Thursday, April 12, 2007

Chuao ChocoPod Collection

I’ve been a big admirer of Chuao since I found it last year. They use all El Rey chocolate and combine classic and contemporary ingredients for tantalizing and fresh flavor combinations. While you can only get their best items at their shops or online (such as their bon bons) they did introduce their quaint little ChocoPod (review here), which are great little nibbles of chocolate perfect for an accompaniment for your coffee-house fare.

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This year they’re expanding their ChocoPod line with their new collection of filled ChocoPod.

Chuao gave me a sampler box (sorry, not available to the public) so I could try all the flavors.

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Picante - spicy Cabernet caramel. This one had a lovely tangy and fruity flavor that gave my throat quite a burn. (Dark Chocolate)

Passion - passion fruit and caramel. I’m not usually a big fan of passion fruit (or guava or papaya for that matter), but this was fab. It was sweet and grapey and mellow. It makes we want to give passion fruits another try. (Dark Chocolate)

Modena - strawberry & balsamic caramel. I’ve had this one as a bonbon, it has a great fruity flavor with a very noticeable dark tang to it from the balsamic. What it’s missing, for me, is the caramelized/burnt sugar notes that would bring out the deeper flavors. (Dark Chocolate)

Candela - spicy macadmia praline. Ugh, I did not like this one at all. The texture was great, the praline was a little crunchy from the caramelized sugar, but macadamia are just not a good flavor to me. Since this was a macadamia paste, there wasn’t even the macadamia texture as a reprieve. Again, totally a personal thing. (Dark Chocolate)

Banana - banana brown sugar caramel. This is the flat version of the Cambur bonbon I love so much. Sweet and salty with a wonderful fresh banana flavor. A little on the sweet side, but this one had more in the chocolate department than the bonbon does. (Milk Chocolate)

Dulce de Leche - milk caramel. Wonderfully milky, rather sticky on the tongue but with a good complex cooked milk and sugar taste. (Milk Chocolate)

Since I was a big fan of the Cambur (the bonbon version of the Banana), I’m enthusiastic about the idea of being able to pick these up at a coffee house. (Might I suggest Chuao’s sales staff contact my favorite coffee house, Sabor y Cultura in Hollywood and see about getting them into that cafe?) I know they’re a bit more expensive than some treats, but the size and proportion are just right for me.

YumSugar also gave these a try. She didn’t like the Banana as much as I did, but gave the set a thumbs up. I haven’t seen these in stores yet, but you can order online right now. Banana and Dulce de Leche aren’t available yet. (So if you have to order, just get them in the BonBon version!)

Name: ChocoPod Collection
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Chuao Chocolatier
Place Purchased: samples from Chuao Chocolatier
Price: $4.95
Size: 2.3 ounces
Calories per ounce: 50-80 calories each
Categories: Chocolate, Caramel, Nuts, United States, Chuao

POSTED BY Cybele AT 7:02 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. Chuao products really amaze me. I’m definitely become a new fan. It’s probably great that I don’t live anywhere near their shop else I’d pig out all the time. Also, it is a big shame that the sample pack isn’t available to everyone. I’m surprised you didn’t like the macadamia one, I thought the crunchy texture to be a nice treat.

    oh and do give passion fruits (and guava, especially guava) another try!

    Comment by Sabrina on 4/12/07 at 9:35 am #
  2. Ewwwwwwwwwww! I am excited- totally sleek packaging and new shape of chocolate intrigues me. glad your review was +, I will be on the hunt.

    Comment by liz on 4/12/07 at 4:01 pm #
  3. I have to try this. I think the macadamia paste sounds intriguing.

    Comment by claudia on 4/12/07 at 5:52 pm #
  4. Cybele's avatar

    Sabrina - I’ve worked very hard with guava in the past, but just can’t get into it. I’m not adverse to it, but given a selection, it’s just not one I’ll pick. Sometimes I eat the passion fruits from the back yard. You know, when I’m feeling too lazy to go into the house and eat something.

    Liz - please report back if you ever see these in the wild.

    Claudia - I’m glad I’m not souring anyone on the macadamia ... again, if you like macadamias, then it’s totally a good call.

    Comment by Cybele on 4/18/07 at 10:21 am #
  5. I just found these for .39 for a box of 6 pods at the local discount grocery store. I thought I remembered you reviewing them! They only had the dark chocolate varieties and I totally agree with your review, from the throat burn to the not so good macadmia.

    Comment by Debe on 4/14/08 at 9:43 am #
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