It's been a while since I've done a product review post. Today, I'm making up for lost time with a triple chocolate hit.
I'm a little excited.
First up is Orgran's vegan (and gluten free) chocolate mousse.
I'm not sure why I haven't tried this before, given my self-proclaimed love of chocolate mousse and my efforts to create a fluffy vegan version. I suppose I didn't believe that a packaged mousse mix could generate edible results.
I was wrong.
People, this was fluffy. I have no idea how the Orgran people managed it, but the texture of this mousse defied the vegan ingredient list and suggested egg white and/or gelatin. It was amazing.
As for the ingredient list?
It is a little on the long side, but free of animal products, soy, nuts, genetically modified ingredients, gluten, wheat and yeast.
Making the mousse is as simple as adding 1 cup of water to the provided powder, beating with an electric beater for 3 minutes, and then chilling in the fridge for as long as you desire (you can even eat the mousse without chilling if you want). It was also enjoyable from the freezer and would make an impressive cake filling or topping.
The mix generates 5 serves, which are low in energy (87 calories / serve), fat (0.3g / serve), and protein (0.5g / serve). In other words, this isn't a nutrient-providing dessert, but it is enjoyable if you're after something light but chocolatey.
My only complaint with this mousse was the flavour. The taste was of low-cocoa milk chocolate (it reminded me of Sweet William's dairy free milk chocolate) and my taste buds wanted something with a little more oomph. However, that may be easily rectified by adding a tablespoon of cocoa to the powder, which I will try next time I make this.
For now, chocolate avocado pudding might win in terms of dark chocolatey taste, but this most definitely wins in terms of fluffy mousse texture.
From mousse, we move to the Whittaker's chocolate range, and in particular their 50% cocoa Rum & Raisin block and 62% cocoa Dark Almond block.
I have been experimenting with Whittaker's chocolate lately, due to Lindt's insistence on adding dairy to all of their flavoured Excellence blocks. Sadly, Whittaker's doesn't provide chilli as a flavour, or coconut (edit - they do have coconut, and I have even tried it, but I was thinking of dark chocolate as I wrote this!), but rum & raisin and almond seemed worthy of trying.
The rum and raisin block is a sweet dark chocolate, with only 50% cocoa and a decent smattering of raisins (26% of the ingredients). The flavours are rounded out by gentle rum tones, vanilla, maple syrup, and a hint of berries.
It is very easy to eat, and very much a 'snack-y' chocolate.
Rum & raisin on the left; almond on the right
The almond block goes a little deeper. The cocoa percentage rises to 62% and the taste reflects that: it is less sweet (although still somewhat sweet), mellow, and very chocolatey. Hannah has done this range poetic justice with her reviews of the 62% mocha, 62% caramel, 62% dark cacao, and 47% peanut blocks, but for this block - well, I really couldn't convince my taste buds to offer me anything other than "chocolate".
Perhaps this is because the chocolate is offset, rather beautifully, by whole roasted almonds. I am not usually a fan of fruit and nut chocolate bars, because the fruit and nuts are often chopped too small to feature and thus manage to detract from the chocolate experience rather than add to it.
Every mouthful delivers a contrast between chocolate and whole almonds, in an experience that is akin to eating chocolate coated nuts. I like chocolate coated nuts, so I was rather pleased.
All in all, two vegan chocolate wins for Whittaker's (and at lower cost than Lindt...), and I can see these entering my chocolate rotation.
What chocolate products have you enjoyed lately? Have you tried any of the above?
