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

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

Divine Crush from Mad Over Donuts

Inspired by the worldwide trend, Mad Over Donuts, introduces the Divine Crush Donut! Dipped in milk chocolate and topped with Gems candy, it’s a crush that will play on your mind all day long.

Divine Crush Donuts are sure to get you addicted! Sink your teeth into this divine goodness, as you experience this exciting new donut flavor; in stores for limited time only.

So head to your nearest Mad Over Donuts to turn your candy obsession into a real-life sugar rush!

Price: INR 55 per donut
Available for a limited period only
Available across all Mad Over Donuts stores in the country except airport kiosks.

Website: www.madoverdonuts.com

Theana's Little Den

Take a little gander through Facebook and you come across scores of chocolatiers. Their pages are colourful places where they are either sharing pictures of their latest creations, taking orders, sharing recipes or simply their love for chocolate. This growing community is passionate and is trying in its own little way to add to this sweet industry. I came across one such, called Theana's Little Den, and was charmed by its cute logo and earnestness.

Theana's Little Den is a home-based chocolatier, who believe in 'creativity, uniqueness and surprises'. They offer a wide range of chocolate bouquets and make customised chocolates and cakes. I think the alphabet chocolate squares are particularly cute and will make great gifts for little ones. Also, look at the diaper cake, will ya? :D

Their other offerings include chocolate-dipped marshmallows, muffin bouquets, cupcake bouquets, wafer/chocolate/food bouquets, cold-drink can cakes and all kinds of assorted chocolates. What's more? This all-in-one chocolatier also makes Indian sweets like kaju katlis, barfis, and gulabjamuns!

This Mumbai-based chocolatier can be reached on theanaslittleden@gmail.com or 022-23812766/ 9820149913

Cadbury Oreo Choco Crème

I'm back with another review of 'The World's No. 1 (overrated) Biscuit'; this time, it's the Oreo Choco Crème. I've tasted all varieties of Oreo, including Vanilla cream, Strawberry cream, Blueberry cream and Oreo Double Delight, which I have reviewed on Chocosophy, and I maintain there are better products out there. The Oreo Choco Crème is just another ho-hum variation from Cadbury's (now Mondelez International) Oreo stables.  

This classic sandwich biscuit comes with two thin dark chocolate biscuits with a layer of chocolate cream in between. The chocolate cream is lame with little flavour and all one gets in their mouth is a load of sugary goo. The cookie seems to have more chocolate than the cream! You do not want to twist-lick-dunk this shit, especially the lick part.

What is good news, though, is that Oreo in India has arrived at a very competitive pricing point with a 150g pack (including the 30g Free) costing only INR 30. I think this makes it cheaper than or at par with most other Indian products. So you won't be spending much and still be indulging in a fancy schmancy brand, if you so wish. I, for one, give it a thumbs down.


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

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Rich Chocolate collection

I reckon models make themselves happy by looking and sniffing this sort of chocolate. Poor things. But hey, anything chocolate works for me. So here's presenting the Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Rich Chocolate collection.

Reminiscent of your favorite decadent chocolate bar, this fall’s must-have palette offers a range of beautiful brown tones in an array of textures and finishes – from matte to soft shimmer to sparkle. These shadows are designed to be worn alone or layered for a smoldering look. Plus, the palette includes a Dual Ended Eye Shadow, Eye Liner Brush and mirror for easy, on-the-go application.




Shades: Bone Eye Shadow, Cocoa Eye Shadow, Stone Eye Shadow, Frappe Eye Shadow, Champagne Truffle Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Caramel Sparkle Eye Shadow, Rich Chocolate Eye Shadow

Price: INR 2940 /-

Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Choco Meltz

I'll have to admit that I'm quite partial to the ITC Sunfeast's Dark Fantasy brand. While their other food products have fared an average, they've cracked it with Dark Fantasy. I've reviewed their Chocolate Cream biscuits and centre-filled cookies, Choco Fills, before, and I've bought them over and over. They recently launched a variation of Choco Fills called Choco Meltz and it immediately went into my shopping cart.

Basically, Choco Meltz are a richer version of Choco Fills, because these cookies have chocolate not just on the inside, but outside as well. It might be one of the first indigenous product, inspired by the famous Tim Tam format. Tim Tams are chocolate-coated cookies that relatives from the US/UK brought you during their annual visits. But Tim Tams are now easily available here too. More about that later.

Choco Meltz basically are the chocolatiest biscuits there can be and are quite awesome. And here's what you do to make them awesome-er. Dunk them in hot chai or coffee to let the top layer of chocolate melt a little and go mmm...But frankly, it's a little overwhelming. As a product concept, I think I prefer Choco Fills to Choco Meltz, because the former has a crisp cookie shell that complements the filling. In the case of Choco Meltz, the outer coating of the chocolate dominates, and the inside filling is kinda lost. But hey, no one died of an occasional chocolate overdose, right?

A 120g pack costs INR 60 and has 6-7 individually packed cookies. Try it, I say.


RATING: 3.5/5

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.

  

El Almendro Turron Almond Crocanti with Chocolate

The website for El Almendro doesn't work, but from what I gauge from the box and their inactive Facebook page, it is a very old Spanish company, having been established in 1883.Their products are apparently exported to a number of countries, judging by the number of languages of information there are on the packaging. The brand El Almendro seems to sell many versions of the Spanish tourron. Turron is basically a nougat confection typically made of honey, sugar, egg white and almonds or other nuts. Spanish tourrons come in hard and soft varieties. The soft variety has oil in it, which makes it stickier.

The El Almendro Turron Almond Crocanti with Chocolate is one of their many variants. The Spanish word 'Crocanti' roughly translates to 'crisp' in English. This 'crispy' bar has almonds and nougat on one side and a layer of milk chocolate on the other. However, the chocolate does nothing for the product because the taste of nougat and whole almonds is so dominant. I also am not a fan of the sticky texture of nougat, so this combination didn't work for me at all.

In India, El Almendro products are imported and marketed by Mumbai-based Tree of Life Pvt. Ltd. This 75g bar costs INR 160 and may be found in specialty confectionery stores in and around Mumbai. It isn't anywhere on my preference list, but nougat fans might enjoy it.

RATING: 2/5