I was off stocking the pantry at the local Foodland, when I came across a surprise lurking in the discount bin – that’s the stuff getting a little close to the “best before” date: Chocolatier Chocolate Assortment. The last review of a Chocolatier product was another assortment, some years back. I’m pleased and a little relieved to find that the current mix is quite different. A quick check shows that Chocolatier are an Australian company based in Melbourne who have been in business for over 25 years, strange that their products rarely show up in the mass market.
There are five different chocolates in the selection, and it looks like we get about three of each. As is often the case, the colours on the box are more vibrant than in real life. My photographs have also washed the colour out a little more. Without further ado, here’s a tasting of them all.
Lemon Smoothie – The lemon has quite a strong aroma when the small package is opened, the chocolate seems to be a milk, it’s quite light, and the whole combination is rather pleasant. The lemon is not overpowering, and I could easily come back for another one or two of these.
Mint Caprice – This uses a dark chocolate casing, the minty filling has a fairly subtle aroma. This just means it does not leap out and smack you around the head. The flavour is similar to the cliché after-dinner-mints that we’ve all been subjected to for about the last umpty years, though perhaps a little more subtle. The mint / chocolate combination is pretty good, though personally, I’d like it a little less sweet.
Sweet Seville – The orange is also in a dark casing, it seems to have the least smell of them all; I’d like a bit more of a whiff. Holding it close, though, the aroma is quite pleasant. The tasting is a bit of a disappointment, the flavour is mainly sweetness with a little orangey sort of side edge. Orange can work well, but it needs to pack a fair punch of flavour, and this just does not have enough.
Strawberry Blush – The flavour of this was very apparent when the pack was opened- that kind of sweet almost generic berry aroma that is often found. I was hoping this is a good sign. The milk chocolate casing is very soft and melts quickly. The filling flavour lasts the distance, this is quite pleasant with perhaps the only problem being that it’s very sweet.
Mudcake – This looks like a dark chocolatey filling in a milk chocolate casing, though it is difficult to tell the exact casing type of some of these. I left it for last, hoping for big flavours, perhaps a little bitterness. The aroma is rich and slightly earthy. Oh wow! The surprise lies inside – that “mud” colour conceals something within that’s soft, almost liquid, sweet, rich, complex, slightly bitter – all at the same time. This one is a joy – I’d gladly eat this to the exclusion of all the others, though probably two or three at a sitting would be all that I could manage. This is the pick of the crop. I’m really pleased to have tried it last; the others would all have seemed a little disappointing had I tasted in the reverse order.
All in all, this is a quite pleasant selection which you could put out for guests or give to great aunts and nobody would be offended; the sweet tooths would be delighted. I did observe the use of vegetable fat in the ingredients and have chosen to conveniently ignore it. Perhaps it goes into the fillings.
The other time I looked at something from Madelaine Chocolate it was the set of Duets; I didn’t realize at first that I’d come across them again. My main reasoning for picking up this 72% dark chocolate was the ingredients list: chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla. Not as complicated as they come. Afterwards was when I noticed the “All Natural” and “Surprisingly Healthy” lines on the front; maybe that’s why there aren’t extra ingredients.
The bar is divided into three large and thick pieces. They’re too large for my tastes, especially since you can’t really break them into smaller sizes because they’re so thick; not, however, that it makes much difference if you’re eating a whole square or two (or three) at once.
On tasting, the chocolate is of the dessert-tasting kind. Like unto brownies, pudding, etc. It has nutty flavor notes, maybe with a little dark coffee thrown into the mix. There is just enough of a touch of the bitter to keep it in balance.
It isn’t a life-changing chocolate, but it’s enjoyable. Spending an evening with a square of this dark chocolate and a book or movie wouldn’t be anything to complain about. A little simplicity can be a good thing.
This is the first of a handful of eggs I received from James Chocolates. It’s one of their 60g eggs, which means two things – it’s not going to last you a week, and it won’t cost an absolute fortune. Personally I find both of these attributes quite desirable, or rather I don’t like the idea of some enormous overpriced Easter Egg that hangs around for days.
As you can see, this egg is made with milk chocolate with ground vanilla and a hint of sea salt. What caramel there is sits in a pool of white chocolate on one face of the hollow egg. As it transpires, the milk chocolate itself also contains caramel, and my first bite reminded me vaguely of an old ’70s favourite – Caramac. I do have to say that in reality this is something of an unfair comparison, given that Caramac was a slightly dangerous looking yellowy confection which had little or nothing to do with the venerable Cacao bean. It was quite a job getting the egg to pose for this picture, but a lot easier once it was ready to eat…
This egg is sweet & creamy with a definite kick of vanilla. The sea salt is perhaps a little more sporadic than I would have liked, with the occasional flake popping up from time to time. The caramel pieces at the front of the egg become an option – break off a bit off the front part if you fancy a caramel & white chocolate bite instead of a vanilla & milk chocolate mouthful.
This egg isn’t as sugary as some of James’ other creations, and while I would have liked a little more salt (and a bit less sugar) I think this would appeal to all ages. Given that it’s a smaller sized egg (and therefore not hugely expensive) I can see it being a good alternative to similar offerings from better known companies.
Two years ago, I looked at some milk chocolate truffles by Delaviuda, which I found to be pleasant eatables. Now I return with a box of dark chocolate dessert cups with a series of praline fillings. Like before, the box has a semi-sleek look combined with a typical-find style. The sculptural look of the dessert cups, though, is one I like. There are two each of the following:
Almond Praline – White chocolate surrounds the tan-colored praline, with a sprinkling of almond pieces on top. I don’t know if I just got a bad one, but it felt too dry and tasted sort of boring. Neither chocolate gives off much flavor; milk chocolate may have worked better in this case.
Hazelnut Praline – A light tan top houses a whole hazelnut without any enrobing white chocolate. This one felt much smoother as I eased a knife down the middle–it doesn’t lack moisture. It’s smooth with the plain dark chocolate adding the right touch. The funny thing is that it (along with the rest, really) has an almost-spiked taste. There is, however, no alcohol in the ingredients.
Coffee Praline – Look twice because that isn’t actually a coffee bean on top: it’s a dab of chocolate over a sugar crystal substance that in the end does taste nicer than a real coffee bean. There is a white chocolate layer below the praline, but let’s get back to the coffee portion. This is probably the best coffee chocolate I have had in a while: it is properly strong and fresh and there are no grains in it.
Truffle Praline – A classic, cocoa powder sprinkling tops this one off. Underneath is a delicious praline thick with light richness. The chocolate is mild; be aware that there is a good amount of sweetness around. Still, it can make a good chocolate for spending a few slow minutes.
Yes, this a box more of confections than gourmet truffles. With that in mind, I would recommend them perhaps for gift-giving or entertaining (or adding to your personal chocolate stash).
