As the days are getting shorter, the leaves on the trees are turning from green to vibrant shades of red and gold, collecting in drifts by the roadside and crunching underfoot. There is a chill in the air and these are all signs that autumn if firmly here with winter and Christmas on the way.
Growing up, Christmas was always a magical time, full of excitement and anticipation. My siblings and I used to love waking up each morning in December and being allowed to open the door of our advent calendar and eat the little chocolate shape behind – chocolate at breakfast time! I stopped buying advent calendars when I went off to university, as that seemed to be the marker of leaving childhood behind, however I missed the tradition. So imagine my delight when Hotel Chocolat offered to send me their new Luxury Advent Calendar for Two.
Specifically design for adults, it’s a huge, double layer advent calendar with two chocolate truffles behind each door! How fantastic is that!!! All the excitement and fun of childhood, only much more indulgent! The idea is you get to eat one truffle yourself and share the second one with a loved one, friend, work colleague or even just eat the second one yourself as an after dinner treat – I won’t tell!
The truffles themselves come in a delicious variety of different flavours, cocoa percentages and fillings. There are the classics like chocolate truffle and salted caramel but also a few festive specials including mulled wine and gingerbread! I love the striking colours of silver and purple against the Hotel Chocolat classic black background, so sleek and stylish. (It’s also my Christmas tree colour scheme!)
Of course for the sake of quality control I had to open one or two of the doors, just to sample the chocolates, for… review purposes. What’s behind door number one?...Mulled Wine truffle!
The filling was thick and creamy, with a faint fruity booziness and a strong flavour of Christmas clove. It didn’t taste overly wine-like to me, although very fruity. On checking the ingredient list I could see no sign of wine, but there is Port listed, so I think this has been used to give a stronger, sweeter flavour which worked really well and I’m more than happy about.
I couldn’t resist opening another door…Salted Caramel! This one was gorgeous. The chocolate was slightly dark and bitter, a lovely contrast against the gooey runny salted caramel centre. Look how delicious soft and glossy it is!
I’ve managed to hold off opening any more doors until December itself, but I’m delighted to be able to offer one of you lucky readers the chance to win one of Hotel Chocolat’s Luxury Advent Calendars yourself! (They're gluten free btw) All you have to do is leave a comment telling me who you would share your advent calendar with and why and for a second chance to win, leave another comment telling me which gift from the Hotel Chocolat Christmas collection you would buy for a loved one. Open to UK residents only I’m afraid. Comments close Midnight on Sunday 6th November. Good luck!
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18 comments:
i would share it with my husband because i know if he had won he would share it with me
@ashlallan
i would buy the alternative mince pies - they look fab
I would share with my dad! Not the boy or mum as they don't appreciate chocolate. Dad and I love it so it would be much more fun to share the yummy experience with him!
Oh definitely the Nibbly Noel Giant Slab. Ginger chocolate with cookie pieces? yum!
I would share it with my boyfriend... We're moving in together in January and I was disappointed we wouldn't get to start any Christmas traditions this year, but I reckon this would be one we could manage!
My darling daughter and her husband will be in the US this Christmas - and you know what American 'chocolate' is like! :( So I'd give it to them to take with them so they could have a proper taste of home.
Those tiddly penguins are so cute - but there's a ginger and hazelnut yule log and I do love ginger.....
Hey Katie, after my review I'm not entering your competition but I do like the sound of the advent calender and I do think that Hotel Chocolat do lovely truffles and filled chocolates which your review has highlighted. Best of luck to all the entrants ;0)
Oh how lovely. I love Christmas and all teh fun of the lead up to it. I would of course share mine with CT who has such a hard job all year tasting my chocolate creations!
And again for CT, I'd get him the alternative mince pies, because he definitely does not like the real thing.
I would share with my husband and my son, we all love chocolate!
I am loving the Twinkle Toes Manor - so gorgeously decorated and what's inside is not too shabby, either:-)
I would share the chocolates to my hubby as he had to fly out to America to bring me home from hospital a few weeks ago and has done all the housework without complaining whilst I'm recovering. He's been brilliant.
I'm also voting for the tiddly chocolate penguins
I'm going to have to say that I would share this with my partner as he is watching me write this (quick - he's turned away, secretly this will be all mine!!!)
love the look of the alternative mince pies and I know that they will bring a huge smile!
What a great idea to have have two chocolates to share if you wish.
Love what HC comes up with!
I would share it with Mr CC - there's nothing I wouldn't share with him...even chocolate!
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