Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates – A Review & Giveaway
Elizabeth Shaw, that well known purveyor of chocolate mint crisps has recently launched a new range of flavours. As a confirmed chocoholic (in case you didn’t know), I was happy to accept a hamper of goodies to try out – get your fix where you can, I say!
A large box duly arrived in the post and I was excited to see a variety of goodies in it. Pretty much anything wrapped in pretty coloured tissue paper pleases me and the hamper was packed with a generous amount of maroon coloured paper – lovely.
Although I have been known to say on many an occasion that I don’t like my chocolate too sweet, I do have a weakness for caramel, butterscotch, toffee and honeycomb flavours. So despite knowing these were likely to be very sweet, I was not deterred. And I was right, I did find them very sweet, but also very hard to stop eating once I’d started. CT thought that although they were sweet, they didn’t hit his palate in the way that many other sweet chocolates do. Each flavour is denoted by a different coloured foil wrapper in the type of autumnal colours I appreciate. CT and I both did our taste testing without knowing what the flavours were.
Dark Brown – This dark chocolate (45%) containing cocoa nibs smelt predominately of chocolate and CT thought it tasted more like a straight piece of dark chocolate than any of the other varieties. We both really liked the presence of cocoa nibs which helped counteract the general sweetness and gave an and extended presence in the mouth. I like cocoa nibs and use them regularly, but some may find the crunch of these a little too dry and bitter.
Orange – Milk chocolate with pieces of honeycomb which had the enticing aroma of toffee and condensed milk. I found this the sweetest of the four, but CT thought it wasn’t as sweet as he was expecting and certainly not as sweet as the gold. I thought the crunch pieces had a delicious butterscotch / toffee flavour, but apparently I was wrong as this is the honeycomb.
Maroon – I found it harder to identify the flavour of this one, but it smelt more chocolatey than the orange or gold. It was certainly my favourite, being less sweet than the two previously mentioned, but with that “burnt” sugar flavour that I like so much. CT thought it had a nice fruity note to it. As it happened, I got this one right – caramel flavour.
Gold – milk chocolate containing what I thought were honeycomb pieces – turns out I was wrong again. This one was butterscotch, or at least that’s what it said on the label. Identity notwithstanding, it had a lovely crunch and flavour, although it was quite sweet. CT detected a certain drying quality in the mouth after eating this, which once pointed out, I also noticed.
The mint crisps are a classic. Dark chocolate (57%) with mint honeycomb crisp, these are crunchy, minty and rich. We tried the 100g chocolate bar which is divided into eight large squares. Two squares were plenty and although they were good, the richness of the chocolate and the intensity of the mint stopped me indulging further. CT, likewise, thought this chocolate was just the right side of being too strong.
Four packs of flutes were included:
- Latte – white chocolate batons with a coffee chocolate centre.
- Amaretto – milk chocolate (30%) batons with amaretto.
- Orange – dark chocolate (50%) batons with an orange milk chocolate (30%) centre.
- Mint – dark chocolate (50%) batons with a mint fondant centre
We tried the Amaretto ones. As soon as I opened the packet a powerful smell of almonds was released – no surprise there. And not also not surprisingly they tasted of Amaretto too. I was slightly concerned that they would taste like the product of a chemistry set, but they were actually rather good. CT thought the flavour was reminiscent of a Bakewell tart – he likes Bakewell tarts.
These chocolates may not be top notch artisanal products but they are real chocolate with no nasty additions and they are also reasonably priced. A 175g box of chocolate crisps costs around £3.50.
If you don’t mind signing up to their newsletter, Elizabeth Shaw are giving away a hamper with even more in it than the one I received. To be in with a chance of winning you will need to go here to their website.
Disclaimer: I was sent a variety of Elizabeth Shaw products for review purposes and as always all opinions expressed are my own.
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This beauty was white yesterday morning. I knew it was going to turn, but it still seems like a miracle. It’s the first cobaea we’ve grown in several years and this is it’s first bloom.
Crumbling cliffs adding interest to CT’s birthday walk. Fabulous day for it. Sand martins seem to love it.
Our Monthly Chocolate Challenge
Chele
28th July 2012
I always scoff the mint chocolates first ;0)
Love the packaging and presentation of these chocs.
Karen S Booth
28th July 2012
MY favourite chocolates when it comes to mint Choclette and also my late grandmother’s too…..Karen
Dom at Belleau Kitchen
28th July 2012
orange for me all the way… lovely collection and an honest review x
Janice
28th July 2012
Great review Choclette, the mint ones are my MIL’s favourite.
Jacqueline
28th July 2012
Oh my, my heart is racing. I love those chocolates. Especially orange ones. Mmmmmm!!!
amy beth marantino
28th July 2012
mint is my favorite as well.
celia
28th July 2012
I can’t taste them, but I can eat them with my eyes – what magnificent presentation and packaging! Love all the dimply foil wrappers!
The Caked Crusader
29th July 2012
I’ve always thought that those dimply foil wrapped mints are the nicest, and cutest around. I remember them from my childhood and still love them today
Chrissie
30th July 2012
Yummy. I remember my nan always giving me the mint crisp chocolates.
Rachel
31st July 2012
I do like these type of chocolates and often buy them at christmas. The hamper looks gorgeous! You have given them a fantastic review and the pictures are lovely too – gives me a great idea of what they are like – brilliant! Can’t wait to taste some myself 🙂
Annes S
1st August 2012
I feel a bit ashamed in that I have never cooked with blackcurrants, your round up certainly provides fruit for thought!
Pilar
2nd August 2012
This chocolates, they look like jewels. Very nice round up.
karen ward
17th August 2012
yum yum – mint sticks – the best by far!
JaynesDen
29th April 2013
The mint flavour in these chocolates is always so good. Well worth the extra expense !
glennamy
27th April 2014
Love Elizabeth Shaw chocs…