Touchy Chocolatier

I am one of those annoying people who will, when I can be bothered, contact producers of food, or anything else that I buy for that matter, if I think there is a problem with a product. In the past I have asked whether there are GM products in spreadable butter, complained about excess packaging, and bad milk, asked why product lines were deleted...you get the gist. While I don't do it that often, some people probably think I am a pain in the arse. I like to think that I am an essential part of the quality assurance chain (insert groan from older sister here).

Last year I bought a bar of my favourite chocolate and noticed the flavour had changed. My e-mail to the chocolatier earned me my most entertaining response thus far in my consumer vigilante career. I was probably a bit of a twat about it, but I really do hate that almond essence flavour...

Me:

Hi

I really enjoy your bitter nib chocolate, and bought a bar from ****** yesterday. This particular bar (exp 20/12/07) tasted to me of almond essence or something similar. It could be that there is only a trace amount in the block - I very much dislike almond essence and perhaps I am overly sensitive to the flavour. I thought I should let you know anyway in case there was a production problem. It was definitely full of cocoa nibs so it was not a mislabelled block.

The chocolatier:

Hi,

Thanks for your mail. We do not use almond essence, never have done, never will, it is tacky, cheap, artificial and suitable for bottom feeders only. We do not use essences of any flavour at any time. Our commitment is to expensive, real ingredients only.

We used to make the bitter nib in 70% blended bittersweet which is a general chocolate made from 4 different beans to achieve a general chocolate flavour. We now produce the bitter nib in a single variety chocolate, so if you were used to the older chocolate you would certainly notice some difference in flavour. This single variety has flavour notes of peppers,spices and fruit.

If you are getting other flavours, please check with ****** to check that "almond essence" has not been used close to the stored chocolate. Even though it is sealed... Who knows ???

Hope this clears it for you.

Cheers,

*****

Me:

Thanks *****, that explains the flavour change. Perhaps I picked up on a hint of cherry in the fruit flavour note.

The chocolatier:

Thanks for having a discerning and "in touch" pallette.

In chocolate,

*****.