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Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???After last months adventures with Hotel Chocolat's Chocolate Sultanas I today go full circle with HC's enrobed fruit range by taking a look at these Kirsch Cherries. Despite having tried past terrors such as Green & Black's Cherry offering, my more recent foray with Lindt's Amarena Kirsch bar was far more successful so I approached these with a relatively open mind. On the pack these came described as 'Whole de-stoned cherries, softened by a long soaking in kirsch, then enrobed in layers of milk then dark chocolate'. For those of you wondering, Kirsch is a clear, colourless fruit brandy traditionally made from double-distillation of morello cherries' (thanks Wiki!).
Just as with the other products from Hotel Chocolat's enrobed fruit range, these came in a 150.0g tub that contained I would say around 20 or so cherry pieces. Compared to some of the other fruits I have tried the cardboard tub didn't seem to hamper the freshness of the contents, I was pretty amazed by the strength of the fruit, chocolate and booze scents that greeted me when I ripped open the foil seal on top. In regards to aesthetic presentation the choice of colour for the outer packaging was obviously very sensible, and I was similarly impressed by the look of the actual cherries. Each of the pieces seemed very plump in size, whilst the dark chocolate looked relatively fresh considering the slightly scuffed surfaces.
I have to say before tasting these I was pretty intrigued as to how Hotel Chocolat had coated these in both milk and dark chocolate - all soon became apparent. The exterior layer of these cherries were coated with a thick layer of Hotel Chocolat 50% dark chocolate. As you would expect the taste wasn't quite as flavoursome or as rich as some of their stronger recipes, but it generated a decent set of unsweetened cocoa flavours that would later prove pivotal in the overall balance of the taste. Sat below the dark chocolate a thin layer of milk chocolate slowly eased the experience towards a sweeter culmination, though it was the cherry fruit piece that really took centre stage. The cherries were in every bit of the sense wonderful. Biting in to them they were juicy and bursting with a plethora of red berry and brandy flavours. Unlike so many of Hotel Chocolat's alcohol flavoured products the implementation of the Kirsch was fantastic and spot on at allowing the other fruit and chocolate constituents have their share of the taste. As moreish as these were I was more than happy settling for just a handful as a snack - believe it or not for a dark chocolate product but these were at their best when they had been stored in the fridge.
Overall colour me impressed, these were extremely tasty and exceeded all my expectations. As was probably evident by the fact they were the last ones I decided to review, these were not something I was particularly looking forward to reviewing but having just finished my sampling tub I oddly find myself contemplating buying another already which isn't something I often have an urge to do with any product I review. What I liked about these Kirsch Cherries was the way they struck a really fine balance with their sweet and unsweetened flavours. The milk chocolate and cherry fruits delivered all the sugary sweet fruity flavours desired, and were the perfect counter balance for the harsher tasting dark chocolate and liqueur flavours of the brandy. Quite simply I can't recommend these Kirsch Cherries enough for people that enjoy their chocolate coated fruits. Even if you aren't the biggest lover of cherries (like I'm not!), I would suggest you give them a try.
8.4 out of 10
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32 comments:
Oh these sound absolutely wonderful! What a nifty idea to use both dark and milk chocolate! Being a lover of cherries I think I might just be tempted to do some Hotel Chocolat shopping, though I am usually well supplied with their chocolates due to buying their special member collections quite often.. I'll see, hope they'll be around for a while.
They seem like my kind of thing. I just love how the section looks. It reminds me of how cutting through this looked like... sinfully delicious.
These aren't my sort of thing to be honest with you. I certainly wouldn't buy them for me, and I cant think of anyone that I know that is mad about cherries.
I'm glad you liked them more then you expected though. Thanks for the review bud.
Yummy I love cherries. I've not had kirsch before but if it's got alcohol in it I'm sure it will be fine by me lol.
On that point I see you say the alcohol wasn't that strong and that you liked them because of that. Do you not like it Jim?
Rxxx
Your pictures normally look so yummy but today the cherries look horrid, like they are rotten inside or something. Eughhh!
I've nearly bought these so many times but they aren't cheap ya know. I always seems to find better ways to spend £7 in Hotel Chocolat, lol they sound nice but for that money you can get a few small samples of some of their truffles.
Great review mate its wicked seeing you review some of the non traditional things from Hotel Choc. Have you seen their xmas chocs btw? They have some well interesting christmassy things in there like mulled wine cherries, it would be great seeing if they are as good as these. I wasn't expecting you to give these an 8 btw.
I wish they would have made these with milk chocolate and not dark. I still find their dark chocolate too strong and bitter for my tastes. I much prefer sweeter chocolate :( white chocolate covered cherries would have been so good. They would have looked better like that too :)
Dx
One thing that Hotel C still haven't made is a cherry flavoured slab. I can imagine that a one of their slabs with half milk choc, half cherry flavoured white choc with a few of these kirsch cherries on top would be amaze. I should send them an email now to copyright my idea lol.
Thank you for the review.
As nice as these sound I don't think they look the nicest thing you can buy from hotel chocolat. That tub doesn't look very attractive, not compared to some of their chocolate bars or boxes anyway.
They could be good as a stocking filler but I doubt they are going to be a cheap one are they lol.
I don't like cherries at all. I used to like glace ones but now are I can't handle how artificial they are. I'll sit out of this one today I think :-)
I said I didnt want to try the sultanas and I defo dont want to be trying these. Ive never liked cherries, never have, never will lol.
I know my sister would go mental for these though. If they still sell them when her birthday comes around I will take your advice and buy her some. You better be right about these Jimbo lol.
What I liked about these Kirsch Cherries was the way they struck a really fine balance with their sweet and unsweetened flavours. The milk chocolate and cherry fruits delivered all the sugary sweet fruity flavours desired, and were the perfect counter balance for the harsher tasting dark chocolate and liqueur flavours of the brandy.
Expertly described again fancy pants. These sound entirely the sort of thing I would like. I like cherries, I like brandy and of course I like chocolate. These are on my list :)
Don't you get bored of trying things from this company all the time? I swear you will run out of things to write about soon. You have tried everything.
I don't like to comment about things I haven't tasted but these do sound soooooo good :-) I always forget about this sort of thing when I shop in Hotel C. My eyes always get drawn to the fancier looking stuff. Thank you for bringing them to my attention.
I just looked these up and they cost £6.50 for just one box of them. I think that is an awful lot for what you get, they are only cherry covered in chocolate after all. You can get some very similar things in other shops for much lower prices. I think Thorntons do some cherry cordials for around £3, they were very nice last time I had them.
I wouldn't pay that amount for these I'm afraid.
What a brilliant idea. Why do I never see these when I go in to their shops?
Do you think they only sell them online or is it me just me being a clutz and not seeing them. Next time I go in there (this weekend lol) I will take an extra special look out for these. They sound like a perfect gift for my mum.
Jim do you know why Hotel Chocolat never put nutritional information on any of their chocolates? It's so annoying for anyone who wants to watch their diet.
These look fab btw. I wasn't sure about the alcohol thing but it sounds like it compliments the fruit well.
I'm a bit like @Daisy, I would have liked to have seen them in anything other than dark chocolate though. That bit does sort of put me off them because their dark chocolate tastes so strong. White chocolate supremacy lol.
I thought I read before you didn't like things like this so I never expected to see a review of them. Hotel Chocolat have been making these for years now, and I have found they can vary loads in quality from batch to batch. I must of bought them about four times now, most the time they are v good, but there was one occasion when the cherries were so sour we threw them out.
I would still add my recommendation to yours though. People that like cherries will adore them.
Jim I have a very long list of things I have populated from the hotel chocolate christmas range I want to see you score. Where do you want me to send it to? Im relying on you to show me the way lol.
Please do us a favour and stop reviewing so many lush choccies from Hotel Chocolat please :-] my credit card cant take the heat anymore. I guess if you are going to max it out there is no better place than HC to do it lol. No place tastier anyway :-]
Why did they have to put Kirsch in there? Hotel Chocolate always make their alcohol chocolates way too strong, the last set of whisky truffles I had from them nearly blew my had off. Never again.
Well these definitely aren't my sort of thing lol they look good and sound nice for what they are but I'm not a fan of licquers or of cherries particularly, I'm fine with cherries in cakes and other fruits and glace cherries etc but not in this sort of thing. I do like choc covered fruit though, esp oranges.
@Richard I see what you are saying but its hardly like you get anything cheap at Hotel Chocolat. £6.50 is probably the cheapest thing you can buy from there.
These sound nice, I'd definitely be willing to give them a try sometime. From what I gather you seem to be like me with alcohol chocolate Jim, I don't like them too strong either.
They look very juicy and inviting in that photo, it's actually making me quite hungry :0
It's a good job I'm not American or I'd be suing you for causing me chocolate addiction ;)
Just read what Golden_Touch said, I think I've changed my mind on trying them now lol. £7 is a lot, and I'd be more likely to buy one of their boxed chocs or something. They do sounds nice though, maybe best left for those with large funds :)
I love cherries but I think I would prefer that cadburys bar from canada you reviewed the other day http://www.chocolatemission.net/2010/09/september-28th-bits-n-bobs-cadbury.html
I also sit in the camp of people who would prefer a different type of chocolate. Nothing against Hotel Chocolat, but its just too bitter for me.
I wouldn't pay a over a fiver for these. They do sound pretty nice though lol.
A dried fruit mix covered in dark chocolate needs to be made. I think someone suggested that last time you reviewed the sultanas. Did you hear back from them about that?
Hi All,
Thanks for all the feedback today. I thought these would be a nice product to feature what with the holiday season coming up. I thought they are just about the right sort of size for a small gift or as a 'stocking filler' as someone has put it. It's crazy we are talking Christmas again so soon :D
Anne - Re: I am usually well supplied with their chocolates due to buying their special member collections quite often
Are you part of the chocolate tasting club then? If you aren't and you love your HC chocolate then I would suggest taking a look in to it.
Ana - Re: Virginias
Is that Spanish chocolate I see? Surely not? Its not often you see confectionery by a Spanish producer.
Rachel - Re: 'On that point I see you say the alcohol wasn't that strong and that you liked them because of that. Do you not like it Jim?'
I'm not a big drinker no. I like the odd beer/lager but I'm no wine or spirit connissuer thats for sure.
Golden / Phil / Richard / Eric - Re: PRICE
Haha we talk about price everyday don't we. I guess because it is just an important factor for any product, so its unsurprising really. Are they worth £6.50
? Well I think its a matter of opinion. If you like cherries then they are by all means worth every single penny .... you will love them.
If you are lessed fussed by them then of course it's probably best you look elsewhere given the variety on offer.
Nick / Linda - Re: Hotel Chocolat Christmas Selection
Don't worry guys everything is in hand. My coverage of Hotel Chocolat is going to be very extensive this year. They have a phenomneal range this year. If there is anything in particular you want to see then please just flag it up to me.
Daisy / Jaquie / Alison - Re: Use of dark chocolate for the coating
I see where you are coming from, but I personally would probably find the cherries paired with milk or white chocolate too sweet. I think the dark balances things up nicely. Granted it would have been interesting to try different chocolate types.
Justin - Re: ' I will take your advice and buy her some. You better be right about these Jimbo lol.
Oh god I hate it when people say things like this :D It makes me feel the pressure just a bit haha.
Anon - Re: 'Don't you get bored of trying things from this company all the time?'
Funnily enough no. Not when they make high quality produce like these.
Jen - Re:'Why do I never see these when I go in to their shops?'
Ermmm I think it might just be you being a 'clutz' haha :D I'm pretty sure these aren't online exclusive.
Alicia - Re: 'Jim do you know why Hotel Chocolat never put nutritional information on any of their chocolates?
Two reasons I think.
1) They believe it is the main part unimportant for a brand like theirs as they are all about indulgence.
2) Because I think that the products vary so much with each lot they make that it would be inaccurate to display such information anyway.
Estelle - Re: 'I would still add my recommendation to yours though. People that like cherries will adore them.'
Great we can now share the blame when people report back and say they don't like them :D
Matt - Re: 'Hotel Chocolate always make their alcohol chocolates way too strong'
Saying they always make them too strong isn't right. They do sometimes, but not always.
Alan - Re: ' I do like choc covered fruit though, esp oranges.'
I would love to see them try some more chocolate covered fruit things out. They are always so interesting to try. If you look at the Christmas catalog I think my wishes may have just come true, they got some awesome sounding new items in there.
Phil - Re: Changing Opinion
Haha you made me laugh again today ... penny dropping a bit too late again before the first comment (re: price). It's fair enough what you say though, if you aren't that fussed by cherries then there are probably better things to save your money for.
Eric - Re:'A dried fruit mix covered in dark chocolate needs to be made. I think someone suggested that last time you reviewed the sultanas. Did you hear back from them about that?'
Sorry matey I've never asked them directly about that. I know my contact there passes on all your comments so probably best you keep your fingers crossed and hope they take notice in Hotel Chocolat R&D. Far stranger things have happened, I would be at all surprised to see a chocolate trail mix appear one day.
Thanks everyone - I do believe we have a NEW product Thursday tomorrow :D You can take these names with a pinch of salt now haha, they never stick do they.
JIM
Yes, Virginias are Spanish and they have quite a few nice products (turrons, alcoholic chocolates, biscuits coated in a lot of dark chocolate). You're right, it isn't often you see confectionery by a Spanish producer - I really cannot think of another one at the moment.
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