As part of my brownie shipment from Tim at Indulgence Confectionery I got a box of chocolates.  I had originally thought I had 16 different chocolates to review but actually found I had 8 and 8 to share with husband (as if).  These chocolates are deliciously different dome shaped treats making them a little different from your usual fare.  There were some interesting names, intense flavours and really pretty painting on the chocolate.

I should say, I found it a slight struggle to describe the chocolate because the flavours had been combined with the ganaches so that the ganache became the mechanism through which the sweetness and flavour was transported to your mouth. This made these filled chocolates quite a different experience and it is always delightful to experience something new.  There was an emphasis on white chocolate in this selection as Tim is passionate about showing that white chocolate can be delicious and it most certainly can!

Artimus – white chocolate ganache & white chocolate shell – the scent of this chocolate comes across with intense vanilla but it doesn’t come through as much in the flavour but it is an intense sweet flavour.

Strawberries & Cream – strawberry puree, white chocolate and strawberry liqueur – very strawberry and sweet with the white chocolate. This is like a white chocolate dipped strawberry.  A bit sweet for me but wow this is going to be a revelation to those who aren’t able to eat or don’t like milk or dark chocolate

Passion fruit – passion fruit cream and passion fruit liqueur – this is a bit weird for me but some might like it.  It is slightly sour with an odd flavour that I didn’t quite get along with but I liked the sour against the sweet of the white chocolate.  It is refreshingly different and one I think some will really enjoy.

Lime – white chocolate ganache with lime – this is an amazing chocolate. The citrus flavour is strong and zingy (as Tim says) and delicious in a white chocolate shell.  Still sweet and a bit intense but I ate all of it and still wanted more.

Caramel Truffle – there is a ribbon of caramel on the top of a lovely milk chocolate ganache which is encased in a rather sweet caramel milk chocolate.  It was wrapped in a copper coloured foil making it even more special.  A very sweet truffle but really very lovely and a nice change from a pure filled sea salt caramel.

Honey – a milk chocolate ganache with a ganache combined with acacia honey. The distinctive flavour of the honey overwhelms the chocolate flavour and is a lot like eating honey without the intense sweetness. Very distinctive and strong flavour of honey and something very interesting and different.

Sarchie – caramel chocolate with roasted hazelnuts makes this both sweetly smooth and crunchy.  The smooth and crunchy counterpoint is a really nice blend making this a more exciting chocolate.

Tanzania extra bitter truffle – dark chocolate shell and ganache – this dark chocolate is quite dry and very intense. It overwhelms the palette but after the sweet white and milk chocolates it was even more intense.

All in all, this has left me wondering what the other flavours taste like.  Flavours like Earl grey, sea salt caramel, raspberry, whiskey, java milk truffles and more all beckon seductively from the page.  I think it may require a visit to the shop in the future to buy myself some more chocolates and experience some of these flavours for myself.

I was lucky enough to get some of the brand new giftable Lucky’s mini cakes – also known as Tiny Pieces of Wonderment – at Chocolate unwrapped.  These little cakes were presented in a mirrored box and are just the right size to scoff yourself.

The cakes are the creation of a passion for chocolate and cake and a desire to create something different.  They combine high quality chocolate with cake and are presented as giant versions of some delicious chocolates.

The attention to detail with the creation of bespoke moulds and the invention of the flavours and designs and the whole idea is what makes these unique.   They are beautifully presented and come across as a high quality chocolate gift.  The different types of chocolate used and the different fillings means there is always something someone will like.

These are more of a hostess gift than something to bring and share at a party so if you’re looking for a gift this holiday season and the recipient enjoys chocolate, this should be on your list.

I love the look of these chocolates and they are probably the PERFECT gift for someone who likes chocolate and sweets but does not want to be challenged by high quality chocolate.  There are sixteen decorated cupcake chocolates which include raspberry, chocolate brownie, lemon cheesecake, strawberry and coffee & walnut. Perfect for a dinner party or other celebrations there are enough that everyone will get a chance to try one.

These are sweet as you would expect them to be and only the brown ones have a slight chocolaty flavour.  It is a very sugary chocolate with strong flavouring but I’m sure some people will adore them. I think of all of them, the raspberry was my favourite but after trying so many they all kinda tasted of strawberry

These are more confection than chocolate and again I’m left with a vague oily sensation in my mouth and strung out on sugar but that doesn’t make them bad.  These are just different.  They are, however, the most ADORABLE little chocolates and I think anyone receiving them as a hostess gift to put out at a party or as a holiday gift to share with the family would be delighted to get them.

These cupcake chocolates are, perhaps, not quite for the Hotel Chocolat, Paul A Young, Paul Wayne Gregory, William Curley or similar but few people on the planet are.  That means most would like this confection given the tendency of mass manufacturers to replace cocoa butter with vegetable oil and add quite a quantity of sugar.  I don’t think I would personally choose them as a gift but I’m sure many have and will.

I got these lovely chocolates because it gave me a little bit of everything to try.  The box contained several chocolates all of very different flavours and they seemed almost perfectly chosen for me.  The box was delightful wrapped in a ribbon and the whole experience was one of luxury.

Lumi – Perfumed ganache made with Iranian sun dried limes. The stencil of runic characters delighted me slightly more than the filling did.  It was very subtle and was the first I had tried because I suspected it would be difficult to taste. The flavour is there but it is subtle and difficult to find.

Jasmine Tea – another of the delicate ones in the box, I chose this second. It was much more strongly flavoured with the floral jasmine in the tea coming through quite strongly as it apparently has 5 times its weight in jasmine flowers. The ganache had a slightly grainy feel to it though which was a bit odd.

O Caramel – a flat round disk filled with caramel. The chocolate is delightful and the thin caramel filling just a bit tangy. Yummy enough to want to eat a whole box!

O Lychee & Rose – a flat round dark chocolate with a delightful filling but there just wasn’t enough filling to get the full effect I’m sure.  The filling was delightful and slightly floral but sweet with as delicate sour edge.

Moroccan Mint – I love the flavour of the fresh green mint in this delightful chocolate. It has such a different flavour from other mints it makes it a fun delight.

A South Sea gold pearl and a Tahitian pearl choc – these are cool coloured chocolates in a glistening coating. Brilliant concept and the chocolate is different in each and each is delightful in its own way. Pretty plain and the white chocolate isn’t overwhelming so a delightful treat.

Ginger – this chocolate was far too strong for me but for ginger lovers it’ll be a delight.

This lovely tasting box is intended to introduce you to the flavour of different chocolates and help you taste the difference between different kinds of chocolate.

Each chocolate square is a different chocolate from Manjari to Abinao each chocolate has a different flavour.  The point of the box it to take you the eater through each flavour and help you experience it fully.

The place to start is with the fresh and tangy flavour of the 64% Manjari.  Between this and the next square, take a sip of water and wait a minute.  Next move on to the Tainori 64% which is apparently fruity and intense but I didn’t quite taste it.  The Caraibe 66% was the nicest I thought and it is described as balanced and velvety.  Next on to the Guanaja 70 for a bittersweet but elegant flavour.  I thought it was just bitter.  The Alpaco is described as floral and oaky but I felt it was kind of leathery and the abinao 85% was intense and drying in my mouth.

I think this is an absolutely fantastic way to introduce someone to chocolate tasting and the wide varieties available.

This small box of chocolates which you can pick up for £12 arrived at my home in a giant box.  Delving in to the bubble wrap was fun, but not as much fun as the chocolates themselves were.

There were 2 each of 5 different flavours, one worrying labled “olive”.  Having tried an olive oil chocolate before I was worried about it but decided to try it anyway… last.  Apparently they were inspired by the flavours of Province.  So adventurously I tried to place them in a logical order for tasting and tried them all –

Soledad – Dark and robust chocolate ganache. This chocolate has a mild flavour which does not challenge the palette.  The ganache has a slightly fruity flavour but melts well in the mouth (unlike other La Maison Du Chocolat chocolates I have tried).

Limonelle – dark chocolate ganache infused with fresh zest of lemon peel.  From the first bite you can taste the lemon within the dark chocolate.  It is quite strong and yet quite pleasant and there seem to be little bits of lemon peel in the ganache which probably helps keep that sense of lemon flavour so strong.

Olbia – compote of apricots from the Rhone Valley wrapped in milk chocolate.  The milk chocolate is sweet and the compote overwhelming. It’s a bit like fruit leather chopped up and covered in sweet milk chocolate.

Amelo – Almond paste from Provence. I found this sweet with an almost fruity edge to it.  I’m sure lovers of almond paste will love this chocolate but I’m starting to think perhaps almond paste and I aren’t the best of friends.

Oulivado – an almond and nut praline made of Berugette olive oil which is apparently made from black olives. This chocolate is extremely interesting in flavour with crunchy bits. The flavour of the black olives is extremely faint but there – especially at the end.

Overall an interesting mix of flavours.  These chocolates were better than the ones I tried in the shop leading me to wonder if the shop chocs may have been past their prime.  I’m glad I had the chance to try these chocolates and think that maybe as a gift or a dinner party selection they would be great with their diverse flavours.

There’s a chocolate for every reason in here.  I just found a penny, I had a great hair day, I have a coffee and need a chocolate… any reason you can think of a reason for chocolate, there’s a chocolate in here for it.

Much like the Prestat mint box, this box of delicious chocolates is packed full of goodness.  The common thick shell this time hides a delightful differently flavoured centre.  They joy of a box like this is that if you don’t happen to like one, there’s tons more to choose from.

I remember opening the box and seeing the card for the flavours and thinking ‘shame they won’t all be in there’ then my delight when they were.  From coffee cream to a delightful hazelnut and hard toffee chocolate, everything on the card was in the box.

This has got to be one of the safest and best gifts.  The box is sturdy so you could even trust it to the post. The chocolates are all thick shelled so they won’t easily squish and the box design is just so much fun it’s hard to resist.

Once again the chocolate isn’t the top of the top and I think it needs to be that step below to ensure long shelf life but these chocolates do try very hard to be both delightfully good quality, and be on the shelves when you want them, where you want them.  The chocolate is still miles better than much mass market chocolate though at times is a bit too sweet for me.

While this box took longer to disappear than the mint box, it still beat the tin of Celebrations which, three months after purchase still languishes with its chocolates on the kitchen table.