Mint

The co-operative, good with food. What do you know about the co-op? Well, I for one know absolutely nothing apart from the fact that the co-op is made up of a number of businesses, found on a street corner, has a 'green' shop front and didn't they start something called the 'divi'? That's about my limit! Ok, I know a little bit more than that and have always used them on holiday and I occasionally pop down to the local shop in Writtle.


Company Snap Shot: The co-op started as a small shop in Lancashire and is now a worldwide movement. In 1844 the Rochdale Pioneers Society started the co-op based on 8 Rochdale Rules which included a share of the profits according to purchases, later to be known as the 'divi'. 1863 Co-Operative Wholesale Society established. Jumping forwards a few decades, as some of you are not paying attention at the back! 1965 dividend stamps introduced. 1985 the Co-op announces that no own-brand toiletries will be tested on animals. 1992 the Co-op bank introduces a customer-led Ethical policy. 1998 it stocks Fairtrade products in every food store. In 2002 they switched their entire own brand chocolate bar range to Fairtrade. 2003 it switches all own-brand coffee to Fairtrade. Truly an innovative company! Ok, if you need to find out more about the co-operative click here.

Minted!

The Chocolate: As some of you may know mint is not my favourite ingredient in chocolate. However, I will soldier on....Described as truly irresistible Fairtrade dark chocolate with peppermint oil. It actually contains 93% Fairtrade ingredients. Very well packaged even the foil is fairly thick and has a luxury feel about it. Did you know that all their chocolate bars are produced by Divine Chocolate, using high quality cocoa beans from Kuapa Kokoo, a co-operative of 45,000 farmers in Ghana. To find out more about their food ethics click here. 

Open the silver foil and leave the bar untouched for a while before you start munching. Immediately, you are hit with the familiar aroma of 'after eight' mints. You either love it or hate it! The bar is well made unfortunately I've let it go a bit soft so the snap is missing. The great fact about this bar is that the cool mint flavour is not too strong and doesn't over shadow the cocoa completely. You don't feel that you've just washed your teeth in chocolate toothpaste which is a relief. If I wasn't on a diet I'd probably eat the lot!


Overall I enjoyed this bar as did my friends who've kindly eaten every square. 6/10 is a reasonable score. Unfortunately, I do not have the price for this 100g bar but I will update the blog when I find the receipt!

Milk Chocolate Minted with Crunchy Peppermint

Once again we've had zero time to do any blogging as chocolate bar production has been the main focus of my attention for the past week! I made several hundred bars this week only for the snow to fall and the function to be cancelled. Fortunately it was only postponed which in the end turned out to be a bit of a god send. Have also made a decision to put the online website back up in the New Year...chocolate truffles will be making a come back! One thing I'm pleased about this week is that I do not live in Three Bridges! Those poor people who were stuck on that train all night! At least they had some heat. For those of you living outside the UK we had some snow and everything stopped. Simple!


MINTED from Montezuma's. Peppermint with chocolate is not usually my cup of tea but I've tasted several bars now with mint and I'm strangely looking forward to tasting this bar...perhaps I'll even whip out the After Eights this evening. Now I'm really getting old.


The Packaging: I really like Montezuma's new range of bright packaging and this shade of green is fantastic! I know it's a bit sad getting excited by packaging but its good. It also makes me feel slightly festive. They do this part very well and full marks to them. I also like the fact that they proudly state that it has been made in the UK.

Minted from Montezuma's

The Chocolate: Usually you expect Peppermint to be combined with dark chocolate so it will be interesting to see how the milk chocolate blends in with the mint. This particular milk chocolate is from Venezuela and is fairly strong with a 43% cocoa content. There is no getting away from that After Eight aroma as you open the packaging. The bar itself is peppered with a few tiny holes which is my pet hate. The peppermint has been broken up into very small  pieces and there is a good crunch. The peppermint is not overpowering and blends in well with the chocolate. I like this bar of chocolate but I prefer mint with dark chocolate and therefore less sugar. There is a slight aftertaste but it is not off putting.

Overall I give this bar 6/10 for subtle flavour of the peppermint. As always the price is great value especially for a 100g bar. Montezuma's are selling 3 bars for £7.17 plus p&p. If you know somebody who likes peppermint in their chocolate then I'd have no hesitation in recommending this bar.


If you'd like to buy this bar visit their website here.