To say some chocolates are distinctively middle class?

[lionobserving]

MIL asked us if we thought our ferrero rocher tower was "aspirational" and said she knows ferrero rochers to be the aspirational chocolates of the working class.

This baffled me. My family has always sort of transcended class - my mum was upper middle, my day was very working class. But he was a doctor and she a nurse. We were probably lower middle growing up if I had to put a tag on it, but our mixed extended family meant that we weren't aware of what was "posh" or MC / WC. We certainly wouldn't have known which chocs has the markings of which class.

Therefore MNers - lightheartedly - tell me which chocolates you view as typically middle class? We discussed it as a family and we couldn't come up with a single one!

Artisan du chocolat, Godiva and similar?

Fortnum and Mason, dahrling

What the heck are you on about with all your lower middle, upper middle etc etc!
Go to the shop, buy the chocolates you like. Class has nothing to do with what your tastebuds like.
The Queen eats burgers. I think burgers are disgusting and greasy. She likes them, I don’t. Are burgers upper class? 😂

@Redshell

Artisan du chocolat, Godiva and similar?

I must say I have a soft spot for the Artisan du chocolat mis-shapes they sell on their Borough market stall. Slightly wonky but delicious and cheaper.

I loved the nicotine ones that gave you a kind of mouth-buzz.

Fortnum & Mason Rose and Violet Creams are the poshest and most delicious chocolates.

@Pensieve

Caramac

Oh I used to love that! I've still not forgiven Ritter Sport for stopping making Mocha, it was divine. This thread has reminded me that I was given a pack of Green and Black miniatures on Christmas Day and haven't seen them since, need my best Miss Marple hat on.

F&M.

Quality Street are truly the chocolates of the Posh, though.

As I have my own little business making chocolate and fudge, I'd say it depends on the price

I try to cater to every price range and can understand why some of the local artisan chocolate places are expensive, simply due to how much time and effort goes into each one.

But I would definitely bulk at some of the prices mentioned here and class them as high end!

I love Laderach but now all my friends are boycotting them. Still my chocolate of choice

I expect I've never even heard the names of proper upper class posh chocolates. Although......... wouldn't their staff hand make them?

I personally find that a lot of the less 'posh' chocolates taste better. To me anyway. And vice versa. A lot of the 'posher' ones are very rich and cloying and anything dusted in cocoa is ruined for me. We have some additional dietary needs in our family, so we buy appropriately from any of the price points, anyway.

I also find the concept of aspirational foods completely naff in the first place. And surely the actual 'middle class' thing to do would be to buy a range of things that you consider that you and your guests will enjoy. Try too hard, and you're not really 'middle class', are you?

I consider myself LMC based on job and wealth but I have a lot of upper class friends who live in manor houses and stately homes (mainly owned by the national trust) . Most of them buy cheap and cheerful for themselves and ship in expensive chocolates to their friends to keep up appearances darling.

Buy the chocolate you enjoy. I’m currently stuffing my face with the coconut Ferraro Roche's. The only aspiration I have is to get the outer layer off without damaging the wafer.

It’s not MC unless you can tell everyone the percentage of cocoa solids.
Huzzah!

There’s always R Chocolate in Belgravia, a bespoke chocolatier founded by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

The lady likes Milk Tray

I think it depends on origin/ease of purchase to quite a large degree.
Take Leonidas for example. In the UK they are still not that commonly available, and being imported are a bit more expensive than average, so are seen as a bit special or posh compared to standard British brands. But when my DH worked in Brussels he'd buy a few Leonidas from one of the multitude of shops just as he might pick up a Dairy Milk on the way back from work at home. I remember him saying one of his Belgian colleagues was horrified that he "only" bought me Leonidas as a present when he was coming home as they viewed them as every day chocolates, but I thought they were a real treat! Sadly, post Brexit I don't get my regular Leonidas hit anymore. Been good for my weight though.

Dunno about class but Paul A Young chocs are yum usually get some for Christmas but sadly the Soho branch now closed. CBA to go to the other one so got some Rococo which are pretty reliably good.

Harrods English chocolates are fairly epic but not had those for a few years.

Lindor and Ferrero Rocher go in the bin here not keen at all . Love trashy chocs like Quality St, Maltesers and Matchmakers.

Most hilarious thread. I have no idea but I am rather partial to charbonnel & walkers dark whole cherry chocolates.

Seriously, does anyone really waste brain space on this?? Class is about your and your children's life chances, education, job opportunities, property ownership, etc this just trivialised these serious issues

Pump Street chocolate? I bought their hot chocolate for Christmas as it comes highly recommended, but when I tried to add some chocolate to take my order over the limit for paying postage and packing, there was nothing I could afford on the whole of the rest of the website (nothing less than £6-7 for a small taster bar) so I can’t actually report on what their chocolate tastes like!

I’m working class and my pleasure Is gourmet hand made liquorice, sent from Denmark.

lakridsbybulow.co.uk/

I was first introduced to it flying first on Emirates, it is in their goodie basket. I googled it and have treated myself to it ever since. My DH treated me to some as well this year! I only have 2 or 3 pieces every evening so this stash will last me to Easter!

@Dontwanttolivewithmylover

Tesco, among others, do Marc de Champagne truffles under their own brand so they're def not 'posh'.

I think you were responding to the poster who said Champagne Truffles.

Did you know Marc de Champagne isn't champagne? It's a type of brandy made as a by-product of the Champagne-making process by using the discarded skins.

I didn't know until recently, so I'm not trying to patronise, just thought it was interesting!

Have Bendicks Bittermints been mentioned? My posh boss gives me one as if I should be pleased, although I don't much like them.

I do think they're fairly posh, and fairly unpleasant. Why anyone likes chocolate with toothpaste inside is a mystery to me, although the actual choc on Bendicks is quite good.

Boss gives me Fortnum & Mason chocs at xmas and I've found them a bit underwhelming, I thought they'd be very special indeed.

@speakout

*Elphame I didn't realise they still made Black Magic.

It seems they do as I got a box for Christmas.*

Perhaps they were alluding to some aspect of you??

You are probably right

Ooh reading with interest!

My mum often sends us hotel chocolat gifts which DH claims to hate as they are too posh but seems to scoff anyway. I’m a fan of them but wouldn’t have said particularly posh!

Ferraro rochers are (in my humble opinion) decidedly not posh but very delicious.