20°N & 20°S

Luxx Chocolat ~ Cinnful Hot Choxx

 

 

One of the marvels of technology is the fine art of Tweeting. After expressing a bit of disappointment in some powdered hot chocolate I recently bought and reviewed, another chocolate company, Luxx Chocolat, saw my tweets and offered to send me some of theirs. Who can say no to that? I still can't believe that this happens. That someone cares enough about what little old me thinks to send me their products. It's always welcomed and appreciated here.

About Luxx Chocolat.

A few days later, I got a cute set up of their Cinnful Hot Choxx with a mug that has a slot in the handle for a spoon and two stir sticks of Valrhona 72% dark chocolate cinnamon ganache with it's own cinnamon marshmallow.

 

It's painted in edible copper luster and is very fragrant with cinnamon. I thought it might be a cinnamon bomb at first. But after I stirred it up into some scalded milk, it blended in nicely. The nose is full of cinnamon because of the marshmallow but the taste is a nice rich flavor of Valrhona's 72% dark chocolate and cinnamon. It's not cloying with cinnamon and as I mentioned, blended in nicely for a comforting mug of hot chocolate. The quality of Valrhona really added some good rich depth to it.

I liked it. I think the mug is cute with the spoon and slot for the spoon in the handle. The hot chocolate was good and hit the spot. You can't go wrong with Valrhona as your base but the blended in cinnamon was done right. Hopefully if they expand their hot chocolate line, they will make this cinnamon ganache with hot chilies in it too.

 

   score
    B

 

Hotel Chocolat ~ Purist Super Boosters (Cacao Nibs)

 

 

Feeling a little under the weather? Or want to avoid getting sick this winter? Carry some of these Super Boosters chocolate covered cacao nibs from St. Lucia with you for a boost and a pick me up of theobromine and antioxidants.

It's a well known fact that cacao is a super food and carries more antioxidants than red wine and green tea. Eating dark chocolate with lower amounts of sugars and cacao butters and higher percentages of cacao solids is good for you.

Here is a good how to with dark chocolate for health by Web MD. Health By Chocolate. I would skip their recommendations at the end though. Skip the more commercialized brands and go for the quality and ethics of small-batch or bean-to-bar chocolate.

 

 

These are tasty 70% dark chocolate covered Trinitario nibs that taste a little sweet at first, and carry some cinnamon notes and then deep rich cacao flavors of the raw nibs which are bitter and nutty that gives you a good balance of flavors.

The only negative to eating cacao nibs is that they're gritty and will leave a mess in your teeth. So rinse before you talk to people or it could look like you've been eating coffee grinds. And be mindful of the theobromine which is a stimulant like caffeine. Depending on how much you eat it can jack you up a bit if you are not ready for it. If you are a seasoned pro with chocolate or coffee, have at it.

This is the way to fight cold and flu season!