GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
White chocolate shaped as a heart is Godiva’s contribution to their Advent Calendar for Day 8. It is an enormous size, and feels quite dense. This theme is the equivalent to their milk chocolate heart version on Day 3. The only variety is the choice of chocolate. There is, once again, the company name engraved in block letters. Good and smart advertising. This white chocolate bon bon looks much more elegant than its milk version predecessor. I am eyeing this with a whole lot of wants. I will devour now, and let you know if the satisfaction hits home. Yindles, yolkes, yikes, the middle section of this bon bon is “equipped” with both, milk and white chocolate. This is a super smooth piece of Choco, and I am most certainly coming back for seconds. A vision passed by; a charming and warm fireplace, with mugs of green tea by its side, and of course, ME, devouring thee. Yum! Sugar content is such a surprise. Despite the white chocolate concoction, the bon bon tastes balanced. Godiva must have been reading my posts (he he he) and my plea was heard. Great work Godiva! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Exquisite, Lovely, Magnificent, Uncomplicated, Modest! The good stuff keeps rollin’!!! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Dark chocolate BELL, AGAIN, and again, and again, is Purdy’s selection for Day 8 of their Advent Calendar. Come on now, it is one thing to have the inferior quality of chocolates in this Advent Calendar competition in terms of taste, smoothness, and sugar content but to top it off by duplicating the theme of the day is an unfortunate decision. I am certain that children would also be on the aggravated side as to why the boredom, and mediocre of quality continues. Well, to be honest with you, this is such a sugar bomb that kids might actually enjoy it at the present time of consuming, until they make an immediate trip to the bathroom. Not so pretty thereafter! Purdy’s has officially become a disappointment! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.8 / 5.0 LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Milk Chocolate shaped in a triangle with honeycomb engraving on top is the theme for Day 8 of Läderach’s Advent Calendar. It looks like an average bon bon but as we all have learned from past experiences, looks can be deceiving. Who cares about this mambo jumbo stuff, let’s taste! It is a butterfest Choco combination with a crunch of wafer, and caramel filling. Can you get that many ingredients in one little bon bon? I guess the impossible is possible. I will admit though that I think all the ingredients are overpowering one another. Just too many. For the first time from the beginning of this Advent Calendar competition, Lädearch will probably not be in the top three. Ingredients are most certainly not working together. I do not know what to make out of this bon bon, but I am an angry Choco nut (lol)! To top it all off, the sweetener has been heightened to new levels. Unless you take really small bites to come to terms with each ingredient separately, and then be able to sense whether it is appetizing or not, the whole Choco eaten with all items in there at once is not at all in sync. Did I just say that, wow, one bad day for this company? Things can turn around like a snap! Just when I though that they were on a lucky streak, we have this. No crying now Laderach, just fix it, fast!!! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.9 / 5.0 DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Rectangular mini, mini bar is the continuation generosity of Daniel’s Chocolates for Day 8 of their Advent Calendar. I am digging the packaging. It is green, a whole lot of a variety of green. To top it off, the Christmas Tree is green. Yeahhhh. Looks great! As for the taste, well, it could use improvementS, with a capital S. Glucose infused cocoa, and I mean a lot! Hang on to your sugar everyone because Daniel’s is using it all. Perhaps half of the world’s supply? Hmmmm! Anyhow, they need to really re-think their recipe, and start the new year on a better note. Take it from me! HE HE HE or should I say from Santa, HO HO HO! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.4 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Since I do not want to reiterate myself, here is a link to Kinder’s unfortunate conclusion of their Advent Calendar! Until next year Kinder, make a change to your chocolates by incorporating a variety. Children just love surprises! http://www.chocolisciouslydelightful.com/budget-friendly-and-organic-budget-friendly-chocolates/chocoblogmass-advent-calendar-edition-december-2-or-day-2 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Okay, I need to be impolite once again but Lindt started it! Repelling, Nauseating, Ghastly and lastly, Stale! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.0 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR It is officially concluded. Sinfully The Best is an excellent carver. They have my endorsement! Their artwork is fantastic, and at the same time, whimsical. The marine mammal Seal is today’s carved theme for Day 8. It is done with such perfection, and the Seal has a benevolent expression. Any child will have a grin from ear to ear just by looking at this. Young kinds will also most likely not be able to sense any imperfections in in taste due to their little taste buds that hunger for more sugar but sorry Sinfully The Best, I can! Here it goes. Truth of the matter is that even though their chocolates are stunning in looks, this does not excuse them for producing something of mediocre quality. In addition, please stop dropping in the sugar in by the pounds. Sweeter does not mean better when you cannot taste the main ingredient of the show, which of course is always the cocoa. That is why it is called Chocolate, and not Sugar Bar. Imagine if you go into a store and ask for sugar bon bons instead? These Chocolatiers all must take this into great consideration. I wonder what the bon bon would look like if you take away all ingredients, except for the sugar. I do not want to find out. Get a grip! Poorly executed! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.6 / 5.0 (okay, okay, some points left for their artsy delivery)
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GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
Godiva’s choice for Day 7 of the Advent Calendar Edition happens to be made of milk chocolate. Besides the fact that this bon bon is extraordinarily creamy with a nutty flavour that balances the sugar content out flawlessly, a crunch of salt on top is sprinkled for the most perfect equilibrium between all. Godiva has done a fantastic job today. I will close it down now by saying it is not only a winner, but their best so far! Finally, Yahhhhhhoooo for Godiva!!! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Roger’s is still going strong with their bon bon choice of the day, milk chocolate as its predecessors. Why change anything if it works? Faultlessness! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Milk Chocolate, oolong shape is the gift of Day 7 at Purdy’s, and unfortunately after Godiva and Roger’s tasting, the party most certainly stops right here. Noooooo, what a disappointment subsequently having such delight from the competitors, this is dreadful. I do not know where Purdy’s purchases most of their cocoa beans from, or perhaps it is not the wholesaler at fault, but what they do with their chocolate thereafter that makes most of their bon bons on the inferior side. Whatever the case is, a fundamental change needs to be implemented immediately. Terrible bon bon all around. Once again, the sugar content people, cut it down ¾. It is wrong, wrong, wrong. Whatever other garbage you are dropping in by the pounds, just stop doing it, just do not! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.3 / 5.0 LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Star shaped white chocolate with a slight layer of milk chocolate, and snowflakes painted on top is Läderach’s invention for Day 7. Its looks beautiful, and I am starting to wonder how much longer can this company continue to come out on top? A coincidence or a lucky streak? Here comes my prediction of an answer, OH YES! The inside actually happens to be of milk chocolate upon first bite. Quite the variety in this small confectionary. The small amount of white chocolate would normally entail a whole lot of sweet, but again Läderach has worked their magic to keep it down to a minimum, and yet just enough to let your mind and body be in a happy sequence. I am eager to find out what their secret is. Melt – superb, smoothness – excellent, appeal – beautiful, smell – divine, communication – oh yes, the choco spoke to me. Another great day for Läderach! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Milk mini, mini chocolate bar with the same wrapping paper as yesterday’s, and the day’s before, of children riding a bobsled down a snowy mountain. I am starting to feel like a broken record here, and am not sure why Daniel choose to do this theme that many days in a row. Seriously, it is getting old. This is like painting the same thing over, and over, and over again. Get a grip Daniel Chocolatesl! It was cute initially, but the repetition is losing its charm. As for the chocolate, not good! Horrendous to be frank. Somebody needs to take away the sugar box out of their hands. I am truly disappointed, review is over!!! Atrocious! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.9 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Since I do not want to reiterate myself, here is a link to Kinder’s unfortunate conclusion of their Advent Calendar! Until next year Kinder, make a change to your chocolates by incorporating a variety. Children just love surprises! http://www.chocolisciouslydelightful.com/budget-friendly-and-organic-budget-friendly-chocolates/chocoblogmass-advent-calendar-edition-december-2-or-day-2 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Nasty, Dreadful, Uncomfortable! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.0 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR It is piglet day at Sinfully The Best for Day 7 of the Advent Calendar Edition. Beautifully carved face with dark chocolate ears, eyes, snout, and the remainder head is milk chocolate. Great once again in the appeal, but what about the taste? Let’s try together now shall we? I cannot put my fingers on it but the chocolate is of utmost poor quality. I am certain that it is what they add to their mix in the making process, and not from their cocoa beans. Perhaps cheap sugar infused with more cheap gunk. A good recipe, whether it is for chocolate, meals, desserts, breakfasts, smoothies, etc. starts with good ingredients. If you have unfortunate ingredients then that is what you will produce, an unfortunate meal. Yes, when people say that “my mamma can cook anything out of nothing” it either means that she is putting together at least something that is edible for the family to eat for that evening, or it translates to anything is better than nothing. It does not mean that the mamma has made an exceptionally amazing meal that is delicious, and at the same time nutritious. In order to do that, really, a trip to the grocery store, preferably keeping it in the produce section with the fruits and veggies is where you want to be. Avoid the canned isle, artificially infused garbage, and ingredients that you cannot pronounce. Keep your sugar, salt, hydrogenated oil, corn syrup sweetener etc. gunk out of your kitchen. If you want to "up" the level even more so, you can selectively choose organic items that are otherwise perceived as the dirty dozen. Now we are talkin’! Ingredients is truly and absolutely where the magic begins! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.7 / 5.0 (only due to the exception carving of this cute piglet) GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
I cannot believe that we are now on Day 6 of this Advent Calendar Edition. Time is running past me at great speeds. Not much longer until my favourite day of the year is here, Christmas. Yes, I adore it even more so than my own birthday. Today’s offering is a dark chocolate bon bon with a carving of what looks like a lady riding a horse. Her long locks are thick, and the large horse looks proud. Very nicely sculpted. There is a gorgeous sheen to the chocolate which makes the figures even more elegant. Here comes the tasting. Ohhhh la la, I am not only shocked but pleasantly surprised. There is a light middle cream filling between the top and bottom chocolate. I never expected this. Godiva was waiting until we all became bored with their chocolates until day 6. I am not sure whether this is deliberate due to the biblical stance behind day 6, or just a coincidence. Read on for further information. Läderach is very much celebrating today’s date. Back to the bon bon. I am loving the unforeseen wonder. It is unique and the fact that Godiva incorporated dark chocolate which is normally bitter, and this creaminess in the middle which is usually sweet, makes today’s choco a winner. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Stunning green foil paper once again for Day 6, and it just does not get boring, at least not so far. I love Rogers’ enthusiasm for straightforwardness. Milk chocolate is the pick of the day. I do have to say though that it would be nice if Roger’s had a variety of shapes to their daily bon bons. It will make this Advent Calendar much more special as this look is becoming too repetitive. Children need to feel surprised. On the upside, quality is once again superb. Rogers’ is consistent with the positive elements in their chocolates, and I can see why they have a loyal clientele. Smooth, bitter and sweet at a perfect balance, smells consistent with the taste, a solid bite that melts within seconds, what more can you ask for? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Purdy’s has managed to give us a chocolate in beautifully wrapped striped gold and red foil paper which unfortunately is the shape, yes, once again, of a Bell. The packaging colours work perfectly but the fact that the shape is yet a replication of a Bell, ANEW, is making me think that this Advent Calendar is heading in the wrong direction. See, Rogers’ can get away with duplicating chocolates in terms of looks as firstly, their ingredient list is superb, and secondly, their chocolate quality is excellent. I am sorry Purdy’s but I cannot say the same about you. Let’s taste this prior to making unkind remarks. Milk chocolate is the choice for Day 6 at Purdy’s. Once again, the chocolate is outright overly sweetened, and to make matters worse, no joke, today it tastes like an old shoe. Yuck! This is revolting. I cannot sense anything else but this repulsive taste. It is so overpowering. Somebody at Purdy’s had enough at Day 6 and decided to throw the shoe. Yes, a taste of aversion. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.5 / 5.0 LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Today, Läderach kept Saint Nicholas’ Day in mind since after all, this is a company that prides itself strongly in Christian beliefs. You can read it directly from their website. The theme matches the day. We have a milk chocolate Saint Nicholas, who later went on to become Santa Claus, with tiny bits of dark and white choco. The artwork is simple, there is nothing special about the engraving. In fact, I think that it could have been executed better since Santa Claus looks frightened, as though he is stuck in a chimney, or his cookies have disappeared! That would be the end for the big guy. Taste wise is once again, toooooo perfect. The Santa is such a creamfest. I must find out how Läderach manages to keep such a beautiful balance in all. I am on a mission. I also appreciate that there was some thought put into today’s theme as it portrays utmost care on behalf of the company. Keep up the fantastic work! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Milk Chocolate is the pick of the day at Daniel’s, and it is once again, a mini-mini bar. My prediction is that this whole Advent Calendar is composed of these little chocolates. If you put them together, you can probably make at least eight full sized chocolate bars, if not more. I certainly got my money’s worth. The wrapping is a duplication of Day 4 I believe, where there are two children on a bobsled, sliding down a snowy mountain. It is still cute though, but children might not be this forgiving. They want variety. As for the taste, Daniel has not yet managed to brake on the sugar pedal. They are still going strong there. The current ingredient list is sugar, sugar, more sugar, even more sugar, okay, a bit more sugar! Disgusting. The order of ingredients listed needs to be reversed, and fast. Sugar should be at the bottom of that list. Is Daniel’s Chocolates hiding something about their cocoa beans, are they not of fine quality? Something to tickle your brain with because I really cannot understand why they would allow that much sweetener to overpower everything else. I need some sauerkraut, NOW! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.6 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Since I do not want to reiterate myself, here is a link to Kinder’s unfortunate conclusion of their Advent Calendar! Until next year Kinder, make a change to your chocolates by incorporating a variety. Children just love surprises! http://www.chocolisciouslydelightful.com/budget-friendly-and-organic-budget-friendly-chocolates/chocoblogmass-advent-calendar-edition-december-2-or-day-2 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Rotten, Rotten, Rotten! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.0 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR A green Christmas Tree with 3 red embellishments. Such a delight when it comes to initial appeal. I adore the light green colour as it screams calm, peace, and composure. Actually, upon first taste, this is a shortbread cookie. No chocolate today. Ohhhhhh! How did Sinfully The Best manage to fit that in the Advent Calendar Train without a single corner being scratched or broken off? Ask the experts! As for the taste, it regrettably is much too sugar-coated, and it is coming strong from all ends. I do not have a breather of balance in this cookie. To top it all off, it is a shortbread cookie meaning that it is normally heavier than others due to the extra content of butter. If the sugar was kept to a minimum, and perhaps some light herbs added, or even a spritz of lemon to balance the richness out, this would make a superb dessert. Overall, an outstanding disappointment! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.3 / 5.0 GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
A very thinly piece of a rectangularly shaped dark chocolate is what Godiva offers for Day 5. There are wave like lines going across the bon bon that are not too attractive. It reminds me of cheaply boxed chocolates given to me by an “unkind” person. “who obviously did not care. How could you?” As for taste, it is exceptionally creamy, and a great equilibrium in sugar content. At last! I am though deeply disappointed as to how small this chocolate is. It feels flimsy. Doubling this bon bon would have provided for a better chocolate stance. Godiva, competition is just around the corner. Keep yours eyes out! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.1 / 5.0 ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Decadent milk chocolate wrapped in “timid” gold foil. Flawlessly as its predecessors. Give me a R, O, G, E, R, S’, Horrraayyy. Keep up the absolute work! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Purdy’s is loving this chocolate Bell edition as that is the pick of the day, AGAIN! Hmmm. It was cute the first time, and perhaps the second, but by the third, well, it is like wearing the same outfit a few days in a row. No more Bells Purdy’s, at least for the next 10 days. Let me forget your bell addiction first, and then you can come back with more bells. It would have been easy for them to carve out something else, but I think that they unfortunately ran out of ideas. Dark chocolate it is, and I hate to be the deal breaker here but it is not of anything worth your while. It is a bit on the sour side, not bitter, do not mistaken the two. I also am not loving this rigid bon bon that I have a hard time to bite into. This is perhaps what chocolate tasted like prior to Lindt discovering the conching process. Poor little souls back then, to endure chocolate as such, my heart goes out to you? I am truly sorry for this dreadfulness. Life must have been horrendous. I apologize Purdy’s, not your better day! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.4 / 5.0 LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Milk Chocolate shaped like a pine cone. Gorgeous. Carved out to superb perfection There is the most polished glee to this bon bon, and you cannot possibly imagine how delectable it looks in person. Does the taste match the appeal, let’s find out together now, shall we? Creamfest, sooooooooo smooooooooth chocolate that is delightful, enchanting, charming, pleasant, lovely, attractive, good-looking, exquisite, okay now, I am referring to a piece of chocolate, not a person. I must stop or people will get the wrong idea. A constant champion! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Day 5 of the Advent Calendar is not Daniel’s best. The milk chocolate is sweetened to extreme. This is dangerous stuff here. I foresee diabetes lurking in, lol. No, I cannot mislead you as such, diabetes does not come from chocolate at all. I am just being overly dramatic so you can perceive and get the idea as to how intoxicatingly with sugar this mini-mini bar is. Once again, Daniel is generous, and big-hearted with the size of this chocolate but who cares! If the bar is full of sugar, all else that is great is long forgotten. I cannot justify this and chose not to. Somebody has some fixin’ to do! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.4 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Since I do not want to reiterate myself, here is a link to Kinder’s unfortunate conclusion of their Advent Calendar! Until next year Kinder, make a change to your chocolates by incorporating a variety. Children just love surprises! http://www.chocolisciouslydelightful.com/budget-friendly-and-organic-budget-friendly-chocolates/chocoblogmass-advent-calendar-edition-december-2-or-day-2 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Appalling, Horrifying, Frightful, Shocking, Terrifying. Rancid and Stale!!!!! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.0 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR I cannot believe this incredibly pleasant surprise at Sinfully the Best for Day 5 of the Advent Calendar Edition. Take a guess....... I am waiting..........soft toffee cutie! Oh yeah! Now this is unlike anything that I expected, and my endorphins just became ecstatic. The toffee is of substantial size, an enormous bite actually. So considerate of you Sinfully The Best, how lovely! The sugar content is kept to a minimum, hmmmm, I will never know how? There is just enough sweetener so that the toffee does not taste bitter. This is by far their best day of the Advent Calendar competition. Perhaps toffee is a great strength of theirs. Well, we still have 19 more days to find out what else this chocolatier is good at? Let’s continue on this journey together. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
Ohhh, it is off to a great start for Godiva on Day 4 of this amazing Advent Calendar Edition. What do we have here, a huge, huge piece of milk chocolate bon bon. Did I mention huge. Plentiful for an appetizer. Godiva was probably feeling super festive and giving on Day 4. The bon bon itself also looks pretty with three curvature lines embodying the chocolate. The sheen though is unfortunately looking a bit dull. I guess Godiva thought that one satisfaction per day is good enough, "the size", who cares about the rest, he he he! As for the taste, it is enormously creamy. At initial bite, I can taste the smoothness alongside a hazelnut flavour. I must say that the sugar content has been kicked down a notch, but not enough to make this an irresistible bite. It is still overwhelming. Almost there Godiva, you are heading in the right direction. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.1 / 5.0 (Points deducted due to their substantial use of oils and all sorts of sugars. Did I also mention flour and corn starch, yuck! ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR I hate to use this word repeatedly but simplicity is what Rogers’ Chocolate theme and moto seems to be. At the same time, excellence comes to mind. Milk Chocolate is today’s gift which is once again, perfectly balance between sweet and bitter. Quality and class, what more can I say. It is another great day at Rogers’. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Milk Chocolate is the theme for Day 4 at Purdy’s. It is shaped like a bell. Humble in appearance, nice polish to it, and looks like an all-around respectable bon bon. Nothing extravagant. I think it would cater to the average individual who is looking for modesty. The chocolate itself is exceptionally sweet. Oh my, did Purdy’s “accidently” drop a pound of sugar just in that one bon bon alone. Whooooaaa! I need something, anything to balance this out. Salt, fast!!! Anyhow, not their best, truly dissatisfied. Melt is a medium, not as fast as I would have expected, and the bite is stiff. Sorry Purdy’s, today was not your day. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.4 / 5.0 LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR What does Läderach have in store for us today, shall we take a peek? Day 4 at Läderach is looking scrumptious. Milk chocolate with marzipan. Oh yeah, bring on the party. Once again, seriously yummmmiliscious, whoollllly, vada bom, vada bim. How do you manage to produce such heavenly chocolates Läderach, come on now, this should not be legal! The bon bon is decadent, immortal, and virtuous. Winner all around. Sweetened to perfection, smooth with a reasonable amount of crunch. I am a happy choco nut! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 (Get a grip on your ingredients; your rating will be off the charts) DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR A full mini-mini size once again. There must be an ongoing party at Daniel’s for them to be this generous. They are high on cocoa beans, nibs, anything chocolate related that they can get their hands on. “Just give me the stuff!!!” It is just good ol’ times at Daniel’s. Milk chocolate for Day 4, and it is unpretentious. Just chocolate. Sorry to be a party blooper but here it goes. They can work on turning down their sugar content in half. Their first ingredient on the list: Sugar. People will appreciate their actual chocolate on a much deeper level if the sweetener is reduced. Something to consider. Keep up the kindness in terms of size! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.3 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Unfortunately, it is now concluded that Kinder has the exact same piece of chocolate throughout their whole 24 days of the Advent Calendar. The rating is the same, and so would be the review. Kinder certainly solely has kids in mind as it feels as though the Advent Calendar is for their little fingers. The chocolate is individually wrapped. I am assuming that this has something to do with hygiene, convenience, and surprise. You can take this little bon bon to school, and open it up at lunch for example. I do not though, care much for the modified palm oil, and anhydrous milk fat (???) ingredients. Why would Kinder feed this to children? Poor choice. I find this little confectionary to be overly sweetened to the point that I think I am eating sugar. Whoa! It is just an abundance of that one ingredient. Unfortunately, it takes away from the cocoa itself but on the upside, I can really taste the milk. Children would think to differ from my opinion as the sweeter it is, the better. I guess that is the whole concept behind this Advent Calendar. After all, it says Kinder, not Erwachsene (Adult). I will let this one go since their motif it is to please the little ones. You are safe for now Kinder, until the name changes, then you have a lot of explaining to do! LOL!!! The thoughtfulness with the peanut free logo is a good emphasis but then why add all of the other gunk? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin) Sugar, Skim Milk Powder, Modified Palm Oil, Anhydrous Milk Fat, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin, 33% Milk ingredients Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.4 / 5.0 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Smells like chocolate and looks like chocolate today at Lindt, will that follow in taste? Let’s find out together now, shall we! Well, happy, and at the same time sad to report that I am expecting the very minimum from Lindt at this point, JUST FOR THE ADVENT CALENDAR NOT BE STALE AND RANCID is good enough for me. Today’s bon bon is somewhat decent. I at least do not need to immediately spit it out. That is a good sign. Unfortunately, the staleness is still protruding, but not on the same level as the chocolate’s predecessors. This is certainly too sweet though, and it does taste like a cheap bar that has been sitting around for too long. Lindt, you have traumatized me! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.8 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Day 4 at Sinfully The Best is a dark chocolate bon bon resembling a rose. I must mention that it is very pretty, fantastic carving to the point that whoever was involved in beautifying this should be on Cake Wars. The bon bon has the shiniest sheen. You can almost see yourself in it. Cross my fingers that it tastes as amazing as it looks. Oh, how different. There is a wafer in the middle. Nice surprise. This is actually a very tasty and pleasant piece of bon bon. The dark chocolate presented has a perfect balance between bitterness, and sweetness, and I adore the wafer crunch from the middle. Lovely thought provoking idea. It is an absolute winner today for Sinfully The Best! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: 4.8 / 5.0 (Points deducted for unknown ingredients) GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
Today’s surprise for day 3 in the land of Godiva happens to be a dark chocolate bon bon shaped like a lovely heart. It is surprisingly quite a thick piece. Godiva is being extra generous. To top it off for an extra special kick, the company’s name is engraved in block letters. Simplicity is what you initially perceive, but thereafter it is elegance. I really am happy to report that this bon bon is very “alluring.” Yes, it does have a seduction tonality of some kind. Due to its most striking sheen, just looking at it makes me want to dig in. That is exactly what I am going to do now. Here it goes! Ohhhhhh, la laaaa. I got more than I hoped for. The middle of the bon bon has dark chocolate in a creamy consistency. The melt is superb, and as for the bitterness, a perfect equilibrium. Godiva really knows their dark chocolate. It appears that this is where they excel. I am left with a pleasant chocolate aftertaste that reminds me of sitting in a green meadow, reading a book, with no worry in this world while enjoying Godiva. You are shining today Godiva! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 (Points taken off due to ingredients that I just do not agree with otherwise, the rating would have been higher) ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR I just love Rogers’ enthusiasm for their chocolates as well as look appeal. A bon bon wrapped in green foil. Once again, the packaging is humble, but yet it somehow just works. Even the simplicity of the shape of each bon bon is nothing fancy however, it feels homey somehow, provides comfort, nothing is pretentious. It is a milk chocolate for day 3 with absolutely nothing fancy except for the exceptional quality. At initial bite, it is a bit firm and solid but once it starts to quickly melt in your mouth, there is a perfect balance between chocolate, sweetener, and cocoa butter. This bon bon I can easily see myself taking out, while on the snowy mountains, just before I snowboard down the hill. It will undeniably make me want to go whohoooohoooo! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Purdy’s has a way of making me grin from ear to ear not just with their colourful Advent calendar theme, but also their daily gifts of bon bons. Today’s chocolate surprise happens to be encompassed in baby blue and red dotted foil paper. Purdy’s certainly recognizes how to best colour match combinations because so far, it all seems to work. I also love the elongated shape of the milk chocolate as it is unexpected. Upon first bite, I taste salt. That is diverse. Once you get pass the salty phase, you are left with the smoothness of the bon bon that is very well-balanced between sweet and savoury. I am truly enjoying this little surprise, and am happy to report that Purdy’s has taken such a risk in terms of taste, especially since children will be devouring this as well. I am convinced that today’s bon bon will please any hungry soul! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 (Points taken off due to the lack of ingredient disclosure. The rating would have been higher otherwise) LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Here we go again, how does this company manage to make their chocolates taste as though you are on a completely different planet. Seriously, come on now!!!???#%&#@! Today’s gifted surprise happens to be milk chocolate with a crunch of wafer. Flawlessly balanced between smooth, and the crunchy biscuit bite. It is not overpowering in any way, and I sit here and wonder what their secret is in managing to keep the sugar taste on the lowdown, as though there is barely any there. Please note, this is not a “no-sugar added” version. This bon bon is truly for us all to enjoy, whether you have to manage your glucose or not. Hands down, an enormous winner! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 (The rating would have been off the charts but unfortunately due to their poor choice of some ingredients, it is not possible) DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Daniel’s is meticulous when it comes to their combinations of chocolates and wrapping. It truly goes hand in hand. Did I also mention how thankful I am for their huge generosity of providing such a good bite in their Advent Calendar? Perhaps more than a few times at least? Once again, today’s version is a mini-mini bar. The wrapping paper is so charming with the two children bobsledding down a snowy mountain. This truly is an iconic image and I am certain that any individual will appreciate the beauty in all this. As for the milk chocolate itself, it is the modesty and quality that Daniel’s customers are fond of. This company has a faithful clientele that have been, and still are huge supporters. Nothing overly extravagant, just good old-fashioned chocolate. Once again, a true winner! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocoliscioulsy Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Unfortunately, it is now concluded that Kinder has the exact same piece of chocolate throughout their whole 24 days of the Advent Calendar. The rating is the same, and so is the review. Here is day one’s review which will unfortunately always be a duplicate from here forward and to completion. Kinder certainly solely has kids in mind as it feels as though the Advent Calendar is for their little fingers. The chocolate is individually wrapped. I am assuming that this has something to do with hygiene as well as for children who normally like to open wrapped up things, like a surprise, or even for them to take along to school or sports activities etc. Like a snack. I do not though, care much for the modified palm oil and anhydrous milk fat (???) ingredients. Why would Kinder feed this to children? Poor choice. I find this little confectionary to be overly sweetened to the point that I think I am eating sugar. Whoa! It is just an abundance of that one ingredient. Unfortunately, it takes away from the cocoa itself but on the upside, I can really taste the milk. Children would think to differ from my opinion as the sweeter it is, the better. I guess that is the whole concept behind this Advent Calendar. After all, it says Kinder, not Erwachsene (Adult). I will let this one go since their motif it is to please the little ones. You are safe for now Kinder, until the name changes, then you have a lot of explaining to do! LOL!!! The thoughtfulness with the peanut free logo is a good emphasis but then why add all of the other gunk? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin) Sugar, Skim Milk Powder, Modified Palm Oil, Anhydrous Milk Fat, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin, 33% Milk ingredients Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.4 / 5.0 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Today’s surprise version of the Lindt bon bon is wrapped beautifully in glossy gold foil. Let’s hope that it tastes just as good as it looks. Oh no, starting off on the wrong foot! The smell is so overpowering that all I can sniff is sugar. I have a feeling that Lindt will stay at this stale, and rancid level throughout the whole Advent Calendar, Chocoblogmass comparison. Here we go, taste time! Upon first bite, once again, this piece of chocolate is shameless. The bitterness is unthinkable and off the charts. I just do not understand how Lindt could have permitted this circus to continue. Am I the only one who received an old Advent Calendar? Please comment, and let me know. Perhaps there are more of you out there. Come forward, no shame! Way to go failure of the pact! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.0 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR An individually wrapped dark chocolate bon bon that is in the form of a lady bug. Super endearing, but at the same time, a bit on the thrifty side as the chocolate is of a very small size. Perhaps for a toddler it is just the right amount, but not for a child beyond those years. Otherwise, back to positive-land. The chocolate has an especially smooth texture, and a much silkier consistency than day 1 and day 2. A nice and bitter taste that is not hostile. I appreciate the fact that Sinfully the Best has kept their sugar content to a very low level in this particular bon bon, and when tasting, the chocolate is what I enjoy, not the sweetener. Yipeeee, victory at last for today’s wonder! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.3 / 5.0 (Points are taken off due to lack of ingredient information) GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
Chocolate Caramel Embrace is Godiva’s second day pick from their Advent Calendar. The dark chocolate bon bon is lovely in terms of first glance appeal, and has some dark chocolate shavings on top. Looks very rich, and has an almost “leather 80’s” type of a look. This is a metaphorical description, but I think that you get the point. Once again, Godiva has managed to make this bon bon on the sweeter side however, there is an actual excuse this time. The middle filling is caramel. Most caramels are over intoxicating when it comes to the taste since after all, caramel is made from a variety of sugar. It is not uncommon to have a kick of decadent sweetness. Godiva should have found a balance between the two though. The caramel is not too hard to bite into, and surprisingly the whole bon bon leaves a pleasant aftertaste. Overall, feels quite calorific, and at the same time, scrumptious. Pleasing to the palate, and quite pleasing to the eye. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 3.8 / 5.0 ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Individually wrapped bon bon that is exceptionally smooth, and once again simple. There are no nuts, caramels, toffee embellishments, dried fruit or anything of that sort, just plain milk chocolate. I see where Rogers’ is heading, and I am digging it. Perfectly sweetened, and an aftertaste of bliss. I am craving more. The bon bon also has an “I want more” type of a sheen. Beautiful on the inside and out. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Stunningly wrapped bon bon in purple and gold foil paper. This is starting off in the right direction. The two-colour combination is one of my favourite, and it screams sophistication. This is a dark piece of chocolate shaped like a bell. Purdy’s is having a much better second day than the first. This bon bon is especially smooth, sweetened to perfection, what a nice change, and the bitterness of the dark choco has an attractive balance. Way to go Purdy’s. I knew that you could do it! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 (Points deducted due to lack of ingredient information) LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Second day from Läderach’s Advent Calendar is lookin’ good! Milk chocolate bon bon is the main act of the show with a caramelized topping. Läderach has done it again! This is a fantastic piece of concoction. The middle of the bon bon is filled with creamy milk chocolate, while the upper and lower exterior and interior is caramelized toffee. I am now on cloud nine, and sitting here wanting more. I do not even know what is Läderach’s secret is to keeping the sweetener on a flawlessly balanced level, despite the caramel and toffee. A smooth texture with a perfect amount of crunch, well done, and more so, superbly well balanced. Way to go Lädearch! You are a superhero!!! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 (Once again, the miniscule point deducted is due to the ingredient list) DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Daniel Chocolates has now repeatedly managed to give us a mini-mini sized bar on day 2 of their Advent Calendar. There is some major generosity going on here. Also, the painting of children playing on the petit chocolate bar is very charming. Also, once again, ingredient list is on the back of this miniature sized choco. I find it all super charming! Nicely done Daniel. Today’s surprise happens to be made of milk chocolate. Daniel delivers some good stuff here although, today’s cute bar is a bit on the sweet side. I hope that with each passing day, the chocolate does not increase in sweetness. I feel a rush of glucose from just a small bite. I reach for seconds to confirm my finding, and yes, it is a syrup bomb. Daniel’s chocolates are certainly of quality but today’s find is unfortunately lost due to the overwhelming amount of one overpowering ingredient over the others. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 3.7 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Unfortunately, it is now concluded that Kinder has the exact same piece of chocolate throughout their whole 24 days of the Advent Calendar. The rating is the same and so is the review. Here is day one’s review which will unfortunately always be a duplicate from here forward and to completion. Kinder certainly solely has kids in mind as it feels as though the Advent Calendar is for their little fingers. The chocolate is individually wrapped. I am assuming that this has something to do with hygiene as well as for children who normally like to open wrapped up things, like a surprise, or even for them to take along to school or sports activities etc. Like a snack. I do not though, care much for the modified palm oil and anhydrous milk fat (???) ingredients. Why would Kinder feed this to children? Poor choice. I find this little confectionary to be overly sweetened to the point that I think I am eating sugar. Whoa! It is just an abundance of that one ingredient. Unfortunately, it takes away from the cocoa itself but on the upside, I can really taste the milk. Children would think to differ from my opinion as the sweeter it is, the better. I guess that is the whole concept behind this Advent Calendar. After all, it says Kinder, not Erwachsene (Adult). I will let this one go since their motif it is to please the little ones. You are safe for now Kinder, until the name changes, then you have a lot of explaining to do! LOL!!! The thoughtfulness with the peanut free logo is a good emphasis but then why add all of the other gunk? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin) Sugar, Skim Milk Powder, Modified Palm Oil, Anhydrous Milk Fat, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin, 33% Milk ingredients Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.4 / 5.0 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR I do not even know what to say as I am stunned, and at the same time traumatized. How could Lindt do this??? Once again, the bon bon is completely stale. This is what chocolate is like when it has gone bad, foul, intensely bitter, egg like taste with a mixture of onion, not literally but that is what it hints at. Absolutely awful. I find it appalling that Lindt would allow this to happen, deliberately or not. I do wonder? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.0 / 5.0 SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Day 2 at Sinfully the Best is looking “handsome.” Once again, individually wrapped chocolate bon bon with a Christmas tree, and snowflake embellishments right on the Choco. This happens to be a milk chocolate that tastes on the fruity side. There is undoubtedly a berry liquor inside. I am sure that it is raspberries. Yuppiiee! Quite nice. At initial bite, it was going completely in the wrong direction, but once I let it swish around in my mouth, I find this mixture pleasantly balanced. We owe it all to the fruit. Well done! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocoliscioulsy Delightful Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 GODIVA CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR
My initial thought on the appeal of the Godiva box is somewhat festive with the green background. There is a good amount of Christmas embellishments on the box. The ballerina is quite nice alongside the little mouse but at the same time, the box is dark and small. I do not think that a child would be eager to open this up for 24 days to the most festive and exciting holiday of the year. I think that this Advent Calendar perhaps has adults in mind as well. Ease of opening the first box of the Advent Calendar to obtain the bon bon is not without fuss. It is flimsy and once the chocolate is revealed, you can see that the opening is not attractive as there are white ripped out parallel lines. Really, more thought should have been put into these details, regardless of who Godiva is catering to. As for the chocolate itself, the first day being a praline crescent, the melting action is quick, quite smooth, shiny sheen to the exterior of the bon bon. There is an interesting nutty taste perhaps from the hazelnuts ingredient but that in itself is not enough to give off this strong aroma. Perhaps, some of the sooooo mannny terrible ingredients mixed together produced this nuttiness. I am shocked that Godiva has permitted this much gunk into their chocolates. What a huge disappointment. I have never come across chocolates made with flour of any kind and glucose syrup infused with more wheat. Per their website, was this not the company that prides themselves in excellence??? Hmmm, I differ on their claim. This ingredient list speaks anything but excellent. There is so much sugar and variations of sugar, as well as all sorts of oils in the chocolates which comprises the taste in majority of the chocolate. That is very disappointing for me. Also, what is up with the corn starch? Why, Why, Why? All I see is sugar, flour, and all sorts of terrible oils. I call this a sad and poor concoction of an Advent Calendar. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Glucose Syrup (Wheat), Cream, Hazelnuts, Sorbitol Syrup, Butter Oil (Milk), Sweetened Condensed Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk, Butter, Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Palm), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Skim Milk Powder, Natural Flavour, Apple, Raspberries, Wheat Flour, Cocoa Powder, Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate, Salt, Corn Starch, Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Milk Protein, Lactose, Barley Malt Flour, Artificial Flavour, Pectin, Citric Acid Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.4 / 5.0 (the 0.4 point is for the ballerina – he he he) ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Rogers Chocolates Advent Calendar is quite charming. Despite its small size, it makes up in theme and colour. I love the logo of the company name written on the driver side of the 1930’s vehicle. It is super adorable. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the painted faces of the characters. They could have been done with much more care to not only provide a more realistic look but also, to differ each person. They all have the exact same faces. I do understand that they are perhaps a family but unless they all are identical twins, this is a no no. Not a deal breaker, just something to keep in mind. As for ease of opening the first day of the Advent Calendar, it is completely effortless. That is a satisfactory feeling. The bon bon itself is plain milk chocolate but of good quality that does not disappoint. It is not overly sweet, has a nice smell of just chocolate and leaves a pleasant aftertaste in my mouth. The bon bon is smooth in appearance and touch. Overall, a quality plain piece of chocolate not only for the simplicity within us but also for an individual who appreciates quality. Ingredient list is pleasantly surprised. Everything can be easily pronounced and I am thoroughly thankful to Rogers’ Chocolates for keeping it simple. Double thumbs up in my Choco book. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla) Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Purdy’s Advent Calendar is absolutely charming. It has colour, vibrancy, a dark purple ribbon in the middle to balance the other light pastel colours out and best of all, it is a good, heavy size, does not feel petit and flimsy. Once you undo the ribbon, it is like opening French Doors where you can either choose to open them from the left or right. As you glance at the actual interior of the Advent Calendar, the excitement elevates. Just divine. Colours, differently themed icons on each little box, numbered in variations, and the side background reminds me of snowflakes. The white dots in the blue background make me happy. This is truly a flamboyant Winter Wonderland, as the box clearly says. It is a breeze to open the first day of the Advent Calendar. The party sort of ends right there though. Here comes the taste, yes, I have to be the deal breaker. Chocolate on the other hand is overly sweet. It left my palate with a huge scream for something bitter to balance this sugar infestation out. I could not taste much of the Choco itself, it is lost due to the overpowering of whatever sugar, glucose, corn syrup Purdy’s has stirred into their chocolate concoction Disappointing. Purdy’s is a well-known company within Canada and for them to deliver such an intoxicating sweet piece of chocolate can only mean that they either only had children in mind when putting together this Advent Calendar or that Purdy’s chocolates, in general, are disturbed with pounds and pounds of sugar. I do appreciate their moto that their chocolate has a short life span and they like to keep everything fresh but due to this lack of quality control for dumping a whole “football field” of sugar in their mix, that moto is just lost and forgotten. Rating points are also deducted due to the lack of ingredient information that Purdy’s just does not want to reveal. Makes me want to go hmmmmm!!! Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unfortunately, the company did not disclose this information. I will always wonder why! Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.8 / 5.0 (points gone up solely due to the gorgeous theme of the Advent Calendar, you lucked out there Purdy’s) LÄDERACH – CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR The Advent Calendar from Lädearch was ordered by me directly from Switzerland. It was very easy to do and the shipping cost was surprisingly quite reasonable. They weight everything and charge per that. The customer service was also outstanding. If you are thinking about indulging in these world renowned chocolates, do not hesitate. You will receive them within a 10-day period, perhaps even shorter if it is not near a main holiday, like Christmas. That was my time-line at least. As for the look of the Advent Calendar itself, I must say that I am disappointed. It is not so much by the size, which turned out to be larger than I thought (a good thing) but the whole, front theme. It is quite depressing. The dark, grey background is heavy. I think that the colour scheme needs some pastels, softer tones to balance everything out. There are too many melancholy colours infused together such as dark green, alongside the grey, black, and lastly, red. This is an Advent Calendar that is supposed to bring out excitement and life to children for the next 24 days in December. Unfortunately, I only see a dreadful image. I certainly would not want to open this up and I can only imagine whether children feel the same. Even the chocolate presented on each day cannot persuade me otherwise. On the upside, I love the 1910’s vehicle that Santa is riding around in. I hope that he gifts me that antique vehicle for Christmas. He He He! Lastly, I do want to point out that Läderach should have made certain that they secure their chocolates, especially during delivery. When I received the Advent Calendar, most of the bon bons were all over the place. Come on now Lädearch, get a grip! As for ease of opening the first day - awesome. Nice and easy. Chocolate tasting time, well, this is where Läderach makes up. Wow, Wow, Wow! What a bon bon that I just devoured. It is creamy, smooth in texture and perfectly sweetened. I feel a complete balance and my endorphins are now cheery. See, you cannot judge a book by its cover, that old saying is completely true. This piece of bon bon not only feels heavy in terms of weight but also smells of decadency. It has the most beautiful sheen to it that one just finds irresistible. There is a caramel scent that overtakes all else. I wonder where it is coming from. Perhaps some of the appalling ingredients mixed together produced this aroma. I must say though that I am quite disappointed with the ingredient list. I primarily see sugar, all sorts of oils, some chemical infused gunk, and egg whites, what??? Before I was going to say that this is a complete winner, I need to rethink my final rating. Points are definitely taken off due to the poor ingredients. Nobody wants to eat sugar with oil and egg whites despite the amount of fancy cocoa incorporated. What was Läderach thinking? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Mass, Almonds, Plant Oils, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Milk Powder, Butter (Milk), Glucose, E-420, Walnuts, Honey, Wheat, Gluten, Milk Cream, Inverted Sugar, Malt, Gluten, Soya Lecithin, E-471, E-322, Natural Aromas, Gluten, Butter Fat, Natural Aromas, E-904, Aroma, Lactose, Spices, Milk Egg White, E-500, Antioxidants, E-306, Colour E-171 AND E-160B AND E-160 A, E-120, E-100, Palm Wax, Cocoa Powder, Low Fat Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 1.7 / 5.0 DANIEL CHOCOLATES - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Daniel’s Chocolates Advent Calendar makes me feel merry and uplifting. It cannot get any more Christmas themed than this. Red and white Gingerbread Man, Snowman, Gingerbread House and Christmas Tree, well, you have it all in one box. This screams Christmas all around. How many times did Christmas come up in this paragraph, too many. Now you understand how perfectly holiday themed Daniel has made their chocolates. To top it off, there is a Merry Christmas greeting all around. +++++ Extra points Daniel. The box is sturdy and heavy enough to allow confidence for the buyers that they get their money’s worth. The downside is that the Advent Calendar is not numbered. This leads me to believe that all of the bon bons are the same throughout. That is not what I signed up for. Oh, wait a minute, look at that. Once I began to take a few boxes out, I discover that yes, the Advent Calendar is indeed numbered. You just have to turn each box around. Once completed, I see that there are, after all, 24 little boxes, with numbered variations. Super unique. Taking each box out though is not the easiest to maneuver. It takes some time and patience. There is no ledge to hold on to while picking up each day’s worth of chocolate box therefore, hang in there. The chirpy melody though makes up for the difficulty in picking up each box. I appreciate the work that I need to do for each bon bon. It makes the surprise all that much better. On a chocolate note, good start to Daniel’s Advent Calendar. First day is promising. I just received a full size of a mini, mini bar. Very generous. Wow, this mini bar even has its own ingredient list on the back. I am quite impressed. I am also happy to report that yes, their chocolate taste like chocolate. It is very simple but that is the whole point. The amount of sweetness is perfect and I can sense the dry whole milk, which I find refreshing. Very nice. The smell though is not of something extravagant but instead reminds me of chocolate bars that I have, in the past, purchased from the Dollar Store. Nothing wrong with those chocolates and I have no issues with people buying all sorts of sweets from there but for a company that prides itself in their quality and ingredients (which by the way, I am happy to report are just fab in Daniel’s case), this miniscule bar does not smell excellence but more so of value. I am also left with a bit of a bitter aftertaste. Okay, enough now, let’s just get back to the ingredient list – it just makes me grin! No need to report anything further. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Dry Whole Milk, Soya Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 4.1 / 5.0 KINDER - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Well, well, this Advent Calendar by Kinder is pretty much the same year after year. They love their customer base and why change anything if it works. Children are aware of their theme and are attracted to that image over and over again. Kinder stands behind catering solely to kids. I think that the Advent Calendar is cute, a good size, not too heavy for the little ones to pick up and I am certain that it makes everyone jaunty, whether you are young or old. The snowman is on a bobsled holding a yellow gift. There are two cartoon characters in the back, ice skating on what looks like a frozen lake. Surrounding them are all sorts of pine trees embodied with lots of snow. This looks like a positive and bright Advent Calendar that I am certain any child will be happy to have. I like the fact that there is a large Peanut Free zone logo on top of the box to emphasize a worldwide concern for children’s allergies to peanuts. I also appreciate their emphasis on infusion with 33% milk ingredients. This is a subtle little sign that emphasizes care for their products. Ease of opening the Advent Calendar for day 1 is fantastic. Kinder certainly solely has kids in mind as it feels as though the Advent Calendar is for their little fingers. The chocolate is individually wrapped. I am assuming that this has something to do with hygiene as well as for children who normally like to open wrapped up things, like a surprise, or even for them to take along to school or sports activities etc. Like a snack. I do not though, care much for the modified palm oil and anhydrous milk fat (???) ingredients. Why would Kinder feed this to children? Poor choice. I find this little confectionary to be overly sweetened to the point that I think I am eating sugar. Whoa! It is just an abundance of that one ingredient. Unfortunately, it takes away from the cocoa itself but on the upside, I can really taste the milk. Children would think to differ from my opinion as the sweeter it is, the better. I guess that is the whole concept behind this Advent Calendar. After all, it says Kinder, not Erwachsene (Adult). I will let this one go since their motif it is to please the little ones. You are safe for now Kinder, until the name changes, then you have a lot of explaining to do! LOL!!! The thoughtfulness with the peanut free logo is a good emphasis but then why add all of the other gunk? Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin) Sugar, Skim Milk Powder, Modified Palm Oil, Anhydrous Milk Fat, Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanillin, 33% Milk ingredients Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 2.4 / 5.0 LINDT - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR The Lindt Advent Calendar speaks high spirits, cloud nine type of content. It is colourful, and cheery. There are all sorts of things going on in the picture and everyone depicted as happy and smiley. There are many gifts throughout, a train set up in front, and a Santa ready for chimney climbing. The colour scheme is good and it somehow works. I also like the size as it feels like a bargain for the price paid. Overall, it is a keeper from a value point. The first day of the Advent Calendar is literally effortless to open. There is a bit of a downside though, not a big one, do not get tense now. The numbers on the days of the Advent Calendar are difficult to see. Children really need to take their time when searching for the appropriate day. I think though that this is the whole point. One must search and search to find their daily fix of chocolate bon bons and then devour. It should be challenging and then satisfactory perhaps. Lindt maybe wanted to deliver a sublime message, something more than just an Advent Calendar. Like the game “Where’s Waldo.” You look and look and when you finally find him, at least when I do, it is so exciting and exhilarating, as though I have won something, anything really. Great job in that department Lindt. The first day at Lindt was not good, actually terrible. The chocolate tasted absolutely stale. It had the most bitter, almost rancid smell. I initially overlooked this thinking perhaps that my nose must be playing all sorts of tricks on me. Not so fast. My palate agrees. So did all of my other senses. This is just chocolate gone bad. Perhaps an Advent Calendar from last year???? Got you thinking! I cannot even describe it as there is nothing positive about the bite. I cannot rate it properly based on taste as it is a pure zero at this point. The ingredient list is also far from perfect. I am not appreciating the Palm Kernel Oil nor the Barley Malt Extract. Oh, most importantly, why the artificial flavour? Come on now Lindt, I am sure that you can do better than that. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Lactose, Coconut Oil, Hazelnuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Lecithin, Barley Malt Extract, Artificial Flavour Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 0.4 / 5.0 (a few points for the packaging) SINFULLY THE BEST - CHOCOBLOGMASS ADVENT CALENDAR Ohhhhhhhhh, where do I begin with this gorgeousness. Why did nobody else think of this. A three-piece train set with a locomotive holding 24 days of boxed chocolates that open up like a drawer. Wow, this is sensational. Did I already mention that this Advent Calendar is magnificent, exquisite, dazzling, striking, stunning, elegant, stylish, chic, smart, tasteful, classy, okay now, I am getting carried away. Seriously though, this might be the best looking and most unique Advent Calendar that I have come across. The green wheels with red and white embellishments, the gold lines, the yellow outlines, the snowflakes on each box; every single thing added to this Advent Calendar has been carefully thought of. This takes some real genius to not only come up with an idea as such but a real talent to execute. Once the bon bons are devoured, the train can be utilized for whatever your heart desires. The wheels do spin, oh yeah, wow, come on now, seriously! Enough said I think. You get the point as to my feelings for the exterior appeal. This is outright marvellous and whoever is lucky enough to receive one will just fall in love. Ease of opening each box is super stress-free. Pull out the drawer and grab your daily goodie! Today, it happens to be is a panda bear. How adorable! Whether you favour Christmas or not, this Advent Calendar will light up your face and get you in a festive mood. I promise! The chocolate itself though, I have mixed feelings about. The whole bon bon is primarily white chocolate therefore, that might be the reason as to why it is a bit on the sweet side but not to the point that it is intolerable. A decent piece of bite. The chocolate itself is hard to bite into but this might be purposeful. The panda needs to have a face and if the Choco is too soft, that would be not be feasible. I do appreciate the individualized wrapping for the first day of the Advent Calendar. Points are taken off due to lack of ingredient information and mediocre taste. Chocolisciously Delightful Ingredients: Unknown Chocolisciously Delightful Rating: 3.7 / 5.0 AN EXHILARATING, ENTHUSIASTIC, THRILLING AND ENERGIZING CHOCOBLOGMASS
Hello my little chocolate monsters and graceful chocolate ladybugs. I know, I know, where have I been? You would not even believe me if I told you therefore, I will spare you the details. Let’s just say that my life has been unpredictable, sad, sorrowful, furious, stunned, painstaking, physically dreadful, finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel to the finish line, suspenseful, content, and lastly, just happy to be here, a place I call home. I am finally writing on this blog that I absolutely adore. I love to present facts, information, and delightful tasting to the wonderful people who take the time to read it. I want to say a big, huge, enormous, gigantic thank you to all who are still here. Please know that my blog is very important to me, and there were many times that I did want to sit down and share a review or two with you however, my time and circumstances just did not permit it. I now decided to do a huge comeback with something completely different. It is Chocoblogmass!!! Regardless if you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hinduism, Jehovah Witnesses etc., my daily testing of 8 Advent Calendars will be all about the chocolate itself. I though that this would be a great way to not only test fun and delicious chocolates everyday (oh yes) for the next 24 Days of December, but to also compare their taste, smell, colour, and all the other fun things associated with chocolate. The writing will be done daily; the chocolates will be evaluated and judged side by side. I am so looking forward to this, and am in complete ecstatic mode. Below are the lucky 8 Advent Calendars that I have carefully chosen. If some descriptions have more details presented than others, please excuse the company’s lack of information on their website or in general. I am assuming that the chocolate will speak, in other words, Choco will do the talk! Let’s begin this amazing journey together. You are stuck with me now for the next 24 days. Enjoy the ride! OHHHHHHHHHHH, horrrrayyyyyy!!! xoxoxo Soriah GODIVA Lady Godiva and her husband Lord Leofric lived in Conventry, England. Lord Leofric was a powerful ruler who was uncaring to the citizens of his kingdom. Lady Godiva on the other hand was a kind and generous individual who had dedicated her whole life to the impoverished and troubled individuals. When Lord Leofric imposed a heavy tax upon his people, Lady Godiva protested. In response, Lord Leofric put a challenge in place that stated if his wife rode naked through the streets, the taxation would be lifted. Lady Godiva, the modest and shy woman that she was, immediately agreed as this would help her townspeople. On the morning of the event, Lady Godiva strolled around wrapped in nothing except for her gorgeous locks. The generous gesture that she agreed upon led to more generosity from the townspeople. They all decided to close their shutters to preserve Lady Godiva’s modesty. People were loud, but not a single glance fell upon Lady Godiva’s naked being. As she completed the unclothed dare, a huge cheer fulfilled the town. Her bravery had won the hearts of all people. As promised, her husband Lord Leofric eased his taxation tariff on the poor, and Lady Godiva’s place in history was immortalized. One hundred years later, in 1926, Godiva founder and master chocolatier Joseph Draps created a new line of Belgium chocolates that had a rich taste, premium quality, and a unique style. He wanted his company to be known for values of balance, benevolence, and boldness, just like Lady Godiva. The choice was clear for Draps to name the establishment Godiva. In 1968, Godiva was appointed the official chocolatier to the Royal Court of Belgium. In 1972, Godiva opened international boutiques in New York’s City Fifth Avenue, and the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo. By 2016, Godiva has expanded to over 600 owned Boutiques in over 100 countries. Godiva’s reputation for excellence in chocolate can be traced back to their beginnings in Belgium. Their attention to detail, and immaculate quality is what attracts many loyal customers to come back for more. ROGERS’ CHOCOLATES Roger’s story began in 1885, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, when the son of a Massachusetts farmer, Charles “Candy” Rogers established a “green grocery” on the west side of Government Street, across from the place he would later develop into what is known today as the heritage store. In his business, Charles sold fruits, vegetables, and chocolates that were imported from San Francisco. Soon thereafter, Charles went on to marry a local girl by the name of Leah Morrison, and the two of them together continued to run the grocery store. Tourists, and locals increasingly began to purchase their chocolates. The only problem was that Charles could not stock them fast enough. He therefore made a life-changing decision to begin making the actual chocolate himself. His very first and original creation, the Victoria Cream, quickly became a wondrous win. Charles then knew, and was determined to begin his career as Canada’s first chocolatier. While he practiced, and developed his skill over a steamy cauldron in the backroom, his wife Leah worked long hours managing the retail front store. Things blossomed for two. Unfortunately, Charles Rogers passed away in 1927, at the age of 73, but by this time, his chocolates already had the reputation of divineness that attracted all sorts of visitors from around the globe. Soon after her husband’s death, Leah sold the chocolate business, and focused her efforts to support her church, and the less fortunate individuals in her community. Leah passed away in 1952 at the age of 88. To this day, Rogers’ Chocolates remains privately owned, and is operated locally, in Canada, by a Canadian family that takes great care, and pride in the legacy of Charles and Leah. Rogers Chocolates has 10 retail stores in British Columbia, and many wholesale partners across Canada. Roges’ Chocolates strives for perfection, and they remain committed to the old world and legacy of Charles and Leah Rogers in everything that they do. Many of Rogers’ employees have been with the company for over 25 years. That certainly says something! Rogers’ Chocolates is very much involved in numerous of non-profit organizations, local charities, and fundraising events. They also are committed to support their farmers through sustainable cocoa growing practices, and fair pricing policies. On March 22, 2016, Rogers began to use 100% Fair Trade Certified Cocoa in all their products that they sell. To this day, they are 98% close to their achievement. Through fair cocoa pricing, farmers are paid generously. Rogers’ Chocolates also invests in education for children, and protection of the environment. PURDY’S CHOCOLATIER This happens to be purely a Canadian Chocolatier Company whose founder is no other than Richard Carmon Purdy. He began to sell his homemade chocolates in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Canada. The year was 1907. What a wonderful time! Today, Purdy’s has grown, and holds shops across the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Purdy’s is known for as their website states for “fantastic chocolates, fantastic service, and fantastic people.” The company sources premium-quality ingredients from around the world, and makes great attempts to choose local options whenever the opportunity arises. All of their milk, creams, and butter are delivered from BC dairy farms, and most of their sugar used also comes from neighbouring sugar suppliers. I like this next sentence as it makes me feel at ease that Purdy’s really does care for the quality of their chocolates, “Purdy’s creations have a short shelf life – and we like it that way.” This means that most of everything that they sell is quite fresh. If selloff is not complete according to their timeline, then the chocolates are no longer presented and sold as being fresh. Purdy’s chocolates cannot be located at any grocery stores mainly due to their short shelf life. All of their chocolates are made in small batches without any preservatives. Awesome! Their cocoa comes from farmers who are well provided for. “It’s a choice we’ve made because it’s the right choice to make.” Nice! Purdy’s has green in mind meaning that they have saved over 1000 tress since 2008, and have cut their waste to landfill in half over the last four years. Purdy’s has also reduced their electricity consumption as well as greenhouse emissions and gas consumption. I am now truly impressed. Way to go Purdy’s!!! To top it off, Purdy’s Chocolatier was named 2016 Best Employer in Canada – Platinum Level. Purdy’s is experimental with their recipes. They come across over 100 recipes each year but less than 10 make it in production. Someone is a picky choco nut! Purdy’s supports Sustainable Living, Sustainable Farms, and Sustainable Cocoa. This translates to them supporting the communities where their farmer partners, and families live in terms of infrastructure, medical care, and children’s education. Purdy’s uses only 100% sustainable cocoa. LÄDERACH CHOCOLATIER SUISSE The company was founded in 1962 by Rudolf Laderach in Glarus, Switzerland. In 1970, Rudolf Läderach Jr. invented, and patented his revolutionary process to manufacture thin-walled hollow balls for truffles. Läderach’s philosophy has always been utmost quality, and aims to deliver the freshest chocolates possible while at the same time, practices very strict hygiene controls. Their employees are perceived as an important asset within the company, and are treated with respect, dignity, and without prejudice. DANIEL CHOCOLATES Daniel Chocolates was founded by Daniel Poncelet (go figure) about 25 years ago. He was born and fully raised in Belgium. Chocolate was always a part of Daniel’s diet, even as a child. As he grew up, he began to have a great appreciation for the art of making chocolates and experimented, without compromise, to yield the finest ingredients that adhered to purity. Daniel Chocolates uses 100% natural ingredients – preservative free, no artificial colorings and flavors, no hydrogenated, vegetable, and tropical fats. Most of Daniel’s chocolates are shell-molded as it is the traditional process practiced in Belgium. Although this kind of process is lengthy, Daniel does not want to forgo taste, quality, and appeal. KINDER Kinder is part of the Ferrero SpA Italian Manufacturer Enterprise who are still striving strong today, and continuing to make branded chocolate, and confectionery products worldwide. Ferrero is the third biggest chocolate producer, and confectionery company in the world. Kinder is one of the products produced by Ferrero. The word Kinder is “children” in German, where the company was initially founded in 1967. One year later, in 1968, it was sold to Italy. Kinder’s has its own line of products, and they include Kinder Surprise, Kinder Joy, Kinder Chocolate, Kinder Happy Hippo, Kinder Maxi, Kinder Duplo, Kinder Country, Kinder Delice, and Kinder Bueno. On ethical grounds, Kinder supports the protection of human dignity and respect for human rights. They aid in abolition of the exploitation of child and forced labour. Kinder works to avoid any form of discrimination within their employment practices in all the companies of their group, and this commences from initial moment of hiring. They guarantee freedom for their employees to belong to trade Unions. The Ferrero group protects human health, and environment which are both at the core of their operational practices. Their facilities are managed through the use of sustainable resources such as water, energy, raw, and other materials, including renewable resources. They strive to reduce their environmental footprints by decreasing emissions, eliminating wastes, and managing waste products that is both safe and ethical to the animals and the planet. Kinder states that they use the highest quality raw materials as much as possible that are sourced at a strict moral code regarding their origin, harvesting, and manufacturing. Kinder’s main focus is on subjects such as nutrition, physical activity, and creation of high quality products. LINDT In 1879, Rodolphe Lindt revolutionized chocolate making with their ‘Conching’ method – which is the intense mixing of heated liquid chocolate to create a silky-smooth Lindt Chocolate texture. Rodolphe Lindt is the son of a Berenese whose daily duties as a pharmacist were a far cry from his son’s dreams of chocolates. In 1879, chocolate was extremely hard to process and even harder to eat. People had to literally chew it. Softness just did not exist as hard as it is to believe. Rodolphe Lindt was a confectioner, epicurean, and bon vivant whose desire was to create chocolate that was not rigid, and at the same time, pleasing to the pallet. He purchased an old factory, all with antiquated machines. Initially, his father Berenese was a bit surprised, but did not discourage his son Rodolphe who quickly began to experiment. He spent endless days and nights testing and conducting only to conclude that nothing he did worked. On the upside: a white layer began to form on the chocolate mass. It was Rodolphe’s brother, Auguste, also a pharmacist just like his father, who analyzed the white coating, and quickly realized that this is crystallized fat. They thought that this could mean something. They continued to test well into the nights. More cocoa beans, cooking with more cocoa butter, would this make the difference.? Nobody had experimented or done this prior to. Rodolphe worked on the recipe through many trials and errors, but no matter what or how he did it, the results were just not satisfactory. One Friday evening, Rodolphe Lindt hissed as one of the “Jeunesse doree” left the factory without having finished his work, and even more importantly, without having switched off the machines. Was this intentional, or did the employee just forget? I guess we will never know, but the machine continued to run, and run through the whole weekend. When Rudolphe Lindt entered his factory on the following Monday morning, he was initially shocked. What he found stirring in the tank was anything but hard, and instead, a burnt chocolate mass. It shone, smelled divine, and when he took a big taste, Rodolphe was the first person to finally experience how chocolate melted in the mouth. He was in awe. Nobody up until then knew truly how the chocolate became that smooth, but one thing that they were aware of was that the stirring for hours, even days and nights, is a very important component to what he called “the conching process.” For almost 150 years, which takes us through to today, chocolate manufacturers all over the world have tried to discover the secret behind the Lindt family recipe. Nobody has come even remotely close to duplicate it. The melt-in-the-mouth chocolate from Rudolphe Lindt has remined a symbol for all chocolatiers. Lindt Maitres Chocolatiers selects, and process only the most premium ingredients from world renowned growing regions. To maintain the delicious aroma, nuts are roasted in-house, and freshly worked into the chocolate. Lindt carefully selects only high-quality cocoa beans, and grinds them to extreme fine which in turn makes the chocolate incredibly soft for melting. Lindt is also engaged in helping pioneering projects such as farming programs, worldwide water projects, and lastly education. They make great attempts to reduce their transport costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Lindt also attempts, whenever possible, to purchase ingredients near to their productions sites so that any fault in quality can be locally traced back. SINFULLY THE BEST Sinfully The Best is a sole location in the heart of Steveston, British Columbia, Canada. Unfortunately, the company has not been diligent with providing any information on their websites in terms of company history, harvesting, ingredients, philosophy etc. I do though, must mention from experience, while of course visiting the shop, that they not only have exquisite chocolates that are delicious, and decadent, but their chocolate carving is absolutely perfect. I am always in complete awe as to the gifted crafters that they have managed to obtain. Something must be done right at Sinfully The Best. To top it all off, whenever you visit the shop, you are greeted by a smiley individual with the friendliest demeanour, holding a tray, and offering a fully sized chocolate mousse cup. That is right, you heard me, not a mini size or a half size. This is a full serving of goodness. How do they do it??? It gets even better; you pick the flavour! Oh yeah, now we are talking’! Perhaps one day while surfing the net, and accidentally (hmmm) ending up on their site, I will finally find fully informative, and updated history and material on this gorgeous hidden little shop, just around the corner! A neighbour’s favourite. Now that the introduction has taken place, let the games begin, good times roll, however way your heart flutters. On your mark, get set, GO! |
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Affordable but still SavoryThis blog page is dedicated to inexpensive chocolates that are continuously, to this day, enjoyed daily by many chocolate lovers out there. I still happily delve my taste buds into a good old-fashioned, so tasty, and yet simple Mr. Goodbar. To top it off, the cost allows for a much "Sweeter" satisfaction on your fuller wallet! Archives
August 2022
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