Top 10 chocolate picks from abroad
Trawling through shops, stocking up on a wide array of chocolates, and relishing in the wonders of the cocoa bean is how National Chocolate Week should be celebrated. Yet when scanning through what’s on offer at the local supermarket confectionery section, I can’t help but think we aren’t exactly spoilt for choice. Although Britain is more than capable of catering to its population’s sugar cravings, there are many varieties of well-known chocolate brands which are not available to the British consumer. So during this week of chocolate fuelled over-indulgence, I’ve allowed myself to dream a little and conjure up my top ten list of chocolates I wish were readily available in the UK:
1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (North America)
The peanut butter and chocolate combination is an American favourite, and is delivered to full effect by these little cups. Filled with peanut butter and covered in chocolate, they have the potential to reach a similar level of popularity that the American cupcake has enjoyed in Britain.
2. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Black Forest (New Zealand)
This is the chocolate bar version of the black forest gateaux, filled with cherry flavoured jellies and pieces of biscuit. This is just one example of the range of experimental varieties of Dairy Milk bars available in New Zealand, with other tempting examples including Mousse Caramel, Turkish Delight, Rocky Road and Coconut Rough.
3. Hershey’s Kisses (North America)
Manufactured by the American chocolate giant of the same name, Hershey’s presents its Kisses, one of the most popular chocolates in America. They are distinctive for their teardrop shape and are essentially tiny pieces of foil-wrapped chocolate. The foil is actually part of the allure, as its colour is altered specifically to celebrate upcoming festivities. For instance, Xs and Os are printed on pink and red foil to symbolise Valentine’s Day ,while Independence Day is marked with red stripes and blue-starred wrappers. Differing flavours of the treat can be found across the world, including green tea, which is mostly sold in Asia, and creamy milk chocolate with almonds can be unearthed in Europe.
4. Kinder Delice (France)
Although a growing number of Kinder varieties are available in the UK, one yet to grace us is the Kinder Delice. This is basically a chocolate sponge cake with a layer of cream inside, covered in milk chocolate, creating a large, uniquely soft, chocolate bar.
5. Confetteria Raffaello (Switzerland)
Now while Raffaella can be purchased in the UK, it is only available during the Christmas season, though chocolates so delicious should really be sold the full year round. Manufactured by the well-known Ferrero Rocher, these balls of chocolate are filled with cream and a single almond, and are coated by a shell of coconut and wafer, producing pure delight! Again, Ferrero Rocher has many brands available outside the UK, including Ferrero Garden and Ferrero Giotto.
6. Caramilk (Canada)
This chocolate bar almost bursts with caramel and is widely regarded as the standard in Canada. There is much hype and mystery around the manner in which the centre of this chocolate is filled with the sweet caramel stuffing, resulting in the Caramilk advertising campaign being the most successful in Canadian history.
7. Pineapple Lumps (New Zealand )
These are essentially pineapple flavoured marshmallows covered in chocolate. A New Zealand speciality and definitely worth a try.
8. Confiserie Sprungli (Switzerland)
This is actually a luxury Swiss chocolate company encompassing a total of only nineteen retailers, all of which are based in Switzerland. It is best known for producing its special miniature macaroons named “Luxemburgerli” as well as its high-end prices.
9. Peppermint Crisp (South Africa) This extraordinary creation consists of a milk chocolate bar filled with thin straw-like strands of mint. After taking a bite out of the bar to uncover the mint strands, they can then be used like real straws to slurp through milk or other drinks, proving to be so much more than just an ordinary chocolate bar.
10. Oh Henry! (North America)
A proper, good old-fashioned chocolate bar made up of peanuts, fudge, caramel, and of course, plenty of chocolate. Created in 1920, there are many stories about the name, no doubt a part of its appeal, though no clear explanation has yet explained the true origins.
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Image from: http://www.atasteofkoko.com/2010/05/ferrero-rocher-macarons.html