If
you've been reading this blog then you will know that I LOVE chocolate ! It is
my Achilles heel and if it’s in our house it rarely lasts long. If I’m not surreptitiously
devouring a morsel or three, it’s the rest of the household fighting over who
gets the last piece. Saving your last rolo for someone you love in our house is
a rare occurrence. It’s very much each for their own on the chocolate front !
We
lived in France for just short of 3 years and in that time I was able to sample
an eclectic mix of chocolate much of which was made for the discerning palate. Despite
the fact that I love a square or two of what the European’s term as “chocolate substitute”,
I do love a piece of dark cacao rich chocolate and I am pleased to say that my
2 girls have inherited a penchant for dark chocolate too. To see a 2 year old
devour with joy, a piece of 90% cocoa dark chocolate is a beautiful sight and
long may it continue.
So,
when the opportunity arose to sample some of the Christmas Chocolate Selection from
Hotel Chocolat, every sense in my body woke up and said “Me, me!”
I was kindly sent a box of Hotel Chocolat’s “The Signature Christmas Collection” and whilst I eagely awaited its arrival I popped back to their website to find out more about Hotel Chocolat and what they do.
As a
company, Hotel Chocolat cares greatly about where their cocoa comes from and they
care about the people who grow and harvest it too. They have taken Fair Trade
a step further by setting up their “Engaged Ethics” programme to create
sustainable cocoa growing communities. As they explain “It differs from most other 'trading fairly' programmes as it goes
beyond simply writing out a cheque and standing back (which is still a great
deal better than doing nothing!) It's a roll-up-the-sleeves, take risks,
long-term approach, which has led to a remarkable set of results so far.” You
can read more about their story, history and Engaged Ethics programme here.
As
well as being able to shop direct with Hotel Chocolat, they also have a tasting
club which intrigued me greatly. You can find out more about this on their
website but for now I will share with you what we thought of the Christmas
collection chocolates we were sent.
Beautifully
boxed, this Signature Christmas Selection has something for everyone. I chose
this box because it had a selection of white, milk and dark chocolates; some
with alcohol and others without. It meant that as a family we could all
indulge. And indulge we did ! I actually had to hide the box at one point as
Tink who is just about to turn 3 became just a touch too keen on my precious
chocolate selection. A box of maltesers this certainly is not and they were to
be savoured and appreciated not wolfed down in one go.
My
favourites were the Cranberry Cups, Hacienda lara Dark Salted Caramel 90% and the
Mulled Ports. Hubby loved the Christmas Mess (great name) and the Rum &
Raisin Truffles. The girls fought over the Cranberry Cup, Christmas Mess and
the White Caramel Pralines.
I
noticed that you can taste each and every flavour in every chocolate. The depth
and complexity of the flavours and how they blend together yet still remain
separate is clever indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the
chocolates I sampled and have to admit that we were all rather disappointed
when the box was empty.
With
Christmas almost here, I have decided to get the girls the Mingles and Jingles Bag filled with 55 white, milk and dark chocolates all in a drawstring bag which
looks like a Santa sack. I will also be purchasing a Festive Wreath to take to
my husband’s parents for lunch on Christmas Day.
Photo courtesy of Hotel Chocolat |
Hotel
Chocolat have a fabulous range of chocolates which I intend to come back to and
browse over time. I have been very impressed with what I have tried so far and
look forward to sampling what we have arriving for Christmas too.
If
you are keen to indulge yourself before Christmas then Hotel Chocolat are
taking orders right up until Monday 23 December and guarantee a Christmas delivery. If you’re looking for something a little bit different and like me
love your chocolate then Hotel Chocolat come highly recommended. They will definitely
be staying on my “must try” list for a while to come.
If
you wish to follow them via social media then they also have a Facebook page
and they are on Twitter.
Xx Merry Christmas everyone xX
Wishing you all a fabulous, festive time with those you
love
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We are linking this post up with the lovely Vicky Welton's #PoCoLo this week, the last one before Christmas. Some great posts shared so why not pop across for a read x
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We are linking this post up with the lovely Vicky Welton's #PoCoLo this week, the last one before Christmas. Some great posts shared so why not pop across for a read x
Disclaimer: We were sent a box of Hotel Chocolat's, The Signature Selection to try out for honest review. All opinions, thoughts and feelings are our own.
These look wonderful, I'm married to a choc-o-holic and Monkey seems to be going the same way. I do love dark chocolate myself #PocoLo
ReplyDeleteHi Mary - These choccies are divine :) I am very taken with them and love the company's ethos too. Well worth a peruse particularly if your OH is a choc-o-holic xx Lovely to have you pop by too xx
DeleteGreat review, they sound divine! :) #pocolo
ReplyDeleteThey really are delicious Lisa :) And for this Chocoholic a fabulous treat x
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