Inspired by a recent series of posts at Some Say Cacao, I thought it might be fun to have a chocolate tasting. And as I can only buy my chocolate from our friends Peter and Lisa Lee at Colefax Chocolates (loyalty must always override curiosity), it’s fortunate that they produce such an interesting range of origin chocolate bars. I bought just three on this occasion, but they have over a dozen on offer, including certified organic and fairtrade varieties.
Even though I’m very much a dark chocolate fan, I was completely smitten with this milk block from Venezuela. At 43% cacao, it’s the darkest I’ve ever tried, and very moreish as a consequence. It’s not overly sweet, with delicious caramel overtones and a wonderfully rich mouthfeel. It was gone by the end of the evening…
The 64% cacao dark chocolate from Peru was also delicious, dark and slightly bitter, but with quite a sweet finish. It had a slight woodiness which I found particularly appealing, reminiscent of the cigar box/cedar aromas often found in red wines.
Naturally, we couldn’t try all these interesting chocolates without inviting the neighbours around, and the result was a most enjoyable afternoon of friends wandering over for a bit of chocolate and a cup of tea. Most of them really liked this 70% block from Sao Thome – a deliciously mellow dark bar of subtle flavours and sweetness, without being overly bitter.
Chocolate tasting on a lazy Saturday afternoon – how sweet life can be sometimes!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Thank you for liking milk chocolate! I love it. I mean, I like dark chocolate. But it’s such a foodie cliche to value it over other chocolates. Sure, dark is great. Especially after dinner. But milk chocolate? Fantastic. A treat anytime.
Hi Mark,
I have to confess to being a bit of a chocolate snob, but by quality rather than type. I love all sorts of chocolate, providing they’re really good quality – I won’t eat crappy chocolate just to get a fix. And I probably do love dark chocolate the most, though maybe it’s just that I feel less guilty eating it (because everyone keeps telling me it’s good for me). :)
But there are some amazing milk chocolates out there – Colefax also do a bar of origin chocolate from Java, which is sublime. And whilst I don’t eat much white chocolate straight, I do use it a lot in baking – Big Boy’s favourite cake is the Belgian white chocolate bundt cake – which I also occasionally make with caramelised white chocolate!
Sigh…chocolate, chocolate, chocolate…now I need to go and have a piece.. :)
Cheers, Celia
Oh dear – I was resisting temptation so well till I saw this. Thanks – I think.
Pete V
Oh you are so lucky Celia. I love the wrappers on the chocolate: tasting notes right up-front showing off that cacao has it’s own flavour! Go Colefax!
I know, Gillian, isn’t it cool? But it made everything so tempting, it was hard to choose just three! :)
I find myself having transitioned in the last few years to good quality…even dark chocolate. My husband not though. I think the best chocolate I’ve had was cardamom flavoured dark chocolate from Bruno’s in Paris last February!
Celia…lots and lots and lots of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Oooh, cardamom flavoured – I’ve never heard of that combination!
What a lovely idea – I might just borrow it and do something similar some day. I’m always full of grand plans and then never quite seem to find the time / space to do things in. I love the look and sound of the 43% milk chocolate. Dark milk chocolate that isn’t too sweet is my favourite and this one sounds particularly good. I’m also a fan of cardamom milk chocolate and rose milk chocolate when I can get them.
Another fan of the cardamom chocolate! I must track some down, or failing that, try and make some.. :)
The 43% milk is simply wonderful, rich, full flavoured, but still lovely and milk sweet!
Ahh I really like Colefax chocolates. Reg Lee (Peter’s father) is a real sweetie and he really knows his stuff! :)
Oh the distinguished, charming, elderly gent? :D
Hehehe…he’s going to smack me when he hears I’ve been calling him “elderly”… :)
Oh my! Another corner of this fabulous website that is going to make me gain weight from just reading the words..!
I adore Milk Chocolate and would have to be forced to indulge in most Dark chocolates…(something about the way milk chocolate just melts in your mouth with the creaminess and smoothness of a bit of heaven..)..But the DOLFIN company has a way of adding such delectable light flavors to both dark and milk chocolates you can’t even note the difference as it is so subtle…
AS to cardamom in chocolate it is divine but another absolutely delectable flavor is EARL GREY…Pink Peppercorn is interesting as is Cinnamon…(I purchased a whole slew of mini squares of Belgian chocolate for the store I managed…Customers were in love with the flavours…) Check out the link here:
http://worldwidechocolate.com/shop_dolfin.html
Thanks for the link, Leslie! Earl Grey in milk chocolate sounds like a divine combination! The big one lately has been rosemary in dark chocolate – not sure I’m convinced about that one… ;-)
I’ve seen the Dolfin chocolates for sale at high end department stores. Never tried them before, will look out for them next time…