Choco-Lait

Chocolate is a product derived from the cocoa bean, found in pods (illustrated above) growing from the trunk and lower branches of the Cacao Tree,. It's Latin name is 'Theobroma Cacao' meaning literally; "food of the gods".
How Chocolate came to be;
In the year 1828 A.D. Johannes Van Houten, a chemist from the Netherlands, invented a method of extracting the fat or "cocoa butter" from ground cocoa beans.what we now know to be called as 'cocoa' powder was the resulting extract, which as we know already, is much less bitter tasting and, when combined with sugar or honey, and hot milk, became one of the Western world's most popular bedtime and breakfast drinks of living Human History!
This method used by the Dutch chemist eventually received the name "Van Houten process". Directly because of this invented process, Fry's and Sons (one of Englands oldest sweetmaking institutions), was able to make commercially viable extraction of cocoa powder and were the first manufacturers in History ever to have produced a "Chocolate Bar" - this was acheived for the first time in the year 1847.
In the year 1875 the Swiss commercial manufaturing brand Daniel Peters was able to utilise the Van Houten process to successfully mix the pure cocoa powder with powdered milk and were the first ever to make real "Milk Chocolate".

• The first step is taken by harvesting the cocoa pods. It is these pods which contain the cocoa beans, which are used in the making of Chocolate.

• The Cocoa Pods are then crushed up into a fine pulp, which is then extracted and fermented using natural methods for about six days. This is either done by piling the mixture up in the open, or is put into boxes. After fermentation, the beans are then dried.

• The finest chocolate is produced through the drying process. This is most commonly done naturally by laying the mixture in the open air under the the sun and left for a period of 7 days or so.

• The next process is shared with coffee in that the beans are first graded, then roasted. Roasting times depend on the type and size of the beans, like coffee this can also affect the final flavour of the chocolate. This is why there is such a massive difference in the taste of quality chocolate and mass manufactured chocolate.

• Careful Crushing process then separates the kernel or 'Nib' from the shell or husk (like shelling a nut), the husk is then removed and separated from the essential ingredient (yeah.. Chocolate, slurp!).

• At this stage most manufacturers put the Cocoa Nibs through an alkalisation process to help develop flavour and colour. However, some purists producing the finest chocolate prefer to rely on the quality of the beans and natural processing to produce the best colour and flavour.

• The nibs, which are very high in fat or cocoa butter, are then finely milled and liquefy in the heat produced by the milling process to produce cocoa liquor. When cocoa liquor, otherwise known as cocoa mass, is allowed to cool and solidify.
  

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  Deluxe Shipper - Truffles, Soft Centers, Caramels, Brittle, Toffee, Cookies, Assorted Confections
  
  

  At this point the manufacturing process splits according to the final product. If the end product is chocolate, some of the cocoa liquor is reserved, the rest is pressed to extract the cocoa butter leaving a solid residue called press cake. Press cake is usually kibbled or finely ground to produce the product known to consumers as Cocoa Powder.

Champagne Claude Baron Cuvee Saphir & Handmade Chocolates Hamper

This is my currently recommended gift for corporate occasions

A bottle of handmade Champagne and a gift ballotin box of 45 of our handmade English luxury chocolates (about 540g).

Presented in a dark willow gift hamper with leather trimmings. An exclusive luxury gift, not available anywhere else.

the champagne and chocolates hampers are delivered FREE anywhere in the UK (1-3 days), with your message on a gift card. Worldwide delivery is available

Aphrodite Handmade Chocolates - English Gourmet Luxury Chocolates Hand Made in England by artisan chocolatier Janet Vine - Delicious Fresh Fruit Truffles - Fruit & Liqueur Creams - Liqueur Marzipans - Champagne Cocktail Truffles and more. Delivered 'WORLDWIDE' - FREE UK DELIVERY

This is one of my choices for the definitive chocolate for lovers as a surprise gift. There are two sets, the silver and gold collections.
Just looking at the shape of the chocolates you know that this one is meant for those who are dear to your heart of hearts. Chocolate lover of all ages will love eating these - the packaging is what i would also call in fine style, but still appears unisex in the sense that a man would not feel embarrased by receiving such a fancy package, due to the fact that, although it is finely presented and dressed, the decorative style does not appear feminine, though rather high class and luxurious. It's almost a shame to bite into one of these masterpieces of artistic chocolatery, but im sure we'll all manage to overcome the desire to keep them and finally get up enough desire to be able to demolish the lot.
If you don't know which one of the two sets is best, buy one of each and try them out first, go on.. you won't regret it.
Mind you, seeing as you are most probably going to fall for this brand after trying it, you might as well go for the deluxe collection and see to it that all the family gets some.. you can try all the major line of products that way. Don't wory about wightwatching, you can go for a jog around the house afterwards and work it of. You know its worth it for the
pleasure of eating these delicious high class chocolates. You'll forget about Switzerland as soon as you taste the Bodega Chocolates brand. What is amazing about this company is that they also still hand-make all their products in small batches, and also are involved in Charity benefit projects

Fudge must be i think my fave of all faves in the chocolate world; This rocky road fudge got my mouth really watering, the chunks of crunchy brittle inside counterbalances the creamy soft fudge to perfection. This 8oz box is a great gift for your favourite person or relative too.. just make sure you are there when they open the box, or even better buy a box for yourself too so you dont feel jealous, and can sneakily eat them all to yourself at home.

Click on the link below to order
Rocky Road Fudge - - 8oz Gift Box

In the coming weeks i Shall be reviewing Chocolate manufacturers from around the world, both large and small, so i advise you to sign up to our rss feed so you can keep up to date in all the new updates in your favourite rss newsreader.

Aphrodite English Handmade Chocolates - Handmade in England by Artisan Chocolatier Janet Vine. Delicious Fresh Fruit & Champagne Truffles - Fruit & Liqueur Creams. Liqueur Marzipan, Champagne Cocktail Truffles and more delivered Worldwide - FREE UK DELIVERY

English toffee is just something i really loved since i was a small child. Every time Easter, Mother's day, Christmas or birthdays were in the air, everyone knew that i had to have my English Toffees. Apart from that, my mum liked me eating them as it stopped me from talking due to being busy chewing on the classic tough-at-the-beginning-but gets-ever-softer-as-you-go-along English Toffees.



I hadn't seen any for the last few years, so i was delighted to stumble upon the Award Winning English toffees from Bodega Chocolates, and ordered a box as soon as i found this product. Since then ive been chewing constantly, and ordered another 5 boxes so i have enough to last me for a while, as my friends (even the ones who claim to not have a sweet tooth) seem to be aquiring a taste for the things and they are running out fast!
I can but recommend these toffees if you like a good old chew on the classic english toffee. Although they take a long time to chew they are soft enough at first bite for anybody to eat without any effort needed to bite into them. Just the right texture is what i'd call them.

Hailed as the Number one Chocolate producer in the World, for their signature Truffles & Confections BODEGA is the choice of celebrities, royalty and folks throughout the world. BODEGA products are crafted using an old-fashioned European-style process to create their magical blends of “chocolat”. Personalization is available.


Today the legacy continues with the “chocolat” magic of Nena, their great grandmother, whose dark chocolate delicacies brought common folk and royalty to a tree lined cozy storefront – and, where an espresso, always accompanied the purchase.

While growing up, the girls would always help make the confections… especially during the holidays. After the death of their beloved Grandmother, they began wondering if folks throughout the United States would appreciate the delicious magical confections, just as Nena had made them.

Indeed, the magic continued…and, in 1995, they began making the chocolates in a tiny little kitchen/storefront in Dana Point, California. While the location had virtually no walk by traffic, soon…just as in olden days… lines grew out the door, with many locals riding bicycles to taste the early morning samples, and chauffeurs picking up goodies for the rich and famous. One fine day, that very same year, the prestigious magazine BON APPETIT, discovered the “magic” and hailed BODEGA as the “International…Chocolate Supreme!”

Throughout the years, BODEGA has been the recipient of many national and international confectionery awards. Products are still made by hand, and unlike the larger chocolate makers, all confections are made in the old-fashioned “small batch” method…meaning, no batch exceeds 100 lbs. (Imagine the Christmas order place by a private family for their holiday gift giving of over 1 ton!!!)

Today, as in generations ago…all BODEGA confections continue to be made in their secret process, with the strictest adherence to quality. All BODEGA products are KOSHER.

BODEGA offers a Charitable Donation & Fundraiser Program to local and national Charities, Churches and Temples.

A percentage of each sale goes to the selected organization.