Random chocolate I found
I found this assortment of chocolate at the store this week and I have no idea about where its all coming from.
The Santander milk lists it as 36% cacao, which I always thought it was odd to do with milk chocolate but ok. It has sugar as its number one ingredient followed by cocoa butter, milk, before cocoa mass. Surprisingly it doesn’t come off as too sweet, but has a very heavy vanilla taste.
This a Columbian chocolate, and calls itself “single origin”. I’m not sure if that means the same plantation, or same type of bean from that area. Their website is odd to say the least. Its mostly in Spanish and I tried to translate some of it but I just don’t get it. There’s this hot chick on the main page drinking chocolate and spraying herself with cologne. I liked the chocolate but wierd page.
I also tried the Santander Dark (65%) but it wasn’t very good. It tastes like coffee or old beer. Just a wierd bitter flavor. Not very good at all. Blech.
And then the Santander Semi-dark (53%). This was sweet, but with a nasty mid-flavor, like rotten vanilla. Blech!
I also tried the Alprose milk chocolate. It has what I can only describe as the “swiss milk” taste to it. Maybe its the milk they use or maybe its the vanillin. Its very sweet, but OK. I liked it.
I also tried the Alprose bitter (74%). This was OK, but kinda bland. It had a chalky consistency. It also used vanillin.
At a Cubscout dinner someone brought these truffles that came in a box. They were just wonderful and I have been searching for them since then. I found them at World Market. They are Duo Truffettes de France made (distributed?) by Chocmod.
This box of truffles comes as two (duo) types in one box, but they are packed in two separate foil bags. One is rolled in cocoa powder and the other is rolled in powdered sugar. There is no vanillin (yea!). They do contain partially hydrogenated oils, which is bad. But they taste wonderful! I don’t care for cocoa powder usually, but the powdered sugar ones were good. They have a very smooth texture (even though this box expired in 11/05, grrrrr). I noticed they were flattened a bit on the bottom and I wondered if they got warm and smooshed or if that just how they are made and appearance is not so much an issue. Maybe that’s the smart way to go in this business.
The last one is a milk chocolate by Chocolates El Rey, which is Venezuelen. This is the Caoba bar, which is a single bean origin chocolate, like all Chocolates El Rey chocolates, from their Carenero Superior line.
Again, they list the cacao content (41%) for some reason. Its a thing now in chocolate I guess. This bar was just ok. It doesn’t taste like I would expect for milk chocolate and it had a funny “orange” undertone taste. Kinda like it was flavored or something. Worth trying anyway.
That’s it! Enjoy your weekends. Don’t eat too much chocolate like I did. :)
February 10th, 2006 07:21
Wow - thanks for the reviews Jon. Tell me again why Vanillin is bad? Everytime I buy chocolate now I wonder, “would Jon like this?”
February 10th, 2006 09:17
I’m with Ed. What’s bad about Vanillin? After I sent you your treats i got all stressed thinking, “Oh my God! I forgot to check the label. I bet I just sent him chocolate stuffed with Vanillin!” Just a thought…maybe you should do a post on how to read a chocolate label like they do on those nutrition shows.
February 10th, 2006 10:56
Your blog is a sin blog…so much chocolate..so good but can’t eat b/c on diet….at least there is no chocolate in my work place right now..or else I will be beinging on them.
February 10th, 2006 11:39
Thanks as always for Choco Friday. I love your normal person descriptions of the bleh chocolates. I’m waiting for you to start wine reviews - “Bleh, this one taste like rotten grapes with a hint of yuck!” haha
February 10th, 2006 11:55
Wow! That is some intense chocolate!
February 10th, 2006 12:43
I forgot it was chocolate friday! I am baking THREE chocolate cakes with my boys today for tomorrow’s contest!
February 10th, 2006 16:35
Oh yum, I like orange and chocolate together. I might just have to go looking for that one.
February 10th, 2006 17:26
Were you prancing around these stores with your nipples covered?
February 10th, 2006 20:16
I stopped by for Chocolate Friday. Have you ever had B.T. McElrath chocolates? They’re made in Minneapolis, which is where I live. I believe they would meet your high standards. They look as good as they taste! My husband brings them as gifts when he travels to Japan. I’d send you a link, but I don’t know if that is bad blogging manners (I’m not associated with the company). If you’re interested, you can google it.
February 11th, 2006 08:41
Wow. Your knowledge of chocolate is very impressive. :)
February 11th, 2006 18:22
That’s a lot of chocolate. I can never find such variety locally here in Texas. Any suggestions on somewhere I can get dark chocolate online that’s good? I think they list the cacao content, because it’s healthier the higher it is or something.
February 12th, 2006 06:43
Remeber when you tried Fazer’s mint chocolate about two months ago? And I was so impressed you were able to find a Finnish brand across the seas :) You know what - when I was in Hollywood the New Year’s, they had Fazer’s mint chocolate pralines on pillows at our hotel room :D Thank’s for stopping by, I think I’m back.
February 13th, 2006 02:03
I can’t read your posts when you talk about chocolate. It’s just not fair..all that lucious chocolate and me telling myself “no”
February 13th, 2006 11:30
hey jon, i am just wondering how you made out with that htaccess thing? i responded but did not hear back so I wondered if you got it solved. how ya doing?
February 13th, 2006 14:53
I’m glad I don’t eat as much chocolate as you…lol.