J. D. Gross Plain Chocolate
When is posh choccy not posh? Does good quality chocolate have to be expensive? Do you really only get what you pay for?
As part of my unstinting quest for the best chocolate, I decided to visit… LIDL.
For those who are unaware, LIDL is a ‘pile it high, flog it cheap’, no frills supermarket chain which sells what can only be described as a bizarre assortment of goods. For example, last week we had a LIDL flyer advertising equestrian goods and accessories!
So what prompted me to consider this as a potential source of quality cocoa-based goodies? Well, LIDL import a lot of their goods from Germany, and Germany - being part of the European continent, and neighbour to France and Belgium, has a good choccy pedigree. This despite the fact that as a boy my Polish grandmother would give me bars of the worst tasting ‘ersatz’ chocolate ever created - stuff that doesn’t even deserve to be called chcocolate (and which probably had never seen a cocoa bean in it’s short and tragic life)
So in I went, on a mission to see:
- if there was anything worth getting
- if it was worth eating
- would it be expensive?
Would I come home with something gloriously tasty, or would I find the Victoria Beckham of chocolate - posh in name only?
Well I can report that there’s an awful lot of confectionery to be had there, and most of it consisted of bags of garishly coloured sugar based stuff, the likes of which fuel the ASBO accumulating hyperactive offspring of council estates across the UK. There are also the usual Twix-alikes, Kinder bars, and Euro-copies of well known UK bars. Not very appealing at all.
However - nestling in among the nastiness, I espied a selection of tall packages embossed with gold writing. What appeared to be Ecuadorian single estate chocolate, 70% cocoa. Bingo!
A quick look at the blurb on the back told me that it was indeed Ecuadorian plantation chocolate, made from the Arriba bean, and that “The varying tropical climate together with a wealth of experience in the cultivating of this high class cocoa bean, gathered over generations, and not least the the excellent combining and perfecting of the best wholesome ingredients, are all factors which make up the secret hidden in the blissful depths of the fine J. D. Gross Plain Chocolate.”
Phew - a big enough mouthful in itself!
So let’s get down to a hands-on analysis. The packaging is very high quality. Rather than a standard ‘box’ you get a ‘book’ type package with a front flap that opens to reveal a gold foil covered bar, which slips out to the left. The bar itself is a very good looking product. Large, thick squares embossed with the J. D. Gross name and crest.
The Sniff Test confirms the blurb - dark, rich coca smells with a slightly bitter edge. Yum!
The chocolate itself is, quite simply. delicious. As good as any I have tasted recently - and that includes the stuff wrapped round the Hotel Chocolat selection I was given at Xmas. (Admittedly, the HC fillings were what sets them aside from all other chocolates). There is no denying that this is the Good Stuff. Proper, cocoa rich dark, bittersweet loveliness - and all for under 90p.
Result!
My advice - hit your local LIDL as soon as possible. There are some real treasures in there, folks.
Posted by Simon on 15 Mar 2007 at 01:03 PM
| 26 Comments
Filed in Reviews
March 15, 2007 : 3:22pm
Under 90p? Does that mean that this was 89p?
I’ve got a LIDL down the road from my nan’s house where I am at the moment (on my weekend break from Uni). I think I might pop down there and stock up on strange German chocolate. Not sure if I want to though, I just got a box of chocolate from Cybercandy that needs to be worked through.
Oh, the life of a chocolate blogger isn’t easy, is it?
March 17, 2007 : 4:48pm
That’s why the refrigerator was invented.
And dentists.
March 17, 2007 : 8:06pm
I’m living in a University dorm mate. You put anything in the ‘community’ fridge and it’s gone before you know it.
April 15, 2007 : 11:30pm
Can also recommend the kul-kul chocolate (78%) from Papua New Guinea, and the 77% San Martin choco from Peru.
Same brand of course. Here, it’s 1.19 euros.
April 23, 2007 : 7:18pm
I’ve been eating high cocoa content chocolate for some years now. Following Simon’s post I too went to a recently opened branch of Lidl, and was amazed at the array of J D Gross chocolate products. The one that caught my eye was an 81% Cocoa 125g Arriba Superieur Ecuador(with cocoa nibs)£1.28.
(nibs are cocoa bean bits) Which for the price, I would have paid a lot more, was one of the wildest dark chocolates I have come across. (a powdery very slightly gritty texture)
The down side is that Lidl do not stock this product as a standard line, apparently Arriba Superieur is only sold on special occasions…like the opening of Lidl’s new branches….Ho Hum!!
April 28, 2007 : 4:48pm
I love this chocolate, but there’s one thing troubles me about the Peru, Equador, Brazil etc. “plantation” chocolate. Are these plantations on land that was once Amazonian rainforest, cleared to plant cocoa trees? If so, I wouldn’t touch it, no matter how good it tastes.
May 8, 2007 : 11:32pm
Here in Germany, we know some more outstanding dark chocolate products, produced by Rausch, labelled as J.D.Gross, sold by LIDL.
My favorite is “75 % Trinidad”, three small stripes of chocolate - sold all the year at 1 Euro/125 grams. This choc is melting in the mouth softer as the described ECUADOR.
As a seasonal product, last month, we got an ECUADOR 70 %, filled with nibs either of orange, caramel or raspberry. The orange chocolate is one of the best I have ever eaten. Unrivalled at a price of 1 Euro 20 or 30.
May 9, 2007 : 9:48pm
Oddly enough, I have the Trinidad selection here, teed up and ready to be published.
Great minds - or great stomachs?
May 10, 2007 : 7:16pm
Thanks for the info Ulli. I have flagged Rausch and they are the J D Gross manufacturers. Apparently they are by coincidence in negotiations with someone in the UK for general distribution of their products.
If they are not the manufacturers who are J D Gross?
It’s Lidl brand name used presumably in an attempt to “own brand” and hide the source of a product…is this sneaky or what..with a name like J D Gross!! Anyway it looks as though Rausch products will be in UK general supply soon!
May 20, 2007 : 9:17am
I just bought a package of Lidl minis in Germany. My favorites are Trinidad and Madagaskar. They’re all quite good, but I made a more detailed review on my blog site http://talkalotachocolate.blogspot.com/
Rausch has a great site in which you can buy their chocolates online too.
Miss Charlotte
May 22, 2007 : 2:53pm
I have been buying this stuff for quite some time now - discovered it over a year ago I think. the trinidad sticks are fantastic - i have recently picked ups some 81% mixed with chilli - it was fantastic but they have now sold out :( anyone know where else sells this fantastic choc so i can pick up some more? - get to Lidl and pick up the selection packs they are currently doing btw - heaven.
July 20, 2007 : 9:09pm
I’m French.
i must say that I can never be wrong when I buy chocolate at lidl. It can be whatever kind of chocolate (dark, milk with almonds &/or nuts), you’ll get a great taste!
In fact, I guess my favorite chocolate bars come from lidl
October 24, 2007 : 12:35pm
In Norway the Lidl stores are much reviled. Their products they stock are supposed to be inferior to Norwegian products. Just goes to show that the Norwegians don’t know what they’re talking about. After spending a fortune on foreign chocolates (Norwegian chocolates are rubbish), I can’t tell you what a relief it was to a chocaholic like me to walk into a Lidl shop and find these wonderful chocolates. Deutschland über alles!
January 5, 2008 : 11:49pm
I bought a wonderful bar of dark chocolate in a minimarket in rural Norway. It had “nibs” of dried raspberry in it and was wonderful. I cannot remember the brand, and have been searching for it ever since. I think the shop was a Spar grocery, but I’m not sure. My Norwegian relatives have failed to track down any more of this wonderful chocolate. Perhaps it was some of this Rausch/Gross chocolate you are talking about? It was in a 200gm bar, similar to a Lindt chocolate bar. Any suggestions?
January 6, 2008 : 1:48am
Well I had a 70% dark chocolate and raspberry bar from Marabou when I was in Sweden. The UK equivalent is made by Cote d’Or and is available in many UK supermarkets. Give that a go.
February 16, 2008 : 9:09pm
Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to get JD Gross items in the US - My friend brought some home from Germany for us - and now I’m addicted. I can’t find it anywhere. Is there a store online I can buy it from? I tried the Rausch site, but couldn’t see where I could actually purchase it. Please help.
Thanks!
February 28, 2008 : 10:11pm
extra bitter harika bi tadı war thanks j.d gross hayatmda yediim en süpper çikolata bu too tastes //turkey
March 11, 2008 : 11:19pm
I occasinaly bought 81% chilly one in the Lidl. I liked it so much so decided to google it and found this.
It is really advisable to go and pick one. It is really unforgettable experince!
March 11, 2008 : 11:42pm
Even in Slovakia customers dont see Lidl as “serious” store brand. So walking by Lidl one day I got idea to come in and look around what kind of junk food they sell. I was surprised with wide variety of good loking fresh vegetables and then I spot JD Gross products on the shelf. Reluctantly I took one with idea to taste a little bit and throw it to the waste bin. Wrong! Next day I was back and bought all types of chocolates of this brand( about 6 or 7)and since then they are my favourite ones.
Unbelievably cheap- 1 Euro, very good quality and attractive packing,wide choice of tastes. Take it- it is worth to buy it.
March 14, 2008 : 4:45pm
Lidl is considered to be the worst market chains in the Czech republic. I agree, but I must say you can find there some outstanding goods like theese chocolates or Camambert cheese.
March 14, 2008 : 9:21pm
Ive been eating the J D Gross Lidl bought chocolate for a few month now, and as a serious chocolate addict ( I only ever like over 70% and single source chocolate when i can gt it) I can heartliy reccomend this to other real chocc fans, word of warning though buy in bulk when you find a favorite (Just NOT in my local lidl okay :-) ) because they only ever get a single box of each in at a time, single estate chocolate doesnt come in Nestle style bulk!!!!
March 30, 2008 : 5:53pm
My hubby has been buying chocolate (and lots of other equally yummy things) at Lidl for some years. I can also recommend the Fin Carre 74% Edel Bitter Schokolade (dark chocolate). For those who prefer milk chocolate, their Fin Carre range in the purple paper sleeve is also good (particularly the fruit and nut).
April 7, 2008 : 1:57pm
I discovered JD Gross chocolate a few months back in Lidl. Currently I’m on the San Martin (Peru) bar, which is really very nice and possibly my favourite of the lot. I think it was about 1.20 GBP, but still pretty good value at that.
The Ecuador is also great, and the 81% I found was fantastic for making hot chocolate (a bit too intense to be eaten neat, for my taste). I’m really quite impressed with the whole range and will definitely keep stocking up when I go back. Now I just need a horse to take advantage of the equestrian goods.
April 9, 2008 : 4:24pm
wow i love this brand, i moved to portugal from the uk with my mum and dad, im not really into chocolate but when i found this i had to have it, i watched a tv programe called willies wonky chocolate and ever since then was on the look for a high coca content bar and i also discovered this jd gross as i walked around the lidl my mum had draged me in!!! i got the 81% chilly and wen i ate it i found myself looking it up on the internet, sooo it must be good beause i now like chocolate and its good for you and the taste buds!!! go get someeee!!!
May 30, 2008 : 2:29pm
hi
i loved this chocolate very very much
where can i find this chocolate in Tel-Avia city.
it can be an adress or a telephone number
it is a pity that the stor dont put an stickeron the box
thanks
June 25, 2008 : 4:26am
I was recently in Spain and purchased Fin Carre 74% chocolate. I loved it but could not find it again.
Now I am back in the US and looked for it online. The only thing I came up with is your blog. where is Lidl? Do you know where I can find it online?