chocolate review
Store Brand Chocolates
January 31, 2011
Often “store brand” food items are thought of an economical and perhaps an inferior version of its name brand counterpart. While many times I think that ends up being true, I’m still open to give unknowns a try, especially if it costs me less. I do get disappointed but sometimes I also get surprised.
I plan on writing a flavor review of different store brand chocolate bars; some available only in the US and some available only overseas, each Monday for as many Mondays as I have chocolates. On this journey I know we’ll discover the good and the bad but either way we’ll have fun and eat chocolate. Isn’t that the meaning of life anyway?
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72%: Ghirardelli vs. Villars
January 24, 2011
This past Christmas Santa left me a stocking full of chocolate goodies, and I happen to have among the stash a lovely Ghirardelli 72% dark chocolate and a delightful Villars 72% dark chocolate.
Yesterday I decided that a taste comparison was in order so I got down to business after lunch and had “dessert”.
The flavor that really hits up front in the Ghirardelli is intense fruit, red berries. The melt is fast and the texture is smooth – just the way I like it. The lingering finish is soft with chocolatey notes and the last of the fruity flavor.
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New Tree Dark Milk
January 17, 2011
New Tree chocolate company began in 2001, with a mission to “combine gastronomy, innovation and well-being” with a quality chocolate product.
As I write this, I am thoroughly enjoying my New Tree Dark Milk (51% cocoa). This bar not only tastes great but it is nutritionally beneficial. Made from Belgium chocolate, the rich, nutty notes in the bold chocolate, along with lively vanilla and creamy milk flavors all come together to make a smooth and tasty chocolate.
According to their website, www.newtree.com, they draw their inspiration “from nature to create innovative chocolates with surprising flavors and health benefits.”
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Chocolove Cherries & Almonds
January 10, 2011
I really like this 55% cocoa content dark chocolate with chewy, tart dried cherries and crunchy, roasted almonds. The chocolate complements the fruity and nutty notes from the cherries and almonds without overpowering them with sweetness or bitterness.
The flavor combination blends slowly at first, allowing you to gradually realize the rich and complex flavor profile.
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Dark Chocolate Covered Bavarian Pretzel
December 27, 2010
In my opinion, pretzels and chocolate make a stellar combination. The salty, slightly nutty flavor of the pretzel blended with the chocolatey bitterness of the dark coating taste oh-so-good together!
The Rocky Mountain Dark Chocolate Covered Bavarian pretzel is a fine example of this great combination and even beats my expectations. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory did a superb job in finding the right dark chocolate coating so that with its intense, bold flavor, the pretzel does not overpower the chocolate, rather the flavors merge into a fine taste treat.
As I was tasting my mind wandered to the pretzel part, as I have hardly given pretzels a second thought through the years. Digging into it a little bit I uncovered some basic pretzel info and then tried to find a definition of a "Bavarian" pretzel.
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Carol Widman’s “Chippers”
December 6, 2010
OMG! Home of the Famous Chocolate covered Potato Chip, “Chippers”. That’s what Carol Widman’s Candy Company proudly boasts. And I completely agree!
Carol Widman’s Candy Company is located in Fargo, North Dakota. They’ve been making quality chocolates for four generations. I’m not sure when they started making chocolate covered potato chips, but they have perfected them. They come covered in milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, peanut butter, and white almond.
It really doesn’t matter which coating you choose, so pick your favorite. No matter what, the Chippers are down right addicting.
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Harry & David Truffles
November 29, 2010
Harry & David is a large direct marketing and e-commerce company that sells many edible products, including chocolate.
Harry & David may be best known for their gourmet fruit and gift baskets. Recently, I sampled a bag of gold foil wrapped chocolate truffles from a gift basket.
They looked good on the outside, meaning the packaging was nice. But once opened, I saw that they had been taken over by bloom – perhaps stored in a place that with fluctuating temperatures. I can’t imagine it myself, but could it have been the last thing left in the gift basket???
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Rocky Mountain Orange Peel
November 22, 2010
The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is an international retail franchisor of chocolates and confectionery products. 21 years ago a man named Frank Crail started the company in the old-west town of Durango, Colorado.
I recently tried their version of chocolate-covered candied orange peel. Chocolate-covered orange peel is one of my favorite chocolates, and I like to try various recipes from chocolate shops around the globe.
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Niederegger Marzipan
November 15, 2010
It’s just one of nature’s great taste combinations... chocolate and almond. And if you take the almond and grind it up and add some sugar, you create marzipan, another great taste sensation with chocolate.
Niederegger Chocolates, headquartered in Lübeck, Germany, makes some of the most delicious chocolate covered marzipan. I enjoy many brands of marzipan, but I am particularly fond of Niederegger.
Be careful! Some confectionery products that are sold as marzipan are made from soy paste and flavored with almond.
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