Here at Dormouse and The Teapot we are not sure if we are bigger fans of chocolate or tea. We are pretty much addicted to both. When we heard that luxury chocolatiers Artisan Du Chocolat were making chocolate flavoured with tea, we couldn't wait to try it, with a cuppa of course!
Artisan Du Chocolat is a small family business started by an Irish chef and a Belgian engineer with a passion for chocolate and a dedication to quality and innovation. They produce two tea and chocolate bars; Matcha Tea white chocolate bar and the Rooibos Tea milk chocolate bar and have a number of tea chocolates in their couture chocolate collection including Earl Grey, Jasmine, and House Tea. In addition they also sell an unusual Matcha white chocolate hot chocolate.
So in a decadently different afternoon tea we put them to the taste test.
First we demolished the couture chocolates:
The couture chocolates are made by infusing fragrant flowers, spices, herbs and teas in cream and this with chocolate to create a soft ganache. Each infusion is matched to specific cocoa beans to complement the flavour. The ganache is spread onto marble tables to cool, then cut into individual pieces which are passed though a curtain of tempered chocolate to protect them and to apply the intricate decoration. We tried:
Earl Grey
Deliciously dark with bergamot notes. Subtle though apparent taste of tea. Turkish delight.
Jasmine
Lovely subtle jasmine notes, refreshing.
House Tea
Hit of fresh tea, perfumed but not overpowering. Delicious.
Then we followed with the chocolate tea bars. We tried:
Matcha tea white chocolate bar
White chocolate bar infused with matcha tea powder.
Quite an acquired herbal taste, creamy and rich.
Rooibos tea milk chocolate bar
Milk chocolate 40% bar infused with sun rooibos tea leaves.
Lovely luxurious dark milk chocolate with red berry notes and caramel flavours.
In conclusion
Tea and chocolate is a great partnership. Al the chocolate we tried went really well with tea itself and was luxurious and delicious.
We think the couture chocolates would make a beautiful present for a birthday or mothers day. The tea bars are a lovely everyday treat and would be really nice to bake with perhaps
in cookies or as a topping on a cup cake.
You can purchase Artisan Du Chocolat products at Selfridges (London, Birmingham and Manchester, Borough Market (London) and their shop at 89 Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea, London SW1 or on their website at www.artisanduchocolat.com
We were sent this chocolate free of charge to review.
So in a decadently different afternoon tea we put them to the taste test.
First we demolished the couture chocolates:
The couture chocolates are made by infusing fragrant flowers, spices, herbs and teas in cream and this with chocolate to create a soft ganache. Each infusion is matched to specific cocoa beans to complement the flavour. The ganache is spread onto marble tables to cool, then cut into individual pieces which are passed though a curtain of tempered chocolate to protect them and to apply the intricate decoration. We tried:
Earl Grey
Deliciously dark with bergamot notes. Subtle though apparent taste of tea. Turkish delight.
Jasmine
Lovely subtle jasmine notes, refreshing.
House Tea
Hit of fresh tea, perfumed but not overpowering. Delicious.
Then we followed with the chocolate tea bars. We tried:
Matcha tea white chocolate bar
White chocolate bar infused with matcha tea powder.
Quite an acquired herbal taste, creamy and rich.
Rooibos tea milk chocolate bar
Milk chocolate 40% bar infused with sun rooibos tea leaves.
Lovely luxurious dark milk chocolate with red berry notes and caramel flavours.
In conclusion
Tea and chocolate is a great partnership. Al the chocolate we tried went really well with tea itself and was luxurious and delicious.
We think the couture chocolates would make a beautiful present for a birthday or mothers day. The tea bars are a lovely everyday treat and would be really nice to bake with perhaps
in cookies or as a topping on a cup cake.
You can purchase Artisan Du Chocolat products at Selfridges (London, Birmingham and Manchester, Borough Market (London) and their shop at 89 Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea, London SW1 or on their website at www.artisanduchocolat.com
We were sent this chocolate free of charge to review.
Competition
We have a jar of of Artisan Du Chocolat Matcha White Chocolate Hot Chocolate to give away to one of our lucky readers.
Tell the team at Dormouse and The Teapot what is your favorite hot drink on a chilly day. Post your answer in the comments section by clicking on comments below, make sure you leave a contact email or twitter name otherwise if you win we won't be able to send you your prize!
We were sent this hot chocolate free of charge by Artisan Du Chocolat to giveaway.
We have a jar of of Artisan Du Chocolat Matcha White Chocolate Hot Chocolate to give away to one of our lucky readers.
Tell the team at Dormouse and The Teapot what is your favorite hot drink on a chilly day. Post your answer in the comments section by clicking on comments below, make sure you leave a contact email or twitter name otherwise if you win we won't be able to send you your prize!
We were sent this hot chocolate free of charge by Artisan Du Chocolat to giveaway.
Sorry UK entrants only
Dormouse and The Teapot use a randomiser to select the winner.
Competition closes at midnight 21/02.
Dormouse and The Teapot use a randomiser to select the winner.
Competition closes at midnight 21/02.
