There's chocolate, and then there's chocolate. So are gourmet chocolates really superior to regular brands? To find out, we put a range of chocolates to the test and find out if they're worth the money.
Amadei
From Jones The Grocer, #01/12,9 Dempsey Rd., 6476‑1512
The lowdown: This boutique chocolate comes all the way from a village in Tuscany, Italy. Connoisseurs swear by this brand, and some even say that it is one of the things you have to try before you die.
Presentation: Amadei’s packaging is simple, clear and straightforward.
Taste: We tried a tablet of Amedei’s white milk chocolate with organically grown pistachios from its I Frutti range. The creamy, smooth chocolate was without a doubt the pinnacle of our chocolate‑tasting.
The damage: From $6.30 for a small bar to $64.50 for a gift box
The bottom line: While its packaging may not be snazzy, what lies under the unassuming box will amaze even the most discerning palate.
Cadbury
From any convenience store
The lowdown: Kids swear by it and adults love it too. Since the 1800s, this chocolate brand has established itself as a global household name and the UK’s best selling brand.
Presentation: Cadbury bars are wrapped in its signature purple foil wrapper.
Taste: The dairy milk chocolate bar had a melt‑in‑your‑mouth quality. It was rich and creamy and cloyingly sweet. It also tasted a lot like Belgian chocolate—fatty and oily—but is of lower quality, which, for what Cadbury costs, you’d expect.
The damage: $1.50‑2.50.
The bottom line: For $2.50 you get good, no frills chocolate.
Chocolate Research Facility
#01‑30 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Blvd., 6338‑5191
The lowdown: Brought to us by the same people that brought us hip boutique Asylum, this chocolate “lab” and cafe offers an impressive 100 flavors of chocolate, ranging from “Exotic” to the “Double Fruit Series.”
Presentation: The chocolate is packaged in funky boxes (Asylum is also a design agency) that look like medicine pill boxes.
Taste: We tasted the Earl Grey and although it felt somewhat “curd‑like” on the palate, the light notes of bergamot finished off perfectly at the end. The 70 percent Cuban Dark Chocolate from the Connoisseur Series was full‑bodied and robust, but a little hard.
The damage: From $8 for the Tea Series to $12 for the Connoisseur Series.
The bottom line: It’s nice to have so many flavors to choose from, although that might seem gimmicky to some as the chocolates are just a little above average overall.
Chocz
#02‑13/15 Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Ave., 6238‑0803
The lowdown: This retailer makes its own chocolates, with exotic flavors such as mango, sesame, apple and durian gives local character.
Presentation: The chocolates come in an elegant box with Chocz’s cocoa bean black and gold brand stamping.
Taste: Mixed feelings. The Venezuelan—deep, dark chocolate with a bitter aftertaste that sits (a bit uncomfortably) in the throat—was not really to our liking. The Malibu rum truffle, on the other hand, was better than expected.
The damage: $13 for a box of four assorted pralines.
The bottom line: For $13, take up a collection with your friends and decide for yourself.
Godiva
#01‑116 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6273‑1611
The lowdown: Godiva needs little introduction. Handcrafted in Belgium, these chocolates have the international reputation of being among the finest and most elegant on the market.
Presentation: Beautifully presented in a gold box with a satin ribbon, the initial impression oozes elegance and luxury.
Taste: Very rich and very, very sweet; these are definitely meant to be eaten in small doses. Each chocolate contained an interesting mix of flavors and textures that left a relatively distinct impression.
The damage: $30 for seven chocolates (Gold Collection).
The bottom line: We hate to say it, but, despite Godiva’s long‑standing reputation, you can probably find similar chocolates to this elsewhere—at a much better price.
Laurent Bernard Chocolatier
#01‑11 The Pier on Robertson Quay, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6235‑9007
The lowdown: French chocolatier Laurent Bernard and his wife Iveta opened Laurent’s Café and Chocolate Bar (formerly The Chocolate Factory) a couple of years ago.
Presentation: We couldn’t help falling for the Tiffany & Co.‑like packaging. Everything about it—from the red and gold ribbon to the petite and classically square shape of the chocolates themselves—was tasteful and stylish.
Taste: We’ll call these the Audrey Hepburns. Dainty and unassuming, they had us oohing and aahing from start to finish.
The damage: $21.50 for a six‑piece assortment.
The bottom line: Seemingly humble and harmless, these handmade pralines are deadly, and at $21.50, definitely special occasion sweeties.
Max Brenner
#01‑06/08 Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Ave., 6235‑9556
The lowdown: This New York‑based Willy Wonka made quite an impact in Singapore when it set up shop here a few years ago and, quite possibly, made gourmet chocolates fashionable and hip.
Presentation: The neutral coloring and artsy image of the bald man himself plastered on the front reflect Brenner’s dare‑to‑be‑different attitude about chocolate.
Taste: The chocolates were creamy and not too heavy nor overly sweet, yet were somewhat unremarkable.
The damage: $18 for an assorted box of nine.
The bottom line: Despite the alternative presentation, the ho‑hum taste made us wonder if it really is all about the chocolate.
Royce
#01‑142 Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Blvd., 6738-0153.
The lowdown: Marketed as the “Rolls Royce of Chocolate,” these Japanese chocolates claim to embody the nation’s famous commitment to detail and perfection.
Presentation: A lot of care goes into the packaging of these chocolates, which are wrapped in a shiny protective sleeve with an ice gel pack to keep them cool, and put in a smart blue box.
Taste: The chocolates look irresistibly crunchy but were disappointingly soft. Not too sweet, with a taste so mild and subtle that you could easily eat a few without feeling sick.
The damage: $12.50 for a baker’s dozen.
The bottom line: Largely forgettable, yes—but fine for sharing with friends or colleagues.
