A self confessed chocoholic, I have come to appreciate the different varieties now in the market, imported from Holland, UK, USA, Japan, Paris, Australia, New Zealand and even Czeckloslovakia.
With the advent of the goodness of dark chocolates for good heart health, there are now chocolates touting above 80% in pure cocoa. These do not melt easily and has the bitterness of cocoa taste. The best I have tasted come from New Zealand, under Whittaker’s brand.
Although I can appreciate it, I do miss chomping down on the normal Cadbury blocks of yester years with sugar, milk and cream content that melts miserably to goo when I leave it in the heat of my car when parked after I do groceries and run an errand before going home.
I grew up tasting Van Houten and as Lil Red Dot’s economy grew, so did the varieties of imported chocolates as our palates became more affluent.
Cadbury became a market leader alongside Nestle. These were cost effective chockies. When I moved to the USA, I learnt about Reese’s Chocolate Cups, Nestle range of chocolates, M&M’s, Babe Ruth Bars etc.
Trade grew in Lil Red Dot and people became more knowledgeable of the many varieties of chocolates when they travelled. Their discerning palate came to appreciate the fineries of life. With demand, imports became readily available to satiate my thirst for chocolate
Epicureans and foodies baulked at the humble Van Houten and yearned for discerning tastes to match their preferred chockie bars. I grew up on Van Houten and never knew of any other taste till I started to travel in my later growing up years,
Dark chocolates became the new rage as it was touted to be good for the heart.
Soon gourmet brands like Maxims de Paris, Bendicks Mints, Awfully Chocolate, Sin etc popped up.
Small little confectioneries carried unique brands from Royce to Cocoa Trees. Royce is a Japanese brand and is very costly as these are considered refined chocolates.
Hoteliers and restaurants created their own chocolate truffles, pralines to compliment their buffet spread. I love the chilli pralines made by the Chefs of the Line at Shangri La, Singapore.
I have tried Whittakers. They have a range of milk chockies to 70% dark chockies. I like the bitter sweet cocoa as it is refreshingly unsweetened as compared to the Cadbury milk bar.
Van Houten is nowadays, not a “cool” choice of chockies for kids these days as they eat more hip packaging and there are loads of choices within Cadbury’s affordable range which includes Twirl, Boost, etc.
Spoilt for choice, I am trying Whittakers mini slabs. My latest air flown chockies came in peanut, almonds with cranberries and 50% dark peppermint.
A sinfully decadent treat or as they would say ” 5 minutes on the lips, forever on the hips!”
