Valrhona Chocolate Giveaway

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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