Charles vs. Willy Wonka

Charles Chocolates is yet another Bay Area breed of gourmet chocolates. The packaging is what initially caught my eye. The bar comes in a thin, cardboard box that is a warm brown color. On a recent visit to a new confection shop in town, The Candy Store, I finally picked up one of these enticing bars of chocolate.

Charles Chocolate bars have very interesting flavors, including: Hazelnut/Candied Orange Peel, Mocha Java, Bittersweet Carmelized Rice Krispie Bar, Milk Chocolate Carmelized Rice Krispie Bar, and a Ginger Bar. I like the pairings, complementary and a little different, but not to wild. I chose the Bittersweet Carmelized Rice Krispie Bar thinking would be grown-up version of my favortive chocolate bar as a child, the Nestle Crunch.

Opening the package is a multi-step process. First, you must open the box and slide out the dense bar wrapped in foil. Then, you carefully unwrap the bar and break off a piece of chocolate. By the time I got to the actual chocolate bar, I was expecting to see a golden ticket!

The chocolate is extremely smooth and rich. The carmelized krispies add a nice crunch and bit of texture. The rich taste of the chocolate lingers in your mouth for quite a while. The bar is broken up into 24 squares, so with a little self control, this bar can last quite a while.

Chocolates from Charles Chocolates would make a nice gift for a chocolate loving friend or serve as a nice little indulgence for yourself. It might just bring a little magic to your life!