Sofit Soya Milk - Chocolate

In my constant and futile bid to find 'healthy' chocolate, I sometimes buy things like the Sofit Chocolate Soya Milk. And halfway through my first glass, I always reach the conclusion that soy milk is sad indeed and my heart goes out to the lactose intolerant amongst us. However, the chocolate flavour seems to have become better of late or my taste buds are dying.

The change in taste may have something to do with the brand changing hands. Previously a Godrej brand, Sofit has been recently acquired by chocolate giant, Hershey's (India). In fact, Hershey's seems to have taken over two more brands most of us 80s/90s kids will be nostalgic about, viz. Jumpin and Nutrine Maha Lacto. Add to that the world-famous Hershey's syrups.

Coming back to Sofit, it's not all that bad when served chilled, but it cannot compare with good old fashioned chocolate milk. But it has loads of nutrients and health benefits, thanks to no zero cholesterol. It has very little fat too, but one ought to watch out for the sugar, of which there are copious amounts.

Sofit comes in four other flavours, including Natural, Mango, Vanilla and Kesar-Pista, which are available in 200 ml and 1 lt Tetra packs. The 1 lt. pack costs INR 95 and has a shelf life of nine months.

It's a good option if you are lactose intolerant or are just trying to make somewhat healthier food choices.

RATING: 3/5

Clif Energy bar - Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

I'm not a fan of cereal bars, with the exception of Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars, but I couldn't resist the absolutely beautiful package design of this product. Besides, who can say nay when words like chocolate chip and peanut are floating before their eyes? So I picked up this Clif Energy bar from my trusty supermarket, Ratna Stores at Maitri Park, Chembur. These bars came all the way to Chembur from the US of A, where Clif Bar & Company make a host of organic health foods.

The company was set up by Gary Erickson in 1992 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California. Erickson got the idea of the flagship product, a basic health bar, in 1990 during a day-long bike ride. Back in those days, there were hardly any good energy bars and Erickson decided to make his own, starting his experiments in his mom's kitchen. Happy with his formula, he set up the company and named it Clif after his father, Clifford. The rock climber illustration, which is used to this day, was made by his friend, Doug Gilmore, on a napkin over dinner in San Francisco. Wikipedia cites, "in the the first year itself, sales of CLIF Bar exceeded $700,000, fueled primarily by strong sales in bike shops and the growth of the healthy and natural foods movement."

Today, the brand is highly popular not just for its products but also its CSR activities and commitment to organic foods. Clif Bar & Company produces a hot of products today, including nutrition bars for kids, protein bars for body builders, granola bars, fruit & nut bars and special bars for women. The Clif Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch Energy Bar is one among their popular categories.

The bar comprises organic brown rice syrup, soy protein isolate, rice flour, barley malt extract, organic rolled oats, organic peanut butter, chocolate chips, cocoa butter and peanuts among other things. The taste of peanut/peanut butter comes through, but the barely-there chocolate chips don't do anything for the bar. The consistency is sticky-soft and the taste is moderately sweet. However, it isn't tasty (as is the case with all healthy foods), and has that unmistakable cardboard-like flavour that raw oats tend to have. Don't ask me when I ate cardboard.

But the taste wasn't the only turn off. Price at an eye-watering INR 210, the 68g bar is hardly affordable for everyday consumption. I would have liked to try their double chocolate bar, but I think it's way too expensive.

RATING: 2.5/5

Chocosophy news: Healthy chocolate, Barry Callebaut Academy, Cadbury picnic table

Indian-origin Brit creates world's first 'healthy' chocolate

Indian-origin math graduate has created the world's first 'healthy' chocolate that has a negligible 20 calories per piece. Combining his love of chocolate and his background in math, 25-year-old Aneesh Popat created these chocolates using flavoured water and cocoa. His chocolates do not have the sinful ingredients like cocoa butter, cream, gelatin and eggs. Popat's creations are already being supplied to Michelin-star restaurants and are expected to grow in popularity, especially among health-conscious chocoholics. I want some of these despite that corny punchline that follows the brand name - The Chocolatier : A niche by Aneesh. :/

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Barry Callebaut opens chocolate academy in South America

Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, opened its first Chocolate Academy™ center in South America, the 15th center worldwide. Located at Paulista Avenue in São Paulo, the Chocolate Academy™ center is a state-of-the-art teaching and training facility for culinary professionals at all levels interested in strengthening their skills in working with chocolate and learning about new techniques, trends and recipes dedicated to the Brazilian market.

The center’s offerings include a wide range of training courses and demonstrations for customers in all sectors: chocolatiers, chefs, pastry, bakery and other chocolate experts as well as culinary professionals working in hotels, restaurants and the catering business.

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Cadbury creates life-size chocolate picnic table in London

Trust Cadbury to come up with the most creative ideas for marketing. To mark National Picnic Week (June 17-23) in the UK, Cadbury made and placed a 60 kg edible chocolate picnic bench at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire. The bench could support a family of four and was created using 400 Picnic bars, almost 64 kg of Dairy Milk, peanuts and puffed rice. The bench was covered in glaze to protect it from the elements.

Gold Standard Extreme Milk Chocolate Whey Protein

Page after web page has been written about the quality and performance of Gold Standard Whey Proteins, and I am a noob as far as fitness nutrition goes. But I feel compelled to write this review simply because of the chocolate angle.

I've been working out religiously for over a year now and I much prefer weight training to cardio (actually, I hate cardio). And since my trainer could not get me to do cardio or diet with any seriousness, he gently pushed me towards the path of protein supplements. I was very skeptical like all beginners, wondering if the supplements would bulk me up. But my trainer assured me that all it would do is build muscle quickly, thus helping me raise my metabolism and burn fat. There was also the question of price; I didn't feel very comfortable investing 6K on something I wasn't very sure about. 

Gold Standard is a product of American company, Optimum Nutrition Inc. (better known as ON), which, in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glanbia - a leading international cheese and nutritional ingredients group. After reading up a little about it online, I bought a 5 kg jar of Gold Standard Extreme Milk Chocolate Whey Protein, wanting to see what the fuss was all about. The world's best-selling whey couldn't be bad, eh?

I picked the Extreme Milk Chocolate flavour as the safest bet, not knowing what to expect of a protein supplement. But Gold Standard has more than 24 flavours, including unconventional ones like rocky road, root beer float, vanilla chai, and eggnog, besides many fruity flavours. There are variations in chocolate, like chocolate creme, chocolate malt, chocolate mint, double rich chocolate, and mocha cappuccino.

The powder is of a fine flour-like consistency, and the jar has a measuring scoop to help you define portions. A heaped scoop is about 30 g and considered the ideal portion size, especially after a heavy workout. One can have it either with water or milk (preferably low-fat); I've been told to have with with water to minimise fat intake. The powder mixes easily with both water or milk, provided you use a shaker. The label on the jar says it can be mixed well with a spoon too, but I've found it rather difficult.

When mixed only with water, the concoction looks dark brown and is thick, chocolaty, and rather sweet. It definitely tastes better with milk, like a chocolate milk shake would. It is a little creamy and is much more palatable than the water solution. However, one gets used to the water mix as well, due to the overall good taste of the product. From what I read on the Internet, I should find it difficult to appreciate other cheaper brands because I've started with what most call the best in the market. I reckon it is.


RATING 4/5