Chocolate Makes a Luxe Statement
Get a taste of delicacies that are as sumptuous as they are expensive
No one can resist a piece of decadence every now and then. From cognac to pure gold, some of the most exotic chocolates are also some of the most expensive treats.
AmericaIn 2009, Fritz Knipschildt, Maitre Chocolatier of Knipschildt Chocolatier from Norwalk, Connecticut created the most expensive truffle in the world. A mini meteorite weighing 42 gm or 1.5 ounce was hand-crafted using dark chocolate, a French Périgord truffle (a rare mushroom) and a classic ganache recipe and. The ganache was made using luscious 71% single Ecuadorian dark chocolate mixed with fresh cream, that had been infused for 24 hours with the highest quality of vanilla pods and pure Italian truffle oil. At a price tag of US$ 250 a piece, Knipschildt‘s La Madeline au Truffle was recognized by Forbes magazine as the most expensive chocolate in the world, in 2009. What makes the truffle so exquisite is the time and energy invested in creating it.
SwitzerlandFrom Connecticut, let’s fly to the chocolate capital of the world— Switzerland. How would you like it if you received a bag with edible gold and silver truffles from Switzerland’s most luxurious chocolate confectioner, DeLafée. Founded in 2004 by Sébastien Jeanneret, De-Lafée is based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
AustraliaOur next stop is Victoria, Australia. Trust them to be a chocolate-crazy country, especially after The Yarra Valley in Victoria hosted Australia’s first Hot Chocolate Festival, to help winter visitors warm up to The Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, the home of Panny’s Chocolate. Panny or Kondanapanny Letchumanan, owner and head chocolatier at the chocolate factory churns out over 190 delectable varities of chocolate-covered treats. White Chocolate Truffles, which is created from a secret recipe is their most expensive and signature chocolate. These truffles are handmade using premium Belgium chocolate with the finest white ganache, cream, milk and fine sugar coated with milk chocolate. Their truffles come in exotic flavours such as cognac, rum and the ever-popular vanilla amongst others. They use a secret method, which takes a detailed 72 hours in completing the process. These truffles are pure and contain no chemicals, no gluten, no animal fat, honey or preservative.
Nikhil Merchant is a gourmet consultant, food writer and blogger (Nonchalant Gourmand) and strives to wed the flavours of food to the myriad moods of life.