The Offerings in Nairobi

I lived in Nairobi for the month of January, and the chocolate pickings were slim.  So slim that my friend Annie imported this Frango stuff:

 

And actually devoured it:

It wasn't bad, but certainly not import-worthy.  But in comparison to what was available locally, Guylian-aside, I can't say I really blamed her.

In addition to Guylian were Guylian knock-offs, branded "Beglian."

They actually weren't terrible.  I mean, they were chocolate.  They had vanillin, but they were relatively legit.  Can't say I would pick one up if I had other options.

There were these Beacon-branded mint things.  Er... "thins":

 

Also edible, but they were no Thin Mints.  Heck, they were no peppermint patties.

Also these "bon bon chocolates":

I still don't know what it was, but it was awful.

One time, there was one of these bars at Nakumatt:

Not only was it fancy looking, but it had arrived in Nairobi within 3 years of its production, which honestly impressed me.  That said, the bar didn't.  It was too fruity.  Sorry "Chocolat Stella, original Swiss chocolate."

Bottom Line:  It's not like you're going to Nairobi for the chocolate, so come prepared with your own stash.

The Meadow Tasting #5: Xocolatl 68% Foie Gras

We resigned ourselves to trying at least one or two "flavored" bars, though it is somewhat out of character.  When we asked for a recommendation of any bar in the store, surprisingly, this was the first bar picked by the shopkeep.

This bar was salty, smooth, and creamy. It was like breakfast in a chocolate bar. Although it was very fancy, it wasn't really to my tastes. The taste was too thick. Plus, I am a modified vegetarian, which means that I'm modified enough to eat foie gras chocolate, but I'm vegetarian enough that I won't enjoy it.

This bar, apparently, is mine.

David had a similar experience to me, but with a different result.  While he characterized it as a "gut bomb," I think he wound up enjoying it quite a bit more than I did.  He also reported sharing it with his coworkers to surprising praise.  The key is that the foie gras does not really shine through much in the taste, but rather just makes the bar exceptionally rich.

Bottom Line:  If you are looking for something chocolatey like dark chocolate but even richer in taste and texture than milk chocolate, look no further.  If you plan to eat a meal in the subsequent 14 hours, maybe hold off.