good Colombian chocolate

kernow62 says on Sep 25, 2005, 20:01:

GDL, they are varying degrees of cocoa solids, up to 70%. In my opinion only dark chocolate is real chocolate. If they are good for your health that makes me very happy as I am currently eating a Lindt 70% cocoa solids bar to soothe the pain of Manchester United's home defeat by Blackburn Rovers. argh!!!

By the way Lindt offers a bar with 85% cocoa solids!

I don't care for Trader Joe's own chocolates Tinto. However Nacional has really done a nice job of the packaging.

They still aren't Valrhona chocolate (IMHO the best) but they are very nice and nowhere near as expensive.

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silviat says on Sep 25, 2005, 20:21:

We got those As wedding favors for our wedding (next sat). We havent give them to people but we tried them and I was surprised... really good! I love chocolatinas jet but this things are really good.

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Gomezman5 says on Sep 25, 2005, 22:42:

They are "OK" There are a few stores here is Chicago, that specailize in Colombian products that sell them. I don't know what the thing is that every country that sells Chocolate, thinks that they have the best. By tradition, I think people thought it was the Swiss that were reknowned for having the world's best Chocolate. But now every country thinks they have "the best." I think the reality is that every country has varying degrees of quality. It may be hard for people to believe, but the US has some companies that will match the best of the best. So does Italy. So does Sweden. (I have personally sampled the their Choc. at the Sweedish stores here. And so does Israel. The list goes on and on.

My point is that I would not go out of my way to by Chocoate from Colombia. It's just not any better than higher quality light Choc or dark Choc that comes from any other country.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2005, 03:31:

yes, that's what I was thinking about too, tinto. It's very good that the chocolate industry in Colombia has jumped on this health-trend bandwagon. Dark chocolate with high cocoa contents (70% or higher) is the kind that sells best in Europe too. Marabou in Sweden is making excellent dark chocolate at 70 and 86% that's become the most popular here in these past two years.

Can't wait to taste Santander to compare the qualities.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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kernow62 says on Sep 26, 2005, 04:40:

I would like to give US chocolate a go G5. What bars do you recommend 56% or higher cocoa solids only please. I tried Ghirradeli and it wasn't bad, they seem to have improved a bit since the Swiss took over, I notice less ingredients on their bars now. That is the only brand that is widely available that I have tried other than Hershey (yukk) & Dove (OK.)

I don't care where the chocolate comes from, it is more how it is made and the level of ingredients that matter to me. I prefer French made chcolates but that is only because they seem to make more bars in the 70% cocoa solid range and higher (higher sometimes doesn't work well).

Anyway, if you can get a quality bar of single-origin high quality chocolate for a $1.65, and it helps the Colombian economy why should you not give them a try?

Now if we are talking about the Jet bars then I would agree they are nothing special but they are a sentimental favourite with people who grew up in Colombia. Just as a Hershey bar is something folks like G5 grew up liking and Cadbury was the local brand of choice where I am from. They are something we crave when we are away from home and can't get them.

I just don't understand milk chocolate. That to me is like comparing the taste of instant capucino.

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kernow62 says on Sep 26, 2005, 05:47:

That is the best news I have heard for a long time! Thank you GIB.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:20:

I don't like dark chocolate,it's tates a bit bitter for me. I love white chocolate uhmmmmmm

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elmodefoque says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:31:

kat mi amor, i'm not surprise you prefer white chocolate, most colombianas do, but gringas prefer dark, thigh and super sweet chocolate.

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:35:

You have to try a white magnum Elmo. better than any dark chocolate.White chocolate melt in your mouth. delicious;-)

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elmodefoque says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:38:

Magnum? mi amor, que carajo es eso? remember, i'm all man, jejeje

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:41:

jaja Elmo don't worry if you try a magnum your dignity still would be intac ;-)jeje

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:51:

OK OK, A magnum is an Ice cream covered in a thick layer of white chocolate.
uhmm beter than.................;-P

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kernow62 says on Sep 26, 2005, 06:54:

Elmo, you dipping into those chocolate starfish again?

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kernow62 says on Sep 26, 2005, 13:08:

I can get 70% Lindt at my local supermarket, occasionally I can get Lindt 85%. Now that I know it is good for the arteries I will enjoy it all the more.

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Gomezman5 says on Sep 26, 2005, 14:18:

I LOVE Lindt...I cannot think of a better one!!!!!~#1 # 1 Colombia, US, Italy, Mexico, Godiva...forget it. Lindt, dark or milk, is THE BEST to me.

Lindt has a White Chocolate (which I know is not Chocolate) that is incredible!!

Anyway, Tinto makes a good point about the value of choc. to Colombia when he says:

"Colombia needs these types of products because a greater share of the proceeds stay in Colombia"

That is a good point. I'll have to buy more Jet Bars.

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kernow62 says on Sep 27, 2005, 04:06:

GDL, Lindt does make some good chocolate, but you have to look for their French made chocolates, these are their top quality line.

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kernow62 says on Sep 27, 2005, 05:30:

Tinto, that is something totally different however. No doubt about it you can get fine chocolate made in just about any country. You can go to almost any town in Europe and find specialty chocolate makers, but they are just local market products, with occasional distribution to a limited audience. For example here are just a few of the chocolatiers in the UK that begin with the letter "a". http://www.local.co.uk/more-a/Chocolates

And the numbers in Switzerland, France, Belgium would no doubt be even greater.

Here are some of the best in the world.
La Maison du Chocolate: 225 rue de Faubourg Sant Honore, Paris 8; 8 Boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris 9; 52 rue Francois 1er, Paris 8.

Charbonnel and Walker: 28 Old Bond Street, London W1.

Confisserie Romr: 3 place du Molard, and 42 rue du Rhone, Geneva.

Prestat: 40 South Molton Street, London W1.

Jean-Paul Hevin: 3 rue Vavin, Paris 6 and 16 Avenue de la Motte Picuquet, Paris 7.

Max Brenner: Rehov Dizengoff 280, Tel Aviv, Israel

Teuscher: Storchengasse 9, Zurich. Branches in New York, Geneva, Huston, Dubai, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Frankfurt

DeBauve & Gallais: 30 rue des Saint-Peres, Paris 7 and 33 Rue Vivienne, Paris 2.

Dalloyau: 99 - 101 rue de Faubourg St. Honore, Paris 8.

Delectables: 4448 W. 10th Street, Vancouver, Canada.



The chocolate "bars" are meant for consumption by the masses, you have the everyday chocolate bars, and then perhaps the once a week treat bars, then you have the special occasion bars. They are all meant for distribution worldwide.

Now, I wonder if you can buy Ethel M in Belgium?

By the way I have had some terrible chocolate from Belgium too!

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Gomezman5 says on Sep 27, 2005, 09:54:

Kernow and I in agreement.....Hmmmmmm ... a rarity indeed!! I'm with you Kernow....Lindt is really great stuff. And

GDL, while you may not have heard of it, rest assured it is high line Choc. I do live in a city where we have a lot of high end gourmet stores, (Does Lousianna even have such a thing?)and almost all of them carry the complete Lindt line.

From their web site, you can readily see that they are not just some company out of nowhere. Behold: http://www.lindt.com

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quindioman says on Sep 27, 2005, 09:55:

if those London addresses are anything to go buy, the chocolate they would stock would certainly be expected to be "the creme de la creme".
I feel like getting my brother to phone and ask for a box of Yorkies ;-)

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kernow62 says on Sep 27, 2005, 12:31:

Somehow I don't think they would have them Qundioman. ja ja

Just the names of those places sound posh. Ooh how the other half lives eh mate?

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 27, 2005, 15:33:

Santander Chocolate I love the single origen Santander chocolate and was surprised recently to see it on store shelves in the US. I believe it was at a Whole Foods.

Cat1, White Chocolate isn't chocolate, never mind the name. If it doesn't contain cocoa it isnt' chocolate.

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kernow62 says on Sep 27, 2005, 16:53:

It isn't chocoalte, but I still enjoy white "chocolate" too. They remind me of the white chocolate mice I used to buy with my pocket money on the way to school.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 27, 2005, 18:49:

On the topic of chocolate Since we're talking about chocolate, let me add that if anyone is ever in San Francisco they owe it to themselves to go visit the Joseph Schmidt chocolate shop. They make the best chocolates I've ever tasted. It's in the Castro somewhere, a couple blocks from Market street.

I don't know how widely their chocolates are sold, since it seems like a very small operation.

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kernow62 says on Sep 27, 2005, 18:53:

They are good Hollywood, they supply the hotel where my wife is employed, but only in the cooler months. I occasionally get a few free to sample. The ones they seem to supply are various truffles, I don't know if they make a high cocoa content bar. For a purist I can do without all the fancy filled chocolates, but if they are gratis, well...

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adrimm says on Sep 27, 2005, 19:05:

My fav common chocolate bar Are the kinderbueno bars with hazelnut cream filling....
mmmmmmmmm

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kernow62 says on Sep 27, 2005, 19:49:

My wife likes those too Adrimm. Oddly enough we can't find them here in Orlando, but in Bogotá they were available!

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adrimm says on Sep 28, 2005, 10:30:

Everyone should try a Kinder Bueno!!! They *must* be available somehere in the US... I just did a search and you can get a case of 30 of them for $21 USD (plus shipping) from a Bulgarian store in Illinois.
http://bbsproduce.com/bugarian-store/kinderbueno1.html

They are in all the stores up here... thank god :) If it didn't involve international shipping I'd happily mail one to you.

Check out this billboard add for Kinder Bueno in Poland..... guess they aren't aiming for the "Kinder" market. LOL


http://www.sweets.pl/pliki/artykuly/Ferrero_Kinder_Bueno_2004_biilboard_400.jpg

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 28, 2005, 11:33:

The best chocolate bar for me is one here in the UK, it's white and it's call DREAM uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, kinder bueno i just like the filling.An d I love all those liquor chocolates fill with Bayleys, Wisky tec.

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Cerealkiller says on Oct 6, 2005, 17:37:

so what is the problem with chocolatine Jet? is it because it costs only 500 pesos? hahaha.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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kernow62 says on Oct 6, 2005, 20:55:

Thanks GDL. I will seek it out and give it a try.

This week I bought a bar of Lindt 70% and a bar of Lindt 85%.

I prefer the 70%, the 85% is a bit too intense for me and I love bitter chocolate.

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quindioman says on Oct 7, 2005, 05:12:

i'm trying hard to enjoy the proper chocolates. I am guilty of enjoying the very inferior (but dangerously moreish) milk chocolate bars.
I found a Lindt in the fridge with 30% cocoa solids which I devoured in under 2 minutes.
I decided to follow gringodelouisiana's advise and just bought a green&black organic with 70% cocoa solids (only 20grams) but I'm having trouble wolfing it down with the same aplomb i do the milk chocolates.
I have been extremely priviliged to taste some delicacies in haute cuisine here in some of London's top restaurants...I'm a big fan of Sevruga, truffles and all things recognised as very fine (but very expensive), but my palate is really struggling with the fine chocolate.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Oct 7, 2005, 05:17:

Jajaj quindioman, what did you HAVE for breakfast!!!! I must admit I am like you I don't like dark chocolate it's an struggle to eat it.. I prefer my box of Roses

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kernow62 says on Oct 7, 2005, 05:49:

quindioman there are chocolates for wolfing down and there are chcolates for enjoying just a square or two. I couldn't eat a whole 70% bar without feeling a bit sick and I surely wouldn't enjoy it.

Think of a milk chocolate bar as a cup of tea or coffee, and a square of dark chocolate as a nice snifter of cognac.

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quindioman says on Oct 7, 2005, 06:08:

kernow i never thought of it that way, perhaps I will take your advice and enjoy a square or two instead of the whole bar.

Kat: I never had anything for breakfast (it used to be a joint but I really am trying hard to give up - at least not to smoke before midday)
Ideally I would have some papaya cubes with a smattering of organic yoghurt and a sprinkling of bee pollen.......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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kernow62 says on Oct 7, 2005, 06:12:

How about a nice glass of kumis? Yummy.

By the way what is the difference between Kumis and Kefir?

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oldbongo says on Oct 7, 2005, 06:15:

whats the diffference between.. sick and gross

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kernow62 says on Oct 7, 2005, 06:18:

ja ja.

What about kumis and ron?

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