My Chocolate Fantasy

ajay asked:


 

Delectable chocolate gifts create a fuzzy ring of happiness. From the giver to the receiver, it spreads warmth and happiness. Since these gifts pertain to one of our most basic and personal acts – that of eating – it manages to go straight to the heart. So, if you want to celebrate a special event in a touching and classy manner, think of giving away some personalized chocolate gifts.

Personalized chocolate gifts may be given to anyone and may be used to celebrate any event. You may celebrate love with a gift basket and some flowers. Is it a baby shower? What better way than some chocolate cigars. Is it a wedding? Well, time to gift some chocolate hearts with a special custom made message on it. As they say, you name the event and there is a place for chocolate in the celebration.

One of the reasons why chocolate gifts make such a wonderful token of your love and appreciation is because of the high degree of personalization it allows. You enhance the beauty of the gift by giving it a special added touch – that of a picture, a logo or a message. The recipient will never forget the pains you have taken. Nor will they stop thinking about the pleasure they get when they bite into each delightful mouthful.

Personalized chocolate gifts come in all sorts of flavors. From milk to coffee or dark, bitter chocolate, the selection is huge and splendid. Indeed, high quality chocolate gifts are an elegant gift to give away. Besides, you can enhance its beauty simply by wrapping it in style. From custom made personalized covers to standard wrappers, chocolate gifts can be made to look as special and attractive as you want it to be.

Another great idea for personalized chocolate gifts is a chocolate gift hamper. Imagine a gift basket filled with personalized chocolate hearts, squares, chips, roses and other molded designs! Or you may even give away chocolate cookies, lollipops and truffles. A chocolate gift box is also a fun idea and is more suitable for formal occasions. Chocolate gift boxes are sturdier and form a good protection to the chocolates, particularly if you want to give it to someone living far away. The choice is endless, as myriad as the emotions that prompt you to give the gift.

Personalized chocolate gifts are suitable for any occasion. Whether you want to celebrate a personal event or a more formal occasion like a client get-together or sales meet, chocolates can liven up any occasion and give it a special touch of uniqueness. So, the next time you think that chocolate favors are too self-indulgent, think again! It pays to humor the child in every person.

Chris Alleny asked:


The finest chocolate the world has to offer is usually not so readily available in the local supermarket. Those sold in convenience stores and groceries are the mass-produced ones we’ve all grown so accustomed to – Hershey’s, M&M’s, KitKat, Toblerone, Cadbury, and maybe a Lindt here and there. For a truly chocolate experience, you have to probe deeper and go to specialty shops. Italian, French, Belgian, Swiss, German, Japanese, and Spanish chocolates are sold in these little chocolate shops which offer overwhelmingly diverse options that can make any chocoholic go crazy with glee with the sheer amount of choices. When it comes to defining what the “best” chocolate is, it still is a matter of preference and taste. Chocolates from different countries have distinct flavors and aromas that are unique to their origin. The best way to truly know what a gem is from a sham is to expand your palate and your chocolate experience. Below are some tips for hunting the best chocolate in town.

Trying Out Chocolate Shops

In Belgium, there are more than 2,000 chocolate shops owned by chocolate manufacturers who make their chocolate by hand. You can’t get any fresher than that! In the U.S., there are little chocolate shops sprouting across the country. They either import the chocolates from the best chocolate-manufacturing countries and upscale brands or they make their own from imported cocoa. Chocolatiers and chocolate makers such as La Maison make exquisitely luxurious chocolates packaged in pretty boxes that are beautiful enough to present as an elegant gift. Most of these shops offer a wide array of expensive chocolate such as dark chocolate truffles, ganaches, and mendiants (chocolate sprinkled with assorted nuts or dried fruits), marrons glaces, and caramels.

Go Organic

Organic chocolate ensures only the purest and most natural ingredients. These types of chocolate are made from cocoa that are organically grown without any genetic engineering and pesticides. The result is pure chocolate goodness that melts delightfully in the mouth. Organic milk chocolate is also better because it is manufactured with milk that is free of recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), the artificial hormone injected to cows to increase their milk production. Organic chocolates may also prove to be healthier as some use soy instead of milk and others are free of sugar, called diabetic chocolate, for those who simply can’t resist chocolate but could not afford to consume sweets for health reasons.

Always Look for Freshness

When sampling chocolate, buy from a source that you know is fresh. Always check the date when it was manufactured. Purchase chocolate that is as fresh as possible to experience its full flavor. Chocolate has a long shelf life when properly stored and can be eaten even after two years from its manufacture date, but its richness diminishes over time. Furthermore, chocolate that has not been properly stored, even when it has not yet reached its expiration date, can become stale and inedible. When you break a chocolate bar into two, it should still be creamy and compact, not crumbled and dry. Dry edges on the chocolate means that it is not fresh or do not have enough amount of cocoa butter.