What makes godiva chocolate so good

When Lady Godiva, wife of Lord Leofric, protested against the taxation of his subjects a deal was struck: Lady Godiva would ride through the streets of Coventry, "clad in naught but her long tresses", and if the population remained in shuttered building, their tax burden would be lifted.

The following morning she made her famous ride, the citizens graciously stayed inside and Leofric kept his word and reduced the taxes. Lady Godiva won the hearts of many and her legend has continued to deepen throughout the centuries. Nowhere is her passion, purity, sensuality, style and boldness more symbolised than in a tantalising box of Godiva chocolates which in turn are sure to win the hearts of all those who taste them.

Read more. They refuse to do price adjustment or return unless there is quality issue, but they never say that on their website! What is even worse—-their products are also GMO. Think about it, chocolate, GMO. Are you kidding me?! They find all excuses to seize the money, not their reputation, not their products, and of course not their customers!

And they so NO. I agree with you, I got a Godiva box as a gift and I was so excited to try them, but ewwww it was bad, oily, sugary, nothing like good quality. Even the packaging inside is nothing fancy. Got a Gift and first the box was very difficult to open and then the balls were hard as rock and a punishment to eat. The box is labeled anniversary Truffles.

I went to brussels for my school trip and my parents gave me 40 euros. I brought godiva chocolates and I sure regretted it. My parents were angry I spent this much. Sorry to hear that! Depending on individuals, some like theirs.. How much you are willing to fork out again depending on whether you crave for that particular chocolate. Or else can wait for seasonal offerings etc if any….

GOT IT? How can Aldi beat you at your niche? Oh well. I tried one of the Godiva caramel supreme and it gave me diarrhea. I was very disappointed.

This is not the quality I remember from Godiva. The chocolate was mediocre and the almonds tasted stale. I agree with all of the lack of quality comments above. I cut the vanilla mousse truffle in half to taste and while chewing, it was so lousy that I spit it out. Not worth the calories. It was hard, of lousy texture inside and it was lacking that wonderful chocolate taste of pure cacao truffles. I remember 35 years ago getting Godiva chocolates as gifts from the company where I worked.

Back then they WERE a high quality treat and everyone would gather around to enjoy trying the many decadent flavors. Not worth the calories OR the money. Anyway, same name, fancy packaging, not the same chocolates. And returns? Originating in Mayan culture, bitter drinking chocolate made its way to Europe and underwent countless adaptations before becoming the sweet, milky beverage we sip today.

High-end hot chocolates celebrate the bitter notes of cacao, providing a grown-up sip with a touch of childhood nostalgia in each mug. Even before adding your choice of schnapps or liqueurs, a haute hot chocolate should be intense and richly flavored. The cocoa's innate acidity and bitterness should be prominent but palatable. Some chocolatiers add sugar or flavorings such as vanilla beans, peppermint, or espresso powder to their mixes.

With single-origin chocolate bars in vogue, many producers are now offering single-origin sipping chocolates as well. Christopher Elbow , best known for its brightly colored chocolate bonbons , typically offers four hot chocolate options of various flavors and cacao origins, in sleek reclosable tins. You may find more limited availability as the weather gets warmer.

We tested the Cocoa Noir Dark Drinking Chocolate , the chocolatier's luscious interpretation of a rich European-style drinking chocolate. Containing just dark chocolate and vanilla bean, this super intense, silky drink has a velvety texture. Its balanced bittersweet chocolate flavor lingers just long enough to leave you craving another sip. With something so decadent, I was satisfied after a small mugful. No marshmallows needed. The Gourmet Chocolate of the Month Club from monthlyclubs.

Monthly subscriptions are available for just about anything: flower bouquets , recipe kits , smoked meats , date-night in a box , and yes, you guessed it, chocolate. Subscriptions make a great albeit pricey gift that keeps giving. They are also a fun, interactive way to learn more about a specific product through exposure and experience.

When searching for the best chocolate subscription, we considered each brand's selection, how the items are made, the brand's chocolate sustainability and trade models, and opportunities to learn more about chocolate in the process of enjoying our deliveries. The Gourmet Chocolate of the Month Club provided through monthlyclubs. Zingerman's prides itself on a thorough product selection process that sources chocolates from international small-batch chocolatiers.

Items are chosen based on quality and creative interpretations. It's noteworthy and respectable that these chocolates are sourced from eco-friendly, fair-trade producers you can feel good about supporting.

Past boxes have even included some of our top picks mentioned above. Best of all, each delivery comes with an educational newsletter containing tasting notes, background reading material, and product information, so you'll get more out of your subscription than just really really delicious chocolate. While I'm currently employed as a chocolatier, I've lived previous lives in both scientific research I originally studied zoology and recipe development.

I'm a scientist at heart and a true chocolate-fanatic, so my testing approach for this research was both methodical and thorough. My education in the hard sciences, the savory culinary arts, and finally fine chocolatier-work has all been in preparation for the daunting task of hand-selecting the very best chocolates. I cut no corners and left no truffle unturned.

I started by reading about top brands in the chocolate industry, then taste-tested countless confections, evaluating their flavors, textures, and presentation. In all, I sampled more than 30 products from 17 brands for this guide. Here is the criteria I considered:. Flavor : The growing conditions of the cacao used to make any given chocolate impact its flavor, which can range from sweet and fruity, to nutty and toasty, to bitter or acidic.

These can all be used effectively in different applications. However, chocolate that has gone bad or rancid will have a soapy or cheesy flavor. I looked for balanced, prominent cocoa notes with no off flavors. Texture : I considered the texture of all the chocolates. Correctly tempered and stored chocolate shouldn't melt in your fingers; it should be firm and "snap" when broken or bitten into and melt smoothly on the tongue. Packaging and presentation : First and foremost, I looked for packaging that protects the chocolates it contains.

Different art and decor appeal to different preferences and purposes, but no one wants broken or smashed confections. After that, I also considered how the packaging and presentation contributed to the overall impact of the chocolates, considering many give chocolates as gifts for special occasions.

The best wine subscriptions. The best snack subscription boxes. The best caviar. The best champagne and sparkling wine you can buy online. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. You can purchase syndication rights to this story here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners.

We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team.

We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews businessinsider. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. The gold foil box has changed somewhat slightly over the years, too. They were originally wrapped with gold string, but the company now opts to use a gold satin ribbon.

According to chocolate expert Clay Gordon, the gold box has played a huge role in molding the company's image. Godiva is rather protective of that "connection," too. In , Godiva took issue with a chocolate company in Tennessee that was also using a gold box to package their candies.

Word to the wise, if you're thinking of getting into the chocolate biz, you had better pick a color other than gold for your packaging. While Godiva's 90th birthday party in was all about honoring the company's history, it was also about looking forward. We recognize where we've come from, and we recognize the values this band stands for. But it is a dream. And a dream is always continuous, and so we're always looking at where we go from here.

A big part of "where we go from here" for Godiva is attracting younger consumers, and that means more than just candy in a box. In , Godiva announced a massive plan to launch 2, cafes over the course of six years.

Look out, Starbucks , Godiva's comin' for ya. The cafes — which have already opened in New York City — include things like a chocolate-stuffed pastries, as well as sandwiches, salads, and chocolate-flavored coffee drinks, of course. The chain coffee market is incredibly competitive, but Godiva already has a secret weapon.

Annie Young-Scrivner became Godiva's CEO in , and who better to lead the charge into the cafe space than a former Starbucks executive? Godiva's executive chef Thierry Muret worked on the menu for a year and Godiva has some lofty goals with its new cafe plans — Young-Scrivner reportedly wants to increase Godiva's revenue five-fold by They'd better hope their coffee is as good as their chocolate.

The Untold Truth Of Godiva. Pralines were their first creation Instagram. Not surprisingly, Valentine's Day is very busy for them Instagram. Godiva's head chocolatier chef started as a chemist Instagram. Smell is crucial in the creation process Instagram. Some flavors are trickier than others to get right Instagram. Factory visitors must go through a scrub down process YouTube. Not all the chocolate is made in Belgium Twitter.

Removing alcohol from the recipe caused some controversy Instagram. It's all about the gold box Instagram.