As Lindt significantly increased the price for its 85% cocoa chocolate. Sorry, more than two Euros for a bar of industrially made chocolate is ridiculous. While the price of the 70% cocoa chocolate did not increase, it taste apparently changed. Thus, I'm trying other chocolates now. The first attempt was a bar of GEPA fair trade bitter chocolate. Not bad, should have been conched a bit longer, though. However, I absolutely hate the taste of cane sugar in chocolate. Actually, I hate the taste of cane sugar in almost everything except rum.
Next attempt: Kuapa 72%, I believe a Kaufland brand, manufacturer is Zahor, a company from Spain. The list of ingredients should have been a warning. I do expect cocoa, sugar and cocoa butter, of course, so yes: this is chocolate. However, reduced fat cocoa? Rapeseed lecithin? Unspecified "flavour"? This chocolate is far too sweet and has a nasty artificial vanilla taste.
Currently, not part of the competition, as it was a gift from my parents: Chocolata Confiserie Premium Herren Edelbitter (85%). Very tasty. Unfortunately, almost certainly more expensive than Lindt, and I don't come to Braunschweig very often.
Next on the list: Sarotti No. 1 85% cocoa. I've never been a fan of Stollwerck chocolates, but maybe it's time to give it a try again. It's surprisingly okay-ish. Not an epiphany of taste, slightly too bitter perhaps, but much better than I remembered. Includes soy lecithin and unspecified "flavour", but it does not have that awful artificial vanilla taste of the Kuapa/Zahor chocolate. Not bad at all for the price.
Comments
lupo42.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
You might give a try to J.D. Gross chocolate availabe at Lidl for ~1 EUR/125g.
Link | ReplyI like the 70% Ecuador variety a lot.
woelfisch.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
Oh, yes, that one is great for the price. One of my favourites currently. Also okay, but not quite as good, is the Aldi "Moser-Roth" brand.
Link | Replyfootpad.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
At home we tried a blind taste-test of Real Quality 70% against Lindt Excellence 70% (if I've got the names right). Our unanimous conclusion was that the Real stuff was basically just as good—less refined in texture (conching again, I guess) but more immediate and satisfying in flavour.
Link | Replywoelfisch.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
I seldom shop at Real, mostly because it's quite remote from here. Thanks for the hint, I'll try it next time I have something to purchase there.
Link | Replyblue-panther.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
Have you tried other swiss brands, per chance?
Link | Replywoelfisch.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
It's been a while, and real Swiss chocolate usually is in the price range of food reserved for special occasions... ;-)
Link | Replyffcj.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
Have a look at the Lidl chcolates as well. Arriba Superieur 81% for example :)
Link | Replywoelfisch.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
That one's also very nice, indeed. I guess I'll have to add Lidl to my weekend shopping tours.
Link | Replygreenreaper.livejournal.com 14 years, 10 months ago
I very much enjoy Callebaut 70% bittersweet - enough that I worked my way through two 5kg blocks of it over a few years. Was a bit tricky to bite into or chop up a 3cm thick block, though, so you might prefer to buy the callet version instead. (Ironically I only broke a tooth after I stopped eating it. :-)
Link | ReplyNew Comment