I’ve been really enjoying Chococo’s Festive Collection, £12.50 for a box of nine filled chocolates (other sizes available) with centres such as Spiced Rum (so good: raisins marinated in Two Drifters rum), Gingerbread Caramel, Tawny Port and Fig (it’s all in the name). This is a great, seasonally named, box to give to someone you really like, but also a fantastic passive- aggressive present for someone who likes to squirrel away gifts and re-purpose them – because unless they act fast, they can’t! While you’re there, Chococo also does a very nice oat ‘milk’ Christmas Bauble filled with honeycomb chocolates, £13.50, and all vegan. Luckily, these are not foil wrapped, so you’re not tempted to hang them – you have to eat them.
Bare Bones has two Christmas offerings in festive colours. The Salted White, £6.50, I have a mixed relationship with – you try it and tell me what you think. But no such ambivalence with the Christmas Special 70% Dark Honduras, £6.50, another triumph from this micro-batch Glaswegian chocolate maker. Like so much of their chocolate, one taste seems to trigger a multitude of memories and pictures – like going to the movies just by eating chocolate. These two are a perfect little gift for the chocolate connoisseur.
Don’t forget Sur Chocolates. Their Christmas alfajores box, £35 (see picture), is just as good as last year’s with two each of Cheese and Quince (superb), Almond and Caramel (think marzipan goodness) and dark Lava Cake (my children’s favourite). These are easy to post, so make great gifts, but they are such a special treat don’t forget to get yourself one.
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