on chocolate

amazing chocolate bars

recently, i had to do a marketing assignment on chocolate... how lucky can you be? during hours of tasting and researching i came across a few amazing and affordable chocolate bars, some of them organic, some fair trade, and some with really nice packaging.

by the way, did you know that a normal serving of dark high quality chocolate has the same amount of anti-oxidants as a large bite of broccoli...? so, put that on top of some happy making endorphins which chocolate eating releases, and you have more than enough reasons to be munching on a bar of chocolate... guilt free!

some brands might still be hard to come across in Europe, but almost all are available through online gourmet stores.

here is my top 5:

1. newtree
newtree is a relatively new belgian chocolate producer that combines the rich chocolatier tradition with the know how of modern nutritionists. the result is a match made in heaven: small chocolate bars with names like sexy, refresh, tranquility, and forgiveness. one bar of sexy provides the same energizing effects as three cups of coffee! and it works ; )



2. green & blacks
the world´s first ethically sourced, organic chocolate, bought by chocolate giant cadbury in 2005. there are more than 15 different flavors to choose from, and the company has even started making chocolate ice-cream (mmm...)

3. divine
fair trade chocolate at its best: 100% ghanan chocolate wrapped in modern delightful packaging. from the visionary idea of a cocoa farmer from ghana, initiatives from ngos, and the body shop, divine has become an award winning chocolate brand. even after gaining wordwide recognition, the kuapa kokoo farmers cooperative remain divine´s largest shareholder.



4. chocolove
this American chocolate producer has really found its niche: gorgeous packaging, innovative flavors, single origin, and vintage reserve limited edition chocolate bars. the taspberry chocolate and chillies & cherries chocolate bars will make your mouth water!







5. dagoba
launched in 2001 by a 30-year-old chef passionate about chocolate, dagoba uses only organic ingredients directly sourced directly from cocoa farmer´s plantations. its packaging is original and earthy, reminiscent of nature´s ocher tones. flavors include chai tea and hemp, pumpkin & sunflower seeds.

orange bittersweet chocolate mousse



ingredients:

140 g of high quality dark chocolate
4 egg yolks
4 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 teaspoons of orange peel
200 ml whipped cream
4 oranges, peeled and cut in thin slices (optional)

how to make it:

melt the chocolate, add the egg yolks, one by one, mixing thoroughly. add the cocoa powder, the orange peel, and the whipped cream. mix well and let cool in the fridge. just before serving, arrange a bed of orange slices on a small plate, and add a large spoonful of chocolate mousse.