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| The Bounty |
IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE
AND NOT SEX
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| The imaginary Italian male model |
Shameless is my name, I have consistently and perpetually sinned, and admit hopelessly that I am addicted to everything that is Chocolate. That’s
right, Chocolates not Sex. I have no pride, and can easily be corrupted even for a bar of cheap and cheerful ones found in vending machines, or local
minimarts. My habits are expensive as I
quest to find the most delectable ones from Brugge in Belgium. If I could justify this action but have yet to
find the courage, it would be, to test all the available chocolate bars on
offer, one by one and rate them.
Because I don’t live in continental Europe, my selection is limited
to the market buyers, who although may have confectioners knowledge, are controlled
by mass retail marketing. Sorry for my
snobbery, but chocolate aficionados will be highly offended by the choices I
have selected.
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| Swiss supermarket shelf |
The supermarket limited selections are Swiss Lindt, Cadbury, Toblerone, Guylain, Dove,
Hershey, Ritter Sport and Ferrero Roche.
Although there were other delectable brands on offer, casting a wide net
is never good policy. With a narrow range to be tested, I had to
give equal opportunity for all countries that produce melt-in-the-mouth morsels
such as the Swiss, Germans, Brits Belgians, Italians and Americans.
Just as a girl has to have guidelines in choices of men, the
same should go for chocolates. This is
going to be fun and terribly decadent so to take it on a level of semi- seriousness, I have made some criteria that will guide the testing.
They have to be unrefrigerated, (with men definitely - a
warm body is much more palatable) tested on texture, (not too rugged, not too effeminate)
for smoothness (a charmer and a seducer)
an after-taste (remain remarkably the same after decades). All are milk
chocolate ( a good mixture is always a steady choice, than risk concentrated unadulterated
sophistication) The chocolate content,
(the sum of his values) price on gram
against gram (the balance sheet) and
that X factor that sends me into addicted oblivion that nothing else will do,
not even husbandly charms. (I’m talking
about chocolates now).
Oops he’s not going like this. So here goes.
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| Swiss Lindt |
Like the perfect man,
the Swiss choice was dependable. Great
texture, milky and chocolaty, just sweet enough after every bite. The quality is outstanding and greatly
satisfies all urges down to every last sensory taste buds.
A favourite of my
tasting partner. It is sensual smooth
and seductive. Not too sweet, it leaves
you with that wanting “more” sensation.
As the wrapper says
“Temptation is fun….giving in is even better”.
I gave in.
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Brash and
overpowering taste, both by sweetness and intense cocoa flavor – all too much of everything. Its
after taste takes you back to childhood palates. Fun, great for a snack, but easily
forgetful.
The older generation
of Toblerone had more density and immense flavor. Something had changed and diluted the
taste. The change was Kraft Foods. It used to be one of my secret sacred
pleasure, tucked by my bedside to be savoured last thing at night. Someone else has taken its place, and I’m not
telling…..
Strong, dependable,
tasty, chocolaty. Great for outdoors,
after a hike. 100% quality like what you
would expect from the people of Mercedes Benz land. Three generation of chocolatiers keeping up
their traditions.
All
buyouts by large conglomerates change what was traditionally magnificent to an
inferior product. Everything about it,
apart from the cocoa bean has to be British, but this is no longer George
Cadbury’s recipe of the 1878 but more of Kraft’s mass produce manufactured in
Poland
What is all the fuss
about? Pretend sophisticated packaging,
the crunchy outer shell looks inviting until you bite, it is just plain cheap
and rough. Just like the suave Italian gigolo,
great packaging, a good promise, but
alas, empty balls.
It was an afternoon of esctacy and we tried very hard not to
indulge. Every morsel, good and bad, was
savored with delight….. you see,
chocoholics are addicts.
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| Molecular structure of Seratonin |
The sugar in chocolate releases the chemical called
Seratonin. Seratonin helps feelings of depression and
anxiety. Then there is the sweet
taste of chocolate releasing endorphins
in the brain and gives this euphoric
rush. The fat in chocolate purely enriches
the flavor and smells, enticing our senses and satisfies another nerve chemical
called galanin. It also contains
theobromine and caffeine which gives mental boost.
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| molecular structure of Phenylethylamine |
Then there’s phenylethylamine
which increases the
heart rate and blood pressure, and gives you the same tingly feelings as being
in love. The list of
ingredients and chemical reactions go on and on.
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| The Bliss Molecule - Anandamine |
But most addictive is anandamine. It is known as the "bliss molecule" It mimics the effects of marijuana.. Unfortunately there is not enough of this
anadamine to give a global high.
Now if only our Supreme Creator could remake Seratonin,
Galanin, Theobromine, Caffeine, Phenylethylamine and Anadmaine in the shape of an
Italian male model, with a German brain, a Swiss heart, English integrity, Belgian sophistication and
an American brashness, we wouldn’t need chocolates at all. Now would we?
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