High-'end' chocolates: Toblerone, Ritter Sport, what else?

[3602]

Well, basically I feel like chewing chocs.
Don't really consider Ferrero-Rocher high-'end'...
Very simple question. Thanks.

 

[logwed]

I like Green and Black's dark chocolates quite a bit, Lindt also has nice dark chocolate. 

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'm partial to E. Guittard. It's the only really good one made in the US. Guittard is mostly on the industrial end (they supply See's and many others), but they do have a consumer line. Very much worth checking out (www.guittard.com).

For imports, I really like Valrhona, Callebaut, and Bonnat. Look for a manufacturer that makes couvertures and you'll get a handle on the good stuff. There's a whole different world of chocolate that you rarely find on store shelves. It's like thinking that the only headphones available are the ones at BestBuy.

Avoid the "specialty" manufacturers of überexpensive chocolate. Many of them don't actually manufacture chocolate. They buy couvertures from companies like the ones mentioned above, melt them down into forms, occasionally make confections, etc., and charge you an arm and a leg. You'll also pay a lot for a fancy box.

Hmmm... that somehow sounds familiar, doesn't it? Anyhow, the good stuff isn't the cheapest, but if you hit up a company like Guittard, Valrhona, et al., you'll get the highest quality at the lowest possible cost.

 

[rroseperry]

Scharfenberger is good, even though they got bought out by Nestle and they were made right here in the California Bay Area. Dagoba makes a good dark choclate.
 
There are a bunch of varietal chocolates from single countries, even plantations in the upscale shops now.  That might be going a little far.

 

[Landis]

Howwww is Toblerone "high-end"? Last I checked, they were about $3 or less for a bar and aren't particularly amazing. Godiva, Guylian and Lindt make some yummy stuff, but I don't often find myself in the habit of buying chocolates for myself. I've always had a sweet spot for Reces' peanut butter cups... Cheap and hits the craving with a sack of bricks.

 

[Ultrainferno]

We're very very spoiled with chocolate here. Try to get a hold of some Callebaut or Cote d'Or or Meurisse, that's some good Belgian chocolate

 

[3602]

Quote:

We're very very spoiled with chocolate here. Try to get a hold of some Callebaut or Cote d'Or or Meurisse, that's some good Belgian chocolate

 Côte d'Or, awesome. Ate one 87% bar once. Man that was intense.
But I have yet to A/B that one with Lindt Excellence's 90%.

 

[MCC]

Chocolaterie Stam for me. Their chocolate (and gelato!) is by far the best I've had. It looks like they're starting to spread beyond just Holland and Iowa now which is something I welcome.

 

[00940]

Côte d'Or, Callebaut and Lindt are pretty much on par for good chocolate bars.
 
If you like chocolate bars with fillings however, Galler is one serious notch above those three. It's very common in Belgian shops, no idea worldwide. It's a small factory... might be hard.

 

[mark2410]

i rather like Montezumas and Thorntons is okay too and they have shops everywhere

 

[onyu]

I really love Defroidmont, but 'im afraid it is very hard to get. Callebout, Cote d'Or, Meurisse or local chocolatier chocolate is also good

 

[Ultrainferno]

Quote:

Côte d'Or, Callebaut and Lindt are pretty much on par for good chocolate bars.
 
If you like chocolate bars with fillings however, Galler is one serious notch above those three. It's very common in Belgian shops, no idea worldwide. It's a small factory... might be hard.

I used to go to the Galler factory neat Liege. very cheap and sooo yummy!
Funny how we Belgians all found this thread. lol

 

[Anaxilus]

You want the best chocolates out there?  Easy.  Leonidas of Belgium.  I've tried tons from all over the world and I'm not really a chocoholic either.  Leonidas is just ridiculously good.
 
 
 
Off the shelf at Walmart I like Lindt.

 

[00940]

@Anaxilus: Leonidas certainly has the best "Manon" on the market (and I'm not a fan of white chocolate usually). For the rest, Neuhaus and Godiva are all around better, imo of course.

On an headphones scale, Leonidas is for me the senn HD555, Godiva/Neuhas being the HD650. The HD800 ? Pierre Marcolini (sadly way too expensive for my purse).


@Ultrainferno: my parents live a few km away of Galler's factory (in Verviers). I know very well the place; they indeed have amazing deals on the end of series or on "damaged" pieces. I fondly remember a praline they had made on special order for an exhibition (very thin dark chocolate with a filling based on "fleur de sel"). Galler could be found in the US btw... only three times as expensive as it is in Belgium ( http://galleochocolates.com/galleoshop/bars-tablets/cafe-noir.html )

 

[Antony6555]

Quote:

Well, basically I feel like chewing chocs.
Don't really consider Ferrero-Rocher high-'end'...
Very simple question. Thanks.

Ha toblerone and ritter sport aren't really high-end either. Try dagoba, that's my favorite chocolate bar brand