Each week, after my column appears, I sit and count down to how long it will take for a reader to ask: ‘What’s wrong with a [24% cocoa content] Twirl?’ Let me tell you: nothing. If that’s what you like, and I do, occasionally. But there is a life beyond Cadbury and it’s rather glorious.
But, as well as those emails, I also get ones from readers recommending I try a little chocolatier near them. This is how I discovered Frankly Delicious, which is based in Leeds.
FD was launched, by someone called Frank, about two years ago. It’s still small (so far only six bars –hoping to expand soon) and there are some touching errors, such as the cocoa content and origin being missed off some of the wrappers. (He’s not the only one to do this, some much bigger manufacturers have also trumpeted their chocolate as ‘single origin’, but then clearly forgotten to put what that origin is.)
Anyway, while I was swinging on my swing seat this week, on downtime, and reading Nora Ephron’s Heartburn (recommended) I tested three of Frank’s bars (all £5.95, 60g). The India milk 40% was smooth and super caramelly. This is the sort of chocolate to eat after a shock, when immediate comfort is required. The coconut milk chocolate is a good vegan milk. It melts quickly (so perhaps not one for hot weather) and is pretty sweet tasting, but if you don’t eat dairy this is a real contender. But the surprise hit was the 70% dark India. I tried it out of professional duty, but goodness it was a surprise. Spicy, floral, complex yet also really eatable: a terrific 70%.
