OK folks. Enough with the marathon talk. Back to chocolate. Serious stuff. I’m still not really feeling Christmas yet, even though my local grocery store has had Christmas candy in stock for well over a month now.
I would bitch and moan about how terrible this is, but I don’t care. Instead, I’m going to write about some Christmas-y chocolate from Hotel Chocolat: The Cinnamon Crunch, which is a cinnamon milk chocolate housing some cinnamon crispies.
There is, unsurprisingly, a cinnamon aroma, which makes me think about Christmas. But since it’s in the name of sampling chocolate, that’s OK. There is also a hint of chile and some general spiciness, along with some very subtle caramel aroma from the base 40% cacao milk chocolate.
The soft chocolate immediately features a flavors of cinnamon and mulled spices. A spicy kick develops later, and the crisped rice adds a bit of texture but little else. The smooth chocolate, with cream flavor evident throughout, is a nice complement to the spicy cinnamon, and the crisped rice is a distraction. I could go for a bar of this again, but would be very pleased with one without the puffed rice.
Did your local grocery store bring out candy too early?
As soon as Halloween ended the grocery store I go to created a giant "seasonal candy" aisle for Christmas. I have a unwritten rule where no Christmas candy is consumed before December 1st.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like every store does, but I try to hold out on my Christmas obsession until after Thanksgiving. I'm not a huge fan of rice in chocolate bars...it detracts from the chocolate.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds delicious. I will let the stores get away with this one because its not decorated for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAt least in America you have Halloween and Thanksgiving to break up the decorations schedule. I saw Christmas Santa Marshmallows in my supermarket back in September. OH GOD I HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
ReplyDeleteOh my god. I can't wait for you to review Christmas chocolates so that I may but something great for the family.
ReplyDeletePS: I think in my month long break from school that we should have a blogger meetup maybe halfway in Richmond or something. Or maybe I'll come up there and go to Potomac mills.
love the idea of the cinnamon and spices! yes, always too early with holidays...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a winner from Hotel Chocolat.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing a lost chocolate turkey swimming in a sea of Christmas candy at my grocery store the other day. I see no real need for Thanksgiving candy, but I'd never turn a chocolate-filled Advent calendar down!
I love Hotel Chocolats cinnamon bar; I had one similar last christmas mmm. Yes they always bring out stuff far too early..I remember last year they had easter chocolate out on boxing day!!
ReplyDelete