Wistful Voyages...: Hint of Mint

Wednesday, January 20

Hint of Mint

When one spends four years of life at an impressionable age in Belgium, chocolate snobbery becomes a way of life. My palette prefers raspberry and chocolate, or strawberry and chocolate, but I am definitely a high quality chocolate person (Leonidas being a family favourite). Brussels chocolatiers make some of the world's most decadent and pure chocolate on the planet. Manon being their very special delectable invention. As an adult, the thought of the common variety chocolate sold in middle class stores (or anything Hershey related) causes my gag reflex to kick in. Chocolate snob, all the way through, and I am not the only one:

Chocolate Around the World:

Canadians recently dealt with the international banking crisis by binging on chocolate imported from Europe and the US, as our consumption increased by 2.7% in 2009. - Suite 101.com
Top Chocolate Loving Nations are (pounds per year consumed):

1) Switzerland 22.36

2) Austria 20.13

3) Ireland 19.47

4) Germany 18.04

5) Norway 17.93

- World Atlas of Chocolate

Chocolate is United States’ favourite flavour. A recent survey revealed that 52 percent of U.S. adults said they like chocolate best. The second favourite flavour was a tie (at 12 percent each) between berry flavours and vanilla. - Choconet

The Ivory Coast, Africa produces and exports 1.3 million metric tonnes of cocoa beans, 43% of the world's supply. - CBC News Indepth

In 1996 each Canadian ate 5,410 grams of chocolate per year, which is equivalent to 1 chocolate bar every three days. - CBC News Indepth

The melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human body temperature (98.6 degrees) - which is why it literally melts in your mouth. - Choconet

Hint of Mint:

But now in the UK, thanks to Bendicks' (they put sexy and seduction in their website), and local shopping stores I have become a mint person. MINGLES are the culprits. So melt in my mouth! Ever to delicate in flavour! The variety keep drawing my hand to the bowl! Blessed Bendricks'! Damn Bendricks'!

This one box includes five morsels of chocolate love, all identified by the coloured twists at the wrappers' tips:

Red has a dark chocolate mint crisp

Yellow has a solid milk and white chocolate with a hint of mint

Maroon has a dark chocolate with a fondant mint centre

Green has a milk chocolate mint crisp

Blue has a milk chocolate with dark mint truffle centre
My mouth consumed one box in two weeks, and is now slowly eating a second box. I should stop. But I am only in the UK for so long. Who knows if these chocolates exist in Canada. Perhaps just one more....support the local chocolatiers...