Chocolate

[Deleted]

I checked, and it appears that we do not have a thread devoted to chocolate. How is that possible? As a child, I very much liked chocolate. As an adult, not so much. I can go for months without thinking about it or eating any -- even with the advertisements in front of me -- but every now and then I get a sudden craving. There have been times when I have suddenly made a move on the candy machine in the subway to get a surprisingly urgent bag of M&Ms, but I attribute the attraction more to the sugar than the chocolate. Once in a while, I will buy tablets of chocolate at the supermarket, but this is often triggered by being in a country specialised in the matter (yes, Belgium or Switzerland), and even though I often buy a huge amount in such places (if 25 tablets is 'huge'), I give 90% of it away to people who really like the stuff. If I gorge on one tablet, I am done for several months.

I will also admit that I prefer milk chocolate, which is anathema to the French, who are the #1 consumers of dark chocolate in the world. It is interesting to note that in the two 'chocolate' countries mentioned above, the residents also prefer milk chocolate.

So, the discussion is open. Do you believe that chocolate is a necessity or just poisonous bait left in front of you by the devil?

I can live without it.

[chexbres]

You are one of the few people I have ever met who doesn't like chocolate, but I don't think anyone will hold it against you - especially at dessert time.
I used to really love US milk chocolate, but now I think it tastes mostly like fat and salt, and not much chocolate flavor. Did they change the recipe?
I keep 3 tablets of Lindt dark chocolate with mint flavoring (not filling) in my refrigerator at all times.

[htmb]

I like dark chocolate, but I don't eat it all that much and my tastes have become refined over the years. I think the last piece I ate was the day I retired in June. My daughter and son had brought me a basket of food from a very good local market. In it they'd added a little piece of very fine-quality dark chocolate. The price tag was still on the wrapper. $7!!!! I must say, it was the finest chocolate I've ever tasted.

Oh, now I remember. I did eat a little dark chocolate in Paris. It was good, but certainly not on the level of my expensive bite-sized piece.
I've gotten to where I cannot stand M&M's or anything in that category.

[onlyMark]

I promote looks of horror amongst (non-UK) friends when I profess a preference for milk chocolate over dark. I apparently am an uneducated Neanderthal heathen and their attitude is often akin to a chauvinist telling a lesbian she's never had a proper man.

As regards milk chocolate and from extended personal experience and trials, my conclusion is that that from the USA cannot hold a candle to that of the UK. Fortunately I can get Cadbury's Milk Chocolate in Spain otherwise I wouldn't be living here. It was one of the critical turning points when making the decision. Any country that does not sell this nectar of the Gods, this ambrosia, is relegated in my mind to the fourth division and should be boycotted and sent to Coventry.

At one point at junior school my nickname was "Twix". I soon changed on to "Lion" bars hoping my nickname would also change to something more manly. It didn't, but over the years it was left by the wayside anyway as more appropriate nicknames came to the fore. Like Skippy as I was good on the trampoline. But for several years I was called "Yorkie" and even have a T shirt with that name on it presented to me, as I was then recently an ex-truck driver and mechanic.
I wasn't averse to this nickname as it did have a certain brevity and relevance. Better than being called "Pig", "Black bastard", "Filth", "Scum" or "Fuzz" by many who(m?) I'd only just met in trying circumstances.

However, back to the point before I go too far away, I can live without chocolate. But, what is the point? I could live without both my legs, my arms, half my insides, my private parts - in fact I could be kept alive by machines and just have a portion of my brain left, if at all.
But, as with chocolate, what would be the point?

[onlyMark]

See! See! Whilst I was writing this, pouring my heart out, this cruel and heartless htmb character stabs me in the back by saying "I like dark chocolate,..........and my tastes have become refined over the years." Intimating that only people with refined tastes like dark chocolate!
I am devastated and will shortly be driving to the local shop to seek solace in a Snickers and, if I feel devilish, a Mars Bar.

We milk chocolate lovers are treated as second class citizens. I will rebel. I'll form my own political party. I'll write to my MP. You cannot stop us. We are the future of humankind.

Years in the future things could go two ways. Archaeologists could dig up a discarded Lindt Intense Orange EXCELLENCE Bar wrapper and with a knowing nod say to each other, "This is where the rot set in. The catalyst for the end of civilisation as we knew it"
Or, they could dig up a discarded Cadbury's Double Decker or Twirl, even a Flake or a Wispa, and with the same knowing nod now say, "This is what elevated us to the heavens. To explore where no man has gone before. To civilise alien planets, to bring life and culture to the far reaches of the universe".

Which way do you want it to go? Huh?

[htmb]

Calm down. What I meant was, my tastes in dark chocolate have become refined.

Given a good piece of milk chocolate, I'd eat it without a thought, but I do prefer dark. Chocolate with nuts added, even better!

[onlyMark]

Refined as in crude oil becoming petrol or refined as in drinking tea with your pinkie finger extended?

There is hope for you though, if you like it with nuts in, there is hope for you yet. You are not irredeemable.

[breeze]

Align me with the milk chocolate lovers. I might not be as dramatic as you, Mark, but I admire your enthusiasm. I wouldn't want to be with you when you run out of chocolate, though.

I can't enjoy Hershey's any more. Lindt or the Belgian bars are my first choice. I used to love Cadbury's but I think what they make in the US is a different formula.

I just ate a--let me check the wastebasket--bag of Cadbury dairy milk with English toffee. Very tasty, licensed to Hershey in the US, so maybe I'm not all that discriminating.

The wrapper is cute--it describes 3 pieces as a serving.

In the US, See's Candy is my favorite.

[onlyMark]

I never run out of chocolate.
My daughters do though as usually I steal theirs.

[Deleted]

I'll be in Switzerland in less than two weeks and will once again buy several kilos of chocolate. I have to be more careful now, though, because since I retired it has reduced my circle of beneficiaries.

[fumobici]

Good call breeze on the See's. Good old California brand, real quality.

I like it all. Sometimes I might be in the mood for a nice milk chocolate and another for 91% bitter cocoa bomb with a fresh made strong coffee on the side. I don't think I've had any or even thought about chocolate in months. I think I perhaps tend to crave it more when it's cold outside. There is a chocolate festival in Perugia every fall that is a chocolate lover's dream. It's called Eurochocolate and makers from all over Europe show up.



Where else will you be able to sample fine single source estate chocolates and to also see a giant novelty oversize chocolate chess set? 

Edit to add: if you ever need to wind up a chocolate snob tell him or her you like white chocolate with peanuts best, and go on raving how good it is for a bit

[bixaorellana]

I completely fail to understand milk chocolate -- too sweet, not chocolatey enough, and has a gummy texture that feels icky in the back of the throat.

Tragically, the fact that I know better doesn't keep me from eating chocolate covered raisins, or peanuts or malted milk balls -- really, anything in the sub-standard "bridge mix" category.

The chocolate in Oaxaca is meant for making hot chocolate, either with water or milk. It's a pretty straightforward process of grinding cocoa beans and sugar together, often with the addition of cinnamon &/or almonds. The end product is hard to bite and gritty with sugar, but delivers strongly on the chocolate flavor. I know this because when I buy the squares, balls or hockey pucks of Oaxacan chocolate they hardly ever make it into the chocolate pot, but wind up directly in my mouth.

When I was in Sicily I saw the "Aztec chocolate" from Modica promoted everywhere. I rather sneered, since the Aztecs didn't have sugar. However, keen researcher that I am, I was compelled to try some. Good grief, this * is GOOD! It's very like the Oaxacan chocolate, but the grit is under control and the chocolate flavor somehow more refined. I only bought one bar, sensing its scary addictiveness.

[htmb]

In Oaxaca, how often is hot chocolate made with water, Bixa? Is that a regular thing?

[bixaorellana]

Yes, it's a regular thing. If you just ask for chocolate at a restaurant, you'll be asked if you want milk or water. The water kind is the more traditional version.

[htmb]

Good to know!

[Deleted]

Even in France, hot chocolate is often made with water.

[onlyMark]

I think I'll slip down to my local cafe for my breakfast, Churros con chocolate (made with milk) -

[lagatta]

I don't really care for chocolate (or sweets in general). Occasionally I do get a craving for some (usually in the winter cold) but it has to be at least 90% chocolate and no more than 5g of white death.

I never visited the chocolate plant when I was studying in Perugia, and found Baci far too sweet. There are so many other nice things to eat there...

People's preferences in terms of sweets are really none of my business.

I do wish sweets were the only fattening food, and that there were no calories in foods I like, such as cheeses.

[amboseli]

Yep, milk chocolate for me. One cube after dinner, every day.
Hot chocolate made with water is yuck. Fresh full cream milk and dark chocolate (70%).

[rikita]

i like it all. slight preference for milk chocolate, but there are times i like dark chocolate (though maybe not over 70 %). and times i like plain chocolate and times i like it filled with cream or mint or nuts or caramel or nougat or coconut or other things, or flavoured with orange or chili or salt or raisins other things. or in the form of chocolatey desserts and mousse au chocolat. or pralines. or various bars like mars or snickers or wunderbar. or hot chocolate. or chocolate cake. or chocolate sauce. i even like white chocolate.

[htmb]

In case anyone is interested:

Spring 2017 Chocolate Workshop in Provence

[onlyMark]

They're building a workshop out of chocolate?

[Deleted]

Chocolate = migraine.

[rikita]

[kerouac2]

It has been so long since I bought chocolate coins that I didn't know that inflation has caused us to move on to chocolate banknotes.

imageshack.com/a/img923/4601/EGGCLG.jpg

imageshack.com/a/img921/6162/AttKbm.jpg

[amboseli]

Chocolate banknotes! Something like Matinettes?

[bjd]

That looks like something to put in a trick or treat bag.

I don't know why I missed this thread before but I prefer dark chocolate, especially with orange bits in it. But will eat Lindt milk chocolate if I have nothing else.

Having been a child in England and Canada, I had fond memories of Cadbury's Dairy Milk and Flake, but when I tasted them as an adult I found them rather tasteless.

[bixaorellana]

There is really no good reason for milk chocolate.

Chocolate banknotes? Nahhhh. How can you play pirate treasure with stoopid banknotes?

[lagatta]

It is Hannukah (various transliterations from the Hebrew - a common one in Spanish is Januca, which makes sense)). Jewish children get coins like that as one of the little presents.

Hannukah is a minor Jewish holiday, and became important only because of its proximity to Christmas.

Modern pirates, bixa...

[bixaorellana]

Bitcoin pirates!