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Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???
With the launch of all those new products last week the Hotel Chocolat Monday series was stopped in it's tracks. Fear not though ChocolateMission fans, today we are back on form and I will be reviewing another new addition to the original slab range. As I stated a few weeks ago, Hotel Chocolat have been really quite sensible with their portfolio management, and have continued to develop their core slab range in the background to all the limited edition seasonal offerings they have been making. The latest one that myself and my family sampled this week was this Nut Mania offering. This slab came described as 'a full-on nut fiesta chocolate slab' and can be bought both in-store and online - See HERE. Cheap plug over with lets get cracking (groan!! Haha!)
Just as the Hotel Chocolat Le Grand Crunch did last week, this slab came in a huge 500.0g size - trust me folks that's a heck of a lot of chocolate :D Given the packaging, some might say that this size is too big as one thing I have noticed about these large slabs is that once the seal on the paper based sleeve is broken, the material isn't ideal for keeping the chocolate in the freshest state. Minor grievances aside, everyone agreed the slab looked tremendously impressive with the wholenut pieces evident throughout both the milk and dark chocolate portions - the nutty scents emanating from the chocolate were very tempting.
Taking the slab out of it's sleeve, it soon became apparent that the heavy nut content was going to have its advantages and disadvantages. To get the insignificant negativity out the way first, I have to make reference to just how difficult it was to break apart the slab without causing a terrible mess. Snapping off decent sized chunks proved to be a hell of a challenge - I'm still finding fragments of chocolate and nut on my carpets now! Speaking in a more positive fashion you may well have guessed this tasted like an absolute dream. I needn't tell you again how individually brilliant both the 40.0% milk and 70.0% dark chocolate were, but I will focus more on how well they combined with the nuts, which were each brilliant in every which way. Indeed, the almonds, halzenuts, pecans and pistachios were all delightfully fresh and crunchy in texture and they added terrific savoury flavour notes with elements of salt (pistachios), wood (hazelnut) and butter (almonds and pecans) consistently contrasting with the sweeter cocoa flavours offered by the chocolate. As with a lot of Hotel Chocolat chocolates, a decent sized chunk of this slab made for a fine partner with an after dinner coffee.
Overall the record needn't be changed, this was another very tasty chocolate from our people at Hotel Chocolat. Above I resisted the urge of describing how delicious both types of chocolate were - suffice to say the 40.0% was it's ever delightful creamy chocolatey self, and the 70.0% was just as impressive with it's richer, earthy cocoa flavour base. Of course the X-factor for this Nut Mania were the nuts, which were just terrific in every sense apart from their consequential messiness. Every different nut type made their own unique contributions to the taste and also maintained their superb crunchy freshness even days after opening. Lovers of nutty chocolates will feel right at home here - it always seems silly recommending it to chocolate nut lovers but I can't imagine any one of them feeling disappointed with this one.
8.1 out of 10
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63 comments:
I wouldn't buy this one myself but it's one of those chocolates I wouldn't mind recieving if it was given to me as a gift. I think there are a few others I would rather try first tbh. Gd review Jim.
LMAO!!! I knew you wouldn't be able to hold off for longer than two weeks. Lol you are just wonderfully predictable Jim and and I mean that in a nothing other than positive way.
I had clocked that hotel chocolat had recently added up some new random slabs. There is this one new skull shaped slab they have put up there now that is coated in gold and costs fifty quid.
There's no way in hell I would spend that much on a chocolate but I'm vv curious to see a review just to see what it is.
Good to see the Hotel Chocolat reviews come back Jim. I was nearly giving up on you giving me my foodporn fix for Monday's ;)
Fair play if you like nuts and chocolate I can see this is probably gonna be as good as you are going to get.
Lol I really don't like nuts though, I would just hate this one. This is like hell in chocolate form for moi.
Im looking forward to Hotel Choc putting up their halloween chocos. They are normally well good.
Is it a bad sign that I'm already incredibly excited about seeing what Hotel Choc have for this Christmas? Every year they just get more and more better chocolates. This year better not be a letdown. Great review btw today hun. I wouldn't like to get this one for me but I know a lot of people that would like it. It's worth me know it would be suitable for them if I ever feel they are deserving of an HC gift :)
Rxxx
It took me all of a second to realise this wasn't one for me today. Lol I hate nuts so badly, I really don't understand people that like them so much. My Dad can literally sit there with a bag of them and eat the whole thing. He thinks his party trick of breaking the shells with his palm is so clever, its just annoying.
What do people here think is the best nut to put in with chocolate?
I always think hazelnuts are good but I'm starting to get a little bored of them now. The last thorntons macadamia chocolate I had was pretty nice so I will go with them for now.
Does this count as a new product or is our streak over? Its new to me but I dont pay much attention to hotel chocolat so someone else is going to have to inform me. If it is new then you are so on fire man :)
I think my brother would so love this. Unless I find something better before November this is defo going to be his next birthday present. He eats nuts all the time and of course he just loves HC choc (always nicking mine greedy bugga!). Thanks for showing us this Jim.
Before anyone gets too excited you might want to know that its out of stock on their website at the moment. I hate it when that happens. It's not often that I read something and am compelled enough to buy it but I have a habit of doing it when its either to late to order or they are sold out. Its incredibly frustrating.
This chocolate is quite cleary THE NUTS MAN!!!
Lol soz I couldn't resist that one. Too easy.
Does anyone else get the feeling that HC are increasingly making lazier looking chocs?
There used to be a time when you could look at their slabs and think that someone had put a lot of effort into designing and making sure it looks top quality.
(sorry pressed the button to early)
Increasingly now we are getting ones like this where it more looks like someone has made a chocolate slab and then thrown a load of nuts in willy nilly. It could just be me but you have to agree It's not the prettiest is it.
I want to see them do a pistachio white chocolate slab. My new favourite ice cream at the mo is pistachio flavour, I think it would go amazingly with white choc myself. Sweet and salty yum yum.
They forgot to put in the most legendary niut of them all ....... THE PEANUT!!!!!
Excuse me whilst I wipe the drool away from my open mouth.
I can't tell you how much I love nuts. This is like my perfect chocolate :-O must resist buying.
Less Hotel Chocolat and more things like last week please.
What made your reviews last week so good was that they were al products your average person would buy. The content was far more relevant.
I don't like the look of this one at all. Excuse my language but It looks fugly for something thats supposed to be made by hotel chocolat. I'm not impressed.
I finally bought some of their 85% on JCM recommendation and you aren't wrong JIm. I don't think it was the best choc I've ever tasted but it wasn't half as bitter as I was expecting. It had some much character to it, its hard to describe what it does that some other chocolates don't but its definitely one of the more special ones that will live in the memory. You get my endorsement of it if that means anything to you lol.
Dx
I think this is the first Hotel Chocolat review you've ever done were I have straight away thought I didn't want to try it. I dont hate nuts or anything but I just not a great lover of them either. It looks like the nut to chocolate would be too much for me to get maximum enjoyment from it so I think I would be better off leaving it alone.
Can anyone see any of the nuts in this one? ;-)
LOL only j/k
It doesn't look like the could have packed any more in if they tried lol
Its been so long since I last had some hotel chocolat chocolate. I don't why thats its been but I hope it changes soon lol. I've had to eat a fair old bit of rubbish lately its about time I treat myself to a little luxury.
Its not the higest scoring hotel chocolat one we've seen before. I swear their scores have started to slide a little since ppl started having a go at Jim. I hope you are still scoring them based on what you feel they deserve Jim. Please don't be swayed by a small bunch of numb heads.
Yay you reviewed something I've actually had from HC :-) Lol this is a first.
I would have given this a much better rating than just 8.1 Jim. This without doubt was the best chocolate nut bar ever made!! The amount of nuts you get in the thing is just insane and the chocolate is just so incredibly tasty. I'm convinced now that no one makes better chocolate than HC.
Oh yum pistachios. I've got a real thing about them at the moment. I can't stop eating them.
This looks horrible. Talk about a nightmare for non-nut eaters. Eugh.
That anonymous persons right lol. Why aren't their any peanuts in there? You would have thought they would be the first ones in there. They are the cheapest nuts you can buy so there isn't that ecuse.
I'll ask the question again because you never respond to me. Are we getting a hotel chocolat competition soon?
Well nut fans are going to love it but perhaps not the rest of us lol. I can't think of a chocolate I would rather not have but speaking as someone who doesn't like nuts that was always going to be the case no matter how good you said it was.
I see your banners are saying that the new HC autumn collection is up on their site Jim. Do you know if what they are currently showing is actually it? There doesn't look like there is anything new in there at all! All it shows is just a few of their old collections :( Boooooring!
I take it this one isn't suitable for people with nut allergies then =)
Lol imagine someone with a nut allergy eating this ... actually I dont! It would just be scary. Its not nice seeing allergic reactions.
This looks great and all but can Hotel Chocolat please hurry up and do us that peanut butter flavoured slab chocolate please.
I'm just imagining it now *Drools* milled peanuts mixed in to their normal milk chocolate would just be too much. It would be the best blatantly.
JIm can you ask your Hotel Chocolat people if they are ever going to start making more mini slabs on some of the flavours they make. Lately they have only been doing the new flavours in the meduim/large sizes :-( I can't afford them boooo!
Lol if we are going by Hotel Chocolat normal standard this is a bit of an ugly one lol. I'm sure it probs makes up for it in the way it tastes lol.
Hey J
You never did tell me what you thought of the England game the other day? I don't like watching england all that much but I thought it was refreshing seeing a few of the youngster play really well like cahill and young. I think its good that people like lampard are no playing splinter bum, they don't deserve to be playing considering some of the performances they've put in down the years. Some of those players have far to many caps for what they have done.
Nice review today btw. This is one that I think I would have considered buying anyway sometime but now I know 100% sure I will have to try it. Epic photos btw ;) you can pass that msg on to your dad lol I know he does all your Hotel chcoolat ones doesn't he!
Cheers
N
I haven't tried it, but I think they have potentially overkilled things here.
The tastiest nut chocolate I've ever tasted is the chocolate log that HC sell at Christmas! I had a fruit and nut one this year and it was perfect just with the hazelnuts on there own.
All the different types of nuts might not compliment each other the way people might they might.
Ah now there is a place I haven't been in way too long. I must get my ass to Hotel C soon. It's been too long since I last graced their doors.
Great Hotel Chocolat review Jim. It's nice to see them back after a few weeks :) I don't think we need one every week, but keeping them a regular feature is defo worthwhile imo.
x
x
They need to start putting cashew nuts in more chocolates I think. I can see a chocolate that has salt and pepper flavoured ones mixed into the chocolate being very good. Even if they spiced the nuts with some sort of spicey stuff I think that would play off nicely with the chocolate too.
@Ryan almonds blatantly. They aren't too strong and they have a lovely crunch. Easily the best.
Great photo of the slab J. You can really see all the different nuts nice snd clearly.
Thats just typical hotel chocolat making a nut flavoured chocolate with every nut you could ever think of. They always make sure they take things to the next level of quality, it's why we all love them so much I guess.
JIm have you ever thought about doing a follow up review of the 85% Hotel Chocolat?
I would love to see you review it again. I think there is a good chance you might think completely different about it now that you tasted so many other chocolates since.
This is cool but when is the fruit mania coming? Now that would be something to look forward to. Don't you think that would be a contender for being the best chocolate ever!!
I had you down for giving this way more than just 8.1. Lol that sounds so silly because for anyone else Im sure that would be considered successful and good score.
Hotel chocolat making me uber hungry again :( I swear they are on a one company mission to ruin any diet I try attempt.
I think I need to try the Hotel chocolat diet if it exists lol.
Great review Jim. I do like a bit Whole Nut when in the mood for nutty choc so I'd like to try this! Cheers dude x
P.S: Still haven't managed to get my mitts on a Mars Triple Choc - they don't have it at my local Tesco yet. Boo!
Hi All
The comments are free flowing again today thats great to see. This was always going to split everyone right down the middle I guess dependent on whether you like nuts so I'm not surprised to see such an array of different types of feedback.
You nut lovers out there on the whole seem to be pretty impressed by it and I don't blame you. If you like nuts and chocolate this is a slab that you will want to sit up and take notice of :D the rest of you who don't like nuts will obviously been far far enthusiastic about this all :D
Thank you again for all the nice words about the review and the photographs. I will pass on the positive vibes to the old man (he reads them all anyway I think!)
More Hotel Chocolate coming next week so keep an eye out! Also make sure you check out the 50% sale they have going on at the moment.
DAVID - Request noted. Not sure it's going to happen though.
RACHEL - Everyone else is getting ready for Christmas already so I guess we might as well ourselves :D
STEVEN - I think my streak continues as this is a relatively new slab that they have introduced to their range. I make the rules so lets just say it counts :D :D
STU - You don't think this looks good? I beg to differ chap!
DAVID/ANON - Peanuts are mysteriously missing aren't they :D It's an odd one I will give you that. Perhaps they thought they had enough types of nut in there already!?
ANON - There is no competition on the radar at present no. That may change though ;)
NIGEL - I don't particularly enjoy watching England so you are asking the wrong bloke if you are looking for an informed perspective. United > England every day of the week :D Like you say though it was good to see some of the youngsters given a chance. We needed a fresh perspective.
FRANCESCA - I don't believe they have many new things for their Autumn collection. It's just certain parts of their core line up.
ROXY - The retailers are always a little slower than the independents getting these things in. Just keep a look out I'm sur they will get them soon enough.
Thanks for the comments guys. Keep checking back this week - even more new products are on the way believe it or not :D
JIM
Lol this was always going to split peoples opinions and what they were going to say.
I sit with the people that like the look of it :) I don't like all the nuts they've put in here but most of them I do. I'm still yet to try pistachios in chocolate. That seems very fashionable these days.
I can safely say this is not a chocolate that will ever see light of day in my house. The kids nut allergies prevent us from buying anything like this.
They should have made it gianduja so it would have been the nuttiest chocolate ever.
Phew Jim. I was beginning to worry you might be suffering from your Hotel Chocolat withdrawl symptoms, you've been very moody recently :P
Good review today btw. Your pics never fail to amaze.
The people saying that this one has too many nuts in need to have their heads checked. I mean come on guys Since when have you ever had a nutty chocolate where you have wished they had put less nuts in it. Give me a break, some of you just seem like you want to complain about anything.
@Rachel forget the christmas stuff for the minute! Its all about the halloween stuff first. Im so all over those caramel eyes if they come bak.
Blimey I don't think anyone would ever complain about not getting bang for your buck with the nuts in this one ha!
Anything with nuts in just straightaway goes over my head. Im jus not a lover of them im afraid J. Oh well, at least my credit card can breathe easy for one more week. Im sure it wont be long before you challenge my willpower again lol.
Top review mate. Your Hotel Chocolat ones are always the best imo.
I dont think I've ever seen a chocolate that has quite so many different kinds of nuts in it.
I dont get the people saying it doesn't look very impressive. Im thinking the total opposite, I think it looks incredible.
SERENA - Try the Hotel Chocolat pistachio log. They bring it out at Christmas time traditionally.
AMANDA - Thanks I will pass on the gratitude to the old man.
PETER - That is true. I haven't seen the line up myself yet.
LAURA - I agree :D
Thanks everyone
JIM
Could you not whack it with a hammer whilst it's still in the wrapper to avoid mess?
I like the taste of nuts with chocolate but I prefer them blended or creamed, because crunchy they often take over the chocolate. I love roasted whole almonds but my favorite is probably peanut (butter). I would try this if it was on sale, but there are so many other appealing HC flavors that are further up on my wish list, like the recent banana one. And I agree with those who view this one as not exactly a thing of beauty...I was trying to think what it reminded me of, and realized it was a new road in the midst of being rolled
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