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This is a review that I thought for the life of me would never happen! A long, long time ago, dedicated ChocolateMission reader Thea posted a message on the request page asking me to review some chocolates from one of her all time favourite chocolate makers Browne's - a company hailing from Devon who make handmade produce.I have to admit I wasn't the quickest off the mark with this particular request (naughty Jim!!), so it came to both my surprise and immediate disappointment when I read in March that the company had been put into the hands of administrators (See HERE) i.e. they were closing down - DOH! At this point I believed I had failed Thea and was destined never to try their chocolate.
.... That was until I was given these a few weeks ago ... a 180.0g assortment of truffles from none other than Browne's!?? .... So what did I do next? Well I did what any person would do in this 21st Century! I Googled it!! Here's what I found (See HERE). Indeed, Browne's had been saved by two local entrepreneurs who had just sold their brewing company - HURRAH! Browne's were saved and I had a box of chocolates to make my way through! All was right with the world :D
Pictured above - Orange & KirschAs I mentioned above these Assorted Truffles were gifted to me by a friend, and I was straight away impressed by the clean cut design of the box and the inner truffles which were similarly immaculate. The decision to include a menu in hindsight was probably not the best idea as it was inaccurate, but the thought was there at least and this is something that could be easily addressed in the future.
Pictured above - Rum & RaspberrySo what's going on with me randomly placing the chocolates throughout the post and not going into specifics on them? Well to save you all the feeling of wanting to reach through your computer screens and strangle me, I've decided not to write 'great tasting outer chocolate, superb mouth feel with the inner fillings, but poorly flavoured' six times in a row.
I could have honestly cut and pasted that for every single one of the six flavours on offer here. It was unanimously agreed by all that tried these (my old man and mother helped me out here haha!) that all three of the chocolate types used, the milk, dark and white were all fantastic and contributed exactly what was desired from each. The milk was creamy in it's cocoa flavours, the white was even creamier and vanilla noted, and the dark was richer and offered fine tasting unsweetened coffee hints. This was all fantastic, and it got even better with the revelation of the truffle centres which were all as soft as can be and melted luxuriously in the mouth. The issue with every single one of the six chocolates however was that the filling was just so under strength and lacking in flavour. This was made all the more disappointing as the mild taste contributions that were offered showed great potential - especially the fruit flavoured ones. For the record I would awarded all of these chocolates a Standard rating.
Pictured above - Strawberry & ChampagneOverall as glad as I am to see Browne's back in business I have to say I wasn't blown away by my first experience with them. Taking things from a positive point of view, there are a number of things that show they are a brand with massive potential. The presentation of the chocolates, the actual chocolate coatings and textural mouth feel of the chocolates were all superb, and lead me to believe that with a few minor tweaks they could produce something very special. Unfortunately there were little blemishes such as the inaccurate inner menu, which alongside the significant issue of the mild flavoured fillings made these more of a mediocre chocolate assortment offering than they needed be. I would be over the moon if you guys were not to be put off by my this review - please do try their chocolates and let me know what you think. If only to get behind a small British firm that has had it's troubles recently.
7.7 out of 10
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56 comments:
Super pics today again Jim. The truffles look sooooo good.
superb review J. Its good to know they survived the perils of administration but it looks like they have work to do on their chocolates.
I've just googled them and their website still doesn't seem to be working.
http://www.brownes.co.uk/
Unless it's just my computer playing up all I get is a white screen without anything being displayed. They need to sort that asap as I'm sure a fair deal of people will search for them after seeing the review here.
Brownes are lucky by the looks of it all.
Not many companies get a second chance like they have been given. It's an all too familiar story that these small local companies are being shut down because they can't compete.
I hope they take advantage of the olive branch they have been given. They look like they are set up for being something special if they can make their truffles taste a little better.
Are you sure you didn't just pick up some old stock of theirs? That could explain why these truffles weren't as good as you hoped.
Retweeted :) chalk up another ritter competition entry for me Jimbo.
These sound like they are a 'local jewell' maker like some of the small speciliast shops round near me. I keep thinking of recommending some of my local ones to you Jim but im not sure how interesting everyone else would find them as they serve such a small community. It's nice hearing about a Brit firm being saved from doom but the economic climates only going to get harder. I just hope their chocolates are better than you say they are here.
I'm not surprised they went out of business, I haven't even heard of them before.
That rescure from the brewery sounds like it hapenned a few months ago now. Have they done anything since then that was different to what they were doing before
What a shame. They sound like they have a good deal of promise but it would have been nice for them to have got a good review under their belts straight away.
I'm intrigued to see more from these guys if you will do us the pleasure Jim. These smaller British firms are intriguing to hear about. You should take them under your wing and adopt them. You could help out by taste testing and do publicity on your site for them. You could even get some of us involved, I would be keen if you need volunteers.
I was thinking you had mucked up the formatting of the post until I read your explanation. I shouldn't have doubted you mate, your style of reviews are so meticulous.
How much would a pack of these truffles set us back Jimbo?
I would pay £10 for these? Anything more and I would be put off because I don't know the brand first hand.
Oh Jim you big meanie. You could have been a little more leniant on them. They have only just gone back in to operations.
You should give the same box of truffles another try in a few months to see if they are better. That would be the fair thing to do.
Very fair review here I think. I know I always say this but the photographs today are stupendous.
Seriously it's so surprising to hear those truffle fillings were pants. They look so god damn delicious in the photos you posted.
Have you ever talked to any of the people who worked for Brownes Jim? You should try and get in contact with those two new guys who have taken over. It would be interesting to see if they would answer some questions that have been asked today. I would ask them
1. How are they going to do things differently?
2. What do the think the future holds for Brownes?
3. How do they think they are better/different from someone like Thorntons or HC
4. Are they going to start selling their chocolates in big supermarkets?
It would be so cool if you could get them to give answers to them.
You would give them all a STANDARD rating despite them having rubbish truffle bits?
That doesn't make to much sense my friend. Isn't the whole point of truffles that they have nice centres to provide that lovely melty flavour sensation?
I think I would be seriously pissed off if I got a box full of chocolates that didn't taste of the flavours it promised.
How much do these cost? Do they consider themselves a luxury brand or have you just presumed this?
If I'm reading this correctly Jim I would say you sorta built up a soft spot for these guys but then felt pretty disappointed with their chocolates.
I'm not saying your reviews are in any way biased or anything but I think you might have stuck the knife in further if this had been a more established brand and they served you up these.
I think you did the right thing being a bit leniant. Whatever the circumstances it's likely these truffles weren't made in the companies best time-frame. They must have been closing down or just re-opening you would of thought.
What a lovely story to read about on this drizzly morning. it warmed my heart hun, I almost few like I need to go indulge in some brownes truffles just to celebrate their escape from demise. Thanks for the review lovely.
Rxxx
Are they actually properly back in business then? I can't find anywhere online that is selling their chocolate :S It's proving a bit of a struggle to find out anything about them.
WOw Browns obv didnt pay Jim enough to give them a gd score.
Could you have possibly made thos truffle pictures look anymore sexual?
I just want to lick out those fillings, they look so soft and smooth looking. Mmmmm.
This isn't the most positive post a brand has got on JCM but I still think it will help them out if people want to find out about their chocolates. I think the photos of the truffles might be enough to sell them to most people. I know I still feel a big urge for some of their truffles still. Jim is probs just being all fussy again ;P
I think we should all buy some chocolates from Browne's when they are back in business. Lets get behind these smaller chocolatiers. They need all the help they can get from the sounds of things.
Heres a random idea for a post - chocolate flavoured sports nutrition products. Why don't you do a post looking at which are the best. I for one would be well interested.
I don't agree with you about the packaging Jim. I'm not intending a pun here but its just brown and boring.
You will have to look more special than that to stand out from the crowd these days. It all just looks to plain and dull to me.
You can't possibly leave them represented just like this on the blog J. You are going to have to do some follow up reviews to see what you make of some of their other stuffs.
Where abouts did your friend get these for you? Did they mention how much they cost? Lol I know thats not a very polite question to ask someone who has bought you a present. I'm more hoping that they left the label on or had it printed on the pack or something.
A Jim score of 7 is hardly a disaster people. Its only when the chocolates start getting 6s than jim gets unhappy.
More terrific work Mr Jim. You are fast becoming the number 1 chocolate reporter in my eyes. I still check your site everyday mate.
Why was the news that they got put back in business never posted on the news part of the site? You posted the one about them getting shut down.
I'm feeling an instant need to go buy some truffles now. I would like to buy some brownes but I'll settle for the Lindors I think. I should be banned from the white ones, they are seriosuly dangerous in my posession. Once I have one I eat the box.
Dx
It's nice to hear about a company getting investment for once and not shutting down or making cuts etc.
The people that lost their jobs originally working for them must have been so distraught. I just hope that they all got them back and are now back in employment. There is something that is to be really said about people like the two guys that have put some money back into this company. They make such a difference to the livelyhoods of so many people, I wish them every success with getting Brownes up and running again.
Before we find out the acutal price I want to say that I think 10-15 pounds would be about right. If they were £12 then I think that is entirely fair. Anything more that I think they would struggle to jusitify.
I would also be very interested to hear from Brownes if you can get them to come on here Jim.
Hearing anything about their future plans and how they wish to sort the company out going forward would be intriguing to hear about.
Are they on twitter or have facebook?
For such good looking chocolates its a bit annoying that you can't follow up with a glowing recommendation. I keep wanting to try some chocs from a different brand. I might just chance my luck with something from them anyways and see what they are like. Thank you for the review anyway. Its not like you haven't given me the due warning that these might be a bit of a letdown
I can't tell you how excited I was when I got the link on my RSS feed. Lol I haven't clicked through to a review so quickly in ages.
Brownes were always chocolates I used to see when I searched for truffle pictures on the internet. Like the ones you have here, you can get some spectacular looking photos from them that other people have taken.
I was always meaning to buy some of their chocolates to try but then I never got around to it. I was so disappointed when I heard they went out of business. I'm so happy they are back in business it's such good news. I don't care their score isn't so good today. I'm buying some of their chocolates ASAP. Thanks for the review and the heads up on the saviours, you've made me so happy.
It looks to me like they are going to have to start making their truffles better if they are going to survive in the future. If the general public have the same underwhelming experience as you Jim people wont buy their chocolates again.
It must be so hard setting up a chocolate company these days, there are just so many competitors out there it must be hard to create some noise.
Thea wasn't the only person to ask you to review brownes you know ;) I e-mailed you several times about a year ago asking if you would review some of their truffles ..so there :P
Thanks for finally getting around to doing the review. Its just a shame they didn't do to well but any PR for them is good PR you would think.
How can truffles that look so good be so epically dull flavoured? I was taken back by the rating these got at the end. I was envisaging something nearer the nine mark.
There are too many stories like this happening at the mo.
Unfortunately most of them don't have the happy ending that this one has where the company re-opens and people get their jobs back. Unfortunately its more common that they just shut down and peoples lives are being ruined.
Oh no it must have been hard to write a none to positive review after waiting so long to try them. If it's any excuse that might have only just been getting their factory back up running because it sounds like they closed down for a bit. It's good to see they survived anyways.
The chocolate may have been distinctly average but i'm loving the photos again today. They are truffle-tastic Jimbo.
After the first few paragraphs I was fully expecting a glowing report on the chocolates but it's great seeing you kept a really subjective view on things. You must really maintain a level head when you review these things Jim. I find it so impressive you take every chocolate you try at face value and don't seem as if you get swayed by things like where they come from and who makes them. It makes me feel ten times more confident about your recommendations. Thanks buddy.
Jim you stingey bugga. How could you not give them a better score after all they have been through. You must be a cold man at heart. I think I might order some brownes now to make up for your damning review.
Would you consider trying any more of their chocolates Jim or do you think it would just be a waste of time? I think they deserve a second chance. You have given plenty of other chocolate makers a second go when they've been on here and disappointed originally.
If you went by the rule that one bad review makes a company insiginificant I don't think Thorntons would have been on here on here for the past few years hehe.
Call me stupid but an inaccurate menu might not always be a bad thing. As annoying as it is it does kinda show that the chocolates are authentic and not just batch produced like the ones you buy from the bigger companies. In a way it just reassures you that they are genuinely hand made etc. Keep that glass half full Jim come on lol.
Thats a nice feel good story isn't it. You have pulled on my heart strings Jim. Congrats to Brownes for being back in business. I'm glad there are some decent people out there willing to take a chance on a small time player like them. Go Brownes GO!
I almost had the violins out the case when I read the first bit about them having to close down their factory.
Its good to hear that they got saved by those two blokes. Do you think they gave everyone who worked there their job back?
What sort of camera set up are you using for your latest reviews? You've got all your photography looking so professional It's seriously smart looking for an amateur blog.
Half the time your work looks better than the photography they have on the official websites.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=browne%27s+chocolates&tag=googhydr-21&index=grocery&hvadid=6961061406&ref=pd_sl_7ygfbdp5lv_b
Amazon look like they are selling off some old hot chocolate and christmas chocolates Browne's made. How random.
Great review Jim it's brilliant getting your non-biased view on their choc. I think I would have been over leniant on them because of their backstory and what has gone on in the past before. Your more truthful approach should help them out more in the long run. It will be interesting to see if they take onboard your crticism and see what they do with it.
Their chocolate might not taste so good but their truffles do make for some epic photos. The whip on those centres makes them look so drool worthy. Love your work here J. You got to stop posting all these fine looking pictures though. You make me so insanely jealous everytime I dare log on.
Even though they were quite a small company I still knew who brownes were when I heard the news about them getting shut down. Chocolate and fun stuff aside it's just great to know that people are getting their jobs back. Places like Devon tend to be highly reliable on local factories etc for employment.
Yay! :D Thanks ever so much Jim, for fulfilling my first request and reviewing these. Whoever would like to try them, if you google "Browne's chocolate truffles" several online stores come up (I wasn't sure if it's ok to post the links here?) Browne's also apparently produce(d?) the Waitrose line of 'Seriously Truffles' or 'Duchy Originals Truffles and Fruits'.
I was guessing the truffles would score a 7 so I'm pleased they did :D although I've never tried half these flavors, their fruit ones especially really do need to work on the mildness, you put your finger on their major weak spot, though I like them tasting not artificial. The best one they did I thought was this seasonal dark chocolate & dark chocolate-black cherry centred one. I checked and the list I recommended originally were any of the: 'Alcohol-Free Assorted Truffles' ( which had 9 flavors I think including praline/chocolate/coffee/lemon fillings), Ginger dipped in Chocolate, After Dinner Chocolates - Mint Chasers (they also did bitter gold-flake covered) and the Chocolate-dipped Vanilla Fudge.
I really love Brownes because although they were a small local business, they were one of the few companies I found that would ship internationally, when I was stuck in a country with terrible chocolate! And that was before I discovered they had won all these awards. Their smaller bags were affordable especially for handmade choc, and they were always so kind, in fact before they went out of business I had just emailed and recommended they get in touch with JCM and maybe send samples, and they were enthusiastic. I'm happy you got to try them at last.
@Richard lol you are dead accurate, the shops I saw advertise these for 9.95.
@Alex it was there, I read it :)
I love their choice of flavours and I think the truffles look wonderful. And it sounds like their only problem would be the truffle centres being too mild in flavour
It's good to hear they were given a second chance :) I like the posts on exquisite looking chocolates, even if I cannot try them - I still like to look at the pictures, read and learn :)
PS - When I first saw them, they reminded me of the Caluwe truffles I tried earlier this year.
I always appreciate the honesty.
To put some of those making comments at ease, I'm confident you would be willing to do further reviews. Even Hotel Chocolate doesn't always score well.
Ultimately, if a company isn't making a quality product - they don't deserve to compete with those who are. That's just business.
Hi All,
It's good to see the wealth of responses on this review despite Browne's being relatively little known.
I have to agree with what a lot of you are saying today. It would be unfair for me just to judge them on the basis of these chocolates alone so if the opportunity presents itself I will happily try some more of their range.
I think you guys must be able to tell when my old man has been doing the photography on the reviews. Either that or you guys must just think they are a cut above the normal lot I do :D
NICK - Nope. I also get a blank white screen. I'm sure it will be back soon enough.
GOLDEN - Indeed lets hope they do take advantage. Time will tell I guess.
ANDY - Nope they were freshly made I believe. The best before date indicated they should have been in great condition.
STEVEN - If you ever try some chocolates from some local producers that you think are really special just drop me an e-mail with details on what you recommend and where to buy them. No brand no matter how big or small is allowed on this site.
COLIN - A chocolatemission tasting panel :D Sounds interesting. We should charge :D
RICHARD - Sounds like you were spot on chap!
JOHN - All of those are great questions chap. Let me see if I can get them answered for you! I will do some investigating.
DANIEL - Honesty is always the best policy. If I lied and said they were out of this world I would soon be found out wouldn't I.
NATHAN - Well you would presume its back to business as normal.
CYCLEMAN - You're right :D That is random :D Request noted.
KEVIN - No idea where she got them from I'm afraid. Like you say I wouldn't dare ask her how much they cost.
ALEX - Sorry if I never posted about it I just must have missed it.
DAISY - I know a few people that have your very problem haha :D
KIRSTY - Yes those brewery chaps did do a very commendable thing. Lets not forget I'm sure they also did it with every intention of making a profitable business. They're multible multiple millionaires after all.
TRICKY - You were in the right ballpark.
RYAN - I've not found them on Twitter yet no.
LAUREN - I'm glad you enjoyed the review and felt it was worth the wait :D If you have any more requests you kno where to send them.
CARLA - THey hardly did disasterously did they. Like you say i'm sure they will just be glad of the brand exposure a site like this gives them.
MICHAEL - It's nice to know my approach to chocolate reviewing is being met with a seal of approval from you guys. I just tell things like it is. No smoke and mirrors.
THEA - Links are fine .. just not advertising and the such. I'm glad to have finally fulfilled your rquest :D It took me long enough didn't it haha! It's good to hear you agree with my review and have had similar experiences. It was indeed such a shame that our lines of communication crossed when they pretty much went out of business. Thanks for giving us the info regarding the pricing :D It seems like our resident expert Richy boy was spot on with his guesstimate. Thanks for the request, I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
ANA - Everyone gets a second chance on this site. Ir would be silly to disregard them on one review. That never happens to any company on this site.
RODDY - I couldn't agree with your last statement more. Sentiment only gets you so far, you do have to have the product to back it up if you are going to be a lasting success.
Thanks for the comments/views everyone. I will make sure I do two things. Firstly I will try make contact with Browne's again. Secondly I will make sure they appear on the site again soon.
Have great weekends
JIM
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