Swiss Rocher is chocolate that has crunchy bits of nuts in it. Sometimes there’s praline, sometimes the nuts are caramelised, sometimes not.
Whatever, it makes for a (if you like nuts, that is) really moreish, delicious chocolate. Rocher means rock in French, so traditionally these are ball shaped. And often if you go into a chocolate shop, you’ll see them, nut-studded golf ball-sized chocolate rounds. I really like them, because they’re big enough to be indulgent, and once you bite in you just have to keep going.
Le Choux, which I mentioned a few weeks ago regarding cookies, has made Hazelnut Rochers (£19.50/5) for a while, but now the chocolate comes from the fabulous Firetree, to make 40% milk Swiss Rocher balls – wonderful salty sweet praline, feuilletine and roasted nuts, all rolled into delicious volcanic earth, dark milk chocolate.
These are a worthy treat for you, but they also make a great little present, perhaps to stuff in a stocking or bring with you to Christmas gatherings. They’re unusual enough to bring delight and the 40% milk means they will suit all but the darkest of tastes.
Lumi has made the Swiss Rocher bar, £7.50/100g. This is 34% milk and is packed with crunchy silvers of almonds, in bar form. You can manage just how much chocolate you have with more ease: one piece or 10.
Lumi has also brought back the Chestnut Truffles I collaborated on last year. As always, I don’t make any money from them, but a percentage of sales goes to Crisis at Christmas.
