Vande Walle’s Candies – Part One
July 12, 2018
A visit to Vande Walle’s Candies shop in Appleton, Wisconsin is a treat. I recently had the pleasure of fitting in a trip to Vande Walle’s while out shopping with my mother in-law. I loved my first step into the chocolate shop. The air conditioning felt so luxurious on that hot afternoon, and I took in the smells of chocolate, caramel, and mint hitting my senses in a delightful way.
Ah, the aromas of a chocolate shop. They’re almost identical wherever I go...
First, I smell the chocolate (unmistakable) and then all the things that pair well with chocolate all mixed together in a delicious blend that sparks memories of childhood, special occasions, and “treat myself” days.
When I smell chocolate and orange, I think about my Dad taking me to the Marshall Field’s candy counter and buying two dark chocolate covered candied orange peel pieces; one for each of us.
I also think of my wedding day when my new husband surprised me with a gift of an entire POUND of dark chocolate covered orange peels! And, he didn’t stop there. Hidden inside the box were a pair of sparkling sapphire earrings and a matching necklace. Oh yes, aromas can be such a powerful memory trigger!
The Orange Ginger Bar in Dark Chocolate
Perhaps all these aromas and memories swirling around incognito were responsible for my purchase of a Vande Walle’s homemade Orange Ginger Bar in Dark Chocolate. I bought it automatically as if that’s what I went there to buy. I had no idea what I might buy before I walked in. This is the magic of the neighborhood chocolate store.
The aromas of this particular bar are citrus, orange, ginger, chocolate, and milk chocolate. These findings were a result of a group tasting involving my husband, his parents, and my son. My daughter was not able to partake in the tasting (due to food allergies) but participated in the aroma analysis!
The flavor profile was pretty true to the aroma profile. We found strong orange and ginger notes. We all felt that if your bite of the bar contained both candied orange peel and ginger, they overpowered the chocolate.
The chocolate by itself was on the sweet side for a dark chocolate (unknown percentage), nutty and buttery with a hint of spice. There was a lingering ginger aftertaste. I was the only one that could taste the “Dutch” processed (processed with alkali) cocoa powder and as many of you know, I’m not a fan of it.
Regardless of my issues with the “processed with alkali” ingredient, it was very good bar. A hit among all of us plus a very nice trip down memory lane for me. Like I said, a visit to Vande Walle’s is a treat!
For Vande Walle’s Candies – Part Two, click here.
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