What's the highest quality chocolate you can get for your money?

[Joeytribbianiz]

I want something relatively accessible, but great quality. Not full of vegetable oil. I'm thinking maybe Tony's Chocoloney? No cadbury's, galaxy etc.

[CityDweller]

Thanks to this thread I've just spend half an hour salivating over the Audrey's website. Their stuff looks amazing, definitely ordering some for Christmas.

[tigerbear]

@PearlclutchersInc ermmm, I’ve nearly finished that box I bought for DP

[PearlclutchersInc]

@tigerbear ....envious, who me?? not much

Wanders off to ogle Leonidas chocolate website.....

[Kpo58]

My favourite chocolate is Cote d'Or.

[Mooserp]

I tried a bar of Tony's and was very disappointed after hearing such good things about it.

I got a free sample in John Lewis recently of some amazing dark chocolate at a little pop up shop - but I can't remember the name. It was expensive - £2.50 for a mini bar.

[orangeblosssom]

Best chocolate:

www.spruengli.ch/en/shop/chocolate-bars/milk-chocolate-with-hazelnuts-150g.html

[tigerbear]

@PearlclutchersInc look what arrived yesterday! (I ordered them kind of for DP’s birthday/kind of for me ).
The golden boxes transport me right back to my childhood!

[Impatientwino]

@Imissmoominmama Ooh I hope you enjoyed!! They sounded delicious! I really recommend trying their salted caramels next even if it's not your thing! They're amazing!

[mellicauli]

it's Chocolonely because it's too good to share

[ratspeaker]

www.cocoamountain.co.uk

[Imissmoominmama]

@Impatientwino - look what came today! I shared them with my dad, who was very pleased!

[VenusClapTrap]

I second Audrey’s. Df always buys us a big box of those for Christmas and they are delish.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

The postage though!

I buy from HEMA sometimes which has free postage over £20, but doesn't seem to have much liquorice on the English site.

[haba]

@perfectstorm Thank you for the Dutch site. I used to love Droste's pastilles...

[NullcovoidNovember]

Perfect storm, you have sold me on Audreys... I've messaged them to ask a few questions... I'm looking forward to trying their rose and violet creams.

[LongPauseNoAnswer]

I live on the Swiss border so I go for either Cailler or artisan like Guillaume Bichet

Day to day I eat Lindt 90%

[SionnachRua]

Ritter Sport is king imo, especially the Choco Duo and Butter biscuit bars. Takes me right back to being an exchange student in Germany!

I also love the Aldi chocolate. Not a fan of Hotel Chocolat at all, it's very heavy. I like Tony's but it's not easy to get.

[perfectstorm]

@NullcovoidNovember

Perfect, thanks for the Audrey tip!

It's a real shame however that Audreys doesn't, show what type of of boxes they use... Presentation is so key.

They have an example of their boxes on their shop page: www.audreyschocolates.co.uk/pre-packed-boxes/hn/prepacked.aspx?hn

Last year they had an anniversary one (50 years, maybe? Can't remember) that was similar to Fortnums in being that eau de nil with gold, which I sent to a few people as Christmas presents as they were really pretty but usually it's as shown. You can always call and ask, though - they're a small company so pride themselves on offering good service.

They won't have the grandeur of the Fortnums packaging, of course, but you get the same chocolates in nice enough boxes, at a fraction of the cost, so if it's for family etc I don't think twice.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Läderach. Especially their FrischSchoggi.

It's quite expensive but really really lovely. If you go to one of their shops, they break it off enormous slabs for you. (But be careful if you're allergic to nuts. That doesn't really seem to be a thing in Switzerland!)

They have just opened a shop in Westfields if you're down south.

I like Tony's too — I often fly via Schiphol and pick up a different flavour if I spot one. There was one with thyme which I thought sounded a bit odd, but actually loved.

[PearlclutchersInc]

@tiger Leonidas manon blanc are wonderful. My aunt has been bringing them to us from Belgium since I was little. I know you can get them mail order but its not the same lol)

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

Lindt use palm oil in their truffles. This pisses me right off

The grandson of the Cadbury guy does “love Cocoa” and it’s VERY nice

I actually make my own

[Tavannach]

Lindt. It's usually on offer somewhere for £1.50. I just checked the bar in the cupboard and it doesn't have palm oil. My milk chocolate eating friend really likes their creamy milk chocolate one.
I also like the Waitrose 80% Peru.

[actiongirl1978]

Choccoco are the absolute best.

I ate a full tub of the 80%buttons before breakfast last year on Christmas Day.

If you can get into their cafes the hot chocolate knocks your socks off.

[NullcovoidNovember]

Perfect, thanks for the Audrey tip!

It's a real shame however that Audreys doesn't, show what type of of boxes they use... Presentation is so key.

[perfectstorm]

You can get a lot more Tony Chocolonely flavours in the Netherlands than you can here, unsurprisingly. There's a company who ship to here - they sell a lot of Dutch food, not just this brand - I've stocked up for the kids with unavailable Tony flavours (and bars with their initials) for their stockings, as they are passionate fans of the brand, and they will legit think that the elves made them all, just for them.

They sent a code for 10% off, which was a bit of a bummer as it expires in January and I ordered everything I plan to, for at least a year! But if it's any use to anyone else who likes Dutch food, and wants to get it in before Brexit, it's ZV63W9.

Agree that Paul A Young make the very best chocolates you can get in this country (and I have a soft spot for Neuhaus). I also like Demarquette and William Curley. And Melt are great too. All very spendy, though, sadly. Good chocolate is though.

Finally, Fortnum and Mason get all their chocolates made by a little company in Brighton, Audreys. You can buy all their chocs directly for around a third of the price. At Easter, they sell the exact same eggs Fortnum do - they make them, after all! - but they're £15 or so at Audreys, and £45 at Fortnums! Audreys aren't cheap, but when you consider the discount for the exact same product, you're talking Aldi versus Waitrose with the same producer. And they're lovely - they tailor the Easter eggs to my family, so they select red sugar roses for one person with bees, for example, and frogs and daffodils for another, if you call and ask ahead of time. You can also fill boxes of chocolates with individual selections from their website, so none you dislike. Not an option with Fortnum's boxes, yet they're the exact same chocolates. They're very tradional - more the traditional English Rococo boxes style than Paul A Young - but no less delicious for that.