Quality Chocolate in Bangkok

[JaySonic]

I promised a friend I would bring her a bunch of decent chocolate on my return visit. The experiences I had in Phuket that the regular stuff from Family Mart etc is total rubbish - it is compound chocolate, to survive the hot weather I suppose. 

 

Thinking now that bringing quality chocolate from home, having it for a week in Bangkok then flying down to Phuket, that it just won't survive without turning into a melted mess. So does anyone know the availability of non-compound chocolate in Bangkok ? I'll be staying about 010 minutes from Asoke. Duk De Praslin is a chocolatier in Silom Plaza, but it looks to me more of a cafe than a place to buy boxed items to take away. 

 

Would be good to know before I leave so I know whether to bring any with me or not. 

 

 

[smokie36]

Keep it in the fridge.

 

Take it in your carry on luggage for the flight to Phuket.

 

Get it back in the fridge quickly.

 

Easy enough.

[JaySonic]

Keeping good chocolate in the fridge for a week runs the risk of sugar or fat 'bloom'. So I'd prefer not to. The high humidity in a  fridge also does chocolate no favours. 

 

Image on the left is 'bloomed' chocolate. Not a good look for a gift

[smokie36]

Quite simply...if you are not going to refrigerate the chocolate don't buy it.

 

Whoever receives chocolate as a gift here is going to either eat it there and then or toss it in the fridge.

 

Otherwise it will simply melt.

 

We have maybe 20 bars of chocolate in our fridge for months and they are all perfectly edible.

[JaySonic]

To each their own. To my mind, there are some items that simply do not go in the fridge. Chocolate is one of of them,. Tomatos is another. 

 

We're steering away from the question here. 

[smokie36]

7 hours ago, JaySonic said:

To each their own. To my mind, there are some items that simply do not go in the fridge. Chocolate is one of of them,. Tomatos is another. 

 

We're steering away from the question here. 

 

Buying the chocolate in Bangkok is not going to be of much help if it melts by the time you meet your friend.

 

Anyway there is a chocolate shop on Sukhumvit by Soi 31-33 selling a very nice selection of individual chocs or a boxed set.

 

Paragon also has a  number of options which are high end.

 

Good luck.

[JaySonic]

Yes, you have a point. Maybe I'll stop off in Phuket Town on my way down, I'm pretty sure I'll find a chocolatier there. 

[smokie36]

7 hours ago, JaySonic said:

Yes, you have a point. Maybe I'll stop off in Phuket Town on my way down, I'm pretty sure I'll find a chocolatier there. 

 

Try asking in the Phuket Forum....someone on there will know for sure.

[daveAustin]

IMO, any chocolate available here is cack whether high end or not. They have to include wax in the mix to stop melting as you surmise. They do the same in Oz which is why it is also cack there. Just get her some Ferrero Roche from Tesco, I bet she'll be just as happy. 

[JaySonic]

I'll be passing a Makro store in Chalong that's just a few clicks from my destination, maybe I'll duck in there. This is becoming less and less about the 'gifts from home' concept hahaha. Buy some crap from up the road. 

[lopburi3]

Quote

Keeping good chocolate in the fridge for a week runs the risk of sugar or fat 'bloom'. So I'd prefer not to. The high humidity in a  fridge also does chocolate no favours. 

Most people for the last few decades have had frost-free fridge which are probably lower humidity than outside most of the time here in Thailand.  But agree chocolate not made for this climate quickly becomes a melted mass/mess.

 

As mentioned below is very popular here and quite expensive so always a good gift - and it seems to hold up quite well.

[ezzra]

 

Thailand:

**MJP Food Co ltd is our exclusive distributor**

        Maison Jean Philippe, The CommonsUnit M2,335, Thonglor Soi 17Sukhumvit 55 RdKlong Toei Nua Wattana10110

        Ceresia Coffee Roasters, Sukhumvit 33/1BangkokThailand098 251 4327

        Wonderwall Café, Avora 31 Residence 28 Sukhumvit 31Bangkok0210-87575

        Paleo Robbie, www.paleorobbie.com

        Dean& Deluca @ Mahanakon Cube, 479 Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak,Bangkok 1050002 023 1616 

[realfunster]

I think you should be OK with Duc de Praslin actually, haven't used that branch but others I visited have a decent selection to prepare a gift box. They also have an outlet in Phuket. 

[meatboy]

the wife has 15boxes of assorted chocs in one of our fridge's,van HOUTON,LINDT, AND 10BOXES OF FERRERO ROCHER.

THEY HAVE A CONTINENTAL SELECTION THIS YR.

you might be lucky that tesco still have some left [HALF PRICE]

 

[JaySonic]

oh good, there's a Tesco on my way as well (Chalong). I guess by Thai standards, Fererro Rocher is a sight better than the crap they sell in Family Mart. If I can get a box of Lindt, even better. 

[meatboy]

28 minutes ago, JaySonic said:

oh good, there's a Tesco on my way as well (Chalong). I guess by Thai standards, Fererro Rocher is a sight better than the crap they sell in Family Mart. If I can get a box of Lindt, even better. 

just looking at one of the boxes of FERRERO COLLECTION, 24PCS.

8 X RAFFAELLO  CRISP COCONUT SPECIALITY ALMOND CENTER..

8 X ROCHER HAZELNUT MILK CHOC.SMOOTH FILLING.

8 X RONDNOIR CRISP DK.CHOCO.COVERED SPECIALITY SMOOTH DK.FILLING.

WHAT A GIFT.

 

[blackcab]

4 hours ago, smokie36 said:

Anyway there is a chocolate shop on Sukhumvit by Soi 31-33 selling a very nice selection of individual chocs or a boxed set.

 

Buy 1 or 2 pieces first and try them. That's what I did. They tasted like cack.

Edited January 21, 2017 by blackcab

[fruitman]

4 hours ago, daveAustin said:

IMO, any chocolate available here is cack whether high end or not. They have to include wax in the mix to stop melting as you surmise. They do the same in Oz which is why it is also cack there. Just get her some Ferrero Roche from Tesco, I bet she'll be just as happy. 

 

BS sir.

IKEA or Ritter Sport are the same as in Europe.

 

Melt Me has great chocolate, much better than just a cheap bar.

[JaySonic]

9 minutes ago, fruitman said:

 

BS sir.

IKEA or Ritter Sport are the same as in Europe.

 

Melt Me has great chocolate, much better than just a cheap bar.

 

It's not compound chocolate ? I found that brand name stuff in the Family Marts are still compound (like Hershey). And.. absolute cack :) 

 

Years ago I worked for a major biscuit producer, and a version of their iconic chocolate biscuit was a different recipe for the middle eastern market (due to the hot weather). I suppose what I'm trying to illustrate here is that brands that are popular in Falang Land are not assumed to be the same recipe for the Thai market. 

[fruitman]

5 minutes ago, JaySonic said:

 

It's not compound chocolate ? I found that brand name stuff in the Family Marts are still compound (like Hershey). And.. absolute cack :) 

 

Years ago I worked for a major biscuit producer, and a version of their iconic chocolate biscuit was a different recipe for the middle eastern market (due to the hot weather). I suppose what I'm trying to illustrate here is that brands that are popular in Falang Land are not assumed to be the same recipe for the Thai market. 

 

ALL big brands from falangland sell a lesser quality in Thailand. 

 

But Meltme is from Hokkaido iirc, it's expensive chocolatemousse from belgium quality (the highest).

 

I know what you mean for cheap chocolate, it's made with fat from a mangosteen so it doesn't melt easy...but Ikea sure has the cheapest and best chocolate of thailand, if you want to give much for a bunch of kids than that's the best option. 

For a good thai friend i wouldn't give cheap chocolate at all, Thai like to give high quality products as a gift. But in phuket there's no ikea who sells 3 bars for 100 baht.

 

I have a box of kitkat from Makro in the fridge and it tastes great, same quality as in the West.

 

They also sell Lindt in the malls, guess it's the same as well, Swiss don't sell cheapo quality under their name.

 

But if i were you i would go to Makro in Phuket and buy a big box of Kitkat or whatever chocolate. Or just find another gift since chocolate melts easy. I'm sure your friends would be more happy with some gift from ozzyland, something which is not sold here. A bag of Achacha, Abiu, green sapote, yellow dragonfruit or so. Or kangaloomeat, camel, a big barramundi...

But those all don't keep well...maybe there's kangaloo jerky meat in Oz? Or nice beef jerky?

 

For chocolate you go to makro in phuket and buy it.

[JaySonic]

Yes, I'll load up on some decent chocolate at the Chalong Makro on my way from Phuket airport. Since this thread, i've abandoned the idea of bringing any from home, or Bangkok. 

 

Kangaroo jerky ? You sir, are brilliant ! Would be nice to crack a few packets open for the staff at  the bar we will frequent from time to time. It will go down well with the stupid little clip on kangaroo keyrings Im taking over. 

 

Talk about being an Aussie travelling clich'e haha. 

[JaySonic]

Makro will have better quality, like Lindt or whatever?  or is Tesco the better option ? Both are on my way and I'll get my taxi to stop for me. 

[crazygreg44]

If you like the Swiss chocolates -  every Tesco Lotus stocks LINDT-chocolates and an assortment of LINDT-pralines, as well as TOBLERONE bars

Edited January 21, 2017 by crazygreg44

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, blackcab said:

They tasted like cack.

 

Not personally being experienced in the delights of coprophagia, perhaps you could expand?

[JaySonic]

10 minutes ago, crazygreg44 said:

If you like the Swiss chocolates -  every Tesco Lotus stocks LINDT-chocolates and an assortment of LINDT-pralines, as well as TOBLERONE bars

 

Good on you, Greg. I'll go there then. 

[kkerry]

I was in Central Embassy Bangkok last week and saw this place, looked nice.

https://www.teuscherthailand.com/collections/all

 

The problem I've found before with giving expensive wine or chocolate as gifts in Thailand is, unless the person you are giving it to is used to a quality product then they won't even like it. 

Kit Kat or Fererro Rocher might be a better choice depending on who you are giving it to

 

I love chocolate but I've found a lot of Thais aren't really chocolate eaters. Just the other day I was given a box of Guylian,  because no-one else wanted it. I prefer dark chocolate but it made a nice change.

Edited January 21, 2017 by kkerry

[JHolmesJr]

99% of chocolate (dark) is useless as it has been subjected to 'Dutching' -- a process that mixes it with alkali and destroys the healthy compounds in it.

 

The only chocolate i trust is unprocessed..in small quantities. Look for brands like Vivani, Tazaa etc….google for more.

[JaySonic]

4 minutes ago, kkerry said:

I love chocolate but I've found a lot of Thais aren't really chocolate eaters. Just the other day I was given a box of Guylian,  because no-one else wanted it. I prefer dark chocolate but it made a nice change.

 

Really ? A box of individually wrapped, mixed Cadbury chocolates somehow turned up in a bar one night, and every single staff member went nuts over them, as if they had just discovered gold. And that was the crap chocolate !

 

My friend reminds me every other week to bring her nice chocolate from home (unbeknownst to her... Tesco up the road!)

[JaySonic]

5 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

The only chocolate i trust is unprocessed..in small quantities. 

 

Life is to short for me to mistrust chocolate. 

[YaiJung]

villa market in chalong (or other branches) and Tops in the basement of Central Festival will have the largest selection that you will find on the island.  Far more than any tesco or big c.