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Dear Choco-holics,

This one's for you:

Reviewed for Frappe, October 2010 issue..

Lots of chocolate for me to eat…!

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz

Amrita Samant

Right from ancient times when cocoa beans were used as currency by the Aztecs, till date, when they are mixed, melted and eaten, chocolates are irresistible for most of us. Crunchy or nut-filled, caramelised and sweet or dark and bitter or fruit-flavoured, chocolate is craved by people of all age groups.

As I first walked into Le Chocolatier on Harrington Road, I was amazed - besides the great variety of temptations on display, what caught my attention was the range of unusual and strong flavours married to chocolate and the outcome was a pleasant surprise. The fragrance was overwhelming. It had a rich, smooth creamy touch and guaranteed sweetness in taste that would make each bite sinfully delicious; I knew I was headed towards a chocolate overdose. With over 20 different kinds of chocolate, the variety ranged from fine truffles to peanut butter flavoured chocolate pebbles - chocoholics can indulge blissfully to experiment and find their favourites.

Le Chocolatier houses everything chocolate - figurines, spoons, tablets and truffles, in flavours ranging across fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices. While relishing these pieces of art, the Chief Confectioner Boopesh P, patiently took me through the finer details. The ingredients, imported from Belgium and Singapore, are highly rich in cocoa (58.3%) and need to be maintained at controlled temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, thus creating an unadulterated chocolate experience.

When it came to taste it served up exactly the experience I was expecting. The combinations were what I liked most because of my preference for chocolate with interesting fillings. The Butter Truffles were soft and gooey and made a lovely contrast to the hard, thin covertures that melt on your tongue. The shiny-textured Bianco Mocca started with a good light crunch and revealed a distinct light toasted peanut flavour.

Two of the chocolates made an impression that remained unmatched - the nut-paste filled Arabian chocolate and the Bianco Rice Crispies which was both heady and fresh. I was also surprised by how harmonised the mint chocolates were; usually mint is a little overpowering.

Le Chocolatier also offers a sugar-free variety of chocolates to cater to the diabetic and health conscious segment.

With the festive season in queue, Le Chocolatier has a stunning range of gift hampers that are hard to resist. After saddling my stock, enough to last me a week, I bid farewell to this little heaven on earth, with a sugar kick that had me craving for more.