CHOCOLATES

In Thailand, most chocolate brands you see in supermarkets are American, Japanese or European. Some large Japanese candy companies have their own factories in Thailand producing for the local market.

One of the few Thai chocolate bars we have found is the Bobbin Gold Twin made by Asia Jumbo Industry Co. in Ayutthaya. The package contains two small (20 grams) milk chocolate bars made with cacao solids, palm kernel fat, sugar, milk and artificial flavors. In spite of its golden packaging, the content has no golden quality.

Editor’s Rating:
Type: Chocolate candy bar.
Flavor:

Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting thailand

The London-based company Artisan du Chocolat has a number of exciting products. We have this time tried two of there recent limited edition high-quality chocolate bars containing a minimum of 72 % cacao solids. The Congo chocolate bar is intensely chocolatey with notes of wood and molasses. The Bali bar has notes of sweet bananas and spices.

Both chocolate bars are of high quality reflecting the flavor of their origins. However, the aromas do not match the best dark chocolates from other areas.

Editor’s Rating:
Type: Specialty chocolate bars.
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Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Specialty chocolates

Nugali Chocolates was founded by chocolatière Maitê Lang in 2004. The factory is located in the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. In addition to a series of chocolate bars, Nugali also produces other types of chocolate candies.

Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Specialty chocolates

Lotte Co. Ltd is one of the largest food and shopping groups in Japan and Korea. The main offices are located in Seoul and Tokyo, and they manufactur chocolate, confectionary, ice cream, and soft drinks. The Lotte Groups is also engaged in hotels, chemicals, electronics, publishing, construction and more and consists of more than 60 business units. Read more about Lotte Group in Wikipedia.

Lotte Ghana is a popular Japanese chocolate brand (manufactured in Japan according to the wrapping). As the name describes, the chocolate is made with cocoa from Ghana. The flavor is sweet and delicate, with pure chocolate aromas.

However, the milk chocolate contains palm oil while the dark chocolate contains palm oil, rapeseed oil and artificial aromas; thus, the chocolates cannot be regarded as top quality. 

Editor’s Rating:
Type: Chocolate candy bars.
Flavor:

Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting ghana, japan

Rococo Chocolates was founded in 1983 by Chantal Coady, who has written three books about chocolate. Rococo Chocolates has three shops in London. She and Rococo were awarded a special price for “Changing the way people think about chocolate” by Academy of Chocolate in 2008. In 2007 Rococo and Grenada Chocolate Company started a joint venture in Grenada to produce fair traded ethical chocolate. Now, Rococo’s organic products contain beans from this production.

Rococo Chocolates produces a number of different chocolate gift boxes, chocolate bars, gift bags, confectionaries, and sugar free products. We decided to try some of their Artisan Bars which are made with their special blends of organic chocolate: dark 65%, milk, or white chocolate, and are available with 22 flavors. We decided to try the Orange & Geranium, Basil & Lime, Lavender, and Cranberry & Nutmeg bars; the tree first ones are made with dark chocolate (65%), the latter one with white chocolate.

All bars have delicate spiced flavor and smell, we especially enjoyed the flavored dark chocolates. The lavender bar was unexpected; the delicious fragrance reminded me of perfume. These dark chocolates are absolutely recommede for those who like bittersweet chocolate and would like something different than normal, unflavored chocolate bars.

Editor’s Rating:

Type: Specialty chocolate bars.

Flavor:

Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Chocolatieres, Specialty chocolates grenada, uk