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Original poster

Hotel Chocolat disappointment

124 replies

SealSong · 31/12/2018 19:44

Bought several boxes of Hotel Chocolat this Christmas as gifts. Having sampled a few (had a box myself also), I am disappointed in them...not the quality I was expecting and decidedly average but very expensive.

Are there any good brands of chocolates out there? Ones that really are delicious?

OP posts:
Silkei · 31/12/2018 20:37

Hotel Chocolat used to be great but recently they’ve decided to label everything as containing milk and gluten. Apparently they’re incapable of preventing cross contamination so nothing is safe any more. Rubbish considering that other manufacturers manage to make allergen free products.

YearOfYouRemember · 31/12/2018 20:38

Damn. We normally spend around £15 on M&S chocolate for a Christmas gift but this year thought we'd upgraded to £15 on HC Sad.

Haggisfish · 31/12/2018 20:38

Try these! www.harryschocs.co.uk/

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shockedballoon · 31/12/2018 20:39

I'm also not a big Hotel Chocolat fan. Not worth the price. We got our chocs from here this year www.laudenchocolate.co.uk/

One of the owners was on that bake off creme de la creme a couple fo years ago, and they're from yorkshire (where I am) so we looked them up. They were lovely, rich but not overly sweet - unlike the mega Ferrero Rocher box we also got for DS Grin

Knackeredmommy · 31/12/2018 20:39

Leonidas chocolates are lovely. I have a shop near me but discovered they sell on Amazon too.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/12/2018 20:41

Worrying re the palm fat and gluten. I eat them as they had plenty of non gluten containing options, and the chocolate was lower sugar which i prefer.
I like Montezuma’s giant buttons. Yum.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/12/2018 20:43

Oh and they also don’t use artificial colours. I am going to contact them re the palm fat and gluten as i get the taster box.

Blooger · 31/12/2018 20:47

German brand of organic choc called Vivani is the best. But unless you live in London you may have to order it online. Also Booja Booja organic truffles are lovely. Conscious Chocolate also nice, not too sweet. I agree that Hotel Chocolat is over-sweet crap.

PickAChew · 31/12/2018 20:47

Got my parents one of the festive sleeksters and we all enjoyed making a dent in it, last night. Nice glossy chocolate and tasty fillings.

GabsAlot · 31/12/2018 20:49

i just wanted to say if anyone doesnt want their hc i will take them off your hands

as you were

XmasPostmanBos · 31/12/2018 20:51

What are the harryschocs like Haggis? I saw those and was impressed by the company's work with autistic people, but they are a little out of my price range. But would love to know whether they are as nice as they look.

Blackbutler86 · 31/12/2018 20:52

Another here to recommend Booja Booja, I gifted a box to my mother who likes high end chocolate a couple of years ago. She was a little bit meh after I excitedly told her they were vegan (she thinks veganism is an extreme way to live Hmm ). However she absolutely loved them and is now a frequent buyer :)

AlecOrAlonzo · 31/12/2018 20:53

Dh sent a box of coco mountain chocolate to his mum. They sound amazing. I think they were on Dragon's Den or something.

concernedforthefuture · 31/12/2018 20:53

I agree that they're not as nice as they have been. I mentioned the same in-store and was told that the recipes have changed. Less cocoa, added palm oil. V disappointed and won't be buying again. It's like the demise of Cadbury's all over again Angry

UserMe18 · 31/12/2018 20:53

I love hotel chocolat and bought a fair bit (for us ha!) but I find I like eating their chocolate plain like the slabs rather than their actual chocolates.

missesschmisses · 31/12/2018 20:54

Has anyone tried Monty Bojangles? They're my new favourite yum yum

BareBelliedSneetch · 31/12/2018 20:57

I’ve checked all our Christmas HC and can’t find any palm oil at all Hmm

Love Booja Booja though. And Montezuma. And Monty Bojangles.

TheFishInThePot · 31/12/2018 20:58

I gifted two people these this year, and both made a point of telling me how nice they were, one asked where they were from. www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Merci-Finest-Chocolate-Selection/338011011

Clevs · 31/12/2018 21:00

@shockedballoon Lauden chocolates are my favourite too but I can't get them unless I buy them mail order. I normally stock up at the Good Food Show but didn't go this year. Nobody I know has ever heard of them either!

YetAnotherThing · 31/12/2018 21:01

Neuhaus Belgian Chocs are amazing too.

Sitranced · 31/12/2018 21:01

Nice, but pretty average.

CatnissEverdene · 31/12/2018 21:02

I like HC- it's leagues ahead of the truly nasty box of Thorntons and Dairy Box we got given over Christmas. They taste of sweetened lard. Grim.

I like the Monty Bojangles ones, they aren't overly sweet.

winchesterfan · 31/12/2018 21:02

I was given some chocolates from Harry Specters for Christmas, they were absolutely lovely and the company ethos is lovely too.

www.harryschocs.co.uk

AwkwardSquad · 31/12/2018 21:05

I third Lauden chocolates, they’re delicious and very pretty. We had a box as a special treat this Christmas.

EnidButton · 31/12/2018 21:06

I've never been impressed by hotel chocolat but they were always popular on MN. I thought it was just me. They're just not chocolatey enough and too sweet.

Monty Bojanglea truffles are very nice. Especially the 'choccy' ones. I love Godiva dark chocolate heart trufffles.

As far as actual mid priced boxes of chocolates with some variety of flavours, I can't think of any that really fulfill the criteria.

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