Last year, my husband Todd, took a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest. I was pretty livid because I wasn't able to go with him. I have been to Germany twice now and love it. Since he was going to one of the biggest parties in the world and I was stuck at home, he was given a mission. Bring me back German chocolate!!
No, he didn't bring back anything German. Not even a liter stein from the Hofbräuhaus in Munich. Nope. Nothing.
But it wasn't a total loss for me. Todd had a layover in Geneva. Naturally Todd remembered his assignment and finally came though with some Swiss chocolate. Even if it was from the airport and commonly found around the States in such places like Trader Joe's, I am not too proud to turn away Swiss chocolate.
Villars is one of the oldest names in chocolate in Switzerland. Villars chocolate factory was built in Fribourg, Switzerland in 1901 by Wilhelm Kaiser. Villars is as recognizable as Lindt or Camile Bloch in Switzerland and to chocolate lovers around the world. Classic Swiss chocolate making traditions.
Key points in their history.
-1935
Villars
acquires and installs a coffee roasting machine. In the same year, Mr.
Kaiser invents the first chocolate bar filled with liqueur. Thus the
creation of "Larmes de Kirsch" or "Kirsch drops" -1969 Takeover and integration of Perrier SA, Chavannes. Villars acquires the
famous « Tête au Choco » or « Chocolate Swiss Whips », a product leader
in the Swiss market. -1985 The Federation of Fribourg Dairy products and Cremo SA, takes the decision to rescue the chocolate factory from bankruptcy. -2003 Opening
of the Villars chocolate shop in October 2003. Situated at the heart of
the chocolate factory, this café is placed in a warm and authentic
setting. -2004 Villars
is awarded first prize for the "encouragement to the company most
socially aware " in the category for companies with more than 20
employees. It is awarded by the Economic Network of Fribourg town and
the Canton of Fribourg. This prize recognises formally and publically
the fundamental role that the company plays in the region, not only in
the economy but also in the social, environmental, and cultural arenas.
-2004
Swiss Specialities Collection. In 2004 , Villars launches the first metal box based on a poster created over 100 year ago. Four collectable metal boxes are sold from 2004 which are based on original "Chocolats Villars" posters.
-2007
Introduction
of two liqueur: The Damassine chocolate bar, a dark chocolate filled
with the Swiss Juran plum brandy, and the Quince liqueur chocolate bar,
a milk chocolate bar filles with Quince brandy. Introduction of the New Swiss Drinking Chocolate. Bean Varietal: Unknown, most likely a blend. Type: Dunkel, Dark, Noir, 64% Semisweet. Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cocoa butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon. Sample Size: 50g or 1.75oz Appearance: Awesome molding of a Villars crest, but it was beginning to lose it's luster from blooming. Muted, not shiny and not as deep brown as I would have expected. Score: 84 Snap: Good, crisp snap, clean break lines. Thin bar, but remarkable snap. Score: 94 Aroma: Milky, soft aromas of tobacco, and roasted cocoa, slightly nutty, mild fruity notes. Score: 92 Taste: Cherries, big tobacco, extremely low bitterness, a bit astringent, but not puckering. Big flavors at first, but finishes soft and muted. Lingering milk notes. Despite mentioning cinnamon in the ingredients, which I thought might influence my palate, I detect none of it. Score: 96 Texture: Very smooth texture, medium length melt time, creamy finish. Score: 95 Very European. Classic milky quality, smooth and creamy texture. I had read some reviews of this chocolate and though they gave the company high praise their scoring wasn't very high. It had me worried I might not like it as much. I actually really enjoyed this. It doesn't have the complexities of distinctive bean blends or single origin bars, but this eating chocolate, not thinking chocolate. Final Score: 92.2
-2009
B+
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.