Been on the streets today and sampled some of the better chocolate out there.
The first up was the Cote D'or Experiénces 70% cocoa.
On unwrapping the aroma was warm, pleasant and chocolatey. A good start and previous experience of Cote D'or products made me anticipate that I was in for a good nibble. The texture of the chocolate was OK, rather shiny and smooth and a little 'cheap' but not bad. However things rapidly began to go south. While the chocolate was smooth and mellow it simply lacked taste. I'm not sure why but it had no oomph. This bar simply failed to deliver.
Bounty's rating 20/30.
After a palate cleansing glass of water next up was The Lindt 70% cocoa Dark extra fine. The aroma was rich and dark. Biting into the tablet I found a slightly crumbly but enjoyable texture which led to an initially bitter taste, which became quickly mellow and left an understated back taste. Altogether a more 'robust' bar of chocolate than the Cote D'or the Lindt was far from perfect but worth perservering with. A no nonsense chocolate bar.
Bounty's rating 24/30
A little sip of Adam's ale and up came No. 3 the Chocolate Utopia plain Tablet with 69% cocoa solids.
This came in a cellophane wrapper, which maybe dulled the aroma slightly but was never the less pleasant, soft and chocolatey. In fact of the four this was the one that smelled the most of chocolate. A good nibble and I experienced a firm, wholesome texture. So far so good, would the flavour stand up too? Well folks, the taste was uncompromisingly chocolatey with excellent cocoa tones.
This was just good, old fashioned chocolate how it should be.
Bounty's rating 28/30
Bar No. 4 had to go some to beat that. This was the Hotel Chocolat Swiss 72% cocoa.
Like the CU bar, this comes in a cellophane wrapper. The aroma was oddly nutty, not off-putting but unusual and unexpected. The texture was firm, cool and yummy. Easily the thickest of the tablets and it made the difference. The texture alone was a treat. The flavour? What can I say? Simply a triumph. Gorgeous rounded flavours, silky and moreish. In fact it's the one I'm nibbling now. Well done HC.
Bounty's rating 29/30
