Monthly Archives: December 2011

Inspiral Artisan Raw Chocolate Box

A box of chocolates has to be decadent to be proper, doesn’t it?  These Artisan chocolates are definitely, decadently proper.  That’s my gift shopping sorted.  I shall reserve these especially for anyone who thinks I’m somehow missing out on treats because I’m high raw.

I have tasted relatively few brands of ready-made raw chocolate.  I tend to notice the untempered quality of raw chocolate that means it lacks the glossiness and crisp snap of the mass-produced stuff.  Some brands, while tasting great, are quite grainy in texture.  As far as bars of raw chocolate go, I like Whoosh best (from Raw Living) because it's smooth and reminds me of a slightly darker version of Dairy Moo.  For boxed chocolates, Artisan are sensationally smooth and melt-in-the-mouth luxurious.

Many of these chocolates are solid with great  flavours and additions, or a layer of something delicious in the middle. There is a dark raspberry rose one that I swear is Turkish delight that has somehow been magically turned into chocolate.  The raspberry flavoured white chocolate is a delicate delight that really does taste of raspberries.  There’s one with a soft almondy marzipan layer that is heaven and then there’s the goji-nut, wowser.  It should be illegal for anything to taste that good.  When the authorities discover that we’re having so much fun with food that’s good for us, it probably WILL be made illegal.

I have been receiving Christmas greetings from friends with remarks like ‘hope you enjoy your raw Christmas dinner’ and so on so I do get the impression that some of my loved ones think I’m a joyless ascetic who is going to miss out on lovely goodies this festive season.  Sending out some of these chocolates will give the recipient pleasure, sneak some goodness into them and might possibly also result in them starting to get it.  I like subversive Christmas gifts!

Raw Living sell these in boxes of 6 or 12, and they also sell Rawsome's equally awesome Raw Chocolate Selection Box.