Last week I was lucky enough to be asked by Millennium and Copthorne Hotels to help them select a new chocolate flavour that best reflects their company's image. As someone who loves chocolate I was very excited to test some of the new flavours that Millennium and Copthorne Hotels are looking to introduce into their many destinations.
Millennium and Copthorne Hotels pride themselves on offering a premium service to their guests in glamorous and luxury locations across the UK and the rest of the world, a luxury that was reflected in the beautifully packaged selection of Hotel Chocolat treats that arrived through the post earlier this week.
I have always been a fan of the new and interesting treats that Hotel Chocolat has to offer, combing well known classic tastes with unexpected tastes and eye catching designs. After reading a little more about some of the properties that Millennium and Copthorne Hotels have in their many destinations it was very obvious why they had chosen Hotel Chocolat to satisfy their guests' sweet-tooth.
So, here are the flavours I tried...
Now, admittedly I was a little apprehensive about this flavour; I'm not a huge fan either caramel or salty foods but I was pleasantly surprised. The milk chocolate was smooth and creamy and even the salted caramel was delicious! The caramel was sweet with only a hint of saltiness that complimented the sweetness perfectly.
This chocolate, I think, is made for the cold winter days we've been experiencing across the UK for the last two weeks. The flavours are rich and warming without being to heavy - definitely a new favourite of mine and something I shall be treating myself to in the future.
The Eton Mess slab was the chocolate I was most looking forward to trying. For me, the Eton Mess is a long standing British tradition that brings together a number of simple flavours to create something that has become a long standing part of our culture and a dessert that is enjoyed by many. The chocolate twist on this classic was delicious and definitely my favourite from the selection bag.
The strawberry chocolate reminded me of the chocolate I had on my birthday throughout my childhood and the swirls of vanilla complimented the flavour beautifully without making the chocolate too sweet. The texture of the bar was a great representation on the classic Eton Mess, with the meringue, cookie and strawberry pieces adding a delicious crunch to the creamy chocolate.
The Billionaire's Shortbread selector is another attempt at transforming a classic dessert into a delicious bite sized chocolate.
The blend of caramel and praline in the centre was smooth and rich, but unfortunately not a favourite of mine. Despite having a love of praline the caramel was too a little too over powering for me, unlike in the salted caramels where the flavour was slighted subdued. Josh on the other hand rated these chocolates highly and where his favourite of the chocolates he tried.
The chocolate drop gemstones are delicious and hugely addictive! The mix of white and dark chocolate creates work really well together and creates a flavour I'd not tasted before. The dark chocolate subdued the sweetness of the white chocolate whilst the white tamed the bitterness of the dark; a perfect blend for those who are neither a fan of bitterness or something overly sweet.
Unfortunately I was unable to take my own picture of the milk chocolate smiley lick, so this picture comes directly from the Hotel Chocolat website. This was quite a simple addition to the selection of chocolates I tasted. The milk chocolate was creamy and sweet and deliciously smooth but didn't stand out against the other interesting flavours I'd tried. I think the smiley lick would be perfect for children but as a flavour to represent Millennium and Copthorne Hotels, it doesn't quite have the same "wow" that the designs and flavours of the other chocolates and therefore doesn't really fit with the atmosphere of the hotels.
After trying, and thoroughly enjoying, the chocolates I'm torn between what I think best represents Millennium and Copthorn Hotels. Both the salted caramels and Eton mess slab stand out for me and combine classic flavours with contemporary designs, something which I think fits the hotels perfectly. Perhaps the two flavours could be used alternatively throughout the year, with the Eton mess being a sweet summer treat and the salted caramels an ideal winter warmer.
I thought I'd leave you with a few pictures of some of my favourite hotels I found whils a few of them based on this year's F1 calendar, but that's ok right?
I couldn't ask for a more beautiful location
That view!
And here are some of my slightly more local favourites...
How inviting does that bath look?!
Love the décor here
Right on the Quay side and looks stunning at night!
I'd like to thank Millennium and Copthorne Hotels for letting me get involved with their search for a new flavour. It's been great tasting these delicious chocolates - even if it has meant letting the diet slip every evening for a tasting session!
