I bought this to have on hand as a gift in case of need… and never gave it. (It was delicious.) I have to avoid Trader Joe’s because the store is so full of treats I can’t resist. Like chocolate covered berries or chocolate covered raspberry jellies or chocolate covered pretzels. For the price, the quality of their sweets is incredibly good.
The “Chocolate Passport” was particularly irresistible to me because it’s shaped like a tiny library in a slipcase. I was a goner the minute I spotted it.
I’ve not developed the sort of chocolate palate that can detect “terroir,” but TJ’s makes a big production of comparing the chocolates to wines and suggesting beverage pairings. The Ecuadoran chocolate, for example, has a “deep aroma with floral and fruit notes” and the suggested pairing is Mocha. The Peruvian bar is “well rounded with subtle jasmine notes and a clean finish.” To drink, they recommend Cabernet Sauvignon.
I have never found chocolate and red wine to be a good match (they say Banyuls is good, but I’ve not tried it). The most I ever do as far as a beverage pairing with chocolate is Jameson’s or perhaps a drop of Rémy Martin VSOP. In terms of the chocolate itself, I was not able to detect fruits and flowers the way I can with wine, but I did enjoy the varying balance of sweetness and acidity in each bar, which is indeed reminiscent of wine.
Linnet Moss 
multiple yuuuummmsss!!!! what does it say about me that i just saw the picture, not even the title of your post and though: chocolate!!!! she has chocolate variety box!!! And all dark ones, more yummy.. i adore dark chocolate and boxes like these. I need to top up my stash 😉
You know what goes well with chocolate? Whisky! and coffee of course 🙂 coffee with a shot of whisky in it even better 😉
Funny you should mention chocolate today, i’ve got this as a gift a while ago and decided to treat myself today because it is Friday 😉
http://www.williamcurley.com/product/CB026/Sea+Salt+Caramel+Mou+Bar
But now you mentioned drinks i want that whisky i didn’t buy back in Scotland, grr
Yes, whisky! Sometimes I have a shot of Jamieson’s instead of cognac. I’ve not tried it with a single malt though. It seems like the heathery ones would be better with chocolate than the peaty ones.
I see you’ve got some new posts, including Scotland! Yay!
no, not the peaty ones, yuk! so not my cup of wee dram 😉 I am hesitant about banging on even more about Scotland but i may not be able to stop myself 😉
Aw, go ahead! I’m dying to hear more!
Caramel and salt… OMG. It’s also my favorite metaphor for the voice of You Know Who.
pinch of salt being essential in the combo 🙂 and just like the toffee warmth of the whisky i tried, made me think of same people too 🙂
The toffee warmth of the whisky. That’s good.
Love TJs! Can’t wait to pick up one of those chocolate passports.
The best dark chocolate I’ve had comes from a small chocolatier in Alberta, Canada, called, Choklat. http://www.sochoklat.com/ All of their stuff is single origin, and in some cases from a single plantation. The results are phenomenal!
Yum! They say nobody eats the box, but even their boxes look good 🙂
Yum…..chocolate, chocolate 😉
Oh, yes. That looks divine. I’m low carbing and have had the hardest time staying away from the dark chocolate. I did find a source of dark chocolate covered espresso beans that are sugar free if not entirely carb-free, and life is better now. I’d go bananas if I received that gift, and like you, if I bought that for anyone else, chances are they’d not actually receive it. =)
Heh, heh. I simply pretend that dark chocolate doesn’t count toward carbs. Nor wine 🙂
OK, now I want chocolate too…
Yes, I miss it now that it’s gone!
Chocolate, the gift that keeps on giving…(even when you give it to yourself…he he..) I am not a red wine and chocolate fan either…..
I often see red wine and chocolate touted as a great pairing, but it’s a stretch. On the other hand, I’ve had chocolate covered red wine grapes that were great!