Spain generally considered to have among the most adventurous sensibilities when it comes to food - including chocolate. Recently, however, representatives from a couple of different companies have begun to challenge Spain’s front-runner status in this regard. For example, Zotter in Austria makes a coffee/mustard bar and Coppeneur in Germany has some equally interesting flavor combinations. Even normally staid Switzerland, who many might consider among the most conservative when it comes to flavor pairings in chocolate is getting into the act. We recently reviewed a few bars from the Supreme line from from Chocolat Frey (pronounced fray in English) which is headquartered near Zurich.

Type(s): Eating Chocolate, Mass Market Premium Chocolatier
Style: European
Taste Rating: Ordinary to Good
Overall Value Rating: Ordinary

Chocolat Frey was started in 1887 in a small village outside Zurich brothers Robert and Max Frey. Their first product was a milk chocolate known for its creamy milk taste and delicate texture. Today they make over 1200 Swiss-made chocolate products.

The Frey Supreme line of chocolate bars includes the usual collection of milks and darks, all of which are very competently made but, to my taste, don’t stand out as being special in any way. They are good, workmanlike, bars of chocolate but they don’t call attention to themselves. The milk chocolate I tasted (the Merveille de Lait) had ground hazelnuts in it resulting in a restrained Italian gianduja-like flavor but a slightly pasty texture that was not entirely pleasant.

The range of flavors is interesting Lemon and Black Pepper in dark chocolate, Orange in dark chocolate, Chilli Peppers in dark chocolate, milk chocolate with hazelnut cream and crunchy meringue (unfortunately, this one contains hydrogenated coconut oil and palm kernel oil), and white chocolate with lemon and lime, that are all pleasant and well balanced but that don’t cry out as anything exceptional.

I still haven’t summoned up the nerve to open up and try the Rhubarb and Aloe Vera in white chocolate bar. I like rhubarb in strawberry pie and my aloe very in topical lotions. I have drunk aloe vera juice before - it’s supposed to be very healthy for you - and must profess to having not liked it.