Valrhona Chocolate Giveaway
Monday, February 15, 2010
Valrhona, Degustation Grands Crus
Since 1922, Valrhona has produced chocolate couverture in the middle of the famous vineyards of Tain l’Hermitage in the Rhone Valley, France. The company’s tradition of creativity, expertise in taste and a strict adherence to traditional chocolate-making methods has earned them quite the reputation amongst the world’s most demanding pastry chefs, chocolatiers, and connoisseurs.
I remember being stricken by chocolate envy when I read David Lebovitz’s recount of his experience at Valrhona’s invitation-only professional cooking program at their famous Chocolate School.
At this year’s Fancy Food Show in SF, Bay Area Bites’ Stephanie Rosenbaum was enamored by the “elegant Valrhona, still clad in French Vogue-editor matte black.”
Valrhona, Equinoxe Collection Box
Today, we’re giving away the Degustation Grands Crus, a sleek collection of 52 individually-wrapped squares of Grands Crus Chocolates comprised of four different levels of cocoa percentage, and four different places of origin.
We are also giving away the Equinoxe Collection Box, filled with dark and milk chocolate enrobed roasted almonds, hazelnuts, pure-butter biscuits, and candied orange peel…polished to a sheen, like dark pearls of culinary couture.
The Grands Crus Chocolates are made from the harmonious blending of cocoa beans from plantations with exceptional terroirs and chosen for their particular flavor characteristics. The degustation collection is a delightful way to explore the varying and distinctive flavor profiles of each of these chocolates:
- Tanariva 33% — Sweet & Caramelized. Milk chocolate, with balanced acidity softened by distinctive milk and caramel notes. Pure Madagascar.
- Caraibe 66% — Balanced & Velvety. The finest Trinitario beans from the Caribbean create an aromatic and long finish that reveals almond and delicate roasted flavors.
- Tainori 64% — Fruity & Intense. Flavors of yellow fruit following in the wake of roasted almond and freshly baked bread. Pure Dominican Republic.
- Guanaja 70% — Bittersweet & Elegant. Criollo and Trinitario beans distinguished by intense flavor and floral notes with an exceptionally long finish.
Chocolate covered treats
The Equinoxe Collection is comprised of an assortment of crunchy almonds & bits of candied orange peel covered in 55% dark chocolate, and hazelnuts & crispy morsels of buttery biscuits covered in 33% milk chocolate. An elegant companion at tea time, or an after-dinner treat, these fruit and nut combinations are a classic delight.
Valrhona Chocolate
To win Valrhona’s Degustation Grands Crus and Equinoxe Collection…
Simply leave a comment here telling me: If you were one of Valrhona’s Grands Crus Chocolates, which one would you be, based on their distinctive flavor characteristics?
Giveaway deadline is Wednesday 2/17, 11:59 pm PST.
Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible via free sample and giveaway donation by Valrhona.
Update: Congrats to Les, winner of Lick My Spoon’s Valrhona Giveaway!
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holy moly. they all sound amazing. Caraibe 66% would be me, though.
I would be the balanced and velvety, in hopes of countering my occasional klutziness in real life.
Probably would have to go with Caraibe!
I would also have to go with Caraibe. Balanced and velvety–that’s me!
I would most definitely be Tainori.
Is this open to Canadians too? I’d probably be the Guanaja – I’m pretty bittersweet haha!
I would be the 70% one. Sounds so good!
Tainori.
I’m fruity and intense.
I would be Caraibe… balanced and smooth!
I would be Tanariva, sweet, easy to love and blends in well with peers.
Tweeting this giveaway!
I would be Guanaja – bittersweet & elegant
I would definately be Caraibe 66% — Balanced & Velvety describes me to a t.
I think I’m Guanaja, bittersweet and elegant is me for sure!
I would be the Tanariva. I am fairly sweet
I love caramel scents and always wear them in my perfume and lotion. Plus, it sounds divine!!!
I’d have to say Guanaja. At the moment my life is rather bittersweet & I’m trying to remain elegant while dealing with it.
Hmmm. I would be caraibe….it’s all about balance, that’s my motto. And being velvety sounds so…delicious!
I think I would be a combo of Tainori and Gaunaja, depending on the time of day and who you ask.
Right now, I think I would be Tanariva (Sweet&Carmalized)…trying to stay sweet despite a “broken” ankle (carmalization = “breaking”-down sucrose into monosasaccharides…nerdy reference
Yummy!
I would be Guanaja – elegant and hopefully more sweet then bitter…=)
The Tainori: I love to bake breads and am 64% sure I have no idea what yellow fruit is. This chocolate sounds delicious and diverse. I am a bit diverse as well; I just can’t settle on one thing, ever.
I’m going with Tanariva. Chocolate and caramel are probably my favorite food pairing. I’m kinda sweet, not too crazy, but generally a people pleaser.
wow you are like oprah
Hi, I’d definitely be Tanariva – milk chocolate all the way!
Oh wow, these look delicious! I think I’m going to go with Tanariva – I like to think of myself as pretty sweet! Not sure how I’m caramelized, but I do love caramels and caramel flavored tea!
I think I’m half Guanaja, half Tainori– bittersweet and intense!!
Definitely Guanaja!
I would so be Tanariva 33% — Sweet & Caramelized. I love love love caramel and chocolate together.
i would be the caraibe 66% thanks for the giveaway
I would definitely be the Tanariva because I relate to carmel….sugar that is ALMOST burnt but taken off the stove just before it goes bad
Definitely Tanariva as well. I love caramel. Especially if it has a little bit of salt added. yum.
I like to imagine that I’m Caraibe 66% — Balanced & Velvety–smooth and sophisticated. Actually I am probably more Tanariva 33% — Sweet & Caramelized –yummy but not very sophisticated.
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I think I would be Caraibe 66% — Balanced & Velvety.
I’d say Tainori 64% — Fruity & Intense. Fruity might as well be nutty, and my husband calls me intense very regularly!
I would definitely be tanariva!
Tanariva no doubt.
I’d be Guanaja, I’m a little bittersweet, thanks for the chance to win!
I would be the Tainori 64% — Fruity & Intense describes me well.
Definitely the Tanariva. I strive to balance my bold and mellow sides. I can be a full force executive woman during the day and sexy smooth like caramel at night.
Tainori would be me hands down! The Dominican Republic is where I met and fell in love with my wonderful husband. I love all sights, smells, sounds or tastes that trigger memories of those early days we spent together in the Dominican Republic.
Tainori 64%. My husband tells me I’m a fruitcake, and I’m seriously intense!
I too would be Fruity & Intense!
Guanaja all the way!
I would definitely be Caraibe, as ‘balance’ has been the theme of my twenties thusfar (or at least the attempt at balance).
I’d be the Guanaja 70%, I think.
I am a very moody person. I would be a little bit of each for variety so I don’t get bored with my self. 25% of Tanariva 33%, 25% of Caraibe 66%, 25% of Tainori 64% and 25% of Guanaja 70%. YES! I can and will have it all!
Tainori that is me!
I would hope to be the tanariva because it has sweet milk chocolate.
I would be Tanariva, 70 is the normal for divine taste but i prefer to go against the grain and indulge in what pleases me and not what my tv commercials say to buy. yummy!
Caraibe 66% — Balanced & Velvety. Im just like it , from the Caribbean , balancing like a equilibrist do but in the rope of life . And i like to think of my self like smooth to sight , hearing or touch. hahaha (Good self esteem as you see.) Hope I win , really love chocolate.
Definitely Caraibe! What a beautiful box