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MrCAPiTUL
Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject: Best Chocolate - favour please |
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What is the best chocolate you've had in Japan (or Asia or any part of the world, for that matter)? Name and country would be great. Thanks in advance. |
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MrCAPiTUL
Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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PS - mine was Ritter Sport, from Germany.
Actually, it was this other stuff my brother brought back from Germany that he got from a small shop in Frederickshafen. Melted in your mouth. Smooth as silk. Barring that, though, Ritter Sport. |
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6810

Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 309
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a fan of Godiva chocolate.
Not so cheap if you by the fresh truffles but worth it. Actually has taste without too much sugar. |
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Quibby84

Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:37 am Post subject: |
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Hershey's...definitely the best (and for the best price) I ever had..but I dont think they have it in Japan... |
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JimDunlop2

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:14 am Post subject: |
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Asia is incapable of purveying anything remotely resembling good chocolate. No offense intended toward 6810, but Godiva is nasty...
One of the things that I REALLY miss from back home: Bernard Callebaut. Proudly Canadian (and based out of Calgary, Alberta)....
http://www.bernardcallebaut.com
It must be tasted to be believed. It's won international awards...
1998: Bernard Callebaut was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix International Artisan Chocolatier, which was the top award presented at the International Chocolate Festival held in Roanne France. Bernard Callebaut is the only North American chocolatier presented such a respected award.
1997: Held in �pinal France, Bernard Callebaut attended the International Chocolate Festival and was presented the Prix d'Excellence for achieving consistently high points for all products entered into the competition.
1996: The French National Government inducted Bernard Callebaut into the Confererie Du Nougat (Nougat Guild) and the Ordre Internationale De La Gatronomie Fran�aise (International Order of French Gastronomy). Invited as an Honored Guest, and as the first North American chocolatier, to the International Chocolate Festival held in Mont�limar France, Bernard Callebaut received awards for superior chocolate to accompany fine wines, superior children's chocolate product, and the overall Prix d'Excellence. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:05 am Post subject: |
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JimDunlop2 wrote: |
Godiva is nasty... |
Godiva's from Belgium!
I'll agree with the previous poster that Ritter Sport's are the tastiest off the shelf chocs around. My favourite Ritters are the white chocolate with hazlenut, or the marzipan and dark chocolate.
I'll disagree with the other poster about Hershey bars, absoloutely foul!
In general I like my chocolate to have as high a co-co content as possible, preferably 70%+
Anything over 80% is pretty bitter, healthy though apparently
I used to love those Japanese chocolates called 'Bake', partial to a Crunky too. japanese make the worlds best Kit-Kat flavours as well  |
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japanman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:56 am Post subject: |
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I agree that asia is incapable of decent chocolate, it's just not in their culture. Also, Hershey's is mank too.
Thornton's in England makes some very nice chocolate but standard evryday Cadbury's is wonderful. Can't beat a Whispa bar with a nice cup of tea. |
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wintersweet

Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 345 Location: San Francisco Bay Area
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: |
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Hershey's is terrible low-grade sugary gunk, but Scharffen Berger and Guittard are pretty good--those are my favorite. (And yes, I know Hershey's bought Scharffen Berger, but the chocolate is untainted so far.) Joseph Schmidt (also recently bought by Hershey's, unfortunately) and Moonstruck make good truffles and such.
(One thing about the San Francisco Bay Area is that it's far easier to find high-quality chocolate here than in most of the US. There are a bunch of local chocolatiers such as Cocoa Bella, and a recent boom in chocolate cafes...Kind of dangerous for your waistline, actually!)
I have enjoyed some chocolate in Japan. Trying some of the wackier stuff has resulted in some good finds. In terms of plain old snacking, not gourmet chocolate, I like Melty Kiss.
On the gourmet end, I've heard good things about Ponto and Madame Setsuko, but I haven't tried either. |
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southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:07 am Post subject: |
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I'm no chocolate connoisseur, but I'm partial to Meiji Black.
I agree that European chocolate is quite a bit better than the stuff that comes from The States; although, I did enjoy touring the Ghirardelli factory in San Francisco when I was a kid.
However, Japan does have some decent chocolate, IMO. |
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furiousmilksheikali

Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 1660 Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:40 am Post subject: |
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There's some good chocolate called Gaba (unrelated to the eikaiwa factory of the same name - as far as I know) which you can buy in tins. The dark ones are the best.
I agree with japanman about Wispas and tea, although you can get Aeros here which taste good when dipped in coffee.
I tried a Hershey's bar once and thought it was an insult to the name of chocolate. |
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japanman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Hershey's is indeed an insult to the name of chocolate. Whoever suggested that should have their hands slapped by the moderators. |
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J.
Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:46 am Post subject: Ishiya from Hokkaido |
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These are langues de chat cookies enrobed in white and dark chocolate. The dark ones are addictive. Defintely the best I've tasted in Japan.
http://www.shiroikoibito.ishiya.co.jp/ |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:15 am Post subject: |
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JimDunlop2 wrote: |
Asia is incapable of purveying anything remotely resembling good chocolate. |
I'm sorry but could you be more insulting? Given that you are among the first to complain of any Japanese stereotype you should be a little more circumspect about derogatory generalisations of your own.
Quibby in your defence Hershey's is pretty good for what it is, cheap mass produced candy. You can find it at import shops here. |
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JimDunlop2

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:59 am Post subject: |
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markle wrote: |
I'm sorry but could you be more insulting? Given that you are among the first to complain of any Japanese stereotype you should be a little more circumspect about derogatory generalisations of your own. |
Oh, chill out a little. I didn't single out Japanese or anything stereotypically Japanese... I'm accusing an entire continent here... And for that, it should be at least somewhat clear that my remark was one part hyperbole and another part tongue-in-cheek.
Besides, what have YOU contributed into the thread in terms of answering the OP's question other than snarling at me and agreeing with Quibby? |
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bailemos
Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:40 am Post subject: |
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I quite like the cacao chocolate in Japan, although some can be a little too bitter ...
Cadbury`s got my vote for a good, reasonable, rich tasting chocolate, - theres not alot wrong with Dairy Milk. My students were dead impressed whenever I bought some along to school  |
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