The Chocolate Traveler International Collection

Posted by in Chocolate Reviews on January 30 2009 | Leave A Comment
The Chocolate Traveler International Collection

Here’s one of those curious things that you just have to try when you find it sitting on a shelf somewhere. Each of these three tins is supposed to imitate a dessert from a different country, in white, milk, and dark chocolate.

Starting with France, we have Creme Brulee white chocolate. I really like the formate The Chocolate Traveler uses: thick circles cut into “wedges” and fit into tins. You don’t seem to find much round chocolate (minus 3D truffles, of course.) The pieces are nicely sized, even with extra markings for those who just want a small taste. As far as this one’s color, it’s, well, different. Tan-colored. It’s kind of melty, too, which was consistent with all three of these. It has more of a caramel than creme brulee taste, even with some slight peanut butter taste. The texture is a little like peanut butter, too: not exactly “creamy,” but more thick and smooth. It’s… interesting, but definately candy in my book.

The Chocolate Traveler International Collection

The Dulce de Leche milk chocolate, representative of Mexico, is a very pretty brown, soft yet dark in its essence. It has that strong vanilla flavor I’ve been finding in dark chocolates recently.

Concerning the whole milk thing, the word “imitation” comes to mind. Especially just after the Delaviuda truffles, they don’t quite nail that soft flavor here.

For Italy, we have Tiramisu dark chocolate. Coffee, a hint of raspberry, and sugar sit in amongst the dark taste. I guess it tastes good, but I always have a hard time with those “dark chocolates” that sit on the lukewarm borders between sweet and dear and deep and intense.

So they’re interesting chocolates in their own way. That is, I hesitate to call them chocolates because they’re so sweet. The eight dollar price tag definately approaches steep for just 150 grams, but I guess that’s because of the tins. Which I do love the tins, by the way. I’d say the same about the idea, but I really can’t since it wasn’t carried out terribly well. I don’t feel each country through each taste. That said, they’d still be a nice gift, being kind of fun, but you know, not as a chocolate lover’s gift.

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Comments On This Post

  1. I’ve had each of these flavors (Chocolate Traveler is carried in our local Trader Joe’s store) and love each of them, especially the Tiramisu. Don’t know if a chocolate purist would approve but they’re definitely a treat and the tin is a real bonus – I’ve found lots of uses for Chocolate Traveler tins around the house.

  2. Too bad they weren’t much good. Based on the tins alone, I would have been tempted to try them.

  3. Jimena

    As I know, Dulce de Leche is a typical “dessert” created in Argentina. Who said that is a typical flavour from Mexico? They’ve some argument which supports that? Thanks. I’m Argentinean.

  4. Oliver

    Jimena, seconded. Even though I prefer Uruguay’s Conaprole DDL, no way would I associate it with Mexico. I would have expected maybe something a bit more orangey/browney too.

    I didn’t even know it existed in Mexico either to be honest. This new Mexican resturaunt has opened here in this town and the only thing there on the menu that resembles anything south of Mexico is churros.. the owner had heard of DDL but only in his native country of Brazil.

    Dulce de Leche, in the UK, can only ever be found in either Thornton’s new range of chocolates or in Haagen Dazs’ ice cream. The best way to try it is to boil up some Nestlé carnation milk.. or go to South America yourself. Honestly, it is much better as it’s own food than a flavour, too. How about chocolate “flavour” products vs their actual chocolate content (and taste!)?

    I am a native Brit but i’ve been to Uruguay (through Argentina.. hence why i’ve had a few of their different dulce de leche brands) and seriously, this is nothing like caramel. Texture and colour perhaps but the taste is much creamier and less sickly sweet. Dulce Crema de Leche is also nice, which is the same but creamier.

    Vanilla tasting could be what it ends up tasting like but I think someone from South America needs to bust some DDL into the UK/European (and Australian/US maybe) market. It is immensley popular where it is made and very good – so good I got a 3kg tub sent over recently. Yum!

    That reminds me – someone might want to review some of Thornton’s new chocolates. I have some still here I wanted to photo before eating (including the Dulce de Leche ball) but I have yet to charge my camera. And thorntons really isn’t that bad (buy one get one free – £2.49 on the “mis-shapes” (or mis-haps) bags at 200 grams or so) – cheaper than Hotel Chocolat for sure.. the quality sacrifice is forgiven at the price difference.

  5. Gina

    I’ve tried all three flavors and really enjoyed them. My favorite is the Tiramisú because dark chocolate is my passion. But the milk and white chocolate, while not really being my thing, were equally delicious. I thought the flavors were distinct and true to their name.

  6. Jimena: it seems that Dulche de Leche’s origin is in Argentina, but it’s also popular in other countries, including Mexico. Also, the flag on the tin is for Mexico, not Argentina.

  7. Oliver

    I think that Jimenas point – as was mine – is that Dulce de Leche is just *not* a Mexican thing and (especially in this form, you probably won’t even get the real taste of dulce de leche)

    Mexico has a “similar” thing, but I think that both Jimena and other South Americans would probably feel outraged at it being branded a “Mexican” thing. My girlfriend, from Uruguay, also raged when she saw Dulce de Leche being branded as “Mexican”.

    I personally think its an odd choice – something more relevant to that country – say like, tequila flavoured chocolate for Mexico, or something more identifiable with a country would have been a better idea.

  8. Mariangela

    About Tiramisu’: if raspberry just a flavour of the dark chocolate it is ok, if it is an added ingredient it has nothing to do with the original Tiramisu’ recipe (it is not made with raspberries)(I am Italian)
    Bye!

  9. Yes, the raspberry flavor is only from the chocolate. It isn’t an added ingredient, and actually, neither is the coffee, even though that one is a tiramisu flavor.

  10. It was nice to meet you at World Market. As a fellow blogger, I was excited to see your site. I look forward to reading more of your reviews.

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