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Decadent Sweets
Monday, January 10, 2011
From Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates. Photo by Susan Laughlin.
Correspondent photo by Courtney Hoppe
SWAN CHOCOLATES
142 Main St. Nashua.
886-7116, www.swanchocolates.com.
ITEM: Assortment of 16 truffles.
COST: $22.60.
The Nashua storefront for this local chocolatier features a small seating area in addition to a case lined with all sorts of tempting truffles. Sit in the large windows with a cappuccino and take a tour of the case, or bring your sweetie a personally selected assortment of flavors – like chipotle-cayenne, raspberry, peanut butter, pistachio praline, chocolate-dipped cherries, and mango mint. Since many of the Swan truffles are topped with colorful edible transfers, you can design a piece of pop art with your selections.
From Van Otis Chocolates. Photo by Susan Laughlin.
From Unbridled Chocolates. Photo by Susan Laughlin.
From Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates. Photo by Susan Laughlin.
Rich and creamy! In a blind taste test, our staff compared four N.H. gourmet chocolate truffles from around the state. Here’s what they thought.
Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates
The truffles from Ava Marie look good and are large but the chocolate quality of the shell was not a staff favorite. With their unique bell shape and colorful drizzles, opening a box of these truffles is definitely a delight. Some of the filling flavors included dark chocolate, coffee, hazelnut and Bailey’s Irish Crème.
43 Grove St.
Peterborough
(603) 924-5993
avamariechocolates.com
Swan Chocolates
The only downside to these truffles is that they’re bite-size, meaning you could eat your way through a whole box in no time flat. Swan’s truffles aren’t too sweet, either, also adding to the possibility of eating several too many. With a crisp shell and just right creamy center they’re almost irresistible.
436 Daniel Webster Hwy.
Merrimack
(603) 423-5950
www.swanchocolates.com
Van Otis Chocolates
Like the truffles from Swan, the Van Otis version are also little (but not too little), round, bite-sized treats. The classic dark and milk chocolate varieties were two of the staff’s favorites. These truffles also have a nicely tempered outer shell with creamy fillings, and don’t overdo the sweetness.
341 Elm St.
Manchester
(603) 627-1611
www.vanotischocolates.com
Winner
Unbridled Chocolates
We recommend you try the charming Hunt Cap Truffles — shaped, as the name suggests, in the form of equestrian helmets. The truffles are just a portion of Unbridled Chocolates’ horse-theme collection of sweets. They have a crisp outer shell that’s not too thick or too thin, and a soft center — particularly the creamy caramel dark chocolate version.
135 Main St.
Marlborough
(603) 876-4700
www.unbridledchocolates.com
More New Hampshire Chocolatiers
A Little Confection
124 1/2 N. Main St.
Concord
(603) 219-0120
www.ALittleConfection.com
Byrne and Carlson
121 State St.
Portsmouth
(888) 559-9778
www.byrneandcarlson.com
Granite State Candy Shoppe and Ice Cream
13 Warren St.
Concord
(603) 225-2591
www.nhchocolates.com
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