By far the highlight of National Chocolate Week for us was this Cocoa Niblingtons connoisseur chocolate tasting kit for kids, which we hoped would start our children thinking about chocolate more carefully, appreciating the different kinds. We found it in the children's section at Hotel Chocolat, and it turned out to be a really nice, fun (and tasty!) family activity.

 

The pack had 6 samples each of white chocolate, 32% cocoa, 50% cocoa, 62% cocoa and 72% cocoa chocolate, all with cartoon characters on, So we tried them in that order, and the instructions asked us to smell them, choosing options to describe the smell (should I say scent!), the texture, and then the taste. The options were often funny (does it smell like honey, cocoa or old socks?), but using the chocolate tasting kit was so much fun in itself as the kids were so excited, and the chocolate in it was very nice too.

 

Although my favourite was the 50%, I was surprised to like the white chocolate, which also turned out to be my 5 year old's favourite, followed by the 32%. It was a bit like trying Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Dazs vanilla, which I like although I don't usually like vanilla ice cream. My 3 year old liked all the chocolate types, my husband could take or leave any chocolate (weirdo, I know!) and I preferred the 50% and 32%, but quite liked the 62% and white chocolate. It took several days for the last 72% to be eaten, and my 5 year old didn't even finish his, despite enjoying the 'does it smell like honey?' procedure. But I guess that goes to show that we all became more discriminating about our tastes in chocolate! 

 

Click here and go to the children's section to see Cocoa Niblingtons stuff from Hotel Chocolat 

National Chocolate Week seemed an ideal excuse to try out the chocolate mint soap I was given for my birthday.

 

But I have to say, although it looked very pretty and the chocolate bunny did smell of chocolate, as a soap it wasn't that great because it fell apart around the edges of the bunny.

 

Interesting to try though - possibly more minty that chocolatey.

Check out this beautiful but scary looking chocolate I got for my birthday yesterday! It comes from the Chocolate Alchemist (via my sister - thanks!), and it's very dark, it's got chillies covered in white chocolate in it and it's scattered with chilli seeds. A very classy looking but scary gift! The mobile phone camera really doesn't do it justice, it's a beautiful gift - I must get a new camera soon! I can totally see the logic to it too: Here's someone who likes chocolate, high cocoa chocolate is considered the gourmet version of chocolate, and high cocoa with chilli is exotic and Latin American and therefore the king of gourmet chocolate.

 

As it turns out my mother loves chilli chocolate, so I was able to find it a better home there, but still have a chance to try some.

 

 

It was firm, but melty enough (technical terms there). I'd still say it's a bit too dark for me. But apart from that, 'interestingly warm'! It wasn't as hot as those hot sauces with cartoons on. But it was interestingly spicy - I think probably it would have made a very nice hot chocolate that was interesting in a good way. And above all, it was a very nicely presented, beautiful gift! Thanks, sis!

 

Feast your eyes on this 'Rich Chocolate Torte' with rich dark and milk chocolate layers on top of a dark chocolate biscuit base, served with a sumptuous white dessert wine....

 

The perfect celebration of romance!