Although we tend to live in a fast-paced world, where capitalism drives traditions into becoming commercial acts, such as seeing Christmas decorations in shops in mid September, like I was "lucky" to see in Stuttgart this year...or Easter bunnies hopping all over starting February...there is still a part of us that expects those holidays because they mean more, if you want to! They bring happiness, joy and smiles on so many faces, because holidays and traditions especially are meant to bring the loved ones together.
It is also a time when we tend to relax, slow down the pace, lay back and ...why not...relish...
So what better time than to receive another amazing package from zChocolat?!
I have mentioned zChocolat in the past as well on
my blog, for their summer offering, and will quote the most important from that post:
The chocolates are handcrafted in France by the World Champion
Chocolatier and Meilleur Ouvrier, Pascal Caffet. For him, chocolate is
an experience, which you will surely understand once you taste one of
his 26 recipes created especially for ZChocolat, for which he uses no
preservatives, no artificial colouring, 100% pure cocoa butter, modest
sugar, high cocoa content, no alcohol, and only the best choice for the
other ingredients as well, such as Piedmont hazelnuts, Iranian
pistaccio, violets, raspberry, Sri Lankan coconut etc. However, not only
choosing the best chocolate was a priority for this brand, but offering
a customizable service of offering was also top of the list. The
handmade packaging can be chosen as well, and it can be personalized
with messages, just like my box was. You can choose the name of the
receiver to be attached to the box, to give it the ultimate personal
feel, you can also have an image put there, choose the personal
assortment which will be, for example, sealed in the box with a coded
heart-shaped lock...just let your imagination wander,...and ZChocolat
will offer you the service.
For the winter holidays, zChocolat has another seasonal line to offer: the holiday zBox, basswood or mahogany box collection. I got lucky and received the amazing mahogany Holiday Ruby box. What a delight - to finally hold the entire collection and taste all those different creations!
I took some days to do this, because THIS chocolate is not something you just eat,...but one praline is enough to fill your entire day with joy, taste, colour, music. It is amazing how many stories you can cover/go through by just one bite. It is time to close one's eyes and disappear...enjoy the experiences!
So here are mine - decided to let you in on just some I hadn't presented last time (see previous post), because THOSE were particularly amazing and the best reason to explain WHY this box is just the PERFECT seasonal gift ... This small box helped me travel through time and space and helped me reunite with people and moments which are set a long time in the past. Enjoy!
#22 - immediate beaming to distant places - the citrus and coriander
combination embraced by Ivory Coast milk chocolate seamed a rather
strange one, however I have immediately fallen in love with it. It's not
that cold outside, but one does need a sweater and a warm jacket when
you go out...but I didn't need to go all that trouble because my mind
was already in warm climate countries thanks to this amazing chocolate.
Even 10 minutes after tasting it, my palate was still embracing those
distant places
#21 - I must admit, if I had to choose
between white, milk and dark chocolate - the latter would always win my
heart - so #21 is one of my favorites - dark with dark with almonds and
roses...mmmmmm...the flowery note just adds that little something which
was missing to perfection. I would order a box only with this one. I
most specially adore the creaminess of it all - almost like a pleasant
sin.
#19 - crunchy texture wrapped by smooth dark chocolate, a fine
combination of contrasts. Best for those who cannot decide if they are
tough or soft :)
#15 - dark chocolate delight with a
fresh citrus note. I would compare it to a good night's sleep and to the
refreshing start into the next day...relaxing but also offering new
energy
#12 - this one would fit perfectly with #22 -
sesamy, crunchyness, all these make me think of oriental deserts or even
amazingly tasting salty main dishes. It's like I've been to a feast
with only one bite.
#0 – crunchy, nutty… There used to be a time when gifts for Christmas
consisted also in hazelnuts – and this praline wrapped in Ivory Coast chocolate
is exactly as those type of gifts.
#1 – reminded me of my year spent on the Cote d’Azur, especially of the
flower market Sunday in Nice. Although Provence is well-known for lavender, it
was in Nice that I used to buy it. This vanilla-lavender filling in the 70%
dark Venezuelan chocolate is again a time and space travel for me. All the good
moments I associate with lavender just exploded in my mind once I let this
praline melt on my tongue. Amazing how flowers are not just nice to look, not
just nice to smell, but also give a distinct taste, a strong personality to
things they mix with.
#4 – peanuts – remind me of parties and get-togethers with good family
friends, where peanuts wouldn’t miss. It’s normal for me/us to serve something
for guests, even if it’s just a small snack to go with drinks, but peanuts
would never miss. It seems just normal that once I tasted this praline with peanuts
and covered in 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate, that I would feel so familiar
and that I would think of all the loved ones.
#5 – dark. Inside and out! Sinful! Perfect
#6 – mmmm! Like a wafer in a small deluxe dark packaging.
#7 – this one was a strong one. Like a shot of espresso coffee, but crunchy
and chocolaty! And very international: coffee beans from Kenya and Nicaragua
and 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
(Photos taken by me)
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