Anthon Berg Dark Chocolate

Anthon Berg is a Danish chocolate brand with a history of over 125 years, having been established in 1884. Berg was a green grocer from Copanhagen, who started making chocolates at his shop, and soon grew to be popular in town, thanks to his persistence to quality and perfection. Their website fondly remembers their founder as a generous man, who would often dole out free chocolates to his customers standing in long to keep up their spirits. The demand for chocolates grew exponentially post WWII, thus increasing Berg's business. His son, Gustav, took over the business eventually and took the company to newer heights. Among the highlights is that the brand is appointed by the Danish court as purveyors.

The Danish brand has grown to be popular over the century, thanks to their various offerings, especially, their liqueur chocolates. Anthon Berg miniature dark chocolate bottles (min. 55% cocoa) are filled with some of the world’s most prestigious spirit brands. Rémy Martin, Cointreau, Grand Marnier and other favourites are some available variants, and each is individually wrapped in foil representative of the liqueur brand’s bottle.

It's such a pity that liqueur chocolates are not sold in Mumbai, and I have to depend on some visiting firang relatives to indulge in some. Anyhow, what I did get what a bar of plain dark chocolate from The Cocoa Trees in Mumbai.

Sadly, the dark chocolate (57% cocoa solids) did not live up to my expectation. It has a rather flat flavour and it isn't great on texture either. With some fat bloom on my bar, it also lost out on points for appearance. The bar looks so much shinier on the pack. Sigh. I would recommend it more for cooking than eating, priced feasibly as it is priced at INR 370 for a 200g bar.

RATING: 2.5/5

Ghirardelli Dark & Orange

While I remain a purist and love my chocolate plain, orange chocolate is beginning to find some favour with me. And if the brand in question is a gourmet chocolate brand, orange chocolate seems particularly appealing. My first brush with Ghirardelli - Gourmet Milk - Coconut Rendezvous wasn't a great one, but one cannot help but give a reputed chocolate brand a second chance.

When the husband salvaged a few pieces from the American colleague stash and brought them home, I was more than happy to click it, eat it and review it. The Ghirardelli Dark & Orange chocolate was definitely better than their milk chocolate offering, but still did not manage to impress.

The chocolate scored again on a beautiful, rich aroma and fine, smooth texture, but fails again in the taste aspect. Instead of the usual orange-flavoured chocolate, the Ghirardelli Dark & Orange comes with a nice gooey centre filling. However, the taste of this orange filling isn't intense enough, and leaves you wanting. What I expect from orange or orange peel chocolates is a strong citrus flavour with just about enough tang that is countered and complemented by the sweetness of the chocolate. Ghirardelli failed me again on flavour, despite its impeccable quality of chocolate. Definitely not worth the almost 500 rupees you would have to shell out for a 100g bar.


RATING: 3/5

Volume Hazelnut and Almond Milk Chocolates

Volume Chocolate comes from the house of Cagla Cikolata, a Turkish chocolate-manufacturing company, established in 1992. I've reviewed another one of their seen-often-on-the-shelf brands, Truffino before and after tasting this one, I'm convinced of the substandard fare made by the company.

What the company seems to get right is the packaging. Just like the Truffino truffles, the slim Volume Chocolate bars come in very attractive packaging. Strangely enough, none of their wrappers overtly mention the company name. However, with their lovely packs designed in royal blues and purples, they are rather inviting. I picked up the two available varieties, Hazelnut and Almond Milk Chocolates.

But the moment I saw the 100% chocolate sign, I suspected it wasn't. My suspicions were confirmed when I tasted it. The chocolate was flaky and excessively sweet with a sprinkling of nuts. It was hard to tell the almond from the hazelnut, and both tasted similar. The taste of cocoa was rather weak too... certainly not what '100%' chocolate tastes like.

Sized like a Kit Kat finger, but longer, these Volume Chocolates cost a ridiculous INR 40 apiece (40 g) and definitely not worth the price. Give these average chocolates a miss. Most of our desi chocolates are much better.


RATING: 2/5

Selection Carrefour Pépites De Poire - Noir

Carrefour is a French supermarket chain, and one of the world's largest after Walmart and Tesco. It has a global presence with small and big format stores in metro and tier two cities across the world, including India. In India, there are Carrefour Cash n Carry Stores in Delhi, Jairpur, Meerut, Agra and one is to open in Bangalore soon. The company was founded in 1958, but they started manufacturing their private label of free products (produits libres) like oil, biscuits, crackers, etc. in 1976

This dark chocolate with pear 'nuggets' - Pépites s De Poire Noir - is one of the products from Carrefour's private label for foodstuff. And it came to me as a Christmas gift! For a brand this big, I was surprised I had never heard of it before. I was absolutely charmed by the package design and OMG, the smell! Few chocolates I've had have such a powerfully rich scent.

The texture is smooth and its abundant cocoa butter makes it melt in the mouth oh-so-easily. In addition to the bits of pear, the chocolate also has caramelised almond pieces, which make for a delightful combination. The bar contains 64% cocoa, which is what I like to call the 'enjoyable' range. (Anyone professing love for 90% cocoa chocolate is just a snooty liar.) The bar could have been a little less sweet, but I love it and recommend it all the same. This 100g bar costs around INR 200 and is among the better dark chocolate options around.

RATING: 3.5/5

Snickers Dark and Almond bars

Spotting imported varieties of regular chocolates is a little like stumbling upon a treasure for me. The other day I saw these two babies, and I was doubly excited. I adore dark chocolate and I've recently discovered that I also love roasted almonds in my chocolate. I was looking forward to the twists in the much loved Original Snickers product.

Because I saw and bought them together, I decided to do a joint review. So yeah, unless you live in a metro, you are not likely to find them in India. These lovely varieties are imported and are stocked by the snootier supermarkets and I get to have them. (#fuckyeahbitches!)

But seriously, the Snickers Almond is quite epic. IMHO, it is much better than the peanut snickers and I didn't think that was possible. But the Snickers Dark was a disappointment. The Dark variety is just regular Snickers with dark chocolate, but the peanut-nougat-caramel combination is so overpowering, that the dark chocolate doesn't come through. It's a good product by itself, but doesn't offer a dark chocolate love much. The Almond variety, on the other hand, is milk chocolate yet distinctly different because of the whole nuts.

If you're looking for variety, Snickers Almond is a much better bet. The Dark bar, which costs INR 110 for 51.9g (the Almond bar is similarly priced) isn't worth it.


Snickers Dark RATING: 3/5
Snickers Almond RATING: 4.5/5

Cadbury Twirl

So, it's a Cadbury Christmas! One can't help but keep coming back to this brand, simply because they have such a vast variety. I've reviewed a number of Cadbury products on Chocosophy, including cookies and chocolates, and the line-up still seems unending. This time, it's the Twirl, a product quite similar to the Flake.

However, unlike the Flake, Twirl has a solid/smooth layer of milk chocolate on the outside, which makes it a sturdier product. The Flake, while lovely, isn't a very popular product, because it is very fragile. The Twirl is an improvement as it gives the consumer that lovely, flaky taste experience without it crumbling into pieces all over the place.

The Twirl comes in the popular 2-finger format, which makes it easy to share/store. The milk chocolate is rather ordinary - like most Cadbury products are - and has the brand's trademark sweet taste. What makes it different are the flakes that melt in one's mouth.

A 43g pack with two fingers costs INR 60, simply because it is an imported product. Milk chocolate and Cadbury lovers will like it but it certainly isn't unmissable.

RATING: 3/5

Heidi Dark Espresso

There's a reason why Swiss chocolates are considered among the best in the world. Brands like Heidi uphold the legacy of quality and variety and delight consumers year after year. However, the Swiss brand has changed hands recently, and was formally taken over by the Romanian company, Kex Confectionery SA in April 2013. One can only hope that Heidi retains the reputation it has built over the years.  And going by this chocolate bar, nothing has changed.

I was fairly impressed the first time I ate and reviewed a bar of Heidi chocolate. It was a Heidi Grand 'Or Milk chocolate with Almond Florentine and I remember being amazed at the innovative combination. So when a friend gifted me another one from the house of Heidi, I was like this ---->  :D

The Heidi Dark Espresso is one delightful coffee-chocolate and I know because I've tried quite a few of those. I think I am partial to caffeine's kick as far as flavoured chocolates go. On opening, the bar smells rich with the distinctive aroma of coffee. The slim bar snaps cleanly and easily into convenient sized squares. The rosette inscribed chocolate pieces melt beautifully in the mouth, releasing dense cocoa and coffee flavours. My only grouse against this are the tiny coffee nibs in the chocolate... not too fond of them. But for those who love a little texture in their chocolate, the Heidi Dark Espresso will be a delight.

This 100gm bar will cost you approx. INR 200 and it will be well worth it. It'll also make for a good last minute Christmas present if you haven't bought anything yet!

RATING: 4/5

Nestle Nescau - Chocolate Energy Biscuits

What is it about the imported variety of Nestle biscuits that is so... weird? I remember hating Bono just as much. Nestle's Nescau comes all the way from Sao Paulo, Brazil and is apparently a variation of energy biscuits. Energia Que Da Gosto in Portuguese roughly translates to 'Taste that energy'. Although, the biscuits seem to have no glucose or any special component that might give the said energy.

The wheat flour, though, is fortified with iron and folic acid, and there are other regular ingredients like sugar, cocoa, vegetable oil, flavouring, milk powder, etc. I fail to see how such commonplace components can create such hideous flavours. The biscuit isn't tastleless, it is positively cardboard-y.

The cream is not rough with a sugary, crude taste. The taste of chocolate is weak, if anything. Reminds me of the cheapest kind of chocolates sold at local groceries here. You definitely shouldn't be paying INR 50 for a 140 g pack, however enticing the packaging may look. I know it has a superhero appeal, but the taste is anything but super.


RATING: 1/5

Choco Ch Swiss Dark Chocolate

All that glitters is not gold, and all chocolates that are Swiss aren't super. In fact, Choco Ch might even be giving Swiss chocolate a bad name. From what I can gather from their poorly populated website, Choco Ch or Choco Diffusion SA  seems to be a small Swiss company that manufactures and markets a smallish range of chocolate products and confectioneries. While it is unfair to write off a company/brand based on one product, I'm very tempted to believe that Choco Diffusion SA's products are sad.

When my friend gave me this bar to try and review, I was excited because SWISS CHOCOLATE! But now I know that even Switzerland is capable of producing crappy chocolates. The only thing half decent about this chocolate is its packaging.

The dark chocolate bar, as you see, is dry to look at and touch. It doesn't melt easily in the mouth, which means there isn't enough cocoa butter in the product. It also has an awful chemical taste, the kind that excessive artificial sweeteners have. However, this isn't a sugar-free product, and there's no reason why you should endure it.

So children, the lesson of the day is, if someone gives you a bar of Choco Ch Swiss Dark Chocolate, duck.

RATING: 1.5/5

Lux Truffe Truffino

This one's come all the way from Turkey. Lux Truffe by Truffino is made by a Turkish company called Cagla Cikolata. Established in 1992 as a one-factory unit, Cagla Cikolata has grown to be one of the largest confectionery manufacturing companies in the region. It exports products to several nations in the world, and in India, they are imported by KK Importers in Navi Mumbai.

But imported doesn't necessarily mean good. Calling something limited edition doesn't mean it's good either. These here are extremely average truffles and we certainly make better chocolates in India. For example, the Alpino truffles by Nestle are better, although I don't like them much.

As you can see in the picture, the real deal isn't anything like the one on the packaging - the outer layer has no beautiful texture. The chocolate creme inside is decent and there's a whole hazelnut in the centre. But the taste experience is underwhelming and as always, I find the milk chocolate too sweet. If it is truffles you want, there's nothing to beat Ferrero Rochers for an everyday treat.

This box is priced at INR 60 and has just three individually-packed truffles, which is 20 bucks apiece and it's definitely not worth it.

RATING: 2.5/5

Milka Noisette

Established in 1826 by Philippe Suchard, Milka is one of the oldest Swiss chocolate brands in the world. The brand name Milka was trademarked as early as 1901 and it has been derived from the German words 'Milch' (milk) and 'Cacao' (cocoa). Some suggest that the brand name was Suchard's tribute to a famous soprano of those times, called Milka Ternina.

The brand changed many hands over the years, and was finally bought over by Kraft Foods, now Mondelez International in October 2012. Today, the brand famous for its trademark purple packaging, the purple cow mascot and quality products has a global presence. Especially so now, since I could buy it off the supermarket's shelf in Mumbai.

Despite my sworn dislike for milk chocolate, I will say one thing. This is the best milk chocolate I've ever had. The Milka Noisette (hazelnut) Milk Chocolate is a very rich-tasting chocolate with a beautifully dense texture. It's smooth as silk and melts in your mouth releasing the sturdy flavour of hazelnut. It's as sweet as any other milk chocolate, but I didn't mind that for the first time. Hell, I love it and if I had to pick one milk chocolate among the many I've ever had, it would be this one.

At INR 160 for 100g, it's not very expensive either and it has Chocosophy's love!


RATING: 4.5/5

Royce store @ Palladium, Mumbai

Here's the deal about Royce chocolates in two words - effin overrated!

Back in July 2013 when the store first opened at the Palladium mall in Mumbai, there was so much media hype around it, one thought Royce was THE best brand of chocolate in the world. Article after article gushed about the exotic nature of the products until one wondered if one was really missing out on something extraordinary. I finally found the time to check out the Royce outlet last month.

The Mumbai shop, the 12th outpost of this Hokkaido-based brand, has opened under the aegis of Burgundy Hospitality, a new company founded by entrepreneurs Avani Raheja and Samir Gandhok. Tucked away on the ground level of the main hall, the Royce 'store' is really a large counter. However, it is brightly lit and tastefully decorated.

Almost entirely done in wood with red accents, the store is a warm little place. Product pictures line one wall, and boxes and display cases populate other areas. However, when I visited, there was very little stock and hence the products on display were few.

One of the interesting things that caught my eye on the main counter was this 'Chocolate Education Set'. It had real cocoa bean samples and a variety of pictures on the process of chocolate production in it, but the text was in Japanese. :-/ So yeah, interesting and quite useless.

Coming to products, I was most keen on trying the chocolate-coated potato chips, which is perhaps the most novel product of Royce's range. However, it was out of stock. So I turned my attention to Nama Chocolate - another extremely hyped product.

I did not, could not bring myself to buy a mere box of 195g for an eyewatering INR 995, but I did sample a teeniest bit of the chocolate at the store. And no, I wasn't impressed. The chocolate is subtle and has a pleasant texture, but it wasn't good enough for me to shell out those many bucks. Nope, Royce doesn't quite cut it for me.

  

Fazer Angry Birds Chocolates @ The Cocoa Trees

Singapore based brand, The Cocoa Trees has recently introduced internationally renowned Fazer Angry Birds Chocolates first time in India to its vast range of chocolates for its Indian audience. The Angry birds and the pigs have now turned into sweets, lollipops and chewing gums.
The Cocoa Trees have launched Fazer Angry Bird Sweets, Lollipops, Chocolate Eggs and Chewing gums into the market.

The Cocoa Trees have launched Fazer Angry Bird Sweets, Lollipops, Chocolate Eggs and Chewing gums into the market.

• Angry Bird Lollipop: Super popular Fazer Angry Birds have now wrapped themselves in lollipop costumes. The three fruity flavoured, groovy looking lollipops have a sudden surprise hidden inside. The Angry Bird Lollipops are available in three flavours strawberry, pear and cola. Available at Rs.290 for 120gm.
• Angry Bird Chewing Gum: The super popular Fazer Angry Birds are now also chewing gums! Tooth-friendly chewing gums come in four flavours, summer, strawberry and cool, refreshing eucalyptus. Available at Rs.495 for 70 gm. 
• Angry Bird Chocolate Eggs: Fazer Angry Birds Surprise Eggs are really big milk chocolate eggs with surprises in every chocolate egg. Available at Rs. 795 for 100 gm.
• Angry Bird Candy Bags: Fazer Angry Bird Candy Bags contains 5 unique characters and shapes, from strawberry Red Bird, to the crunchy and chewy caramel eggs. The colourful and tangy birds taste like familiar strawberry, spiky lime, delightful orange, wild berries, and punchy cola with a fresh lemon filling. Available at Rs. 190 for 120 gm.

Fazer Angry Bird Collection is now available at all The Cocoa Trees outlets, two stores in Mumbai and one at Mumbai airport, three in Pune, one in Delhi T3 domestic airport and Goa.

Valor Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa

I love dark chocolate, but I usually draw the line at 70% and am not among those chocolate snobs who pretend to enjoy 98% cacao in their bar. I find it way too bitter and much prefer a 60-70% concentration. Always on the lookout for new brands to try, I picked up this bar of 70% dark chocolate by Spanish chocolate brand, Valor, literally meaning value. The brand aims at to offer... ahem... 'adult pleasure' through its chocolates.

Established in 1881 by one Don Valeriano López Lloret on the small scale, the business was formalised in 1916 and there on, Valor steadily grew in size and the variety offered to their patrons. The company celebrated 125 years in 2006 and through their franchise model, have taken business to a new level. Their current range of products include chocolate bars, chocolate bonbons, hot chocolate, bakery products and gourmet chocolate.

The 70% dark chocolate bars are something of a specialty and is available in different flavours like mint, toffee, pear, banana, coffee, orange, etc. However, I picked the plain dark chocolate as a first preference and a measure of the true taste of the chocolate. The chocolate isn't too smooth, but that's something I think is true of all chocolates with a cocoa concentration of 70% and more. It has a fair taste, but not much aroma and will probably taste well when paired with other things. It is a no frills chocolate and easily passable. However, I'd love to try some of their unconventional flavours like Banana Dark Chocolate.


RATING: 2.5/5

Droste Holland Almond Milk Chocolate XXL Pastille

With a heritage of over 150 years, Droste is one of the better known names in the world of chocolate and confectionery. I first came across it at The Cocoa Trees, a multi-brand specialty chocolate store in Mumbai. However, a good friend and colleague brought me this to sample and review for Chocosophy.

Droste was founded by Gerardus Johannes Droste in 1863 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The company prominently sold drinking chocolate in the beginning and its ads with a lady holding a Droste pack and a mug on a tray become very popular. The ad shows the Droste pack with the same image as the ad, creative a visual recursive effect. This effect was named the Droste effect after this company and its iconic ads.

Over the years, the brand changed many hands and is currently owned by German company, Hosta. However, it continues to operate as an independent business unit ans retains the famous brand name. Droste's products can be found in over 60 countries. One of its most famous products is the Pastille. A pastille or troche is a type of sweet (or medicinal pill) made of a thick liquid that has been solidified and is meant to be consumed by light chewing and allowing it to dissolve in the mouth. In this context, it means a round centre-filled chocolate, usually sectioned into four quarters.

The Droste Holland Almond Milk Chocolate XXL Pastille weighs about 50 g, and costs INR 125 per piece. As you see in the picture, it doesn't have much of a 'filling', but has abundant almonds. The milk chocolate, with 34% cocoa, is smooth but much too sweet and of a rather mediocre flavour. It is quite forgettable and I'd even go as far as to say our Indian Cadbury chocolates fare better if sweet, milky chocolate is what you want. This one's an easy miss.

RATING: 2/5