Food
Crafted bites. Smart indulgences.
Artisanal chocolate, chef-worthy pantry essentials, and standout treats, all explored with the same question in mind: are they worth the splurge?
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Brown Butter – Smooth Chocolate with Subtle Buttered Edges
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Brown Butter – Smooth Chocolate with Subtle Buttered Edges With “brown butter” in the name, and Pepe Saya’s artisanal butter in the recipe, expectations naturally tilt toward nutty richness and caramel depth.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Hot Cross Bun – Easter in a Bar
Wrapped in Hunted + Gathered’s clean brown sleeve, the pale cross stretched across the front makes its Easter intentions obvious. This bar blends tradition with craft, folding pieces of Loafer’s Organic Hot Cross Buns into creamy Dominican Republic milk chocolate.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Almond Caramel 46% Cacao – Balance in a Bar
Hunted + Gathered’s almond caramel milk chocolate promises a mix of creamy indulgence and textural crunch. At 46% cacao, it’s darker than mainstream milk chocolate, offering more depth with less sugar.
Jasper + Myrtle Caffè Bianco White Chocolate: A Mocha-Leaning Bar for Coffee Lovers
This is a bar that prioritises balance over sweetness, positioning itself for those drawn to coffee-led flavours rather than classic white chocolate indulgence.
Bennetto Dark Coffee Chocolate – Beautifully Made, But the Coffee Fades
We picked this up on a whim—the idea of a dark chocolate bar with real coffee sounded promising. We hadn’t tried Bennetto before, but the price and packaging suggested it might hold its own.
Koko Black Pink Salted Vanilla – White Chocolate with Composure
Pink Salted Vanilla sets a calm tone from the outset. The geometric mould and soft blush packaging suggest refinement over flourish, and the bar itself—smooth, glossy, and pale—reinforces that intention.
Koko Black Cranberry, Macadamia & Cherry – A Premium Spin on Fruit & Nut
The packaging is unmistakably Koko Black: bold diagonal stripes framing a cut-out window that reveals the bar inside. Generous macadamias and glossy fruits sit visibly against smooth milk chocolate.
Koko Black Mighty Macadamia & Wattleseed: Earthy, Textural, and Unpretentious
A bar that clearly announces its Australian roots. Premium macadamia paste and wattleseed are folded through smooth milk chocolate, promising roasted warmth and texture over sweetness.
Jasper + Myrtle Blueberry Dark Chocolate Review: Controlled Fruit, Clean Finish
This bar from Jasper + Myrtle takes a restrained approach, placing the berry alongside a cocoa-forward base instead of letting it dominate.
Bahen & Co Cherry & Coconut 70% Cacao – Expecting a Cherry Ripe, Finding Mostly Cacao
We picked this up thinking “Cherry Ripe, but grown up.” With cherry and coconut front and centre, we expected something decadent but less sweet.
Valrhona Dulcey 35% Chocolate Review – A Sophisticated Take on White Chocolate
Valrhona’s Dulcey 35% is the chocolate that helped redefine what white chocolate could be. Its golden “blonde” hue comes from carefully caramelized milk solids, promising buttery warmth and gentle sweetness.
Zokoko Coffee Pecan Milk Chocolate: A Comfort-Led Take on Café Flavours
The brown-toned packaging sets expectations early. It suggests caramel warmth, dairy richness, and a coffee note that leans creamy rather than roasted or intense.
Zokoko Almond & Raisin 70%: A Balanced Take on Dark Chocolate Comfort
Almond and raisin suggest a classic pairing, but the higher cocoa percentage sets a restrained tone. Going in, this feels less like a dessert bar and more like a considered everyday option, built for repeat eating, not spectacle.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Coconut 46% Cacao – A Grown-Up Bounty Bar
Hunted + Gathered are known for restraint — chocolate-first bars that let inclusions play a supporting role rather than dominate. With Milk Chocolate + Coconut on the label, you might expect tropical sweetness or something closer to candy. Instead, the first impression is pared back.
Jasper + Myrtle Classic Milk Chocolate Review: Balanced, Though Not Addictive
Jasper + Myrtle’s Classic Milk is a precision-led bar that favours cocoa clarity and balance over indulgent sweetness. With understated branding and award recognition behind it, expectations lean toward technical correctness and a more grown-up expression of milk chocolate.
Koko Black Caramelised Coconut – Toasty, Balanced, and Comforting
Sun-kissed caramelised coconut meets milk chocolate in a pairing that’s instantly familiar yet quietly refined. This is a flavour combination that could easily tip into excess, but the bar’s restrained look and soft golden tone suggest Koko Black is aiming for warmth and balance over outright sweetness.
Koko Black Salted Caramel Surprise – Smooth, Buttery, and Decadent
Koko Black’s Salted Caramel Surprise walks a poised line between indulgence and restraint. The bar looks composed—clean lines, gentle sheen—but conceals a flowing, handcrafted centre touched with sea salt.
Zokoko Pure Origin Chale Milk Solomon Islands 45%: A Cocoa-Led Milk Chocolate
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Zokoko positions this bar as a considered expression of milk chocolate, and the presentation sets that tone immediately. The matte black box, finished with subtle embossing and a magnetic closure, feels deliberate and premium without excess.
Koko Black Pistachio Ganachio – Dark, Creamy, and Confident
Koko Black’s Pistachio Ganachio feels built for quieter, more contemplative moments. The pairing of a sweet-savoury pistachio filling with 54% dark chocolate promises balance rather than excess.
Zokoko Dark + White Mint: A Restrained Take on Mint Chocolate
Zokoko’s Dark + White Mint sits slightly apart from the brand’s single-origin range. The soft green colour palette suggests a hint of mint, setting expectations for balance over indulgence.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate 48% Review – Smooth Texture with Cocoa Depth
Hunted + Gathered’s minimal packaging sets the tone: understated, modern, and serious about chocolate. At 48% cacao, this “milk” bar hints at being something more grown-up than sweet comfort food.