Some really good chocolate for Christmas

[ifigoup]

I’ve got so fed up with chocolate that I never buy it nowadays. It’s all waxy greasy palm oil-based shit, and very much not worth the calories. I won’t be getting in Roses or Quality Street even for nostalgic purposes.

That said, I feel sad for DC that he doesn’t really know what nice chocolate is like (he was given plenty for Easter, which we’re still working through, but it’s not even proper chocolate: when you try to melt it, it crumbles. And I’d quite like some good chocolate for Crimbo for myself too. So, what to get?

Stuff I’ve liked in the past:
Monty Bojangles truffles
Tony’s Chocolonely (but annoying that it breaks into weird shapes)

I would like it to be Fairtrade, and ideally I’d like something in a variety of flavours with some dark/non-dairy options as DH is vegan.

What do I need to know about???

Cocoa loco is nice. Nicer than Tonys and is ethical.

Green and Blacks probably meets all of your criteria.

For a treat for the grown ups I thoroughly recommend Charbonnel et Walker. DH loved the Jamaican Rum ones and I like the pink champagne.

This article has a few recommendations of more unusual brands www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-drink/chocolate/best-ethical-chocolate-brands-fairtrade-a8588376.html

Thank you, especially for the link to the Indy recommendation.

I used to like Green and Black’s, but have found it’s really gone downhill and is barely any better than Cadbury’s nowadays.

Hotel chocolate?

Hi Op thanks for this thread!

I've been reading older threads in search of good chocolate! I've seen the following recommended before:

Love cocoa
Oban Chocolate
Divine chocolate
Willies cacao
Montezuma
Waitrose own brand chocolate
The M&S truffles
Seed and Bean = 100% biodegradable packaging.

I'm planning on placing an order for Tony's though.But for myself I'm munching through Lidl chocolate at the moment- I just discovered the Fin Carre hazelnut one last week after reading here and I'm actually impressed. I love Aldi's hazelnut heaven one too.

Hotel chocolat has also succumbed to the grease monster, and anyway you have to get on board with whichever idiot they let out at Christmas just to sit and pick out random flavours and mix them together. Vodka and banana! Cognac and plum! Coconut and salted caramel! Pine and strawberry! Mistletoe and orange! Treacle and marzipan!

I'd have said Tony's too. If you know anyone going overseas they've got, or will shortly have, outlets at several European airports which stock Tony's and I think they're doing both 300g bars and mini bars in bags, if either of those would be better than the normal blocks.

I do like Montezuma as well.

Booja-Booja truffles are absolutely delicious. I was given some as a gift once and I dream about them often! They're dairy free and organic and probably the tastiest thing I've ever eaten.

I love Lindt chocolate. Was going to suggest Hotel Chocolat but see PP has said they now include the dreaded oils! Have you tried Prestat? There is also a company in Ilkley called (I think) Walker's Chocolatiers - their website seems to be down at the moment but you can phone and they will send you a list of their boxes - lovely hand made chocolates.

I love The Chocolate Smiths I think they're online only but they do brilliant flavours!

Oooh good thread.

A chocoholic friend likes rococco.

Another Godiva.

Bacci are lovely and the messages inside are sweet.

Tip- Watch the bacci add on YouTube ❤️

I like Lindt best.

What about an independent chocolatrie? One where you can gaze at all the chocolates lined up and just take your pick? We have an independent chocolate shop near here and the selection is amazing.

Montezumas are amazing. Not the bars so much, but the truffle selection- heaven.

Divine
Booja Booja truffles
Willies

Charbonnel et Walker are divine as are Fortnum & Mason’s own brand. £££ but absolutely worth it (and the calories).

Definitely no to Hotel Chocolat or Thornton’s. Very sad, but there it is.

Gnaw chocolate. Their website just relieved me of far too much money!

Another vote for Charbonnel
Côte d’or
Pierre Marcolini (pricey but honestly so good)
Booja booja (salted caramel)

Once you go Booja-Borja, you never go back. But you might need to remortgage your house.
I don’t like hotel chocolat or Divine.

Divine do salted caramel thins (a bit like after eights in shape, but with lovely dark chocolate and then the caramel in place of fondant). They are lush and sold by our local oxfam.

I am also told the booja booja truffles are the mutt’s nuts but I’ve never managed to get hold of any.

Aldi's Moser Roth chocolate is divine and has no palm oil...

Avoid Hotel Chocolate and Godiva - sickly sweet and nowhere near as good as they used to be.

Not in fancy packaging, but I second LIdl and Aldi chocolate, most of it has no palm oil, and it's always good.

Can definately recommend booja booja truffles & vego bars - can get both in holland & barratt & probably other health shops.

They're both vegan & my non vegan dh loves the booja booja truffles!

Funnily enough we had this same conversation earlier. I hardly buy chocolate at all now it just feels so buttery, bleugh!. Used to love a box of Black Magic.

Don't understand the fuss over Tonys, it tastes like cheap chocolate candy.

Lindt is ok, and Divine is really good.