Chocolate, anyone?

[karadekoolaid]

This week I was given a thin bar of chocolate. Not just any chocolate, mind you; the Rolls-Royce of chocolate, from Chuao, in Venezuela. It is a variety of cacao (and there are 3 varieties) called Criollo - which just means "native"or "local", but is among the rarest, and most prized in the world, representing a mere 3% of world production. The flavour is complex and utterly divine. Here's a brief explanation by an Englishman who bought a small farm in the same zone as Chuao: Willy Harcourt-Cooze
Probably, when we think of "chocolate", we think Cadbury's, Hershey's, Mars or Nestlé, but that's an altogether different, commercial item, miles apart from "real"chocolate. It's the difference between a tetrapack of red wine and a Chateau Lafitte-Rothschild. Nothing wrong with either, by the way; each to their own.
So I just wondered: does anyone else here enjoy "real"chocolate? Have you ever tried it or been to a chocolate tasting?

 

[badjak]

I have had Tony's chocolonely, Lindt, and others, but I don't know how they compare

 

[SoCalZone10]

I found Chuao Chocolatier in Carlsbad, not sure if it’s legit or not.

 

[karadekoolaid]

I found Chuao Chocolatier in Carlsbad, not sure if it’s legit or not.

Just looked at the website. The chef is a Venezuelan, and named the company after the legendary village of Chuao, in Aragua. His stuff looks really good!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Waitrose used to (don't know if they still do) sell some that was amazing. I can't remember there maker but I think it's very similar. I'll see if I can find it.

But my Tasmanian Belgium chocolataire makes the most amazing chocolate as well.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

They don't seem to sell the actual bars any more but it was enough to find the brand.
Willies Cacao

Willie’s Cacao - Bean to Bar Chocolate by Willie Harcourt-Cooze

 

[karadekoolaid]

That's the man!

 

[karadekoolaid]

I've just seen this on Instagram. Cadbury's downfall
Somewhat concerning, to be honest. Recalls the catch phrase from Are you being served?
"Never mind the quality, feel the width.

 

[TastyReuben]

I've just seen this on Instagram. Cadbury's downfall
Somewhat concerning, to be honest. Recalls the catch phrase from Are you being served?
"Never mind the quality, feel the width.

According to a little internet research, that whole “gesture egg” thing is two years old, for a start, and wasn’t anything Cadbury did, it was advertising done by a local shop only - it was a localized event, not some corporate “woke” messaging.

Now, the “lower quality” bit of his rant, that’s on point…

 

[karadekoolaid]

No idea about the "gesture" egg, really, although I can imagine what "gestures"many British people might make...
The quality has definitely gone down, however.Maybe it's just me getting older (and less tolerant of high sugar contents) but the last time I bought a Dairy Milk (which was probably in 2022, when I was there) it was sickly sweet .