Festivity – Bath Ales [By @SpectreUK] (Waitrose)

I’ve tried a few of Bath Ales’ beers before and was naturally looking forward to trying this one when Cinabar’s Mom bought it me for a treat. The bottle label states that it’s a specially crafted porter with hints of rum, coffee and vanilla. Maris Otter Barley, Challenger and Bramling Cross Hops, and roasted chocolate malt are all added into the brewing. The porter is then fine filtered for quality. On opening the beer there was a smell that mixed barley and chocolate. Pouring this very dark porter reminded me of a stout. Wikipedia tells me that stouts and porters are very closely linked as both are made with dark malts. This porter tastes a little like a stout without the meal like feeling you get when drinking a Guinness or Murphy’s. It’s hard to pick out the flavours as they suggest on the bottle, but that’s not a bad thing. There is a definite taste of chocolate within this dark beer, but the other flavours of barley and hops fit round each other like a group of familiar friends in conversation. The chocolate complements the fine quality barley and hops to create a sweet edge to the bitterness that makes this porter a very easy and pleasant drink. Fuller’s London Porter better watch out! The only thing I’d have to disagree with Bath Ales is the fact that this beer should never be considered as a seasonal festive treat, but should be available all year round. I can get chocolate beer and Thistle beer when I like, so why can’t I have this too?

By Spectre

Santa Claus Christmas Cake

I hope by the time you read this that Santa has visited, and that you are already off to a very good start this Christmas morning.
I just wanted to take a minute to write about this wonderful Christmas cake baked, and decorated, by Tim at my mum’s work. You can’t beat a handmade Christmas cake, and I have to say I have very much been looking forward to trying this fab cake since I first heard he was baking. As always the cake is beautifully decorated, with a wonderful Father Christmas, and it tastes as good as it looks! The moist and fruity cake, has a lovely spice, and marzipan and icing just bring it all together.
Without wanting to make you all jealous, I do hope your Christmas cakes are as good as ours! Thanks Tim. :-) And Merry Christmas one and all!!!

Thornton’s Tasting Collection Vs Hotel Chocolat Rather Large Cracker

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas, and that Santa brings you all that you want in the morning! As everyone tries not to over indulge too much – you can all watch me do the exact opposite. ;-)

Here is a very Christmassy Foodstuff Fight, with the Thortons Vs Hotel Chocolat Christmas mega gift sets.





Thornton’s Tasting Collection:
I have to say the box is very different to the usual Thornton’s offerings, it is modern and patterned and very elegant to look at. To open it you remove the lid, undo the ribbon and slide the doors open. A selection of trays appear sliding out from underneath each other, each tray has two layers of chocolates within them. This is a very elegant box of chocolates, and one of the prettiest gift boxes I have seen in a long time. There is a very definite full marks for packaging for this set, it really does have the wow factor.
The chocolates are a lovely selection form the Continental ranges, and have some of my favourites such as the Vanilla Truffle and the Viennese Truffle. Also mixed in on the layers, which makes it the tasting adventure, are some of Thornton’s chocolates I have never tried before. The Panna Cotta was remarkably creamy, contrasted perfectly by its dark chocolate coating. I also have to give a special mention to the Valencia with its tangy orange and warming brandy flavour, it is a complete treat. All were gorgeous, sweet and very flavoursome. The quality of the chocolates is, as always with Thornton’s, very much up to standard and the packaging is immaculate.





Hotel Chocolat Rather Large Cracker:
This may not have the posh element of the Thornton’s box set, but it certainly is novel, very Christmassy and rather fun. I’m sure that if this was taken to any seasonal dinner, all guests would be rather impressed by this remarkable looking pack. It is effectively a giant cracker, and by ‘effectively’ I mean a genuine working giant cracker! To open this fine object, just like a regular cracker, you pull either end and a pleasing bang cracks in the air and the goodies are released!!! Could this be any more cool if it tried!?!
Inside the cracker are golden paper crowns, some corny jokes, and 40 chocolates; mostly packaged in pairs. I loved the selection of chocolates as they had a decent seasonal spin. Even the Crunchy Praline was decorated with a Santa’s hat, and there were chocolate set Christmas shapes; such as white chocolate snowmen. I really loved the Mulled Wine truffle, it was lovely and warming with a decent Christmas spice flavour. The Billionaire’s Shortbread was also a favourite with is sweet, rich caramel flavour and its crunchy cookie topping. This chocolate selection could not fail to go down well, there isn’t a bad one in the bunch! And the clever novelty of the cracker will ensure it is a gift not forgotten.

Conclusion
Both packages of chocolate are exceptional and will certainly be enjoyed by all. The chocolate in each are of high quality, and the flavours are all excellent. Hotel Chocolat gains a bonus point because their selection does have a Christmas theme, with wonders such as the as the Cinnamon Praline and the seasonal cast shapes. The thing I really liked about the Thornton’s set was not just that the box was so beautiful, but it is also practical. If you didn’t finish all the chocolates in one sitting, you can tidily pack the chocolate back in their neat box. So, if you are after a stand out seasonal after dinner treat go for the Hotel Chocolat Rather Large Cracker, but if you are looking for an impressive, but more classical gift, choose the Thornton’s Tasting Collection.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

By Cinabar

Seeds of Change: Dark Chocolate Orange & Fig (Sainsbury’s)

Finally I have found a new Christmassy sounding chocolate bar. It doesn’t seem like something that should be hard to find, but finding a ‘new’ flavour on the shelves hasn’t been as easy as you might expect. There have been a lot of products that are same as last year, and quite a few items that are the same as normal, but in seasonal packaging, but here we have a ‘proper’ winter edition chocolate bar.
This rich dark chocolate is flavoured with both orange and fig, and smells wonderfully aromatic and citrusy when opened. The chocolate has a good flavour, the cocoa is dark and strong, and the after tones of the sweet orange balance the tatse nicely. The chocolate melts thickly in the mouth, but the smoothness is disturbed by the pieces of fig. The fig bits are sticky, chewy have an uneven texture and don’t add much in the way of flavour. Either this bar needs some kind of fig concentrate adding to the mix to enhance the flavour and commit to the fig idea, or it just needs to have the smooth chocolate and natural orange taste left on their own. There is a fair bit of potential in this bar, the base chocolate is good, and I love the organic concept, it just needs a bit of a retune with the flavours as the fig is a bit lost, except in texture.

Cadbury’s Chocolate Curl Cakes (Sainsbury’s)

My first thought on seeing this product was that the box was the wrong way round. It is just a thought, but don’t all individual cakes come in boxes that are horizontal? Cadbury has shaken things up with a vertical box it seems, not a bad thing, it just looked a bit weird on the shelf. Mainly because the staff at Sainsbury’s had laid them down horizontally, so all the writing was sideways on... I’m thinking that it isn’t what Cadbury intended, but it did catch my eye!
So this is another offering from Cadbury in its Christmas range, and the product consists of chocolate sponges, covered in milk chocolate and white chocolate curls (giving them a snowy appearance).


Opening the box and a few things struck me, firstly that the cakes are a lot smaller than I expected; secondly that there were only five of them and finally that they were incredibly messy. I managed to sprinkle the floor with white chocolate curls that had fallen off the cakes, there was a lot of cannon fodder all over the carpet. Having said that each cake was pleasant enough, the sponge was moist, sweet and chocolaty. There was a smaller than expected dollop of a chocolate butter cream substance inside, that added a rich saltier flavour. The milk chocolate coating was nice and thick, and the white chocolate curls did add to the sweetness.
All in all the cakes were nice enough, and I wasn’t disappointed with the flavour or quality, but the size and messiness of the cakes means they are not my first choice for a Christmassy treat.

By Cinabar

Tesco Christmas - Turkey Cranberry & Stuffing Wrap [by @NLi10]

Like the great musician Jonathan Coulton tells us Christmas Is Interesting and if you think about them for too long then pretty much none of our winter traditions make sense. With a similar open mind I approached this offering of traditional festive ingredients in a Mexican style wrap and took a bite.

How I came to be in the possession of such an interesting artefact is a tale in itself. We recently had a work visit by some salespeople regarding an Abbot Architect machine for our lab that does something I don't understand. They had come to talk about another kind of test that I didn't understand, but discussed avidity, which I do understand. As part of this we got a free feed, but instead of the usual hospital catering they popped to Tesco and brought a bumper feast of goodies.

In the interests of science/blogging I chose the thing that I was least likely to pick up normally (with an eye to the fact that I could always fill up on other things from the table should it be unpleasant). And I wasn't far off, that first bite was mostly lettuce and a mystery white sauce which wasn't all that Christmassy. It truly was an odd combination and I couldn't taste anything seasonal. I persevered and towards the middle, with the chunks of turkey was a few bits of cranberry. These clicked the taste button for me and I was much happier with the flavour for the remainder of the wrap. The second one was similar and now I knew to expect the occasional sweet hit I was prepared to put up with the odd combination of tortilla and white sauce with a hint of turkey. I guess that like with the microorganisms the exposure to the new and unusual thing increased my avidity towards it and allowed me to bind more successfully.

We also got a child's juice box and chocolate coins for pudding.


Overall I'd say it's worth trying this, if not just for the unique flavours. It's not even slightly festive though and in a different box could be a turkey and white sauce summer special or similar. I do however think that the only thing that should be wrapped at Christmas is the presents and not the turkey.

by @NLi10

Shapers - Sparkling Festive Fruit Punch (Boots)

After the success of Boots Christmas crisps, in Brie & Cranberry flavour, I thought I would give their new seasonal drink a try. It comes in a fairly plain bottle, with a robin on the bottom of the pack, and in appearance is a slightly pink fizzy looking liquid.
I realise that this drink is in the low calorie range, but as someone who regularly drinks Sprite Zero and diet pop I was under the impression that you can have low calorie and lots of flavour.
Sadly this drink was a bit muted for my taste buds. I could pick up on some fruity flavours like grape and plum, and even a hint of spice from some cinnamon, but it all felt like it had been watered down. Even the fizz wasn’t strong enough for my preference, but others may like a lighter amount of bubbles. After the mild taste washed away, all I was left with was a vague sweetness that seemed to linger on the palette. If the flavours were stronger I would have found this a lot more appealing, it wasn’t horrible, it just wasn’t amazing. To be honest I’d rather buy a bottle of Diet Coke in the Boots meal deal, at least I know where I am with that. Bit of a shame really, but if you are in Boots – did I mention how fab their Brie & Cranberry crisps are?

By Cinabar

Cadbury Merry Mini Rolls [Cranberry & Vanilla] (Sainsbury’s)

Cadbury’s Mini Rolls have had a Christmassy makeover, and instead of the usual strawberry jam these finely named ‘Merry Mini Rolls’ are filled with a seasonal cranberry and vanilla cream. We really don’t see enough cranberry with chocolate, it such a nice fruit it is a shame it is usually reserved for accompanying turkey on Christmas day.
The sponge inside these rolls has a good decent golden flavour, and the vanilla cream is sweet and smooth. The zingy cranberry hits the spots, with its own fruitiness and sharp but sweet taste. The chocolate coating is of the usual Cadbury flavour, although it is thin it still brings out a pleasant chocolate taste that works really well with the cranberry.
I thought these chocolate rolls were a nice addition to the range, and the cranberry flavour balanced out the other sweeter ingredients. This is one of those cake bars that although not wildly different to the regular range will still be missed after the festive season.

Muller Corner– Christmas Yogurt: Chocolate Reindeer Edition (Sainsbury’s)

First off nobody panic, these aren’t actually reindeer flavoured. Far from it, this is simply the Christmas offering from Muller yoghurts. The yoghurt inside the pack is actually simply vanilla, and the Christmas theme is added by the ‘sprinkles’ which are tiny biscuits shaped like reindeer and coated in chocolate. Well, when I say chocolate, I probably should say ‘chocolate flavour coating’ or use some such disclaimer.
There are three colours of reindeer in the pack, and I have to say the biscuits themselves aren’t quite as neatly made as the on pack drawings!


The white chocolate coated one was sweet and pleasant. The middle colour was too pale for me to think of it as being milk chocolate, it was almost caramel in colour. It tasted sweet but not really delivering a decent chocolate hit. The darkest reindeer was a bit more chocolaty but still didn’t have a very strong flavour. The thing I liked about them was that the biscuit underneath the coating was lovely and crunchy and added a lovely mix of textures when added to the vanilla yoghurt. Let’s face it, these tiny biscuits were never meant to be eaten individually.
The yoghurt itself is thick, sweet and creamy with lovely tones of vanilla. Muller actually make my favourite vanilla yoghurt, as it is just so easy to eat with a really good flavour. The coating on the reindeer may not be the best quality chocolate, but it really isn’t the end of the world. The cute idea of the biscuits, the lovely crunch and the creamy yoghurt do still make these a nice Christmas treat, it is just a shame they didn’t deliver on a neater reindeer moulding.

McVities Christmas Festive Fruity Spice Cake (WH Smiths)

I asked recently on here and on twitter about what Christmas products people thought were worth hunting down for Foodstuff Finds. I got quite an interesting list of goodies I will be keeping my eye out for them all. The first one came via a recommendation off Twitter, and was found in a small branch of WH Smiths. This cake isn’t really the sort of thing you’d expect to find in WH Smiths, but I have learnt over the years to scan the shelves in all the shops I go in, it’s a sort of skill (or obsession). ;-)
And what a find this is! I do like fruit cake, but find that the richness of some Christmas cakes can be a bit off putting. The sponge in this festive cake is lovely, soft and light, with a moist feel which stops it from being too heavy. The taste is sweet, has an element of brown sugar and a nice helping of Christmas spices. I do love the flavours that the sponge contained, with its cinnamon and nutmeg, adding their lovely warming touch. Also packed inside the sponge was decent helping of fruit, there were currents and cherries, each one still soft and moist and adding patches of extra sweetness.
I totally confess that I love cinnamon and spices, so it will be no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this cake. It is just such a fab Christmas treat, ideal with a cup of tea to bring warmth to our wintery afternoons.

Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses Cake Bars (Sainsbury’s)

As it is that time of year once again, the Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses chocolate bar has re-appeared on the shelves. As it hasn’t changed significantly over the last couple of Christmases I haven’t felt obliged to write about it again, but it is nice to let you all know about it. Also I’m please to say I have found a ‘new’ product, these lovely Mistletoe tie-in cake bars!
These individually wrapped cakes are made by McVities, but do have that creamy smooth Galaxy chocolate flavour in their coating. There is a chocolate sponge layer, and on top of that sits the chocolate cream mousse and caramel, as per the regular chocolate bar. Although the cake bars obviously can’t come with three triangular chunks, each cake is decorated with a chocolaty swirl to make it look pretty.
The base sponge is chocolaty and is rather light and fluffy, but you would expect nothing else from a McVities cake bar! The mousse layer feel likes a soft cool fondant and delivers a creamy chocolate taste. The caramel is quite sweet and rich, but I would prefer a more gooey appearance. It is the lovely chocolate coating that takes centre stage, adding that Galaxy magic to these bars.
If you are looking for a nice Christmas themed cake bar treat I don’t think you can go wrong with these sweet tasting Mistletoe bars.

Milka Minis (Sainsbury’s) [...and a Question]

This is just a brief mini post to let you know about a new product, that isn’t really new to the taste buds. I was still rather pleased to find these in Sainsbury’s, being the Milka fan girl that I am. They are obviously for the Christmas and are miniature Milka bars in a handing sharing box.
Flavours include: Dime/Daim, Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate and Chocolate Cream. All of course are gorgeous, and I didn’t need to wait for Christmas as an excuse to try them.

The second part of this post is inspired by all the Christmas goodies on the shelves. There are a lot, but quite a few are like the one above, not really new just differently packaged. So my question is – “What would you like us to review this Christmas?” Have you seen an interesting Seasonal chocolate bar? A weird flavour of Crisps? A Christmassy beer? If you have any suggestions do please let us know. There is an email address at the top of the page, or leave simply a comment below, we would love to hear from you.

Milka is a Swiss brand of chocolate that has gained popularity worldwide for several reasons:

1. High-Quality Ingredients: Milka is known for using high-quality ingredients in its chocolate products. The brand often uses Alpine milk, which is sourced from the Alpine region, known for its lush pastures. The use of quality milk contributes to the creamy and smooth texture of Milka chocolate.

2. Smooth and Creamy Texture: Milka chocolate has a distinctive smooth and creamy texture. This is achieved through a precise manufacturing process that involves grinding the cocoa particles to a fine consistency. The result is a velvety chocolate that melts in your mouth.

3. Unique Taste: Milka has a unique and recognizable flavor profile. The combination of milk chocolate and Alpine milk gives it a sweet and mild taste, which is distinct from other chocolate brands. The balance of sweetness and creaminess appeals to a broad range of consumers.

4. Heritage and Tradition: Milka has a long history, dating back to its founding in Switzerland in 1901. Over the years, it has become associated with quality, tradition, and a sense of nostalgia for many consumers. The brand's commitment to maintaining its heritage can contribute to the perception of its chocolate as being special.

5. Variety of Flavors and Products: Milka offers a wide range of chocolate products, including various flavors, fillings, and formats. This variety allows consumers to find a Milka product that suits their individual preferences, whether they prefer classic milk chocolate or variations with nuts, fruit, or other additions.

6. Distinctive Packaging: Milka's iconic purple packaging is easily recognizable and contributes to the brand's identity. The visually appealing design can create a positive association with the product even before it's tasted.

Happy Dec 1st Everyone!

Today is the start of advent calendar season! Not sure which advent calendar you have at home, but I hope it is a good one. Our friends at Dorset Cereals, wanted us to let you know about a fab competition they have running on their website, in honour of the Christmas countdown. Do have a click below if you want to have a look, and you might even be lucky enough to win a prize. ;-)

Creamy Brie & Cranberry Crisps [Christmas Special] (Boots)

Boots isn’t a place I associate with interesting flavours of crisps, although I have enjoyed several in the Shapers range, generally the flavours are quite easy going. I might pick up a bag of Salt and Vinegar Spirals with my meal deal, but it isn’t one of the places I expect to find a Foodstuff Find. Consequently I was pleasantly surprised to discover this Limited Edition Christmas flavour on their shelves, and I was rather impressed that it was such a brave choice of variety.
The underlying crisp has a decent crunch, and although thicker than Walkers, it didn’t feel as thick as a Tyrrells. I felt that there was still a nice bite, and the cut was enough to allow the potato taste to shine though. Their hand cooked nature also gave them a nice rustic feel.
The actual flavouring of these crisps is remarkable. The main flavour is a sweet cranberry taste, which is unusual but it does work very well. The secondary taste is the cheese, it is quite clever and does mimic creamy brie surprisingly well. I can’t explain just how refreshing it is to try a cheese flavour crisp that doesn’t have that generic crisp ‘cheesiness’ these really do have a clever taste. Finally there is a slight salty edge left in the mouth, giving them a moreish tang.
I never thought a sweet cranberry flavour of crisp would work, but I have to say these crisps are genius. The sweet flavour is followed by the savoury making them a very special taste sensation. I really do hope to see more like this from Boots, they clearly have hidden talents!

Twinings: Mulled Spiced Tea [Winter Edition] (Waitrose)

Spectre has converted me to tea over the years, and although I drink an ample supply of coffee at work, at home I am a tea drinker. This would probably shock my work colleagues, who tease me about drinking so much coffee! I like my English Breakfast and I think Green Tea with Jasmine is an essential accompaniment to Thai or Japanese food, but my favourite cuppa has to be Chai. I just love the spiced flavours, so when I saw this Limited Edition spiced tea from Twinings I was really looking forward to it.
The box is beautiful, tea packaging isn’t usually special, but this certainly gives out a very sophisticated edge. Not only does the posh box heighten the anticipation, but each tea bag is also individually wrapped. Curiously Twinings Chai tea bags aren’t individually wrapped, but I guess this is a special edition.
I brewed the tea and added, as per the suggestion on the box, a healthy splash of milk. I also added a teaspoon of sugar. Spectre hates that I add sugar to tea, whenever he makes me a cup he says “do you still take sugar?” or “have you given up sugar in tea yet?” even though he may make me multiple cups in one day. Meh.
The tea smelt beautiful and in taste it certainly lived up to my high expectations. I would say that this tea isn’t as strong as Chai, but the depth of flavour is superior. I could pick out the delicate flavours like orange peel, and the nice background citrus taste. At the centre of the flavour were the wonderful spices and I picked up on cinnamon and cloves tingling on my taste buds. The flavours are so well balanced, and the Assam black tea is also not lost, it just works so well with the other ingredients. Essentially the tea is Christmas flavoured and absolutely gorgeous. Twinings have invented the perfect winter warmer for the cold evenings, and the must have drink for any tea connoisseur this Christmas. My only thought when I finished the cup was that the box only had twenty tea bags, and that this was never going to last me over Christmas. I did the only logically thing, I’ve added another box to my shopping list.

Viennetta Selection [Special Edition] Choco Nut (Waitrose)

Viennetta is a classic ice cream dessert, it is a block of layered and rippled ice cream with crisp chocolate sheets, and it is designed for sharing. Viennetta is usually a creamy white vanilla ice cream with contrasting dark chocolate. Just occasionally they release a Limited Edition flavour, which is always something to get excited about and it really has been too long since the last one.
This wonderfully retro looking box contains the new Choco Nut variety, and it is adorned with stars for the upcoming Christmas market. The ice cream cake inside too is covered in chocolate stars, and it clearly designed as a celebration treat. Regular readers will know about my obsession with chocolate and nut, so can imagine just how much pleased I was to find this.
The creamy ice cream in the centre has a lovely rich hazelnut taste, and the chocolate ice cream works perfectly with it. There are layer of chocolate which crack as the spoon delves in, and add that extra chocolate dose. Finally there are layers of a substance similar to a solid hazelnut praline, it’s crunchy but its flavour is seriously nutty. Wow. If you like chocolate and nut, then you simply must try this. Indulge in its retro feel, and enjoy its wonderful tastes, I thought it was absolute heaven. It will be a sad day when this fantastic ice cream cake ceases production.

Hotel Chocolat – An Evening at their Christmas Launch

Spectre and I were very kindly invited to Hotel Chocolat’s flagship store in London to preview the launch of their Christmas range. When we arrived it took a few minutes to become accustomed to the festive Christmas music playing in the background. We had been told that there would be canapés available during the evening, but it was only when I spotted the menu, did I realize that canapés Hotel Chocolat style were something very different to regular canapés. These wonderful appetisers were filled with curious combinations of ingredients that even with our adventurous Foodstuff Finds attitudes we were a little surprised by.


First up we were treated to Onion and Roasted Cacao Soup. Best to pause for a second and take that in, it took me a minute to come to terms with the concept. Obviously Spectre and I gave it a go, even though the cream and basil leaf decorating the product made it look more like a dessert. The contents were very savoury, a little sweet from the onion, but it was only a hint of bitterness from the cocoa and no rich chocolate tones. Spectre was less convinced by the soup, but I think he picked up on more of a chocolate edge than me.
Next up was Cacao Tortellini with Wild Salmon, which I felt worked rather well. The taste of the cocoa complemented the salmon, and made for a moreish bite. There was Chicken Glazed with Spiced Cacao which worked remarkably well too and reminded me of the Chocolate Mole sauce I have tried in Mexican restaurants.


I absolutely loved the Stilton served with 65% Chocolate. The flavours seemed like an unlikely match, but the strength of the chocolate pulled off the flavours and made a very clever tasting treat. Spectre agreed, we hadn’t expected it to work so well but the strong tastes balanced it out. Dessert was to follow, and despite Spectre happily trying their strange combinations in our tasting adventure, at this point he spotted something so unappealing he politely declined and wouldn’t even try it. Now regular readers will know about Spectre’s dislike for cherries, but I can assure you this was a cherry free zone. The next thing on the menu contained Spectre’s other Kryptonite, otherwise known as cooked bananas. Yes the humble caramelised banana served on a biscuit base was totally unappealing to Spectre. He was happy to mix cocoa with salmon and chocolate with cheese, but at this point he could continue no more, cooked banana is, after all, just crazy. I gave it a try of course, and found the banana was lovely, sweet and served on a chocolate ganache on a rich biscuit.

The waitress seemed to keep catching Spectre’s eye trying to get him to try the banana and eventually he conceded. His worst fears were confirmed, it was indeed barbecued banana – he stood there twisty faced, desperately trying to stay polite and composed in a crowded room full of reporters and PR staff, but don’t worry he refreshed his palette with substantial amounts of orange juice. Luckily though there were also some scoops of ridiculously creamy vanilla and cacao ice cream, to leave the taste buds ready for the Christmas chocolates.



This year’s selection of goodies were beautifully laid out, to tempt us and for us to try. There were some gorgeous chocolate designs in detailed Christmas shapes ranging from reindeers through to turkey dinners.


The giant Christmas Crackers are back this year, and I although I didn’t witness it, I was assured they now have a bang, before releasing their chocolate contents.
The wreathes from last year were also back, and even available in a milk chocolate with biscuit and white chocolate pieces. Both Spectre and I thought this combination was absolutely lovely. The wreaths are also now available in a smaller size perfect for one. We had a taste of the Dark and Fruity Yule log, which was a rich silky dark chocolate praline packed with almonds and cranberries.
The Classic Christmas H Box selection still looks like the ultimate seasonal treat, with its mix of fillings, from the safe caramels through to its more adventurous cinnamon treats. I have to say the event has me all excited about the upcoming season, and I think the definitive way to count down the last month has to be with one of the luxurious Advent Calendars.
Both founders of Hotel Chocolat were present for the event, and we were lucky enough to have a chat with Peter Harris. He told us about his visions from the early days for the brand and the struggle in the first few years. He also told us about his strong views on Hotel Chocolat’s 'Engaged Ethics' Cocoa Programme, and how farmers are paid within a week of selling their crops. We found him to be a truly inspirational person, a pleasure to talk to, and he has a brand to be proud of.


Just before we left we were treated to a rather luxurious cup of the new Gingerbread Liquid Chocolat, which was a warming spicy sweet drink, giving us energy for our train journey home. A big thank you to Hotel Chocolat for your wonderful hospitality, and we wish you every success in the upcoming Christmas season. All the items we saw were cleverly designed appealing treats, so we have no doubt it will be a good season for you.

Terry’s Chocolate Orange: White Chocolate Smasher [Tutti Frutti Edition] (Sainsbury's)

Another Christmas is approaching and this means that someone over at Terry’s has put together a Limited Edition Chocolate Orange for the Season. Last year we had Volcanic Popping Candy, which was obviously a success as it is back on the shelves this year, but in previous years we have had some less appealing flavours, such as Orange and Hazelnut which was a little confused for my taste buds.
This year’s special is Tutti Frutti, and it consists of fruit flavoured colourful crystals in a white chocolate orange (which reminds me I haven’t seen the Snowball this year either).
The white chocolate is very sweet and creamy, and the wonderfully strong orange shines through. The Tutti Frutti bits add a light crunch in each piece, and also add to the sweetness, as well as giving a hint of a mixed fruits flavour. The Tutti Frutti taste isn’t as developed as I had expected, but it was certainly present and nicely put together.
I think it would be hard to dislike this chocolate orange, it has a good appeal with its speckled colourful chocolate chunks and sweet flavour. However it is quite a rich sweet Chocolate Orange, so less is more, and I found a couple of pieces plenty to relieve my sugar craving.