Recchiuti chocolates

The next time you're in San Francisco, you must save Saturday morning for a visit to the Farmers' Market at the Ferry building. Friendly vendors, offering samples of their fine local product, often organic, line the sidewalks.
Inside the Ferry Building itself are a number of small shops, and one must-visit is Recchiuti.
These people have a selection of hand-made chocolates that rival the high quality European chocolatiers.
So far, I've tasted their Pearl Mint Tea and Rose Caramel confections. These were beyond good. Both were fresh and flavored true to their names.
The mint was spearmint with peppermint and the green tea flavor was distinct and very pleasant.
The rose caramel, a shell of white chocolate, with a nearly-flowing caramel center, was so delicately flavored that I could really believe I was eating the scent of the rose/geranium combination they mix with the caramel.
The only thing I found really missing from Recchiuti was the fact that they don't use liquers or liquors in their chocolates. Too bad, because this keeps them one notch lower than the equivalent European competition.

Reviewed: Recchiuti chocolates
Personality: True and creative
How to enjoy: Make a special trip to San Francisco for these babies. Grab a coffee and sit out on the dock and watch the ferries go by.
Rating:
1: Better than sex
2: Little bites of heaven
3: Share with your best friend
4: Will do in a pinch
5: Halloween candy
Where to buy: At the store on the Embarcadero, or online at http://www.recchiuti.com/

Dolce e Amaro Grappa and Limone

The Piedmont is one of those great regions of Italy, and its chocolates are fantastic.

While walking around a German town, Winnenden, we came upon an Italian gourmet shop. There I found chocolates from Dolce e Amaro, a Piedmont chocolatier.

These are truffles, one flavored with Grappa wine and one with Limoncello, both of these ingredients have a heavy alcohol content, around 18%.

The alcohol is what really moves these chocolates into the "Little bites of heaven" category. It truly enhances the flavor, bringing them out of the "just nice" category.

Reviewed: Saluzzesi Grappa and Limone
Personality: A sunny day in the Piedmont

How to enjoy: Choose one of these when you are in great need of spoiling yourself.

Rating:

1: Better than sex
2: Little bites of heaven
3: Share with your best friend
4: Will do in a pinch
5: Halloween candy

Where to buy: Online at Dolce e Amaro

Hershey's Kisses

The best thing about these Hershey's Kisses is that they are still packaged in the foil wrappers. Long an American tradition, Hershey's Kisses simply wouldn't be kisses if they were stuck inside of individual plastic bags.

That said, it's Hershey's chocolate. They are trying really hard to add varieties, but I simply don't care for the general Hershey's flavor.

My husband likes to repeat the German joke (?) about taste: "My cat likes mice. I don't." My kid likes Hershey's Kisses. I don't.

Reviewed: Hershey's Kisses

Personality: Reliable flavor, not mousy at all

How to enjoy: Save your calories for better things

Rating:
1: Better than sex

2: Little bites of heaven

3: Share with your best friend

4: Will do in a pinch

5: Halloween candy

Where to buy: Ubiquitous in America, American Candy in Germany

Hachez Edel Mokka-Sahne

This is a lovely chocolate. After doing some company research, I discovered that Hachez is made by the same company that makes the Feodora Mocca's.
They do taste different, though both are good.
What I've found after a while is that the Mocca's lose a bit of flavor once opened. The Hachez didn't seem to lose much, but the bar also didn't last very long. I would assume it would lose it if I kept it around longer.

Reviewed: Hachez Edel Mokka-Sahne
Personality: Smooth and a nice coffee flavor
How to enjoy: Good plain eating chocolate. Stock up and eat as desired.
Rating:
1: Better than sex
2: Little bites of heaven
3: Share with your best friend
4: Will do in a pinch
5: Halloween candy

Where to buy: Available only in German grocery stores