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Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???In some of my recent reviews you may noticed me mentioning that I have been buying an increasing number of chocolates from the UK supermarket retailer Waitrose. Indeed if you are one of my UK readers I would strongly suggest you take a visit to you local store to check out their chocolate shelves. I'm not saying it is going to be a cheap visit, but I'm in little doubt that a lot of you will be surprised at just how wide their range is. On one of my recent recent Waitrose visits I picked up this little known offering made by The Grenada Chocolate Company. This bar came billed as a 71% cocoa organic dark chocolate bar, made from 'organic cocoa farms nestles in the lush Carribean rain forest'. When I review chocolates like this, it really blows my mind how the ingredients make their way from rain forests on one side of the world, to being in my hands here in the UK.
This bar came in a 85.0g tablet and set me back the reasonably priced sum of £2.99. One of the things that immediately struck me about this product was the packaging. I have never been to the Caribbean, but from what I understand it is a colourful, vibrant place, which is something the wrapper communicated expertly. Sat on the shelf the bar really stood out - believe me it would have to considering the hundreds that Waitrose stock. Inside the chocolate was wrapped in a thick layer of bronze foil and looked beautifully fresh with a crisp, clean looking surface and it's deep black colour. When it came to aromas, the chocolate fully justified it's fresh looking aesthetics and it emanated some fragrant, roasted cocoa smells which gave me great expectations of the taste to follow.
Breaking the chocolate in to smaller chunks it broke with a lovely sounding snap which further gave evidence that this was a delightfully fresh chocolate. Of course looking, smelling and sounding fresh wasn't going to mean anything if it didn't taste fresh and flavoursome, and I have the pleasure of reporting that it very much did. From the very first seconds of the chocolate being in the mouth the cocoa flavours came to the party and quickly established a strong set of sugar and milk flavours. As the smooth melt slowly gathered paced, these brown sugar notes caramelised into a smokier influence, which had minor hints of wood and red fruits . As the solid mass entered it's final melting stage, transforming into a liquid state, a final plethora of chocolate and coffee elements came to the fore. This final twist in the aftertaste was a fitting end to each blocks, and left a great impression on my palette for a long time after consumption. This was definitely one of those chocolates best enjoyed in small amounts alongside an after dinner coffee. It wasn't suitable for eating in any great quantity, as it was exceedingly rich.
Overall this was one of the best plain dark chocolate bars I have tasted for a long time and is well worthy of it's 9.0 out 10 rating. Pretty much everything about this bar was superb: the packaging looked great, it smelt wonderful, it broke with crispness and of course mostly importantly it was exceedingly tasty. My tasting notes above may read like I am trying to sound an expert (which I don't think I am!!), but that was truly the only way I could describe the taste. I hope my rambling has been able to communicate that the flavours on offer were rich, smooth flowing, progressive and never in any sense bitter - it was almost the perfect dark chocolate. Compared to my all time favourite Hotel Chocolat 85%, I would rate this chocolate in the same league, though I wouldn't say the finish or the textures were quite as creamy, so my preference still falls with the latter. If you are going to be taking my advice and are going to go for a shop in Waitrose soon, I strongly suggest you keep an eye out for this dark chocolate - to be honest it's going to be hard to miss it on the shelf.
9.0 out of 10
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27 comments:
Woah that is a really groovy looking wrapper. I haven't seen/nor heard of the Grenada co before. I think I might have to change that.
I don't like dark chocolate that much but you have convinced me that this is a good one lol.
It's always great hearing about smaller companies. We can all buy things from Thorntons and the such, but sometimes it is more interesting to hear about niche brands. Thanks for the review.
Rxxx
I was expecting one of your mega posts today. Don't you always posted them on Fridays?
Thank you for the review Jim I think this sounds amazing. That is the first chocolate to score a nine for a long time you must have thought it was really good.
One day we are going to have to see something beat that Hotel Chocolat 85%. It hasn't been topped for two years now has it.
That wrapper is mental. It looks more like the cover of a book than a chocolate bar.
It must stand out well when you put it next to something like a Lindt Excellence. I like it anyway.
It is pretty cool when you start thinking about where all the ingredients came from to make some chocolates. The amount of distance and processes that high quality chocolates go through, to make it to the point where you eat it is amazing.
There aren't many things you eat that you can say are so complex to make.
This is a bar I have seen but never bought.
It's impossible to miss it when you see it. I think I was put off by the price though. It is expensive when you compare it to Lindt etc.
This isn't my sort of chocolate but it is good seeing a smaller company getting a look in.
If they did a milk chocolate I would give it a try. By the sounds of it they do make some good chocolate.
Dx
Jim did you know that they actually do a few more bars than just this one.
They do a 60%, 82% and 'Nibs' chocolate ... check it out http://www.grenadachocolate.com/products.html
Can you review some of them please.
That is the best wrapper I have seen for ages. I think most chocolate makers are too obsessed with taking themselves way too seriously. This is so different to anything else I can think of.
I think I'm starting to notice a pattern here. Whenever you review something that is plain the or not got any flavours or anything in it you always score it high.
The bits and pieces that are put in the lower you score them. Its true just look at this weeks reviews.
quickly established a strong set of sugar and milk flavours. As the smooth melt slowly gathered paced, these brown sugar notes caramelised into a smokier influence, which had minor hints of wood and red fruits
lol this made me laugh. I have never thought about chocolate in that much detail. It is great you can taste all those things though. I wish I could appreciate chocolate this much.
Sorry but choc like this doesn't interest me too much. I would probably just think it is yucky and bitter. I will stick to my milkybars :)
Yay well done for featuring one of my favourite dark chocolates Jim. I'm totally with you about how good this is. I have only had this a few times because it isn't easy to find, but all the times I have had it I have thought it was amazing.
I would be very interested to see your thoughts on the 80% I haven't see it myself but it exists.
That is without doubt the best wrapper we have seen for ages. Lol compare it to the Thorntons below, it makes it looks so boring in comparison.
Thats the right way to end the week isn't it :) Nice review thanks Jim.
Grenada is a very long way away to be buying chocolate from :D Do they genuinely make the whole product there or do they just import the cocoa.
I finf it funny how companies like this try and come across all friendly and cuddly by putting the word 'organic' on their products, but then fly their products miles across the globe.
You should consider writing a chocolate tasting book jim. You are pretty good when it comes to describing flavours and stuff. It's odd the stuff you can pick out when you properly concentrate of things when you eat them.
This is the sort of chocolate I always miss out on because I get distracted by flavourd bars. Sometimes I think it is all worth us just taking a step back to enjoy the plainer higher quality offerings like this one.
It is pretty easy to get swayed to something else though isn't it. There are so many different flavour combinations out there now.
This sounds really nice and I love the wrapper! Sadly i dont have a Waitrose anywhere nearby :(
@ Alex - thats nonsense, Jims reviewed plenty of filled bars before that have scored well. Look at his Ritter reviews to name just one brand.
Think this could be abit of a high % for my very sweet tooth haha give me a good white chocolate anyday :D:D.
Sorry about lack of attendance lately been very very busy and out early most mornings so just not had time :(.
Ah well they do these tours around london and being from Torquay and going up next week for a foodie trip thought it would be cool to try and and ofc get to Paul A Youngs shop, also you get good discounts in the shops :).
Chocolate Ectasy tours there called.
Cool wrapper :) Waitrose is very expensive but they do have a unique selection of products. Next time I'm in town I might pop in.
Is it just me that thinks the chocolate looks beautiful as well? It looks so glossy and crisp in your picture. I think pure is the word I'm looking for.
This must have been good to get such a high rating off yourself. You must have tried so many different dark chocolates by now.
9s all over. This must be good. Thank you for featuring some proper chocolates this week. Lol last week you seemed to be reviewing anything but.
PART 1
David
It does look good doesn't it. Have a read up about the Grenada Co, they are an interesting entity.
Rachel
Indeed. Of course I enjoy writing about the mass consumer brands and the such (Cadbury etc), but it is always interesting to see what these smaller companies have to offer aswell. This is a fine example of what they can do.
Anon
It isn't set in stone that I do Bits n Bobs reviews on Fridays. Sometimes I don't do them for months.
Golden
Yeah this was seriosuly good stuff. Who knows about the 85% being beaten. It still is my favourite chocolate of all. Someone will top it one day I hope.
Mark
The wrapper is very good. The colours give it the most amazing shelf stand out. It makes other look very boring I agree.
Vanessa
Tell me about it. This is something I think a lot of us take for granted sometimes. We should all start paying more attention to where our foods come from. I think half the time we always presume they are made in our local countries.
Nick
I suggest you make it one you have seen & bought then :D it deserves your money trust me.
Daisy
I don't think they do a milk chocolate but they make a 60% bar by the sounds of it. You could give that one a try.
Tricky
Well I do now :D I will see if I can find some more of them and give them a review. It seems like people are relatively interested.
Nigel
This is a lot less serious that you see from the likes of Hotel Chocolat, Galler and Lindt. I don't think most brands could pull this sort of wrapper off to be honest. It works for Grenada though.
Alex
Haha Alex, as Alan has so wonderfully put this is utter drivvle. This so called 'pattern' you have discovered simply doesn't exist.
Katie
You better not be laughing at me :P It's not easy describing the taste of a dark chocolate without sounding like a bit of a poncey git. I do try my hard to get the point across that I don't think I am any sort of expert.
Vikki
Dark chocolate isn't to everyones taste. If we all thought the same life would be horrendously boring.
Rory
Great to hear from someone else who has tried this. I'm glad to hear you also though it was similarly great.
If I can find the 80% bar I will review it. I will look in Waitrose this weekend.
PART 2
Lauren
The Thorntons one is great in it's own context, but yeah the Grenada one does look more interesting in comparison. Both suit the sort of products they are.
James
Indeed! I'm glad you approve.
Emily
They make the whole product there! Check out their website for all the details on their company. It is actually really interesting.
Paul
Chap if I had the writing skills I would do so :D Unfortunately they are pretty poor so I will have to save everyone from poor grammar and spelling :D Thanks for your vote of confidence though.
Duncan
It can be pretty easy to overlook bars like this one. You are right there are so many different options availablet to us all nowadays. Hopefully I'm steering you guys in the right direction.
Alan
That is a shame about the lack of Waitrose. I thought you would like the wrapper :D It is one of the better ones we have seen for a while isn't it.
Matt
No worries chap - it just good to know you are still keeping an eye on things.
Those Chocolate Tours do sound pretty cool actually. I think I am following the person that runs them on Twitter. I might tweet them later for some more details.
Phil
Seriosuly go take a look at their chocolate shelves, I'm sure you will be really surprised by the huge range they have - it's really impressive for a smaller retailer. The only drawback is they are expensive like you say.
Resph
No the chocolate looked very appetising aswell you aren't wrong.
John
Indeed chap. I would rate it as one of the best dark chocolates I have tried for a long time. I have another similarly good one coming up next week though.
Alex
I hadn't noticed that. To get 9.0 out of 10 across the entire spectrum you have to be something pretty special.
Thanks everyone - last chance to enter the Weetabix competition tomorrow. Just sign up to Twitter, follow me and retweet one of my reviews to enter yourself. Simple stuff really.
7Days of chocolate Reviews tomorrow. Have great weekends.
JIM
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