This box of Lake Champlain Chocolate Organic Truffles was made for the holidays (hence the ornamental theme) but purchased in January (at half off!) and consumed in March. So they weren’t exactly at their peak of freshness. But since they’re mass produced, they do have a preservative (soy lecithin) and had survived well enough. Besides, for truffles that are sold in prepackaged boxes through grocery stores like Whole Foods, how fresh could they really ever be?

From top down, left to right, they are 70% Dark, Honey Fig, Aztec, Vanilla, Ginger Lemon, and Milk.

70% Dark – “Sweet & bitter goodness with a rich chocolate coating.” Bland cocoa flavor. Meh.

Honey Fig – “Wild honey & succulent figs join milk chocolate in aromatic delight.” A soft ganache with a sweet fruitiness to the finish. I don’t get fig, exactly, but then again, I rarely eat figs.

Aztec – “Cayenne & cinnamon warm dark chocolate, while a touch of lime chills.” Creamy ganache with a dry cinnamon spice and a dry heat. I love Mexican chocolate, and I enjoyed this truffle the most. No noticeable lime flavor or chill, at least in my not-so-fresh truffle.

Vanilla - “Pure vanilla notes in concert with 70% dark chocolate.” My friends ate this one while I was in the bathroom. They said it was good.

Ginger Lemon - “Tangy citrus & zippy ginger in perfect harmony with dark chocolate.” An initial ginger undertone with a light citrus finish.

Milk – “Rich milk chocolate whipped with cream & butter into silky smooth simplicity.” A super soft milk chocolate ganache with, sadly, no flavor notes. Blah.

As you’ve probably figured out by now, I was underwhelmed. They were nice enough, and I’ll bet they were even better at full price when they were more fresh. And they’re certainly a cut above the even more mass-produced chocolate of other brands. But I like my truffles to have more of a wow factor. For me, that usually comes from creative flavor combinations, and these guys just didn’t deliver. An O.

• Chocolove Milk Chocolate (33%) – thick and creamy, coats the tongue heavily; vanilla and caramel notes
• Nirvana Belgian Chocolates’ Papua single origin (35%) – dull and greasy looking, coffee smell, vanilla and yogurt flavor
• Scharffen Berger Extra Rich Milk (41%) – dusky, smoky flavor, soft snap with a thick and heavy melt, lingering finish
• Endangered Species Smooth Milk (52%) – earthy, pepper flavor
• Vosges Naga Bar (41%) – a bit grainy with a great snap, coconut flavor
• Vosges Mo’s Bacon Bar (41%) – smells smoky, bacon bits give it a large grain, super salty bar
• Vosges Red Fire or Oaxaca Bars (55%) – starts off sweet but the chili burn and the heat builds, a finish that lingers in the back of the throat
• Chocolove Ginger Crystallized in Dark Chocolate (65%) – sweet, sugar flavor, light ginger and citrusy notes
• Chocolove Strong Dark (70%) – earthy aroma, greasy texture
• Lake Champlain Single Origin Sao Thome (70%) – sweet and fruity notes
• Vosges Creole Bar (70%) – sweet start, coffee finish that lingers, a creamy melt around the coffee bean and nib bits
• Scharffen Berger Antilles (75%) – my favorite of the bunch – a sharp snap on a glossy, dark bar, creamy melt, lingering finish
• Lake Champlain Single Origin Tanzania (75%) – banana notes, thinner melt, unpleasant finish that’s buttery and lingering
• Scharffen Berger Extra Dark (82%) – bitter tobacco notes with a slightly sweet finish
• La Maison Du Chocolat Coro (100%) – bitter start, dries out the mouth
• Valrhona Gianduja Noisette (no %, but super, super light milk) -super soft, almost like fudge at room temperature, quite soft, creamy, heavy, and thick with strong hazelnut flavors