Day Trip to London

The journey from hell lay ahead but this did not deter us as we knew what the prize was at the other end.  Chocolate!  Network Rail or whatever they're called kindly and thoughtfully laid on several obstacles for our journey to Vinopolis earlier today.  But the epic journey to London was well worth the aggravation and extreme hardship that we had to endure.  Ok, so we had to get on a train, on a coach, on a tube and then we had to walk!  I almost died! 


London was looking it's best under glorious sunshine and blue sky.  The big surprise was not the chocolate show but Borough Market.  On previous visits we'd missed this spectacle and what a feast of autumnal colours and delicacies were set before us.

Borough Market it was packed to the rafters with masses of people just moving about admiring, tasting and photographing everything.  In fact I almost could not believe that I was in an English market. Brilliant!

Rabot Estate Broken Slabs

A brief saunter around the Rabot Estate shop was too much for my wallet and I had to make my escape to Chocolate Unwrapped.  The bags (on the left) in the picture were £9.00 a go!  So, I settled for a chocolate mousse shot at £2.00 which I shared of course.  A tasty snack but lacked finish which was a bit disappointing.


Onwards to Chocolate Unwrapped at Vinopolis!  There seemed to be more vendors there this year including several new ones which was good to see.  These were just some of the companies that we saw and sampled: Paul A Young; Duffy; Akesson's from Sweden; Paul Wayne Gregory; Pacari; Ecuador ChocoFest; Chococo; Chocolate and Love; The Chocolate Lover's Wine; chocoMe from Hungary; Rococo and so many more!  After two hours we'd had our full of chocolate and these are just some of the bars we purchased.

If you have time tomorrow this is well worth a visit and great experience for novices as you can taste as much chocolate as you like! There is also a program of talks and demonstrations throughout the day.

Chocolate Union Jack Egg - Chococo

Just got back from a tour of the beautiful Essex countryside which is doing its best to move away from winter. I was trying to find a good farmers market but without much success. I've never organised a market myself but it makes sense to ensure that you have a good balance between craft and food stalls with similar stalls kept to a minimum. You can understand why stallholders throw their hands up when they arrive at a market and there are 4 others selling the same produce. If you come across any good markets in Essex let me know. Ok, lets get back to the main attraction.......


Chococo - I haven't featured any of their award winning handmade chocolates  before and I couldn't resist buying one of their chocolate eggs when the opportunity was presented. Based in the lovely town of Swanage, Dorset, Claire and Andy Burnet started their business in 2002. I believe that in a previous life Claire was a big shot in marketing, this really shines through today. What I like about this company is their passion for producing excellent chocolate confections. I've never met either of them but it's interesting how a website and a product can exude confidence, trust and passion all at the same time. They have cleverly tapped into the truly local aspect of their business. Innovatively bringing local peoples ideas and recipes to life and incorporating these into their range. At the same time the use of colour and eye catching packaging has made it an instant winner. Their business is about provenance, purity and freshness and I'm sure this has paid dividends in their growth.  Whilst many Chocolatiers around the country have huge highs and lows in terms of income Chococo have diversified. I believe they now have their own coffee shop and even supply to the likes of Harvey Nicholas and Selfridges. Will we see Chococo stores in other parts of the UK?

Chococo is not just about good chocolate as the picture above demonstrates. Their packaging is some of the best I've seen in the UK for a long time. It's fun and colourful adding to the enjoyment of giving somebody a superb and hopefully delicious gift. Chococo the brand.


The Chocolate: This egg is stunning to look and I don't really want to break it but I know I have to at some point. To make this egg 41% Venezuelan milk chocolate finished with a layer of white chocolate and decorated in naturally coloured white chocolate. Inside the egg has been studded with crunchy dried strawberries and raspberries. The white chocolate is of good quality and is probably Icoa with a 34% cocoa butter. As you would expect all the colouring used to make the Union Jack is 100% natural no nasty preservatives here! 

Ok, I'm going to smash it now! It actually takes a bit of bashing to break this egg. The best way is to turn it on its side and Karate chop along the seem. I'm sure you'll work it out!


The thin white layer of sweet chocolate mixes well with the thicker layer of milk chocolate which has been studded with plenty of dried raspberries. These provide crunch and zing at the same time help to offset the sweetness of the chocolate. I've just eaten half an egg without even thinking so back in the box for you. My only request would be that their should have been a little bag of milk chocolate buttons hidden inside. But that is me just being greedy and harking back to my youth.


I really like this egg and would have eaten all 175g in matter of minutes had I not had more self control. I enjoyed everything about this egg and it scores maximum points for me in terms of presentation and taste. I was lucky to buy this egg at a discounted price but it normally retails at £12.95 including postage and packing. Money well spent in my opinion. 


To treat your friends and family this Easter visit their website here.

El Ciebo 75% Bolivian Fine Dark Organic Chocolate Bar

Since my husband first told me he'd ordered this bar for me last week I've been eagerly awaiting its delivery. At £6.50 a bar including delivery I'm hoping it will not disappoint. Anyway while I wait for my little piece of Bolivia I've been reading with interest the information provided on the Chococo website. To be honest, I wasn't aware Bolivia even had a chocolate industry. Congratulations to the Chococo team for sourcing this obscure and I imagine hard to come by chocolate.

Bolivia is landlocked, shoehorned in between Brazil, Peru and Argentina, it is the highest and most isolated country in South America. Even though this country is rich in mineral resources it is one of South America's poorest countries. Under President Morales' control Bolivia has experienced radical change and in January 2009 greater rights were given to the indigenous majority population. Power to the people!




Ok, thanks for the political update, get back to the chocolate, I hear you say! The next piece is copied word for word from the El Ceibo website.

According to their website El Ceibo is entirely owned by, made up of and run for the benefit of its members: Bolivian farmers and their families who have been working since 1977 to produce organic and Fairtrade cocoa beans and cocoa products, such as chocolates, liquor and butter. El Ceibo is a "second-floor cooperative", which means it is entirely owned by smaller cooperatives spread throughout the Alto Beni region.


Today El Ceibo has more than 1,200 associates, all small farmers, and generates direct employment for over 100 people. It sells its products in Bolivia and is an exporter since the early 1980s.


From the trees to the beans to the chocolate, El Ceibo can genuinely proclaim: "We do not work with the farmers, we are the farmers!" 


El Ceibo - the story behind the name


The organization is named after a unique tree, El Ceibo (Erythrina crista-galli), which never dies. They are said to be able to return to their original beauty even after being cut down. This is a reflection of the ability of the men and women who make up El Ceibo to recover and flourish despite hardships. Each spring, El Ceibo is easily distinguishable in the jungle by its blossom of beautiful red flowers.


The Chocolate: 


How amiss of me, I nearly forgot to mention in my excitement that this bar has been produced in collaboration with Chloe Doutre-Roussel who is the world renowned chocolate connoisseur and exponent of fine chocolate.

Wow! This chocolate does not disappoint from the very moment you open the silver wrapper a delicious chocolate aroma hits the senses. The bar is shiny and has a good snap as I break off the first square. The taste is exquisite and the first flavours that flood in are of earth, peat, and bark which is a thousand times better than I've just described it. This is quickly followed by liquorice and spice which lingers on the tongue and the back of your throat. In a word, delicious.


The texture and melt is excellent and it certainly does not leave your mouth dry as some high % cocoa bars can. This bar is not to be rushed and at £6.50 (80g) including First Class postage is expensive but how often are you going to enjoy a piece of chocolate from Bolivia. It will certainly be on my Christmas list and I suggest you add it to yours especially if you are a dark chocolate fan. 


My only very minor criticism is that the bar was only protected by the outer cardboard packaging and a flimsy piece of bubble wrap. It subsequently arrived broken. Chococo pride themselves on their packaging so I think they may need to revisit this.


This chocolate bar deserves 9/10.