zChocolate, Luxury Chocolates from France in Malaysia

The doorbell rings unexpectedly and I curiously scamper over to answer it. It’s a guy from DHL with a package for me to sign for. He looks at me whimsically as I quiz him over its contents and sender, as if to say, “Open it and you’ll find out!”

Messenger on his way, I race to open the silver box. Wrapped tightly in plastic it takes me a few minutes to break the barrier. Lid unleashed, I pull away a thick layer of foam and black stringy paper to reveal an ebony drawstring cover bag. There’s a note:

“
These 12 chocolates were handmade in France by Pascal Caffet, World Champion Chocolatier and Pastry Chef 2013, with zealous adherence to French tradition: no preservatives; high cocoa content; little sugar and; 100% cocoa butter. This product was shipped to your attention, _____ (my address), Malaysia, directly from our gourmet facility in Aix-Provence, France.”

There’s a personal message too from the sender, but I’ll spare you the cheesy romance narrative.

I’m salivating already as I take the box completely out of the parcel. Amazingly, it feels cold and, underneath I find a plastic pack, I assume once frozen, that has kept the insulated parcel chilled during its journey.

Finally breaching the core, a luscious looking tray of heart shaped chocolates is unveiled – Romantic zBox 12. What a thoughtful and memorable treat for Valentine’s Day!

There are four different flavours and I sample them all, one after the other, slowly savouring each creation.

Mystique is made from a dark 70% Venezuelan chocolate (Hubby will be pleased!). Bourbon Vanilla caramel oozes from the centre and the contrast of bitter and sweet is heavenly.

A velvety white chocolate shell is heart shaped and tinted red, creating the Amore. It holds a smooth dark chocolate ganache infused with bergamot and proves that opposites attract.

A radiant 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate couverture jackets the Supreme. A delicious Piedmont hazelnut praline is at the core and melts slowly in the mouth forming a sensuous satiny finish.

The Toquade is a glossy white chocolate containing a 62% dark chocolate ganache. It’s rich and intense. A slightly sweeter outer balances the dark bitter nucleus which deliquesces unhurriedly and sumptuously on the tongue.

zChocolates are hand-crafted in France but available in Malaysia through an amazingly efficient and professional delivery service.  Check out their website, www.zchocolat.com, to get your order in for Valentine’s Day.