Monthly Archives January 2021

Now that we are done with the Christmas lights and New Year decor, you will probably find that you are bombarded with fake firecrackers and Chinese New Year couplets.

Still, flashing red neon signs shouldn’t distract you from yet another cause for celebration in February. It’s true, Valentine’s Day is approaching.

The Beatles might have sung “All You Need Is Love”, but we’d love to take it a step further – we need chocolate too. Since Valentine’s Day is sweeter than most regular days, it’s all the more reason to gorge yourself (and your loved one) on endless chocolate treats.

Rather than branching out into international chocolate brands that almost anyone can get their hands on, why not shop for artisan chocolates from our own local chocolatiers? No, these aren’t your average local brands: their creations reflect the unique stories and culture of the life of the chocolate makers on the little red dot to form treats you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

Here we have put together a list of Singaporean chocolatiers with the most precious creations for you and your loved one. Check them all out below.

Fossa chocolate

Local brand Fossa chocolate ensures every chocolate bar on their doors is carefully handcrafted – from roasting and cracking to winnowing the cocoa beans in-house, the bars are made in small batches without additives to showcase the unique flavors and nuances of each batch of cocoa. Don’t expect run-of-the-mill flavors here either: unique Singaporean concoctions like Spicy Mala and Salted Egg Cereal Blonde are waiting to tantalize your taste buds.

The brand recently launched two exclusive flavors in collaboration with Food Folks at Lau Pa Sat: one is a fruity concoction of chewy lychee and crunchy dragon fruit, and the other is a sweet caramelized bar infused with tons of flavor of pineapple tarte.

In good company ION, 2 Orchard Turn # B1-06, Singapore 238801

Lemuel chocolate

If you are looking for chocolate gifts that come from the heart, you can’t go wrong with the assortment of Lemuel chocolate. Here, find delicious boxes of locally flavored candies like Kaya Toast and Milo, as well as other favorites like strawberry and matcha.

Planning to make your Valentine’s Day a little more practical? Lemuel also runs a chocolate truffle making workshop at their Westway store that introduces participants to chocolate making and the bean to bar making process, with truffle ganache making and a rolling experience of truffles.

1 Vista Exchange Green, # B1-31 THE STAR VISTA, Singapore 138617

Anjalichocolate

It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion meet, and no one knows it better than Anjali Gupta. After quitting a banking job and training in Istanbul and at Callebaut Chocolate Academy in the UK, she founded her own chocolate business, Anjalichocolate. Now, the local craft brand is home to a permanent “From Singapore Lah” collection, featuring exciting flavors such as Singapore Sling, Chinese 5 Spice, Lemongrass Coconut and Mango Pudding.

# 02-K4 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road Singapore 247933

Laurent Bernard Chocolatier

French artisan chocolatier Laurent Bernard founded their very first cafe in Singapore 15 years ago after more than 20 years in the culinary world, along the riverfront at Robertson Quay. The chocolate bar-café is home to serious treats: think of chocolate truffles filled with grand cru chocolate ganache coated with dark chocolate and cocoa rolls, and luxurious cakes covered with vanilla and white chocolate cream, chocolate mousse milk, dark chocolate mousse and dark chocolate sponge cake.

Robertson Quay Pier, Mohammad Sultan Road # 01-11 Singapore 239013

M. Bucket Chocolate Factory

Nestled in the quiet area of ​​Sin Ming, M. Bucket Chocolate Factory is your modern, local version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The store is dedicated to promoting Asian chocolate and strives to do so using only regional cocoa to create a glorious menu of beautifully prepared candies, chocolate bars, drinking chocolate and chocolate liqueur.

From a salted egg yolk candy made in collaboration with The Golden Duck to a double soy caramel candy that incorporates two types of soy sauce from local soy sauce maker Kwong Woh Hing, one thing is for sure: you you won’t be able to find these flavors anywhere else in the world.

23 Sin Ming Road, # 01-15, Singapore 570023

This story first appeared in Singapore Asia Lifestyle.

Hot Cocoa Instant Vegan Blend delivers a rich, dairy-free chocolate flavor. The secret ingredient is coconut cream, a vegan, gluten-free and soy-free alternative that tastes like the real deal!

Try this brand’s traditional drinking chocolate with just three ingredients: organic sugar, organic cocoa powder and a pinch of sea salt. The individual pouches are convenient and so forgiving.

Public Goods offers vegan hot chocolate ready in minutes! Just heat 8 ounces of water or non-dairy milk and add two tablespoons of the mixture for a creamy delight. Use promo code VEGOUT for $ 10 off your purchase!

The 60% Rich Drinking Dark Chocolate offers a blend of spicy chocolate with organic cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne pepper. Sweetened with coconut sugar, this low glycemic index drink can be enjoyed chilled or warm.

Theo Drinking Chocolate uses organic dark chocolate crumbs that blend with your choice of non-dairy milk to create a creamy treat that you can enjoy hot or cold.

Here’s a product that only arrives once a year and tastes like chocolate in a cup! The original vegan hot chocolate is also antiallergic (contains only coconut sugar, cocoa butter and cocoa). Pro tip: Heat your non-dairy milk and mix it into the mixture to enjoy!

Taza is ready to use! Just heat water or non-dairy milk, pour in the chocolate goodness, and whisk for a creamy consistency.

Lake Champlain offers the rich and gourmet taste of traditional hot chocolate! Take your drink to the next level with vegan marshmallows or a dairy-free whipped topping.

Castle Kitchen makes a cold winter’s day even more special! Double Dutch dark chocolate offers a decadent taste while remaining gluten-free, vegan and kosher. Brew a cup or two using only hot water.

Elements Truffles offers two varieties of drinking chocolate, one with turmeric and the other with ashwagandha, to kick-start a cup of plain cocoa. Can’t decide which one to buy? Try them both with a sample pack.

The cocoa elixir blend contains adaptogenic reishi mushrooms and raw cocoa. Each sip of the succulent drink will highlight the earthy sweet spices of cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves.

A variation on a classic, REDD Chocolate Milk Elixir contains adaptogens to provide an energy boost. The drink can be served hot or cold and provides 9g of vegetable protein.

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a box of chocolates. Known as an aphrodisiac since Aztec times, the gift of chocolate has been linked to expressions of love and affection for hundreds of years. In addition to its romantic associations, chocolate has long been known to help induce feelings of calm, contentment and to act as an overall mood booster. According to the Global Confectionery Website Candyindustry.com, Valentine’s Day is the third best performing day for chocolate sales, accounting for nearly a quarter of all chocolate sales in the United States each year. In 2020, the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicted that Americans would spend $ 2.4 billion on candy related to shopping on Valentine’s Day.

Brands are positioning themselves with consumers seeking gifts that offer comfort and connection, as Americans continue to experience the insulating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Major candy brands including Reese’s, Dove, Hershey’s and Ferraro are launching new products and advertising strategies to attract consumers early and often as Valentine’s Day approaches.

Heart-shaped boxes take a back seat as chocolate brands promote non-romantic Valentine’s Day gifts

Over the past decade, Valentine’s Day gifts have moved beyond romantic feelings, evolving to represent all forms of affection and kinship. From 2010 to 2020, Valentine’s Day spending increased dramatically as gift recipients expanded to represent more than spouses, love interests, and other important people. According to data from the FRN, consumers spend more money on Valentine’s Day gifts as expressions of non-romantic affection for friends, family, coworkers, and even pets. While flowers, jewelry, and lingerie can be traditional classic Valentine’s Day gifts, chocolate could be the perfect way to show thoughtfulness, appreciation, and friendship. Chocolate remains a prime gift choice among consumers, due to its price, accessibility, and almost universal appeal. Both Reese’s and Dove have launched new products that move away from the traditional heart-shaped box and encourage consumers to celebrate Valentine’s Day with everyone in their lives.

Reese’s begins promoting Valentine’s Day programming after Christmas

Hershey’s quickly turned its attention away from the holiday season, announce The Reese product line for Valentine’s Day and Easter on December 28. At the head of the Reese line for Valentine’s Day is Reese’s Big Box O ‘Love, an alternative to the classic heart-shaped chocolate box. Erin Crawford, Hershey’s brand manager, Holiday, said: “Whether you are a hopeless romantic or a last minute Cupid, these new offers are the perfect treat to make Valentine’s Day even more special.” Instead of going for a matching variety, Reese’s Big Box O’Love features 20 classic Reese peanut butter cups that deliver all the sweetness without the need for a card.

Dove launches pink tube as perfect non-romantic Valentine’s Day gift

This week, Mars-owned Dove introduced new packaging to align with the brand’s marketing campaign for Valentine’s Day. Instead of the traditional heart-shaped red box, Dove announced that it Truffle Gift Tubes. Limited-time Dove Truffles gift tubes can be filled with milk or dark chocolate truffles and will be packaged in pink souvenir tubes. Dove’s newest article is for consumers who are expanding their Valentine’s Day gift recipients. Brand Director for Dove Chocolate Leslie Philipsen noted, “[Dove] wanted to provide fans with an easy way to deliver delicious, high quality chocolate to all the important people in their lives. Packaged in beautiful keepsake packaging and with a pre-written message included on the back, our new gift products make it easy for fans to spread the joy to their friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Ferraro seduces all audiences with a range of limited edition products for Valentine’s Day

In a recent press release, the confectionery brand Ferrara (parent brand of well-known chocolate brands like Ferrero Rocher, Butterfinger, Crunch and Kinder Joy), has announced its product line for Valentine’s Day 2021. In addition to its classic offerings, Ferraro also promotes fun offers and festive ones such as the Butterfinger and Crunch “Novelty Mustache & Lip Set”. According to Press release, Whether you want to tell someone you have a ‘CRUNCH’ on them, or you ‘MUSTACHE’ them to be yours, these fun gifts will bring a smile to your Valentine’s face. As part of their broader advertising strategy for Valentine’s Day, Ferraro also encouraged consumers to visit his Pinterest page, where users will find tips for incorporating Ferraro brand products into Valentine’s Day gifts and celebrations. The brand also uses buy pins to help Pinterest users quickly buy the products they need for their recipes and designs.

Hershey’s Leverages Microsite to Encourage Consumers to Share Love in Three Ways

Hershey’s offers consumers many ways to share the love and sweeten their Valentine’s Day this year. From Hershey’s-inspired recipes for homemade goodies to personalized gift boxes shipped direct to loved ones, Hershey’s is helping consumers celebrate Valentine’s Day during the COVID-19 period. On its microsite, Hersheyshappiness.com, Hershey’s encourages consumers to make desserts, send love, or make crafts for Valentine’s Day. The microsite content clearly takes advantage of the new consumer attitudes, habits and behaviors that were adopted in 2020. Many consumers are still likely to cook more and spend more time at home in addition to looking for affordable gift options. and accessible. The three options on Hersheyshappiness.com correspond to consumers’ need to add a personal touch to the celebrations while establishing a sense of oneness. Content marketing can be an effective tool for connecting consumers to a brand, creating a sense of trust and brand affinity.

As if the idea of ​​savoring a square (or an entire bar) of dark chocolate weren’t enticing enough, the health claims of dark chocolate are also very appealing. We’ve heard it all: it lowers blood pressure, relieves stress, improves cognitive function, protects your skin, and more. But before you eat all the way to the bottom of a heart-shaped box, find out what the experts have to say about the health of this treat.

The health benefits of dark chocolate

There have been a lot of research on dark chocolate, but the hype has overtaken the science. Translation: It will not instantly or directly accomplish all of the above. What is certain is that cocoa is rich in three types of flavonoids, phytochemicals found in almost all plant-based foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers. This is important because chronic inflammation is linked to conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, asthma, heart disease, and cancer.

“These compounds are also beneficial for cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation, reducing the risk of clotting and improving blood pressure levels,” said Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D., RD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Cocoa is also rich in iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium, all of the essential minerals needed for healthy blood, immunity, and cell growth.

How to choose the healthiest chocolate

To get more punch in your bar, opt for dark chocolate with a cocoa percentage of 70% or more. (More cocoa equals more flavonoids.) Chocolate, cocoa, or cocoa should appear first on the ingredient list, which means there is more by weight. If sugar is first on the list or you see words you can’t pronounce, stay away, or you’ll likely fill yourself up with empty calories and fillers, which negates all the good stuff, says Lisa. R. Young, Ph. D., RDN, Assistant Professor of Nutrition at New York University and author of Finally full, finally thin.

And pay attention to the label: Cocoa processed in the Netherlands tends to have a reduced flavonoid content due to the way chocolate is processed, while a recent study found that cocoa beans from Colombia had the highest flavonoid content, possibly due to factors such as plant variety and geography.

Is milk chocolate good for you?

If dark chocolate tastes too bitter for you, dark milk chocolate is a pretty sweet compromise: it contains less sugar and more cocoa than traditional milk chocolate, which can only contain 10%. If it says “milk chocolate” but has a cocoa percentage of 38% or more, you will know that it is dark milk.

What about the serving size?

There is no magic amount of dark chocolate that you have to eat to get these flavonoids; the dosage used in the studies varies. But experts agree that you should treat it like any other candy and eat it in moderation.

“It’s better to save it as a treat,” Young says. “Yes, it does contain antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals, but let’s not call it a healthy food, it still has a lot of sugar and fat. In other words, aim for 1/4 of a full-size bar. With all of that in mind, here are the best healthy chocolate bar options to consider:

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