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Chocolate Contest

 
  

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Mistoffelees
16:50 / 24.09.07
While posting on another forum in a thread about chocolate today, I recommended German, Swiss and Belgian chocolate, as what I had tasted of USAmerican chocolate (like Hersheys, for example) was a disappointment. A fellow poster asked me for some examples. As she followed my links (which I have also posted on Barbelith today), she discovered, that only one of my three links lead to a site, where you could order chocolate.

That people overseas were not able to get a taste of these chocolates made me sad and I had the idea for this contest. I was probably inspired by our CD contests in creation, where we can get new pleasures for the ears. So this contest is also for your nose and tastebuds (and maybe skin too).

So I went and bought 17 bars of chocolate from three different companies and each with its own taste.

This is my first post about the contest, there are three more posts to follow. For my eyes at least, that is easier to read than one long post.
 
 
Mistoffelees
16:53 / 24.09.07
Rules of the Contest

If you would like some of the chocolate (see below for the different choices), here is what to do:

1) Post in this thread that you would like some of it.

2) Send me your choices via pm. Do not post them in this thread. You can choose four different bars of chocolate.

3) Also send me an address where to send the chocolate. It doesn´t have to be your address. If it isn´t, just make sure, you get to eat the chocolate and not just the person I send it to.

4) If you take part in this contest, please write a review for each bar you receive. At least two sentences for each bar would be nice. I´m not good at reviewing things myself, so here is your chance to inspire Barbelith and me with your review skills.

5) The first five of you who post that you want to take part in this thread AND who send me an pm with your choices and an address will receive the bars of your choice.

6) For people in time zones, where people might sleep now (Asia, Australia, New Zealand, I presume) I´ll make an exception. If you enter this thread later, you can also be part of this contest. I choose how many of you have made it though. If all of a sudden there are twenty Barbeloids from that area, who want to take part in this contest, I´ll pick who is in and who isn´t.

7) As of the time of my first post in this thread, you need to have at least 1.000 posts on Barbelith and have to be a member for at least one year. There are always creeps attracted to forums, and this way I can at least try to make sure, that the people, who take part in this contest, actually want to get the chocolate and are reliable to write up their reviews. If for whatever reason, I don´t like you or think you are a troll, it doesn´t mattter, how many posts you have or how long you have been here, you have to buy your chocolate yourself.

8) If I have forgotten anything or you have some advice or constructive criticism about this contest, or these rules or something, feel free to voice your opinion in this thread. I might have forgotten something obvious, which happens to me all the time.
 
 
Mistoffelees
16:56 / 24.09.07
The 17 chocolate bar choices


Starbrook Airlines (Belgium)

1) Dark With Cocoa Pieces Chocolate
85g, 50% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, 8% cocoa nibs, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin

2) Milk Nougat Chocolate
85g, 31% cocoa, sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass , 1.6% almonds, honey, glucose syrup, white of egg, pistachios, flavour: vanillin, emulsifier: lecithin

3) Dark Orange Chocolate
85g, 54% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, orange peel, glucose syrup, flavour: orange, emulsifier: soya lecithin, citric acid E330

4) Bitter Sweet Chocolate
100g, 54% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin

5) Extra Dark Chocolate
100g, 77% cocoa, cocoa components, cocoa mass, sugar, defatted cocoa, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin

6) Milk Hazelnuts Chocolate
85g, 24% cocoa, cocoa components, cocoa mass, sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin, vanilin


Lindt & Sprüngli (Switzerland)

7) Chili
100g, 49% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, chili-extract, emulsifier: soya lecithin, aroma, concentrated butter

8) Pear Intense
100g, 47% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, 6% almonds, 2% pears, apples, pineapple fibres, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin, aroma, concentrated butter, citric acid, sodium alginate, rock phosphate

9) Raspberry Intense
100g, 47% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, 6% almonds, 2% raspberries, apples, pineapples, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin, aroma, concentrated butter, sodium alginate, rock phosphate

10) Cherry Intense
100g, 47% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, 6% almonds, 2% cherries, apples, pineapples, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin, aroma, concentrated butter, citric acid, sodium alginate, rock phosphate

11) Dark Mousse au Chocolat with a Blueberry-Lavender Filling
150g, 70% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, 8% blueberries, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin, concentrated butter, vanillin, lemon juice, lavender oil


Dolfin (Belgium)

12) Dark Chocolate With Mint Leaves
70g, 52% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, 2% mint leaves, natural vanilla, emulsifier: soya lecithin

13) Dark Chocolate With Mint Leaves
70g, 52% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, 2% mint leaves, natural vanilla, emulsifier: soya lecithin

14) Dark Chocolate With Earl Grey Tea
70g, 52% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, 2% tea, natural vanilla, emulsifier: soya lecithin

15) Dark Chocolate With Fresh Ginger
70g, 52% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, 7% ginger, natural vanilla, emulsifier: soya lecithin

16) Dark Chocolate With Pink Peppercorn
70g, 52% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, 1% pink peppercorn, natural vanilla, emulsifier: soya lecithin

17) Dark Chocolate With Masala
70g, 32% cocoa, cocoa mass, sugar, powdered whole milk, 0.5% masala (cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove, ginger), cocoa butter, natural vanilla, emulsifier: soya lecithin, 22% milk solids
 
 
Mistoffelees
17:12 / 24.09.07
I´ll try to send you your chocolate tout de suite (some flavours might be sold out, in one shop there were only three bars left). Please post here, when you have received yours and don´t forget your reviews. If you don´t like what you taste, that´s fine. Please explain, why you don´t like it in your review if possible. Of course, you can share your chocolate with other people (significant other, friends, roommate, familie, etc.) and can post their reviews here too, if you like.

Two of the three companies have the ingredients in several languages, Lindt sadly doesn’t.

If you have allergies or other food problems, check the ingredients closely and eat at your own risk. Don´t hold me responsible if you develop any pimples or start sleepwalking, please. Remember, chocolate can contain traces of nuts or almonds. According to the ingredients, none of these chocolate bars contain alcohol, not even the fruit ones.

I am confident, that this will be a fun contest, and I hope you will also have some fun. So don´t be like that, be like this.

Let´s start this contest now!
 
 
Feverfew
17:16 / 24.09.07
You, officially, rock.
 
 
MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!
17:17 / 24.09.07
I am in like a chocolate-coated Flynn.
 
 
Feverfew
17:19 / 24.09.07
I don't think that's one of the flavours, Matt.

I'm also in!
 
 
madfigs #32, now with wasabi
17:42 / 24.09.07
I knew all this lurking about without posting would come back to haunt me one day...
 
 
Haloquin
17:48 / 24.09.07
Great idea!

*sighs* I am sad, my posts may not be many, but my *want* is strong!

Maybe there will be other times in which post-count is not so high? I haven't seen these chocolates nearby, otherwise I'd be tempted to buy my own and ask to join in that way.

I accept that rules are set, but if there ends up being a space I would love to play... I mostly wanted to cheer for such a fun plan!
 
 
Mistoffelees
17:57 / 24.09.07
Ok ok, you two can also take part. You might not have many posts, but you have been here over a year and you don´t smell like trolls, so why not. As I wrote, I´m open to suggestions and it´s my contest.

Please, don´t forget to send me the pm with your choices and address!

I might stretch the "only five participants" rule too, if there should be more interest.

So far, Matt is the only official participant.
 
 
Spaniel
18:00 / 24.09.07
Can I join in? I've pmed you my details, Mist.
 
 
Mistoffelees
18:11 / 24.09.07
Can I join in? I've pmed you my details, Mist.

Yes, you can and you have. You are "official participant number two" now!
 
 
Spaniel
18:15 / 24.09.07
I am teh winnah
 
 
Saint Keggers
18:53 / 24.09.07
You've have been PM'ed by me! Mmmm chocolate.
 
 
Ticker
19:00 / 24.09.07
A'rbol-hugger de la Muerte has given me permission to wade into this contest with some US american chocolate from my local chocolatiers.

Mist, I'm totally sending you some!

But I think I can send some to two other people as well. These be fresh made chocolate so they need to go to people with reliable mail access. I think I have some solid Barbe-refs for your comfort if you give me your home addresses.

Mist, you tell me who to send stuff to?
 
 
Proinsias
19:01 / 24.09.07
I'll have to content myself with my 85%, yes that's right 85%, cocoa chocolate in the cupboard. I have seen rumors of 99% chocolate online, which apparently carries warnings to work up slowly to that level.

I think you may have inspired me to invest some of my hard earned pennies on some nice chocolate this week.

Down with cheap chocolate.
 
 
Mistoffelees
19:08 / 24.09.07
Whoah, over tenthousand posts. That makes you OP number four, Venger! And madfigs (3) and Haloquin (5) have joined too!

So now, we have five participants. Remember, if you see this thread in a few hours and you live in the mentioned areas, you can still join.

Also, anyone else who wants to take part in this contest, can say so. But before I say you can play too, I´ll first send away the first five chocolate packages, so I don´t get confused with all the posts, packages, chocolate, pms and walks between the post office and the chocolate shoppe. So before you send me a pm, first wait, if I say "welcome, and please send me your pm!".
 
 
Mistoffelees
19:29 / 24.09.07
A'rbol-hugger de la Muerte has given me permission to wade into this contest with some US american chocolate from my local chocolatiers.

Mist, I'm totally sending you some!


This pleases me. Thank you, XK!


But I think I can send some to two other people as well. These be fresh made chocolate so they need to go to people with reliable mail access. I think I have some solid Barbe-refs for your comfort if you give me your home addresses.

Mist, you tell me who to send stuff to?


So, people, you can see, XK has also joined the ranks of chocolate sending people. As she has successfully pulled of at least two CD mixes in creation and I have received CDs from her by participating in those contests, you can also feel free and fine in asking for her chocolate.

@ XK,
I don´t think, I need to tell you who to send it to. I propose, the first two people who post in this thread that they would like some of your chocolate AND who also send you a pm with their address, should be the lucky ones. Is that okay for you?

And remember people, XK has said her chocolate is homemade and fresh. So make sure, you are at home and not on vacation, when her chocolate arrives. The chocolate I send is fabricated by corporations and lasts for a couple of months, so it wouldn´t mind, if it´s eaten later. I will mind though, if you don´t take a bite and write about your tasty experience.
 
 
Olulabelle
19:30 / 24.09.07
Can I join? I can't work out who's in and who's not but I am at least a chocolate connisour connaseur conno expert.

I don't recommend 85% or higher chocolate though. It's a bit like trying to chew cocoa.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
19:32 / 24.09.07
Hang on, XK, don't you still owe me some chocolate?
 
 
Ticker
19:38 / 24.09.07
Stoatie! did it never make it?!!

that's heinous! PM me your shipping email and will sort this out ASAP outside of the contest.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
19:41 / 24.09.07
Oh, you sent it?

OK, PM on the way!
 
 
Haloquin
19:42 / 24.09.07
Much joy! Thank you!

The very idea of these unusual chocolate flavours excites me... I eagerly await the parcels of joy.

I have succeeded in roping in a flatmate or two to join in with the tasting, and hopefully they will have their own reviews.

Must now go bump the static notebook thread, it kinda fell by the wayside somewhat...
 
 
Mistoffelees
20:06 / 24.09.07
@Olulabelle

You are now the first candidate for the participants after the first five official ones. If everything works out fine, I will soon (maybe even tomorrow) reopen the contest. But before that, I want to make sure the first five packages will be sent out.

As a certain flavour of chocolate has been chosen by every single participant, I will make a trip to the choco shop tomorrow for sure. I am looking forward to the choco lady´s reaction, when I start grabbing pounds of chocolate from the shelves again!


@Proinsias

I have bought and tasted 99% chocolate (Lindt sells them). 80+% can taste fine, Rausch for example produces wonderful high cocoa range chocolate. But when I brought the 99% along and had other friends have a taste, it was frowned upon. Two people actually liked it though, and one of them was a three year old boy!
 
 
luminocity
20:32 / 24.09.07
While high percentage cocoa chocolate may be an acquired taste, it is definitely worth the effort. 85% snaps crisply, sticks to your tastebuds but not to your mouth or teeth, and is very deep and bitter. Lindt from the supermarket is the cheapest way to try this stuff, and I often find the 70 and 85% stuff on offer.
I have had a small bar of 97% chocolate, I think Belgian but bought in Belfast. It was enough cocoa that the chocolate became slightly crumbly again. I had to eat it in 1/2-pea sized chunks... I remember it went well with equally small sips of orange juice (?heresy? but mmm). It lasted me about a month.
I think this is a good and tasty thread... can the OP and/or review writers give some idea of where to order their favourites, if they know?
Sorry to jump in as a non-reviewer but I guess chocolate is a food close to my heart.
 
 
Proinsias
21:47 / 24.09.07
It is now my mission to track down some 90%+ chocolate. I think my love for the dark and bitter side of the palate started as a response to a sweetie loving spouse and child. I can safely keep dark chocolate in the house for weeks, the life expectancy of milk chocolate can usually be counted in hours. Years later I now prefer dark chocolate although I am in no way opposed to some milky, sugary, goodness.
 
 
HCE
05:33 / 25.09.07
Here's a selection of small bars in a variety of flavors from a local favorite, ScharffenBerger:

artisanconfection
 
 
Katherine
09:31 / 25.09.07
Is there still spaces for this? I know I am probably under the required posts but its chocolate!
 
 
Mistoffelees
10:04 / 25.09.07
Is there still spaces for this? I know I am probably under the required posts but its chocolate!

Yes, you can join the candidates, that are next if I reopen the contest. Which will probably happen soon.

It has been raining all day so far and has dropped ten degrees, so I didn´t feel the urgency to venture outside. But I´ll step out of the internet any minute now.

Before I reopen the contest though, I want to check out what the post office will have me do for sending food to foreign lands. I just talked to a friend, and she told me about all kinds of forms I have to write and declare for customs. I just hope the people who check my packages don´t eat my chocolate and give me some official crap about not having met certain patriot act procedures or other big brother 2.0 nonsense.
 
 
Mistoffelees
14:03 / 25.09.07
The five packages have been sent!

The two people at the post office were quite unsure, if there were certain procedures or protocols (I´ve watched too much 24) for sending food stuff to foreign countries and their computer didn´t seem to help much. Also, every country had different rules, one for example doesn´t want meat or oranges sent. They better deliver my stuff or I´ll protest in front of the embassies!

So I now reopen the contest for five more people.

Golden Feverfew, Olulabelle and archabyss already have dibs, so there is room for two more.

Remember please to send me a pm with an address and your choices and don´t forget XK´s offer of also sending chocolate to two lucky Barbeloids!
 
 
astrojax69
02:20 / 26.09.07
i am sooo glad you added poor old sprungli (i can't get the umlaut, glad you have it)

he's so left off, like a silent partner. everyone just says 'lindt'. what about poor old sprungli?? good for you!

i therefore enter in your name at your address for your deliction and choice of chocolate deliciousness...
 
 
Olulabelle
07:49 / 26.09.07
I am keen to know how one makes home-made chocolate. It sounds intriguing.
 
 
lille christina
10:01 / 26.09.07
A very neat contest!

I have a request: May I add Norwegian chocolate to the contest? If that is alright with you, A'rbol-hugger de la Muerte? Freia (actually Kraftfoods now, but still kickass chocolate).

I am born in Germany and spent most of my childhood and teenage years there, I also have family in Swizerland. I have tasted many different kinds of chocolate, but none of them tasted as good as the chocolate from Norway (where I live now).

If you haven't tasted Norwegian chocolate yet give me a pm and I will send you and one lucky winner some Freia chocolate. You can choose between

-plain
-nuts
-chopped nuts
-nuts and fruits
-orange corcan (?)
-cookie bites
-daim



What do you think about it?
 
 
Ticker
15:04 / 26.09.07
I need 2 people to get US chocolate. I'm out of town fri-monday this week so I'd like to have them settled ASAP. I'll be buying/ mailing the fresh chocolate next tuesday.

I'll be sending tasting bars made locally but using cacao beans from various amazing places.
 
 
lille christina
15:15 / 26.09.07
3) Also send me an address where to send the chocolate. It doesn´t have to be your address. If it isn´t, just make sure, you get to eat the chocolate and not just the person I send it to.

Some people could take that the wrong way
 
  

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