't think I've ever tasted eight chocolates in a row before but somebody has to do it. I'm trying to be very careful and even have a glass of water to cleanse my mouth after each little chunk has been tasted. At this rate I'll never sleep tonight.


Dark with Cherry: Smooth dark chocolate 60% cocoa solids with delicious organic sour cherries give it that extra edge and zing which flows through to the end. I like this and so it seems does everybody else as we're down to the last little slab.


Dark with Ginger: Sweet dark chocolate 60% cocoa solids with crystallized ginger which is  a bit lack lustre for me but it's still agreeable and is well balanced. I just like my ginger to have a bit of power.


Dark: Intense dark chocolate with a slightly smoky, woody aroma. This 70% dark chocolate has a good fruity flavour with an excellent finish. Just how I like it!


White: As you're probably aware white chocolate does not contain any cocoa. However it has cocoa butter (30%) and sufficient to make this a very creamy sweet but not unpleasant chocolate. A sprinkling of Vanilla seeds adds to the flavour. I still haven't found a white chocolate that competes with ICOA from El Rey. I think this bar could have been improved with the addition of some freeze dried fruit such as raspberries to take the edge off the sweetness.


Milk Chocolate 34%: Good cocoa flavour with a rich smooth texture that is not overly sweet and lasts. Honey and caramel flavours coming through on this one.


Milk Chocolate 32%: You wouldn't believe it but 2% less cocoa makes a lot of difference. For me there is a giant chasm in terms of flavour between the 34% and 32%. Not only is it lighter in colour but it also lacks the depth of flavour found in the other milk bar. It is also a bit overly sweet and it catches the back of your throat. 


Milk Chocolate with Butterscotch: Rich creamy milk chocolate 34% cocoa with little chunks of butterscotch scattered amongst the bar provides that extra crunch. Being a fan of Toblerone I instantly like this. I did share this with others and they found it a bit too sweet. Oh well more for me.


Milk Chocolate with Almonds: Lovely cocoa aroma, 37% cocoa solids help match the organic almonds which have been finely diced to produce a fantastic nutty bar of chocolate. Again very much like Toblerone and strangely this is the one I've eaten more of.


Overall I give this selection pack 8/10 for dishing up a good range of chocolates that has something for everybody. None of the flavours are over the top and this is a great starter pack if you're into chocolate tasting. Ideal for sharing especially at the end of a meal or and even more so now that Christmas is only just round the corner. 

You can purchase this selection pack of premium bars from most supermarkets and independent retailers from September 2010 and it is priced at a £8.99.

If you liked this review you might like these other bars:


Dark Chocolate with Sour Cherries


Dark Chocolate with Mint Fondant

Artisan Du Chocolat - Ginger and Lemon grass Milk Chocolate 40%

I'm feeling adventurous and in need of lots of chocolate today so here we go with #2 review of the day! This is the second bar that I've reviewed from the girls and boys at Artisan du Chocolat. The other bar was a very distinctive tobacco bar which took a bit of getting use to but it I actually liked it. 

You'll be surprised to know that this company is nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside and not on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Famous for their truffle collections and salted caramels, bars are a new direction for them. If you haven't had the chance to visit their site I suggest you do. Just take a look at their Halloween offering which looks really fun and at the same time a bit tacky. Unfortunately they must have been very popular as both are out of stock. No gory chocolate for me :(.  Choose from "Blood orange caramel drip" or "Bloody Berry Dark Chocolate". Ok lets get back to the matter in hand.

The Packaging: This bar is from the Fusion range and the packaging has been carefully and simply designed to enhance the chocolate experience. As you would expect with ingredients such as ginger and lemongrass there is an oriental feel. What makes me slightly irritated by the information on this back is that it doesn't tell you where the cocoa beans originated from. Gerard's notes take up a lot of space talking about Yin and Yang but I want to know about the chocolate. By the way who is Gerard? I did search through the website but found nothing, he's probably somebody I should know!

The Chocolate: This is a milk chocolate bar weighing in at just 45g. It feels so thin and delicate which is disappointing and I'm afraid to say in this case size is everything because I might like it. There is a lovely aroma of Lemongrass and Ginger as you open the cello wrapper. I know Gerard waffled on about the Yin and Yang but this is a well balanced bar of chocolate considering the two strong flavours used. Both the ginger and lemongrass cut through the creamy smooth sweet milk chocolate to provide a refreshing finish.

Overall I give this bar 7/10 for a well balanced milk chocolate bar which keeps nagging you to eat more unfortunately it has all gone! 

This bar was purchased from Selfridges and is not available from their website but there are other Fusion bars to choose from. Priced at £2.75 this is expensive but I did take advantage of their deal offering "2 for £5.00" which softened the blow to my purse.

To find out more click on the link Artisan du Chocolat

You might also want to read about Tobacco and Dark Chocolate

Duffy's Corazon Del Ecuador - Fine Dark Chocolate 72%

This bar of chocolate has been hiding in the back of my draw for three or four weeks so as I thought it would be good to review this bar today as I have a back log of chocolate to review. I like chocolate back logs!


For those of you who have not read my blog before Duffy is one of only three people who produce chocolate from bean to bar in the UK. So these bars are particularly special.


Packaging: As with the Milk bar I recently tasted their is a beautiful picture of the Andes mountains (I assume they're the Andes?). This really gets me in the mood for tasting as it reminds you how far these beans have come. Many of us probably take this fact for granted but we have to remember how these beans reached the shores of the UK. On this subject Duffy is hoping to give back some of his profits to help cocoa farmers in Ecuador sometime in the future. Ingredients are listed on the back and include Cocoa beans, organic sugar and cocoa butter.

The Chocolate: This particular dark chocolate is 72% and is produced from single origin Ecuadorian Calceta beans. In terms of flavours this bar is described as having deep, warm flavours with hints of citrus, soft fruit and bananas. Having carefully removed the gold foil the smell which emanates is delicious. If only I could survive on smelling chocolate! This is a good start and it just keeps getting better. The chocolate is bright and has a shiny glow about it which is so enticing. Rich cocoa with a hint of sweetness hits the nose. The snap is crisp and sharp. The mouth feel is fantastic and the cool chocolate takes a little time to melt. I'm trying to pick up the citrus flavours but I'm getting fruit...oh hold on now I'm getting the citrus! My palate is a bit dry almost chalky but maybe this is because I've eaten 6 squares already?

This a great bar of chocolate and I will not hesitate in recommending it to you even at £3.50 for 80g it is worth every penny. I'm going to have to give this bar a high 9/10 for just simply delicious chocolate.


If you want to buy this bar visit Duffy's online shop


You might also like to read other reviews of Duffy's chocolate:
Duffy's Star of Peru 70%
Duffy's Corazon Fine Milk

"The Ethical Option"

If you had asked me twenty five years ago what do I think about Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance organisations I'd probably have given you a fairly puzzled look as the former had probably only just made it onto the scene and the latter hadn't even been heard of. 

Well twenty five years on both these organisations have made huge impacts on our lives and the lives of those people producing the goods. Both organisations have worked hard to ensure that they are at the forefront of our consciousness when making what might seem simple and mundane decisions. It seems that every facet of our lives is connected to two or three main organisations. A lot of us make and are making critical, life changing decisions about how we live our lives based solely on whether a product has been ethically sourced or not. Nowadays if you're building a house you might not be considered PC if you didn't consider whether your house was environmentally friendly in terms of aesthetics, materials it uses and the energy it consumes. 

If you are feeling adventurous you can even decide to go on an environmentally friendly holiday and you can offset your carbon emissions by donating money to plant x number of trees. 


If you are an office worker and you're lucky enough to have a catering facility on site you'll be aware of the various Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that take place for example, 'free range eggs', Fairtrade bananas, Fairtrade chocolate, Rainforest Alliance coffee and the list goes on ad infinitum. We can't seem to get enough of it! 


Many people probably wonder why it's important to buy goods that have a Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification logo on it. Well many 'cash crops' such as tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas come from third world countries where workers are paid a pittance and poverty and very poor standards of living are rife. Many of the workers that produce these crops have been exploited in the past and without such organisations their lives and those of their families would be unbearable. The richer European and American countries have it tough at the moment but nothing can compare with what some families have to endure in the third world.

Both Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance organisations have a place in the market and both deserve top billing. If you are in any doubt as to what these organisations do take a few minutes to visit their websites. In a simplistic way Fairtrade ensures farmers receive a fair price for their products and that exploitation is stamped out. The Rainforest Alliance ensures that the environment in  which these crops are grown is managed in such a way that it remains sustainable and allows ecosystems to flourish and species to thrive. Alongside this the RA also ensures a fair price is paid for goods. Employees are trained and tutored on how to maintain standards and farm productively. Buying these products doesn't mean you have to take a drop in quality and this was proven to me when I started using Rainforest Alliance dark and milk chocolate sourced from a certified farm in Costa Rica. Both types of chocolate have exceptional taste and flavour. In my opinion I'm pleased that I've been able to bring this product to market even though it is on a very small scale in comparison to the big boys. 

Hugo Hermelink - Costa Rica

The larger conglomerates have quickly joined the ethical race much to the consternation of some environmental communities but they have helped to bring these products to the masses. Both Divine and Cadbury are excellent examples of how effective big companies are in helping to spread the word and make a big impact. Many will argue that big business has no place as they are only there to make a profit. Yes, the 'bottom line' is important to both shareholders and business but without innovative companies such as Divine and Green & Black's would we have come so far?


Many will argue that one organisation is better than the other and I'm sure there are issues with both but at least they're proactive and doing something about them. It's up to us to keep reminding them.


If we don't support these organisations when we buy that little bar of chocolate or that frothy cappuccino or flat white we run the risk of destroying and losing what has been gained over the past twenty five years. 


Making a decision not to buy ethically might seem insignificant to many even when times are tough but it could have a damaging and lasting effect on others for years to come especially if we don't take that ethical option today and tomorrow.


To find out more why might like to visit these sites:


Fairtrade
Rainforest Alliance

Green and Blacks Organic Dark Chocolate Mint 70%

This is the second bar from the Green & Black's range that I've reviewed for this site and I'm keeping an open mind on the outcome. If you missed the previous review the name Green & Black's was chosen to illustrate their blend of ethics and intense taste. Green represents their sustainable and organic principles which they employ whilst making their chocolate. Black represents the colour of their original Dark 70% chocolate bar and the intense taste of all their chocolate.


The Packaging: As you would expect the packaging is stylish and exudes quality. Their website provides little information on packaging however they state that the company tries to minimize the amount of packaging it uses. They are aiming to reduce the amount of packaging but at the same time they want to ensure your chocolate bar is protected and reaches you the consumer in perfect condition. Due to the way this particular chocolate bar has been made a simple card strengthener has been used. Recycled paper wrappers and boards are used and vegetable based inks provide the colour .

The Chocolate: This is an organic dark chocolate with a 70% cocoa content. The bar is divided up into 15 small capsule like sections that ensure the peppermint fondant remains inside until the right moment.

The chocolate has a good cocoa smell with a whiff of peppermint fondant in the background. As the chocolate melts the fondant seeps through and you are met with a mild minty fresh taste which is all a bit odd to me. Unfortunately, the  bar reminds me of After Eight Mints that my grandparents used to put out at Christmas. In those days I used to be an expert at removing the mints without the grown ups noticing. I'm sure many of you remember doing exactly the same thing. Back then I could eat 100's of them but my taste buds have moved on and I'm not so keen on that mint flavour. Personally this is a waste of good chocolate overpowered by mint but I'm sure it has a following somewhere.

Overall I give this bar 6/10 for presentation, price and packaging. I purchased this bar from the Adnams Cellar & Kitchen, Southwold. At £2.09 for a 100g bar this is good value for money as long as you like peppermint fondant!

Montezuma's Spice It Up with Dragon Ginger

Montezuma's is a great name for a chocolate company and I'm sure like many a chocolatier wished that they'd thought of it first. To quote directly from their website. "Ex-lawyers turned chocolate entrepreneurs, Helen and Simon Pattinson, founded Montezuma’s in 2000 hand making their chocolate with one little machine and one shop in Brighton". 


Disillusioned with life in the UK they packed all their belongings into storage and disappeared to South America where they discovered chocolate on a Venezuelan plantation. It is a great British success story! They now have 5 shops and supply their bars and products to shops around the country. There is something for everybody and for all occasions.


The Packaging: As with all Montezuma products the packaging is innovative and eye catching. There is plenty of information on the back with a little intro from Simon. The bar is wrapped in a loose fitting silver foil.

The Chocolate: This is a dark chocolate made with an Ecuadorian cocoa (71% cocoa content) with the addition of sugar, vanilla and Dragon Ginger. When you open the bar there is a lovely smell of cocoa. This is a rough and rugged looking bar with no pretentiousness which gives it a great organic feel. The bar is shiny and is well tempered. The ginger has been finely chopped and unlike some crystallized gingers is not overpowering. For me this is a well balanced bar and I'm having to stop myself from eating too much. The cocoa flavour is a little short but I'm just being picky.

Overall I give this bar 8/10 for value for money and great taste. I paid £2.05 for a 100g bar. I'm still trying to get my head around the price. This bar was purchased from the Black Olive, Southwold.


If you want to buy there bars visit Montezuma's now.

Chocolate Unwrapped 2010

Well I managed to fit in a visit to one event during Chocolate Week and I'm really pleased I did. What a great show. Chocolate Unwrapped took place at Vinopolis just off Stoney Street. It was a beautiful day and London was looking  it's best. Fortunately we managed to arrive just in time to listen to Paul A Young and taste some of his delicious chocolate brownies and sample some of his juniper berry and cocoa nib creations. There were a lot of people there but he managed to provide everybody with a generous sample. Not only was he presenting but he was also manning his stall which is always good to see.


The list of exhibitors was impressive including Artisan du Chocolat, William Curley, Paul a Young, Melt, Rococo, Rabot Estate, Duffy Sheardown, Divine, Matcha, chocolateandlove, Auberge du Chocolat, Baruzzo, GoDo chocolate, The Chocolate Café, Original Beans, Cocouture, Cacao Sampaka, Lucky's, Jeff de Bruges, Nicky Grant, Cococru, Patchi, Hotel Chocolat and Thorntons.


Chocolate samples were everywhere and by the time we'd been round the room a couple of times we couldn't eat anymore. William Curley had some delicious chocolates to sample and one that sticks in my mind was a dark truffle filled with a dark chocolate ganache and raspberry jelly. It was amazing. Slightly odd was the SMOKE offering from MIST which will not be on my Christmas list as it didn't agree with me. However, I did buy a SEA SALT bar which will be featured soon. GoDo Chocolate also had some interesting and very tasty bars. The oddly named chocolateandlove had a mix of their own brand and other Chocolatiers, a 70% wild Bolivian dark chocolate was available to taste which was excellent. 


Nicky Grant had some fantastic wedding cake ideas and beautiful fresh chocolates which tasted divine. The centre piece on the right is made with white chocolate from Venezuela. Nicky, apologies for the awful picture! 
If you have time I recommend a visit to Nicky's website for some truly stunning pictures!


These are just some of the goodies that we amassed from today's visit all to feature on the blog at some stage. I was interested to see the huge range of packaging used and how the majority of the more expensive brands had fairly basic packaging for their bars e.g. William Curley and Paul A Young. I purchased a 70% Autumn bar from Paul A Young which was in a simple cellophane wrapper, nothing flash about that but the chocolate tasted fantastic. Isn't that what we want?

A very enjoyable couple of hours!

Pale Edition 01 39% Cocoa Single Origin

According to the literature provided with this fantastic looking bar Amelia Rope appeared on Masterchef. I assume Amelia appeared as a contestant as the details are sketchy. According to Amelia's website she took part in 2006 and 2007. Brave girl! 

After appearing on Masterchef Amelia headed to Eric Treuille's Books for Cooks shop for inspiration. Well it's been a long time since I heard of this shop and I haven't stepped through its doors for over 15 years or maybe more. From what I can remember it was a particularly small shop crammed with everything a budding chef would ever want to know about cooking. I think I purchased a dictionary as I was always typing up menus and couldn’t spell to save my life! Having listened to some sound advise Amelia attended the Valrhona Le Bonbons de Chocolat course and well as they say, the rest is history.

Chocolate bars are a new addition to her impressive portfolio of chocolate creations including handmade truffles and pansies dipped in chocolate and they look amazing.

The Packaging: I like the simplicity of this bar and the use of colour to add vibrancy. It basically tells you exactly what you need to know and if you need to know more then visit her website. On the reverse Amelia has signed her name which gives you the feeling that Amelia has inspected every bar as it comes off the production line. Care and attention is the feeling I get from this bar and I've not got past the packaging yet! If I'm being pedantic the green foil makes you think you're going to taste a mint chocolate bar. Sorry, that is very picky! The bar is named Pale Edition 01 which hopefully means more additions are coming soon.

The Chocolate: This is a chunky, bright, looking bar weighing in at 100g which is well above the average which is about 80g for handmade bars these days. The cocoa beans originate from Ecuador using single origin beans (Arriba) which are very exclusive indeed as they only grow in this country. The particular characteristics of this bean provide a fruit flavour and floral aroma.

It has an excellent glossy look about it which just makes you want to dive in and devour it! I'm immediately reminded of Toblerone when I open the wrapper which is very comforting. The tempering is excellent and the mouth feel is creamy and silky rich. There is a definite caramel taste and even coconut according to my friend who managed to take a piece when I wasn't looking! As you would expect this bar is fairly sweet but it doesn't distract from the other flavours. If I eat anymore of this bar I could be moving away from the dark side as it's delicious and ideal for sharing as it's 100g.




Overall I give this bar a very respectable 8/10 for taste and attention to detail in terms of packaging. I paid £5.49 for this bar which seems to be the norm now and the price didn't seem to be putting people off buying it and I'd be happy to receive this as a gift. Hint, hint...I'm looking forward to tasting the dark editions.


To buy this bar click here Amelia Rope Chocolate

Artisan du Chocolat Tobacco Dark Chocolate 72%

Well I treated myself today and dropped into Selfridges and took a quick tour of the chocolate concession area which was surrounded by Halloween costumes and paraphernalia - it's amazing what the average 'trick or treater' requires. I had gone with the intention of buying some American chocolate but was sucked into the Artisan du Chocolate section especially as free chocolates were being handed out! 


I was surprised to see that they produce chocolate bars and what a range! There were so many that I didn't take in all the flavours, very impressive. Famous for their salted caramels and handmade truffles it was good to see that they now provide bars. I'm probably way behind the times however I picked out a couple of bars and the dark chocolate with tobacco intrigued me. Was I allowed to eat this bar in a public place? Would I be ostracized from crowded venues? Was there a health warning on the package? Enough, I hear you shout.


This particular bar is part of their Fusion range. To produce this bar, they conche and refine ground Trinitario cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic with cane sugar in their atelier in Kent. The warm chocolate is then infused with a blend of tobacco made of sweet fire cured Virginia, spicy Kentucky and Cyprus Latakia. This is not the first time that I've experienced tobacco in dark chocolate and on that occasion I had to find a bin. Lets hope this is going to be better.


The Packaging: The packaging is great and each bar has a different approach and feel to match the ingredients. There are plenty of helpful tasting notes from Gerard on the reverse. The chocolate itself is enclosed in cellophane which I know will upset some of the purists. I'd love to know from somebody whether there is any difference between foil and cellophane in terms of quality, etc.

The Chocolate: A 72% cocoa content for a dark chocolate is just about fine for me. As soon as you open the cellophane wrapper tobacco wafts straight up your nostrils and it's not unpleasant or overpowering. There is also a strong woody smell which is very appealing. The chocolate is beautifully tempered and melts quickly. The addition of sugar compliments the tobacco flavours that flood through your mouth. A word of caution this bar is not for the feint hearted as it has big, big flavours and having shared a few pieces with a friend they immediately pulled a face and found a receptacle. Once the chocolate is finished you are left with the taste of tobacco in the mouth but what else would you expect! It will probably have the same effect as marmite and you will either loath it or lap it up.

Overall this is a great bar of chocolate and I give it 8/10 for pure nerve, good chocolate and presentation of the packaging. The flavour is not going to be for everyone. You've been warned! This bar weighs in at just 45g which is underweight in my opinion considering the price. I took advantage of the deal, '2 bars for £5.00'. To buy it online will cost you £2.75 plus postage and packing.


To buy this bar follow this link Tobacco Dark Chocolate 72%