As I had said before in another post about gourmet chocolates, premium chocolates are totally different from the common ones found in most supermarkets. Premium ones are made from pure, natural ingredients, and the rich taste and smooth yet not waxy texture show it. Valrhona chocolate, famous for use in cakes, is definitely one of my favourite brands of chocolates.
It is not easy to find this brand of chocolates, so imagine my joy when I first spotted them in Emporium Shokuhin. Best of all, there are occasional discounts on specific types of chocolates, so I grabbed the ones on offer.
Andao has the richest chocolatey taste of the lot while Tanariva features the flavour of caramel, adding a hint of excitement to the taste. And amazingly, no caramel is added to Tanariva, the flavour comes from the cocoa itself. Yes, quality chocolates are like wines, they have their own characteristic bouquet and flavour. Ivoire has my nod of approval due to strong flavour of cocoa butter and the addition of raspberries to give that extra kick and crunchiness to the chocolate. Guanaja is elegant and intense in taste. I also like Manjari a lot due to its fruity taste.
For best appreciation of the chocolates, savour it at room temperature, or at least, not straight out from the fridge.
Country of Origin: France
Where to buy: Emporium Shokuhin (This grocer is currently not in operation)
