Imagine how hard it is to pre-test Advent calendars, forcing yourself to open each window, well before the actual date. It feels wrong, triggering long-buried superstitious genes. But that’s before I came up against Gabriella Cugno’s Advent calendar, £55, which made the whole process… easy. Regular readers may remember her Easter eggs to end all Easter eggs and her bars in general, which sell out the moment they go on general release. Readers end up hating me for this and this is going to be no different. I’m sorry. But! I did strongarm Cugno into holding back half the release until after this column has appeared, so if you’re fast you can still get one.
This year is Cugno’s first foray into Advent calendars and hers is fairly simple to look at and entirely made of paper. But behind each window (and there are 24) is a little piece of perfection: a chocolate such as you’d get in a chocolate box or as a delicious chocolate thing at the end of a fine meal. There are two of each flavour so you can meet any favourites again or if you want – gasp – you could share, but really this is all about you, and me. This is not for the nut allergic. Flavours include specially sourced pistachio rocher, black sesame praline, Earl Grey and shortbread. I loved all but one (blackcurrant, you can have that one); there’s lots of caramel and lots of praline and if you only get one chocolate Advent calendar, get this.
Others worthy of note are Luisa’s Vegan Artisan Advent calendar, £26. Fifth Dimension advent chocolate box, £45, as the name suggests, doesn’t have windows to open, but every day you can look up more about the global inspiration behind each chocolate, a fun way to plan a holiday for 2023.
Follow Annalisa on Twitter @AnnalisaB
