January 2011
Coming for valentine’s:
HisandHers
The
COLLECTION
Tasting Club Easter COLLECTION 2011 See page 4
Champions of Champions:
SIX of the Best See page 12
Free GIFT
for Members See page 14
inside: Members
only vouchers – see page 16
Valentine’s with a difference... With the bright New Year just beginning there’s already a date in the diary best not to forget… This Valentine’s Day you can add an intriguing twist to proceedings – just take a look at The His and Hers Collection on page 6.
“
A catalogue designed just for our members!
Easter Collection – see pages 4-5
And then we’re looking forward to one of the most exciting dates in the chocolate calendar, Easter. And it’s not just utter heaven for those of us who love chocolate, it’s also the chance for a relaxing long weekend with friends and family – not forgetting, of course, the Club’s exclusive Easter egg made especially for members. And last, but certainly not least, there’s Six of the Best to discover on page 12, rounding off an extremely exciting season indeed!
”
Best wishes
Angus Thirlwell, Club Founder
Why Reserve? All Tasting Club products are created to member demand. When you reserve we make sure there is a personal collection just for you. This means that when we have finished preparing your box we waste no time in sending it out to you ultra-fresh.
Send no money now While you can reserve your specials upfront, you don’t have to pay upfront. We only charge you when your box is actually sent out, via invoice or autodebit (if your account is set up with this facility). His and Hers – see pages 6-9
Ordering your specials You can order all our specials via post using the form on page 17. However, don’t forget you can use the Manage My Membership function of our website www.chocs.co.uk/MMM to order specials. If you have problems ordering online go to www.chocs.co.uk/MMMhelp for further details. Finally, if you prefer to talk, you can always phone us on the number below.*
Phone the Tasting Club Team on 08444 727 070 Six of the Best – see pages 12-13 2
*For specials in addition to your personal box payment upfront is required.
Easter
collection
Preview Easter
The Tasting Club
Specially made just for members...
Get cracking
You can reserve yours today! There’ll be only one making of our exclusive Easter Collection, so please act now to make sure you get yours – only reserved eggs can be guaranteed.
Reserve online at www.chocs.co.uk/EASTER 3
The Tasting Club
Easter collection
Every year we really push the boat out to create something rather special for members and this year is definitely no exception – with an exclusive collection of filled mini eggs and Easter chocolates hidden inside extra thick chocolate shells. Plus there’s an extra treat for members to discover and there’s even a letterbox friendly option this year too.
Prefer a Letterbox-Friendly Option? If you’d rather your Easter egg fit through the letterbox, then look no further than Hotel Chocolat’s Easter Egg Box. A gorgeous collection of 30 filled mini eggs that are perfect for passing around and sharing this Easter – including melt-away pralines, silky smooth ganaches with blueberry, amaretto and mouth warming whisky, strawberry, liquid caramel and more. Available for the members-only price of £21.95 (INCL. delivery)
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Reserve online at www.chocs.co.uk/EASTER
Crammed with irresistible Easter chocolates
Inside the extra thick shells we’ve crammed in 12 mini eggs and Easter chocolates including a solid chocolate chick – featuring creamy ganaches with zesty orange and tangy blueberries, mouth warming malt whisky and amaretto, coffee, soothing vanilla, melt-away pralines and more. Plus there’s an additional separate treat too – including a solid chocolate Easter tablet, a chunky smiley face praline and chocolate Egg & Soldiers.
Preview Easter
Our renowned extra thick shells in 40% milk, 70% dark or one of each 12 specially made Easter chocolates including a solid chocolate Easter chick Members’ Extra Easter treat – solid chocolate Easter tablet, smiley praline and chocolate Egg & Soldiers Freshly made and despatched in good time for Easter Choice of three different collections – Milk, Dark or Mix Exclusive members-only price of £22.95 (incl. delivery)
3 Stunning Versions to choose from: THE CLASSIC – with thick 40% milk chocolate shells, crammed with milk, dark and white Easter chocolates. The Dark – with thick 70% dark chocolate shells, brimming with dark chocolate recipes. The Mix – with thick milk and dark chocolate shells, filled with milk, dark and white recipes – the best of both worlds.
RESERVE YOURS TODAY! for the member price
of just £22.95 incl. delivery – order form on page 17
To order by phone call 08444 727 070
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Hers Hisand
THE
COLLECTION
– a delicious new twist on Valentine’s Day chocolates! Featuring 36 of the Club’s high-scoring chocolates split equally between so-called ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ recipes – but will he like hers, will she prefer his, or will each stick to their own? Thankfully there’s two of everything, including scorecards, so finding out who likes what is sure to be lots of fun! All’s fair in love and chocolate This is actually the second edition of The His and Hers Collection – the first edition, released back in 2008, produced mixed results with a win for the ‘Her’ chocolate, Cup-Puccino, swiftly followed by two ‘His’ chocolates, Between-the-Nuts and Rum & Raisin. A close run thing indeed! So this time it’s not about who wins, it’s all about getting closer to answering the question – who prefers what? Then again, we may well prove that there’s no such thing as masculine or feminine preferences. And when all is said and done, it is only a bit of fun, because, as Dwight D Eisenhower wisely said,
will ever win the battle “Nobody of the sexes. There’s too much fraternising with the enemy… ”
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Reserve online at www.chocs.co.uk/HISHERS
Two of everything – one for him and one for her Freshly made and despatched in time for Valentine’s Day Plus an additional His and Hers quiz Last orders by 6th February Special members-only price just £22.95 (incl. delivery)
A delicious
BATTLE OF THE SEXES 2 each of 18 gorgeous chocolates
Take yourselves on an exciting tasting adventure through a complete spectrum of flavours and textures – as you taste your way from theoretically ‘feminine’ recipes, right through to the so-called ‘masculine’ chocolates. And there are many in between that we’ll leave you to decide about. Freshly made and delivered in time for Valentine’s Day – is there any better way to celebrate the season of love than with a gorgeous tasting session? On the light and fruity side there are the timeless notes of Champagne Truffle and the fruity hints of Kir Royale… tangy blueberries in a silky soft ganache and two cult classics in the form of Eton Mess and Billionaire Shortbread… Delving a little deeper, you’ll find the profound notes of dark coffee ganache and mouth warming whisky… the deep notes of Liquid Caramel and the unmistakable earthiness of velvety, hazelnut pralines… not forgetting the zest of Lemon Truffle, a splash of kirsch and touch of chilli…
Feature HIS & HERS collection
Featuring 36 Valentine’s Day inspired chocolates
R FR ELE ES AS H IN ED U FE LT BR RA UA RY
The His and Hers quiz – Do you share the same interests? We are hoping to know your chocolate preferences from the scorecard included (no obligation as always!), but how do you differ in what you like doing with your spare time? As part of the His and Hers collection we’re including a small fun quiz. We are sure to have some interesting results which will be published in a future edition of Club News.
There’ll be only one special making of The His and Hers Collection – so please reserve yours now at the special members’ price of £22.95 (incl. delivery) order form on page 17 To order by phone call 08444 727 070
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Menu
His
Brand New Products from
The Chocolate Tasting Club
COFFEE INGOT A good shot of coffee moderated slightly by mellow milk ganache but then bolstered by the deep notes of the dark chocolate shell. OLD SMOKEY A characterful ganache full of the unmistakably smoky, peaty flavours of Laphroaig whisky, encased in a milk chocolate shell.
CHILLI & ALMOND CANAPÉ A riot of tastes and textures in one mouthful with 70% dark chocolate, the crunch of almond and the warmth of chilli.
SUGAR CANE PRALINE Featuring pure hazelnut paste, white chocolate and cane sugar distilled from pure Mauritian sugar cane juice, encased in milk chocolate cup.
DARK FLORENTINE Deep cocoa flavours of dark chocolate meet the earthy tones of hazelnut praline, finished off with the bite of florentine.
85% DARK BATONS No-nonsense dark chocolate made with Ghanaian Forastero cocoa for full-on cocoa flavours, good acidity but no bitterness.
LEMON TRUFFLE A real contrast of strong flavours with the refreshing zip of zesty lemon ganache encased in a deep and dark chocolate shell.
LIQUID CARAMEL Super soft caramel that is brimming with mild and mellow burned sugar notes that mingle with the strong cocoa flavours of 50% milk chocolate.
KIRSCH KICK Don’t be fooled by its innocent heartshaped look, because inside there’s a mouth-warming, kirsch-laden ganache waiting for you.
Hers
We’re looking to release a range of new products in time for AUTUMN 2011 exclusive to members of the Tasting Club, friends and family. Do let us know what you think with this short survey. 1. The Official Chocolate Tasting Club Calendar 2012
Large exclusive Tasting Club Calendar featuring a different deliciously indulgent chocolate picture for each month, plus tales from St. Lucia. Includes highlights of the Tasting Club year and your Tasting Club special reminders. Approx 400mm x 320mm.
3. THE NEW HOTEL CHOCOLAT RECIPE BOOK
184 pages with over 100 recipes spanning cakes, biscuits, desserts, drinks and savoury dishes. Includes recipes from high profile cooking celebrities. Over 160 full colour photographs.
Members’ price = £19.95 incl. delivery
Members’ price = £12.95 incl. delivery
CARAMEL SWEETHEARTS Intricate caramel chocolate hearts with sour cherry to balance the sweetness, then cocoa crisps and chopped hazelnuts for texture.
ETON MESS Soft strawberry buttercream and crisp meringue in a creamy white chocolate shell, finished with strawberry pieces.
BILLIONAIRE SHORTBREAD Melt-in-the-mouth caramel praline with crisp shortbread cookie pieces peeping through the milk chocolate shell.
BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE Light, white chocolate ganache bursting with real blueberry fruitiness, encased in a creamy white chocolate heart.
DIZZY A silky smooth hazelnut praline enrobed in mellow 40% cocoa milk chocolate and finished with a mesmerising white chocolate swirl.
PINK CHAMPAGNE A dreamy ganache made even softer with a splash of marc de champagne and finished with a dusting of strawberry powder.
KISS & TELL A seductive set of lips cast in mellow milk chocolate and filled with equally mellow, soft and smooth milk chocolate ganache.
KIR ROYALE Inspired by the timeless cocktail of the same name, with a marc de champagne ganache and a touch of blackcurrant.
MILK CHOCOLATE BUTTONS Our classic house milk chocolate made with 40% cocoa for good chocolaty notes, but with lots of traditional milkiness too.
2. Tasting Club Drinking Experience SeT
Four unique fine china mugs with the Tasting Club logo, each features a different chocolate type. Plus includes 200g of drinking chocolate.
Members’ price = £22.95 incl. delivery
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Reserve online at www.chocs.co.uk/PRODUCTS
Your
Survey
Made in high quality cotton and featuring an embroidered Tasting Club logo. Ambient black colour, available in one size.
Members’ price = £19.95 incl. delivery
Form
not at all interested
maybe interested
interested
definitely interested
Let us know how interested you would be in buying these official Tasting Club products by registering your interest.
1. T he Tasting Club Calendar 2012 £12.95 (incl. delivery) 2. Tasting Club Drinking Experience Set £22.95 (incl. delivery)
New Products TASTING CLUB
4. Official Tasting Club Chef’s apron
3. T he NEW Hotel Chocolat Recipe Book £19.95 (incl. delivery) 4. O fficial Tasting Club cotton Chef’s Apron £19.95 (incl. delivery)
Large luxury umbrella. Black in colour.
Members’ price = £24.95 incl. delivery
✁
5. The Official Tasting Club Umbrella
5. O fficial Tasting Club Umbrella £24.95 (incl. delivery)
Are there any other products you would be interested in buying from us?
If you would like more information on these products, complete your details below and we’ll send you further information during the year: Name_ Member No._ Postcode_ FREEPOST this form back to us: TASTING CLUB, FREEPOST ANG10659, ROYSTON, SG8 5YD. You can do this survey ONLINE: WWW.CHOCS.CO.UK/PRODUCTS
To order by phone call 08444 727 070
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Introducing
Six of the best
COLLECTION
The 2010 No.1 Collection featured the very best of 10 sensational years of tasting boxes. And from this definitive shortlist of golden greats member’s voted their top 6 all-time favourites. So brace yourself for a collection featuring just these chocolates and nothing but the ultimate champions of champions. An exclusive collection of 24 chocolates 4 each of the 6 all-time favourites Easy to share – if you can bear to! Freshly made and despatched in March E xclusive members-only price of £22.95
(incl. delivery)
“It doesn’t get
better than this! ”
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Reserve online at www.chocs.co.uk/SIXOFTHEBEST
these are the best? Thanks to the unique Chocolate Democracy that prevails in our Club, the short answer is YOU, our members, and your invaluable scores and comments. Last spring we released The No 1 Collection, a delicious greatest hits that featured 18 of the best winners from a whole decade of monthly tasting box winners. Members’ votes then gave us the definitive list of all-time greats from that box full of champions. And reading through the comments for that box, it became clear there was a substantial number saying they would love to get their hands on whole boxes of their favourites... So, this being a Chocolate Democracy, we listened to our members and created this unique special edition featuring nothing but all-time members’ favourites.
Only the
Champion
of Champions
A decade of delicious tasting has brought us to this pinnacle – the top 6 highest scoring chocolates, from a shortlist of 18 all-time greats, all chosen by members. Among them you’ll find cult favourites, absolute classics and innovative chocolates that broke the mould. 1. Florentina – nothing short of a classic with orange liqueur, milk chocolate and gorgeous florentine 2. Raspberry Liqueur Truffle – is this the finest example of a boozy truffle ever tasted?
Preview SIX OF THE BEST collection
WHO SAYS
FR REL ES EA H IN SED MA UL RC T R H A 20 11
3. Pomegranate Truffle – a winner from 2006 that took everyone by surprise… and still does! 4. Drunken Raspberry – a chocolate that has inspired a cult following amongst members 5. Blueberry Bombe – the first of its kind that established a new genre of chocolates with a big fruity kick 6. Griotte Deluxe – the ultimate champion that has become nothing short of a legend
This is not one to miss! Make sure you get Six of the Best by reserving yours now for the special members’ price of £22.95 (incl. delivery) order form on page 17
To order by phone call 08444 727 070
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Kick Off The
New Year in Style
Fresh selections and new recipes you really shouldn’t miss!
New Year is an exciting time of new beginnings and exciting anticipation – and the Tasting Club is no exception. Our first selection of the New Year contains a zesty lemon and caramel recipe to fill you with bright optimism. In February you’ll be enthused by a chocolate with refreshing Bison Grass vodka. And in March, we renew a modern classic and Club favourite to bring you Chocolate Trillionaire.
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Free Gift For Members And with the third new selection of the year you’ll also receive something extra special, a FREE tasting baton experience. It’s not only a gorgeous way to taste your way across the spectrum of pure, solid chocolate, it’s also a tasty way to review your chocolate preferences. Taking you from meltin-the-mouth light praline, to caramel and 40% milk chocolate, through to rare Saint Lucian dark chocolate and finally a robust 85% dark.
YOUR FREE GIFT To make sure you get your free gift just ensure you’re getting monthly selections. You can do this by completing and sending back your special voucher overleaf or simply call us on 08444 933 933 quoting ‘FREE GIFT’. If after March you’d prefer to take selections less regularly, then just let us know.
Now you can enjoy three of everything and
save £8
Perfect for family tasting and for those who’ve ever wished there was just one more of their favourite chocolates to enjoy! Trio is quite simply our extended Classic Selection with three of each and every chocolate, instead of the usual two.
SWITCH TO AUTODEBIT AND
Switch and SAVE
Trio Selections
And those extra chocolates could make all the difference, if you’ve been too slow off the mark… With Trio, you’ll have a spare on hand at all times.You could even invite someone else to taste too – if you can bear to share that is! So if you’d like to switch to Trio Selections and get the first box for just £14.95 (LESS than a regular box) see the Trio voucher overleaf.
Save £5
For ultimate convenience you can arrange an automatic debit of your account each time you choose to receive a tasting selection – so you can forget about sending cheques or missing a tasting box! It’s easy to set up, easy to stop and will apply only as long as you wish. And if you switch to Autodebit now you’ll receive £5 off your next box – Use the voucher overleaf.You could be saving on your very next box. 15
MEMBERS ONLY SAVINGS
Tasting Club Vouchers
Free GIFT
tasting baton Experience YES! I want the FREE Tasting Baton Experience in Spring. Please ensure I am getting monthly selections from my next box.
Name ��������������������������������������������� Member No. ____________________ Postcode ����������� Signature: ___________________________________________ Tick box to revert to your current delivery pattern after the FREE Gift selection OFFER CODE: FREEGIFTMAR Please redeem voucher by 14th February.
SAVE £5 when you switch to autodebit YES! I want to SAVE £5 on my next selection and make payments HASSLE-FREE. I would like my card details below registered & all future selections paid automatically with this card. Name ���������������������������������������������
VOUCHER
Member No. ____________________ Postcode ����������� Card Number:
Card Type: ___________ Start Date: End Date: Issue no.
Signature: ____________________ Date: __________________
OFFER CODE: JANAUTO1
SAVE £8 Switch TO TRIO
YES! I want to change my selections to the Classic Trio selections and get my first Trio selection for just £14.95 including delivery. Please convert my selections from next month. I understand further Trio selections are £22.95 including delivery.
VOUCHER
Name ��������������������������������������������� Member No. ____________________ Postcode ����������� Signature: ___________________________________________ OFFER CODE: TRIO
✁
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NO STAMP NEEDED. POST THESE FORMS TO: Tasting Club, FREEPOST ANG10659, Royston, SG8 5YD. Alternatively call us on 08444 933 933 and quote offer codes above. We will process your request as soon as possible, but please be aware that if you are due a selection less than 10 days after we have received your request, we may not have had a chance to process your voucher and any change/discount will be applied to your next selection.
To reserve your Tasting Club specials just complete this form. PLEASE PRINT
Name �������������������������������������������������������������������������
ey now n o m o n Postcode ______________________________________________________________________ send Address ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Member No. ___________________________ Telephone No. ____________________________ Email Address ������������������������������������������������������������������ Signature ����������������������������������������������������������������������
Please tick box if you would like to receive offers and news via email
His and Hers Collection Yes! Please reserve my personal His and Hers Collection for £22.95 incl. delivery Tick box
HH105
delivered ultra-fresh early feb 2011
Reserve Now ORDER Form
Reserve your specials – order form
Six of the Best Collection Yes! Please reserve my personal Six of the Best Collection for £22.95 incl. delivery Tick box
SB005
delivered in march 2011
✁
Easter Collection Yes! Please reserve my personal Easter Collection for £22.95 incl. delivery Tick box
Milk
Dark
Mix
Z804
delivered in good time for easter 2011
Easter Sleekster Yes! Please reserve my personal Easter Sleekster for £21.95 incl. delivery Tick box
Z805
delivered in good time for easter 2011
All orders are subject to stock and availability. POST: Just complete this form fold and post using the envelope that comes with your monthly box. Or use this address: SPECIALS RESERVE, TASTING CLUB, FREEPOST ANG10659, MINT HOUSE, ROYSTON, SG8 5YD. PHONE: To order by phone call 08444 727 070. RESERVE EXTRAS: To reserve additional Collections at a reduced price go to www.chocs.co.uk/RESERVE, alternatively call us on 08444 933 933. Payment required at time of ordering. All Tasting Club specials above include £4.95 postage and packing. Except HC Easter Sleekster which is £21.95 (including £3.95 postage and packing).
Why reserve your specials? All Tasting Club specials are made especially for members. We usually only ever do one special making and stocks are always limited. Reserve your collection to ensure that you don’t miss out and get yours ultra-fresh after making. And you only pay for your personal box on receipt of the chocolates.
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