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The International Chocolate Guide
- by elijay
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- March 31, 2009
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- 3 discussions
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After The International Cookie Guide and the International Candy Guide (see below), you should have known this was coming. Better make an appointment with your dentist now.
England
Cadbury's
If anyone knows how to make a good chocolate bar it’s Cadbury’s. I’ll eat anything that’s made by Cadbury’s but I especially like the Fruit & Nut variety even though I hated it when I was a kid - why would I want dried fruit and nuts messing up perfectly good chocolate? But now I absolutely love it. The crunchy nuts and the chewy pieces of dried fruit are the perfect complements to the smooth milk chocolate. Also of note: for years, all I ate was Cadbury’s milk chocolate, but lately Bournville (Cadbury’s dark chocolate) has become one of my favorites- once you start eating dark chocolate it’s pretty hard to go back to the milk variety.
Green & Blacks
I was attracted to this bar in the first place because of it’s organic nature, but the slightly bitter dark chocolate will keep me coming back for more!
Israel
Elite
In my mind Elite is sort of like the Israeli version of Ritter Sport. The plain chocolate is pretty good, but they make all these other awesome flavors including chocolate with rice krispies, smarties (the British M&M), cinnamon, and the piece de resistance: chocolate with pop rocks. Yes, you read that correctly.
France
Valrhona
Valrhona is definitely chocolate for the chocolate purist out there. So don’t expect any rice krispies or corn flakes in this chocolate— it’s the pure, unadulterated stuff. Eating Valrhona is sort of like going wine tasting— both make you feel like a real adult. I’ve only had the 71% cacao, but I’d definitely be interested in going Valrhona tasting to try some of the others.
Italy
Perugina
Perhaps best known for their Bacio chocolates (a chocolate hazlenut “kiss” with a romantic quote printed on the wrapper), Perugina makes fine Italian chocs, although I think bars (like the one above) are harder to find. The Bacios, however, are easily found.
Kinder
For years I thought Kinder was German brand (makes sense, right?), but it turns out they are an Italian company! Don’t you feel deceived? Cause I kind of do! Anyway, Kinder usually infuses their bars with hazelnut cream filling or rice krispy type cereal, so they’re probably not for the chocolate purist, but they sure are delicious.
Ecuador
Kallari
This chocolate comes from the same region of Ecuador where places like Scharffen Berger get their cacao beans (read: these are some tasty, high-class beans). However, unlike all the companies that buy these beans and have them shipped half way around the world, Kallari is manufactured in Ecuador itself, which means that the beans are fresh when they are turned into chocolate. And lemme tell ya, you can really taste the difference!
Some Chocolate-Covered Links
Other "International" Guides You Might Enjoy:
Germany
Ritter Sport
I’m sort of happy I don’t live in Germany because in the U.S. we only get one or two varieties of Ritter Sport in the super market, whereas in Germany you get ALL of them, and there are just too many to choose from! There are about 25 or so at any given time— which includes chocolate with: corn flakes, rum-soaked raisins, pear brandy mousse, strawberry yogurt etc… I had the marzipan flavor for the first time the other day and I was not disappointed— although I have to say I prefer their dark chocolate with hazelnuts (it’s pretty darn delicious).
Switzerland
Toblerone
Ah, Toblerone. The classic combination of nougat, honey, and milk chocolate has made you the Clint Eastwood of the chocolate world— people never seem to tire of you. My only complaint is that it usually requires brute strength to break off those little pyramids.
Lindt
For years I associated Lindt with their creamy milk truffles, which are good, but for someone who usually prefers dark chocolate, Lindt was not one of my favorites. However, Lindt has stepped up their game with their Lindt Excellence line where they make some serious dark chocolate and mix in things like Fleur de Sel—YUM.
Belgium
Cote d'Or
I’m attracted to anything bearing the image of an elephant (or a monkey for that matter, but I digress…), so Cote D’Or is really a no-brainer since the chocolate is also delectable. And not only does the company do delicious fruit pairings like raspberry and orange, but much a variety called Lait Intense (translation: “Intense Milk”) where they take dark chocolate and wrap milk chocolate around it. Talk about the best of both worlds!
The United States
Scharffen Berger
Scharffen Berger is way up high on my list of favorite chocolates. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. The Nibby, the Milk Chocolate (which tastes almost caramel-like), the Milk Almond. I went on the SB factory tour in Berkeley which was SO cool!
Dagoba
I love Dagoba, because not only is it organic, but they make awesome flavors like lemon ginger, pumpkin/sunflower/hemp seed, and acai with goji berries and currants.
Endangered Species Chocolate
Not only is Endangered Species delicious dark chocolate, but they make you feel like you’re doing something good for the world by eating it. I HIGHLY recommend the espresso bean variety— delicious.
Where do I buy this amazing chocolate???
Glad you asked! You can get a lot of this stuff at Whole Foods, or any fancy schmancy market. You can also usually get some of these brands at Trader Joe’s (Scharffen Berger, Ritter Sport, Valrhona etc…), but if you want more of a selection you’re better off going to Whole Foods. For Cadbury’s you’ll have to go to a store that sells British goods, but make sure it comes from England and not Canada, there’s a pretty big difference—the British variety being MUCH better!
Whole Foods Market
1050 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Where I get my Dagoba, Endangered Species, Scharffen Berger, etc…
Where I get my Dagoba, Endangered Species, Scharffen Berger, etc…
Trader Joe's
3212 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
A good place to pick up foreign and domestic chocolate bars on the cheap. They carry Valrhona, Ritter Sport— two hazelnut varieties (dark and milk) and the milk chocolate with the butter biscuit— and Scharffen Berger—sadly, they only carry the Semisweet variety.
A good place to pick up foreign and domestic chocolate bars on the cheap. They carry Valrhona, Ritter Sport— two hazelnut varieties (dark and milk) and the milk chocolate with the butter biscuit— and Scharffen Berger—sadly, they only carry the Semisweet variety.
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The bitter the Chocolates… the better for me. Besides it is best for depression.
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I just love these guides, theyre great reference for me!
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ritter sport with cornflakes is my absolute FAVORITE! my mouth is watering…nooo!
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