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???

Ah, my specialist subject. 😀

My absolute favourites are

www.artisanduchocolat.com

Many excellent suggestions here. Special thanks to those of you who have dedicated many valuable hours to tasting and sampling them all. It’s truly selfless of you!

Always ready to step up and do my duty. 😀

I absolutely love Prestat Jewel box, and Charbonnel et Walker. They work out as maybe £1 per chocolate, so quite expensive. But they are absolutely lovely.

I also love the Bendicks mixed box, fantastic if you like mint chocolate. And I do. Usually about £6 or so.

Celebrations have their place, and I do love them, but sometimes quality over quantity is better.

Laderach is good

I now want chocolate 🍫

Kennedys for a box of chocolates that is truly special and just as delicious as it looks:
www.kennedyschocolates.co.uk/shop/picker/?option_id=40

I was in Co Op yesterday and they had a stand of their own premium brand chocolate - slabs, salted caramel truffles etc. It certainly looked nice but didn’t buy any as I was in a mad rush.

Agree that Hotel Chocolat went downhill.

Second a pp's suggestion to look for an independent chocolatier near you.

There's not much in the supermarkets that I feel comfortable buying: qthegoodshoppingguide.com/ethical-chocolate

Link fail

thegoodshoppingguide.com/ethical-chocolate

Thankyou for starting this! I'm a total chocoholic but have lost a lot of weight.. I want to have some quality chocolate over Christmas and to appreciate every little mouthful rather than generic crap. Waste of calories!

Someone posted this discount code, CHOCTOBER, for 15% off on Lauden chocolates during October.

Lick the Spoon - they are a small independent company and have won ++ awards.
Definitely no palm oil and it's all fair trade.

They also do a vegan range.

It's quite expensive but totally delicious - my Xmas treat is a box of their champagne truffles.

My favourites are Chocolate Society and Lauden. For good, ethical but more affordable bars of chocolate, I’d go for Divine and Seed & Bean. Lindt still tasty too. I like booja booja but not sure if children would like them.

Prestat all the way. If you haven’t tried their chocolate then do get hold of their Jewel Box. The chocolates are amazing. They also do vegan friendly bars. Just the best and think I will treat myself to a box for Christmas.

Booja Booja.

Trust me: I'm fat.

Moser Roth from Aldi and the M&S own brand stuff is good and not too expensive.

I would pay a lot for an original quality Chocolate Orange....

Another vote for Lauden Chocolate, not only are they delicious they look stunning!

Not sure if it's what you mean but they do chocolate orange @MoltoAgitato:
www.laudenchocolate.co.uk/12-orange-chocolates.html

Lindt the pick and mix shops rather than the boxes. My ds asked for some Thornton double cream mints but even he refused the Thornton Easter egg this year so that's all I'll buy there. Ferrero rocher because it's the law at Christmas

I only like really good chocolate now so I'd recommend Fortnums chocolate bars at £6.95 a bar (many flavours) for a weekly replacement bar (no more expensive than a cheap bottle of wine)

I buy my posh chocolates for Christmas - a box of maybe 12 different flavours from henrileroux in Paris - I think he's the best chocolatier in the world. Do you remember that quality street used to do a cracknell chocolate? Well this guy does a cracknell bar for I think 4 euros - so incredibly delicious

In this country I love Paul in London for chocolates - weirdly I'm going there today - and will literally buy 4 chocolates

I am so glad my sweet tooth for cheap chocolate has gone

Also forgot Rococo in London - lovely Easter eggs

And Chococo in Dorset - amazing chocolate tiffin birthday cakes

AllAbout looks fab but a bit too posh I do like a posh chocolate, but sometimes I just want common or garden chocolate, as it was before Mondelez and palm oil. The Terry’s Chocolate Orange of my youth!

Waitrose have 20% off their own make premium range of choc. Individual bars and boxes.

For me its Leonidas or Butlers - but to be fair I have a butlers choc every day with my coffee