To give Hotel Chocolate as a present

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Earlier there was a thread about a work raffle where people donated prizes. The OP mentioned Hotel Chocolate as being one of those "junk presents" that people would donate.

I'm feeling a bit sheepish as I would have bought it online to send as presents to friends in UK (I don't live there myself).

What do people think?
IABU - It's got a bit of a crap reputation
IANBU - It's a premium brand that you'd be glad to get as a present.

Personally, and I think for an awful lot of people, it IS a premier chocolate, even if by price alone! I hadn't realised that many MNetters have an issue with it!

I don't really like it so might regift, but I'd appreciate your kindness. I'm not snobby about chocolate but for some reason it's not for me.

Well I'm confused. I thought hotel chocolate was for financially well off people as it's so expensive. I received a box from a parent last summer (I'm a teacher) and I was taken a back by her generosity. Personally I'm delighted with a bar of dairy milk.

I dug up the quote as I was perplexed to see this issue raised here in such a manner as “uzbek wine…hotel chocolate [carriage return] chocolates… nasty lynx box sets”. So I had presumed that meant ‘freebies’ from a stay in a hotel, mints on the pillow type thing. Hôtel Chocolat (no last ‘e’ is hardly close to being in the same category as the other two examples proffered. Pretentious nonsense.

I personally prefer some basic Cadburys type chocolate. Lindt if feeling posh. But Hotel Chocolate is a nice gift if you feel like giving something more present-y than a flake.

Depends on if you are trying to impress with a brand or please with something nice. For someone you know who isn't a brand snob or conscious about costs of gifts they are a good option. Some people would be embarassed by you spending £18 on a box of chocolates but would be happy with £7 and still think it a luxury.

I can't get excited by brands too much as long as the gift is appropriate.

What the hello are these brands you're talking about? Surely the everyday brands are Cadbury or Galaxy? Maybe Lindor if im feeling posh 😆

I love hotel chocolat and was delighted when someone bought me a box as a gift a couple of years ago. Two of their delivery staff rescued toddler DD and me when we were lost in Grantham at 1am having been diverted off the motorway due to a bad accident. Sat nav didn’t know the road was closed. Van driver recognised us from traffic jam, stopped alongside us while I was map reading and told me to follow them through country roads back to the motorway.

Those wondering about the change in taste. This may have something to do with it: Mars acquired Hotel Chocolat in 2024, and no doubt has made some “streamlining” decisions.

The other brands are the luxury brands. HC fills the gap between everyday brands (i.e. those you listed) and luxury brands (those the PP listed).

I used to like it until they changed the recipe. Nowadays it's like eating slightly sweetened candle wax.

I love it!🥰

OK, so be a judgmental and inverted snob then. Your choice.

I happen to love the Gianduja and the dizzy pralines, especiallt the dar chocolate ones. You can tell me I have crap taste [which you are] and, effectively, insult me but its my choice to waste my money on chocolate i love and consider it a treat.

OP, most people would be appreciative of HC for a and accept it as the generous gesture it was. Ignore the judgmental troglodytes with no manners.

I’ve bought it before for teachers but I actually don’t think I’ve ever tried it myself! It’s expensive to me hence me only buying it for others as a gift. I only eat Tony’s every so often as a treat nowadays.

I like HC chocolate and would be happy to receive it. I tend to buy M&S chocolate as gifts. HC isn’t suitable for coeliacs which rules it out for quite a few of my family.

think it was this box I gave to someone last year and she said they were delicious https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/the-chocolate-truffle-collection/p/fdp60562644#intid=pid_pg1pip96g6r5c6

Totally agree.
The original poster sounds a bit snobby..
I wonder what brand of chocolate she would consider acceptable..Godiva maybe ??

Dark Dizzy Praline in my stocking every year and if not I’ll be having stern words with the big man in red.

It’s rank 🤢 The packaging and way they display it looks good though.

Hotel Chocolate… hmmmm…

They have some really nice chocolate in there. But the things people tend to gift are the mixed boxes of chocolates. Those mix boxes are very noticeably cheaper (in quality) and crapper chocolate, and it’s reflected in the price too

If I was to gift hotel chocolate, I would gift one of their chocolate wreaths. They are delicious and last time I had one still good quality.

but yes, IMO, this brand is going down the path of Thorntons. not there yet, but not far.

I find MN really weird about chocolate. Every few months there will be threads about how Dairy Milk , Galaxy etc is VILE now, how it tastes gloopy like oil, and how they can't stand anything less than 70% cocoa. I fucking love it all! And I can't taste any difference between how it used to taste and how it used to.

I got a big hotel chocolat box as a wedding present from some one who couldn’t make the wedding and I loved it. I thought it was a lovely gift and I was very appreciative. The chocolate was very nice

Personally, don’t like them. Some very odd flavours.

What do the people who dont like HC eat?

I love it. And wouldn’t buy myself as expensive so a good gift choice!

There's so much snobbery about Hotel Chocolat on MN. I've just looked at their chocolate slabs and there's no oil in them. I'm sure the gift would be gratefully received OP.