A limited edition white chocolate bar favoured with coconut and lime from the Thorntons Chocolate Blocks range.

I have to admit, after reading the label, that I wasn’t particularly looking forward to trying this limited edition chocolate block, I have had other chocolate with coconut and was rather underwhelmed and some chocolate with lime tend to be too sweet and have a syrup like aftertaste.

But I must say I was quite surprised and impressed with Thorntons Coconut & Lime White chocolate block.

The chocolate bar comes in a lime green and brown box, a design matching the rest of the collection, with a limited edition “badge” in the top right hand corner. Inside the box the bar is wrapped in a silver coloured plastic foil.

Un-wrapping the bar releases a buttery aroma, with an underlying fresh citrus note from the natural lime. A rather surprising element are the brownish pink flecks of colour in the bar, at first I wasn’t too sure what these were, but it turns out they are coconut pieces that have been toasted and the colour has blended with the white chocolate.

The toasted coconut gives the chocolate bar a wonderful crunch, which I was not expecting. The lime is noticeable now and then, but gives more aroma than flavour.

The combination of the crunch with the smooth white chocolate and the odd hint of lime make this chocolate block pleasantly different, interesting and really worth trying, even for white chocolate haters.

£1.79, 80g.

Labelled: Vegetarian and Gluten Free.

Hotel Chocolat’s “Summer Sizzler” Peepster Box – four individually flavoured mini chocolate slabs, bursting with summer flavours.

Beautifully displayed in a presentation box, decorated with Union Jack flags and completed with a caring handle, each of the four chocolate bars peep out tempting you to try them.

Each of the chocolate bars are 100g and individually wrapped. The four Summery flavours are:

• Eton Mess: Vanilla infused white chocolate swirled with strawberry flavoured chocolate, poured over chocolate cookies and finished with meringue and strawberry pieces, creamy with a crunch and a fruity tang.
• Tutti Frutti: Half white chocolate and half milk chocolate, fused together and decorated with splashes of bold colours, studded with golden raisins, cherries and pistachios luxury fruit and nut with a Summer twist.
• Cookie Crème: Cocoa rich 40% milk chocolate, on a bed of cookie pieces and dotted with crispies, smooth chocolate with crunch.
• Banoffee: Real slices of banana top of dreamy caramel chocolate and 40% milk banana chocolate, mixed with crushed cookie pieces and decorated with white chocolate.

Three of the chocolate mini slabs are also available as giant chocolate slabs, so you could think of the Sleekster as a tasting box!

All the of the chocolate are part of the Summer chocolate range at Hotel Chocolat, classic dessert recipes which have been transformed into chocolate treats to brighten someone’s day.

£13.50, 400g.

Labelled: Vegetarian and Alcohol Free.

The Orange Mantra, a 65% cocoa organic dark chocolate bar with natural orange oil.

This dark chocolate and orange bar from Chocolate & Love has two wrappers; the outer is paper, a very dark black design with white writing and the name of the bar “Orange Mantra” highlighted in brown.

The inner wrapper is a white cellophane, heat sealed, with a very handy rip line that takes the end off the wrapper off exposing one end of the bar.

The chocolate itself is a rich dark brown, with a good sheen and crisp snap, and is sectioned into breaking squares with a grid design on each square.

The warming smell of the oranges and dark chocolate is rather fantastic, not too strong but just aromatic enough. The orange essence isn’t immediately released as you eat it, you first get a hint of bitterness followed by the cocoa notes and as the chocolate starts to melt the sweet orange is released, combining with the dark chocolate and filling your mouth with the rich flavours.

I love the combination of fruit and chocolate, especially when oils are used, as it changes the taste completely blending with the chocolate and running though out the bar, rather than having chunks of fruit or layer of flavour.

Because of the orange and dark chocolate combination it reminds me of Green & Black’s Maya Gold, but without the spices. Chocolate & Love‘s bar is more fruity with a crisper flavour, and is lighter due to the slightly lower cocoa content, I am a big fan of both bars but would have to say I prefer “Orange Mantra”.

Made from 100% organic ingredients including; orange oil pressed in Italy, whole cane sugar and ground vanilla.

£2.90 for 100g of dark chocolate with natural orange.

Labelled: Organic, Gluten Free, Preservative Free, Vegetarian, Dairy Free and Vegan.