Chocolaterie ICKX – Belgian Chocolate Pumpkins
November 7, 2016
Chocolaterie Ickx makes Belgian seasonal chocolate box novelties sold to high end department stores and chocolate shops. The company was founded in the 1970s, primarily making pralines. Eventually, the growth of the company led to the building of a new chocolate factory in Essen, Belgium.
My family received a box of Belgian Chocolate Pumpkins as a gift for Halloween. The autumn collection has four varieties: Salted Carmel (Milk Chocolate), Chocolate Crème (Dark Chocolate), Pecan Praline (White Chocolate), and Pumpkin Ganache (Spiced Confectionery Coating).
I’m generally opposed to eating boxed chocolates, especially seasonal or made for fund-raising, because I know how long ago the chocolates were made before they get to me. Chocolates that have been around a while are not at their best.
Shipping, storage, more shipping, and more storage put the chocolates and their candy centers through a temperature roller coaster; constant fluctuations of heat and refrigeration, melting and cooling, crystallization and bloom...
All of this compromises appearance and flavor. There are tricks that manufacturers can use to keep the product looking fresh and delicious, but those practices can compromise flavor, too.
So, here I am, with a large box of pumpkin shaped confections waiting for my taste analysis. What do I do? I bring them to work, of course! I know my biases and limitations, so I have my co-workers help me out.
We taste all four flavors and come the following conclusions:
My Thoughts About the Belgian Chocolate Pumpkins
The pecan praline is very sweet, but the nuttiness balances it out and blends well with the white chocolate.
The salted caramel is very muted in saltiness and caramelness (is that a word?), and, along with the milk chocolate coating, is more like a sweeter version of the chocolate crème.
The pumpkin ganache is indescribable, and not in a good way. I couldn’t finish it.
My Coworkers Thoughts
For my coworkers, consensus is that the salted caramel wins as the favorite. They agree that it could be more salty and more caramelly (you know what I mean), but they like the contrast between the gooey, soft caramel, and the hard milk chocolate shell.
The pecan praline gets a thumbs up, but the sweetness keeps them from eating more than one or two.
The dark chocolate crème gets an okay, and they all throw away the pumpkin ganache at the same time I do!
Final Thoughts
You always take a chance when you get a box of chocolates. It might be quite good, or it might be time to share with your co-workers so it won’t go to waste!
If you know the chocolate shop, and the box was created from a fresh assortment, then there’s a real chance you will enjoy every morsel. But the opposite is most likely true when a gift box shows up out of nowhere with the best intentions!
This holiday season, imagine that you some chocolate candies your guests have never seen! We took an old recipe book and updated it for easier use.
Click here to get your own copy of this fascinating cookbook.
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