Scientifically Fun
NEWTREE has gotten some great press recently, but we're going to give it a little more! This Belgian company has been named to Oprah's O-List and was also a Snack of the Day on the Rachel Ray show, but that's just a taste of the buzz surrounding this relatively new chocolatier. Founded in 2001 by a biochemist, this company finds a balance between exacting science and fun. On the science side, NEWTREE offers GMO free products, often boasting features such as high iron content, numerous antioxidants and polyphenols. If multi-syllabic benefits aren't your forte, take comfort in knowing someone else has done a lot of research into what you're putting in your mouth!
Their claim of putting the "fun in functional food" really stands out when you survey the list of milk and dark chocolate combinations they have on
offer: Pleasure (pure dark chocolate), Vigor (dark chocolate/coffee), Renew (dark chocolate/black currant), Forgiveness (dark chocolate/lemon), Sexy (dark chocolate/ginger), Blush (dark chocolate/cherry), Refresh (dark chocolate/mint), Tranquility (milk chocolate/lavender), Rejoice (milk chocolate/bitter orange & crisped rice) and Crave (milk chocolate/apricot). The names alone make these clever gifts for those on your list! And in two sizes - one a 70g full-sized bar and the other a mini bar box (3 individually wrapped bars per box, making it easy to slip into a pocket or purse for a pick-me-up), there's a size for every gifting need.
Not to be missed is the 9 bar tasting set which includes Cocoon, a milk chocolate/cinnamon bar not available in full size! With mini versions of 9 different bars, the set is an efficient and fun way to determine your favourite flavours and the tasting set's compact packaging allows it to slip perfectly into a stocking or parcel. Just don't take the tasting set out after a holiday dinner with my family: the entire 9 bar set was gone in about 6 minutes of complete silence (not easy to come by!). That's proof of a glowing review!
Labels: Belgium, chocolate, newtree
Dolfin Chocolate: Well Blended
The Art of Blending is the motto of Belgian chocolate maker Dolfin. Priding themselves on innovation and harmonious combinations, they use both milk and dark chocolate with flavours such as lavender, hot masala and green tea. Not only have Dolfin ensured their bars are preservative free, they are also Belgium's first CO2 neutral chocolate maker, which pleases the soul as much as the chocolate craving!
With bars coming in 30g and 100g servings, they fit perfectly into your life for either a single or multiple serving treat. The 30g bars, with their colourful wrappings, are fun additions to gifts or given in groupings - we have a box perfect for just such a gift and the colours look great together!
Labels: Belgium, chocolate, dolfin
Coconut Dreams
There's a name for Vital's Coco bars at The Candy Store: the coconut converter. These densely packed little bars have given even those with the staunchest aversion to coconut a run for their money. Made by Vital, a family-owned Belgian company based out of Ghent and run by Vital Gormez's grandchildren, these bars are available in coffee, pistachio and vanilla (all with coconut, of course).
The company, formed in 1926, is best known for it's nougat, but these little gems are not to be missed! Best enjoyed with a friend over a cup of coffee, they are a must for the coconut lover (or soon to be lover!) in your life!
Labels: Belgium, coconut, vital
Galler Chocolate – The Belgian Chocolate
There’s chocolate and then there’s chocolate. Chocolate produced by Galler certainly falls under the latter! Galler has the honour of being a member of the Belgian Association of Royal Warrant Holders, a distinction that is not only difficult to acquire, but equally as difficult to maintain. The Warrant was granted to Galler in 1994 and is among the many awards and certificates bestowed upon Jean Galler and his team for their efforts.
His chocolate speaks for itself and The Candy Store carries thirty-one different bars and tablets by this expert chocolatier. The bars come in combinations of dark, milk and white chocolate with a ganache-like filling in flavours such as pistachio, sweet coffee, cognac and praline. The tablets explore specific cocoa bean regions as well as tout the original 70% dark chocolate bar – Galler released this bar in 1993 staking their claim in the dark chocolate world long before most had even begun producing a dark chocolate option.
Perfect for stockings, a treat to keep you sane during holiday shopping trips or for your carry-on bag if you’re traveling (you never know when you might become stranded overnight in, say, an airport in France and need a fix to keep your spirits up!), there’s a Galler flavour for everyone in your life!
Labels: Belgium, chocolate, galler
Zaabär Chocolate Bars
Do you remember how fun it was to receive those storybook-style candy boxes as a child? You know, the ones where you’d open the packaging like a book and the candy was presented inside. Fast forward to 2008 and find yourself feeling the same way about Zaabär’s Duo Chocolates. These absolutely gorgeous little book-style chocolate bars from Belgium are not only vacuum-sealed for the preservation of freshness, but also made using ingredients that are “entirely natural and free from preservatives, dyes and genetically modified organisms.”
The incredible flavours fulfill the Zaabär promise of “a trip around the world of flavours” and are sure to please even the most decorated chocolate aficionado. Exclusive to The Candy Store in Ottawa are: Cinnamon from Ceylon, Cardamom from Malabar, Lemongrass from Sri Lanka (a staff favourite!), Coriander from Laos, Lavender from Andalusia, Peppermint from Mekong, Pecan Nuts from Taos, Pistachios from Cappadoce and Sage from Barberino.
Combining extraordinary Belgian chocolate with rich, textured flavourings, a Zaabär Duo in anyone’s stocking or gift is certain to delight and impress.
Labels: Belgium, chocolate, Zaabar
