SWEET-STAKES: Chocolatiers are churning out more upscale bites and drinks to keep up with demand for luxury chocolates. Photo: Christian JohnsTon
Posted on 12/23/2005 12:13:42 PM PST by Liz
SWEET-STAKES: Chocolatiers are churning out more upscale bites and drinks to keep up with demand for luxury chocolates. Photo: Christian JohnsTon
For generations, it's been cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve. That may be passé.
A boom in luxury chocolates suggests the traditional Oreo for Santa may be giving way to the toniest truffle. "Chocolate used to be about gifting," said Sharon Rothstein, vice president for Godiva, which is launching a Platinum line to follow its successful $120-a-pound G Collection. "Now it's also about self-indulgence."
Luxury chocolate is now so upscale that chocolatiers are educating consumers in the same way that wine makers do.
Truffles at Vosges Haut Chocolat, which has a shop in SoHo, come with instructions: there should be glossy shines to truffles, showing "a tight bond between the cocoa butter and cacao mass" while the chocolate bar instructions say to "rub your thumb on the chocolate to help release the aromas."
There are even Vosges wine or champagne and chocolate pairing gift sets, with a "tasting guidebook" for $95 to $125.
Vosges expects to post $8 million in sales next year, nearly doubling its results of 2004. Sales of premium chocolate last year were estimated to be about $1.56 billion, according to a report by the market research firm Mintel, while the number of upscale chocolate brands has grown from 89 in 2000 to 358 last year........
About 10 percent of the chocolate market is considered luxury, said the Chocolate Manufacturers Association. "Our members are recognizing this evolving market by developing products directed to this audience or buying other brands that can build out their traditional offerings," said the group's spokeswoman......
The Hershey Co. recently bought Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker and Joseph Schmidt Confections to give some luxe to its down-home brands.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
In small pan, bring 2/3 cup heavy cream to boil on medium-low heat. Offheat, add 6 oz fine-chp unsweetened chocolate, stir til melted. Add to 1/2 cup sifted confectioner's sugar, 1/4 cup almond paste, 3 tbl brandy in bowl, then combine. Spread in 8" square glass dish. Cover and refrigerate an hour til firm enough to shape. With melon baller or small spoon, shape 1" balls. Roll in cup fine-ground almonds. Store in airtight tin in refrigerator.
The best chocolate for the best price is Dove milk or dark. No need to buy chocolate at 30 bucks a pound.
Very sad,IMO.
Ping
Chocolate makes me sleep---I kid you not!
I love chocolate milk and have a nice one a few times a week
Leonidas of Belgium is the best. Second place would be Godiva.....
The best chocolate for the best price is Dove milk or dark.
I need a hug!
Here are some great German-Brandy-filled chocolates:
I've got to go get some chocolate now.
Me too,
there is a bowl of Hersey's kisses about 20 feet away.
BRB.
Really? Maybe my tastes aren't that refined, but I honestly can't tell that much of a difference between Dove and Godiva, except for the price. Cadbury is also pretty good, though not so common in America. If I had to live in Europe, I'd live on chocolate.
Just give me my chocolates filled with caramel and I'm a happy camper. I could always tell when others beat me to them when the chocolates in the box would be squshed on top.
I've had their toffee and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Absolutely right! Just takes to long to unwrap the suckers!
Good Stuff!
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