For a while now, I’ve been thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it nice to be able to do a box to introduce readers to craft chocolate and pick some of my favourites?’ and, lo, in the middle of lockdown, I suggested this to Cocoa Runners as it deals with lots of different makers. And after some weeks of writing lists, curating and going backwards and forwards, that’s exactly what’s happened.
Launching today you can buy this (I wanted to wait for slightly cooler weather). In it you’ll find what was one of my first forays into craft chocolate: Pump Street Chocolate’s Rye Crumb and Sea Salt 60%, which was the most I’d ever then spent on a chocolate bar, but rewarded me greatly with its taste. There’s also Original Beans’ Femme de Virunga 55% - the smoothest dark milk I’ve found. For the first time Cocoa Runners is offering Bare Bones, because I picked its delicious and amazing Dominican 68% salt, as no introduction to craft chocolate could be without it. There’s Tosier’s 70% with coffee – quite the best in its class. And I absolutely insisted on Pralus’ Barre Infernale Orange, which did – sorry – drive the price up, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Plus, it’s a giant bar that you can savour a slice of each evening.
Bought individually the bars would be £44.05, but they’re being offered at £37.95 and Observer readers get a further 10% discount until the end of September, by quoting OBMAG11. The first 100 boxes sold will also see £3 per box donated to Camfed, a charity I chose. (Neither the Observer, nor I, make any money from this.)
