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Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???Zotter haven't appeared on this website since October 2009, when the Black Cherries with Vanilla registered a rather disappointing score of 6.8 out of of 10 on the ChocolateMission rating system (See HERE). Perhaps it was that score which upset Mr Zotter, but after a little love via Twitter he has finally forgiven me and sent me samples of his latest handscooped bars*. Included in the batch he sent along this Honey Trio bar was the one that chaught the eye of my honey loving father. Given that I was visiting home for the weekend it seemed only rude not to open it up to see if the 'fine bitter chocolate filled with honey, honey jelly and honey crunch' was as good as it sounded.
The 'handscooped' (why is it called that!?) bar came in the usual 70.0g format, which I split with the old man (I hope he doesn't read this!!). I have said this about Zotter products before so excuse for repeating myself, but the point needs reiterating that the packaging and presentation is always first class. Personally I think the wrappers perfectly manage to pull off a funky, yet sophisticated look, and I hope you agree that the outer sleeve looks very cool with the weird looking bees artwork. Inside things got a bit more serious, with the thick golden foil mantaining the bar in perfect condition, and the cross-section revealing a mind boggling four different layers. Once I had finally managed to comprehend how Zotter had crafted four layers in to the thin bar, I next took great delight in the rich cocoa scents that were being offered - YUM!
Up until this point Zotter were really delivering the goods - the look, the smell and the packaging already had big ticks, but it was down to the taste to deliver in the last box. One thing I think Zotter can be relied on to do is deliver the goods with their chocolate, and their 60.0% did little to prove me wrong. Despite the thin outer layer the dark chocolate was extremely flavoursome and brought a strong cocoa flavour hit to the party with it's smooth, rich buttery taste. The chocolate was quite strong and edgy, however the bitterness balance was perfectly managed with the strong sweetness of the honey constituents. Given that all the inner layers were so compact it was impossible to tell which out of the real honey, jelly and crunch elements delivered the delicious tasting sugary, floral honey flavours. Whilst I couldn't pick them out in the taste, what was highly noticeable was the different textures they brought to the party, with each bite a delivering an array of moist, crispy, jelly like sensations. Coming from a guy that eats a lot of chocolate this was an exciting bar to eat - my old man thought it was superb!
Overall Zotter make some great flavour combinations, and they make some poor ones - but something you can't excuse them of is never being innovative. Like I have previously found, it is because of this brashness why they can't always be relied to deliver consistent high quality, but this bar was up there with the best I have eaten this year. At the heart of each bite the dark chocolate was of a great quality, whilst the inner honey layers were delightfully variable texture wise, and did a splendid job bringing some sweet and tasty honey flavours to the experience. I have previously begged manufactures to bring out a high quality honey based chocolate, and Mr Zotter and co obliged with this terrific chocolate bar. It was well presented, tasted great and was a satisfying - you can't ask for anything more than that now can you!? As I have said above, I don't always think that Zotter get their extravagant flavours on the money, but this more sensible combination would be the perfect chocolate for any honey dark chocolate lover. This Honey Trio comes very highly recommended - it is the best Zotter bar I have eaten yet.
8.8 out of 10
* Before anyone complains that is a joke I am allowed to write what I want - we just hadn't made contact for a while!
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27 comments:
Looks expensive but I like the sound of honey with fine chocolate. I'm not sure what those things on the wrapper are supposed to be? Bees I am guessing.
Just honey sounds a bit sensible for Zotter. They are normally a bit more leery with their flavours.
I'm green with envy you have been sent samples by Zotter. Every day you say you get samples it is so unfair :( You must get hundreds of pounds worth of free chocolate.
You should be done with it and sell it off lol. Another great review well done.
Rxxx
Nice score. It's not often we see something get this high. Well done Zotter.
I used to work in the part of Austria where Zotter is made and I remember getting given my first bar (something cheesy) from one of my colleagues as a gift! In those days, not being a big chocolate connoisseur and having grown up on Dairy Milk, I thought that it was a bit odd at first, but the filling combinations really work!
If you can get the 'Schilcher wine and the pumpkin' bar (available in the UK too) that is a combination of the region's most famous unique specialities!
I'm not going to lie ..... the sound of honey jelly doesn't sound that nice.
Its good to see you back reviewing zotter chocolates Jim. They are one of the producers you don't see all that often but they look like they have some really decent chocolates to offer. It is going to be interesting seeing what you think about their latest flavours. Can you tell us which ones you have please?
Where are Zotter bars made? The writing on the pack shot is in English but it doesn't sound like a British brand. I would hazard a guess at them being German?
Did you ever get the chance to try the Chicken Curry flavour chocolate? Zotter don't appear to have any boundaries when it comes to flavour combinations. Like you wrote in your review some work and some don't. The real pleasure is in finding the ones that do.
Thousands of years have passed and people are still passionate about candy. If anything, this probably speaks of but one truth – the love for sweets is universal. And there may be many reasons for this. Candy makes us feel good because of its sweetness.
Great review. I especially like the way you can see all the different layers where you have cut in to the chocolate. That gives the impression that it is has been really carefully made.
Do you think they should do something a little more with the decoration of their chocolate. Looking back through all your reviews all the bars looks very similar.
I've never tried any Zotter chocolates before but this review has me convinved I should put a change to that.
I have taken a look at a few websites that stock the. They are pretty expensive aren't they. I looked at one and they were over four pounds for a bar like this. I will need to be careful which flavours I pick.
Nick they are made in Austria by the looks of it. That is where Jim has tagged it as being from if you look at the bottom of the review.
@Stu: Yes, those are bees and I think they look really cute.
I have never had a bar that had honey as the central element (though I've had a few walnut & honey ones, the best being Lindt Excellence Walnut and Honey). But look at what I have found in an assortment box at the end of February/ beginning of March this year. :) That's right, honey! :)
Im green with envy hearing about Zotter sending you chocolates. I am thinking of starting up my own chocolate site just to get some freebies. Lol Im only joking I wouldn't have the tenacity you do to post every day.
I would love to see more manufacturers try using honey as an added flavour. I think there is loads of potential there.
A friend once told me she tried a tomato ketchup chocolate made by Zotter I think. That would be a really fun review to read. I bet it would taste pretty icky. See said it wasn't nice though so never know with these things.
This bar looks really cool, as does the packaging! they must be very clever getting all those layers in to that bar lol. I'm not a lover of honey so probably wouldn't buy this but I'd try it if I was given it. I think honey is one of those flavours that goes in and out of fashion, I think I once read that Nestle once made one, called Bubblo, a bit like a honey aero, back in the 1930's. Like fruity fondants, they seem to come and go too.
Great review. I think honey isn't used enough by chocolatiers. I'm tempted to try this one.
I'm loving the groovy looking wrapper. You have outdone yourself again with this review. Great work Jimbo.
I like the sound of the chocolate and the texture, but I'm not too fussed on honey flavoured products so don't know if I'd like this. Well done to them though for trying this flavour as not many do!
Honey trio sounds wicked. I agree with some of you guys that about honey not being paired with chocolate enough. I bet people just think it is too similar to caramel.
I'm loving the wrapper. I totally see what you mean about it being fun looking but serious at the same time. It would be great if a supermarket like Waitrose start carrying Zotter. I think that would be the only place where people would pay the extorcinate prices that people are quoting Zotter with.
Whats the easiest and cheapest way to buy Zotter?
For those in the UK, they give a list of shops and sites from where their chocolates can be bought - see here
On their Austrian website, they say they deliver worldwide :) More information on shipments within Austria, within Europe and outside Europe here
You can choose the products here.
PART 1
David
A bit leery? Haha I haven't heard that saying since my school days. This was indeed pretty conservative for Zotter.
Stu
They are indeed very cool looking bees. The wrapper is cool huh!?
Rachel
I do indeed get sent a lot of samples. I only allow companies to do so if I get to say what I want about their products though.
Anon
8.8 means it is about as good as they come.
Gareth
They do come up with some bonkers flavours don't they. It has been some of the weirder ones that have been the better ones though .. take the bacon bits one for example.
I will look to see if I can get hold of that wine and pumpkin chocolate. It does sound pretty special. Good to see you dropping by chap.
Golden
Believe me the honey jelly worked awesomely! I know it doesn't sound right but it was very tasty.
Nick
Zotter chocolate is produced in Austria chap. You were nearly right with your Germany guess. Close enough.
Richard
Unfortunately I didn't :( I can't find it anywhere either. They do indeed know no boundaries ... which I personally think is a good thing.
Sweets in bulk
Please don't click on that folks it is spam that got through the net.
Mark
Zotter chocolates are always very well crafted. Presentation is always very well thought about but yes I do think they could do something about the outer bit of the bar. Just a simple brand logo would really make it look awesome.
Justin
No Zotter isn't cheap I will give you that. I think the normal price you would look to pay is about £3.95 a bar. Some of them are really worth paying that for though. Like you say just be careful with the flavours you pick.
JT2000
Indeed they are made in Austria - well spotted.
Ana
What chocolate is that box from? It looks very nice indeed.
Lauren
It does take a lot of commitment that is for sure. Getting samples for free is one thing, but writing all the reviews is another. This may sounds like me complaining but I do love doing it :D Who wouldn't when you get to try chocolates that are as good as this.
Emma
Ketchup? Man yeah that is pretty odd. I would like to try it if I got the chance. Did you mean your friend thought it was ok? If thats the case I definitely will give it a go.
PART 2
Alan
Perhaps you are right about it being one of those cyclical things? I thought you would be one of the people to appreciate the design of the wrapper.
I know this one doesn't appeal to you but I do have a few upcoming soon that may be more to your taste :D Look out for them.
Susanne
Indeed I would like to see more of them experiment with honey. I wonder whether Hotel Chocolat could do something special with it ... that is a bit of a silly question now I think of it.
Paul
Thanks for the nice words chap. I do try my hardest... it is nice to see you appreciate it.
Phil
Not a honey fan either then huh!? Oh well like I said to Alan I think there are going to be more flavours appearing soon that are more to your taste.
Gamer
You could have a point about people thinking it is too similar to caramel. When you think about it caramel does sound a bit more exciting than honey also as well.
Chris
Actually it is funny you mention Waitrose. On the Zotter website they do say that John Lewis carry Zotter chocolate in their food halls. I guess it wouldn't be out of the question for Waitrose to stock them some day.
Anon #1
I think Ana has covered this off nicely :D
Ana
You have outdone yourself for usefulness here :D Thank you so much for providing everyone with this information :D You don't work for Zotter now do you :D
If anyone sees any flavours you want to see reviewed from the site please drop me a note in the request thread.
Thanks everyone - I have a special edition of 7 Days of chocolate reviews up tomorrow :D
JIM
It's a local brand, called Heidi. The box is one of their better boxes, Select. It has four chocolates:
- Gianduja Dream (gianduja having the base covered in dark chocolate)
- Nut Passion (with three whole nuts)
- Honey Desire (liquid honey inside)
- Dark Temptation (dark chocolate truffle: soft dark truffle centre in a hard dark chocolate shell)
And no, I don't work for Zotter :))
By the way, have you seen the special edition Milka Champiolade?
I think it looks pretty cool and I hope I'll get to try it today :D
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