With Christmas just around the corner there are huge numbers limited edition and Christmas themed chocolates. Here are some we have tried – I’ll be updating this post throughout the month.
A round up of Hotel Chocolat’s Christmas offerings can be found here.
Ferrero Rocher
Ferrero Rocher has long been a Christmas favourite, I am slightly surprised that they were introduced only in 1982, I thought that they had been around for far longer. The original chocolate is the hazelnut encased in hazel nut cream, crunchy wafer then nut studded milk chocolate. Wrapped in gold foil and packed into plastic boxes – which I found very desirable and useful when I was a child.
Since the range has expanded to include the Rond Noir, a dark chocolate and almond version and the surprisingly good Raffaello – coconut cream and dessicated coconut. We tried them all with some wine pairings last year. Wikipedia tells me that there is also a Ferrero Garden range – including forest fruit, lemon and pistachio fillings – I am assuming sadly not available in the UK.
The 2013 Christmas range has a product for all pockets – £2.99 – £20. We love the make your own pyramid – 7 tiers and 60 chocolates for £20, stocking filler mini boxes containing 6 chocolates for £2.99, and the Raffaello keepsake tin for £8.99. For the traditionalists there are a number of selections in the classic boxes.
Available from a range of UK supermarkets and retailers including Tesco & Debenhams.
Booja Booja Truffles
Booja Booja make an astonishingly good range of truffles, and “ice cream” in Norfolk. The range is organic and vegan (some products are also soy free), making it perfect for presents for those with special diets or dietary choices. Their ice cream is absolutely amazing, made with a cashew base, rich, creamy and very very moreish. I’ve tried most of the flavours over the years and probably would not be able to pin down a favourite – oh for the freezer space to store all of them!
Again the entire truffle range is very good, in the past I have greatly enjoyed the raspberry, banoffee toffee and espresso. We were sent a box of the hazelnut truffles, the solid sleek understated elegant box contains 12 handmade cocoa powdered truffles, with a melt in the mouth centre containing hazelnut fragments, encased in a dark chocolate shell, not too sweet and a nicely bitter note of the dark chocolate. (£12.90 for 12, Available from Health Food Stores, Wholefoods, Waitrose and Ocado). Twitter @boojabooja
Original Beans
My love for bean to bar chocolate continues to grow the more I learn about it, and I am trying to convert all my friends. one of my favourites is Original Beans who make 4 very different bars. Their ethical credentials are second to none, each bar has a number so you can see where it comes from follow the company’s conversation works (they also plant a cacao tree for every bar sold). New to the range is this selection of 4 mini bars – a great way to get to know the company’s chocolate in a very affordable manner. Twitter @original_beans
Many thanks to all the brands mentioned above for samples. All images and opinions are my own. We were not required to write a positive review.
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