[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

Many people are familiar with Valrhona for their high quality baking chocolate and chocolate bars. But many aren't aware that Valrhona does a brisk online business with a variety of bonbons and tasting chocolates.These include crunchy almond hazelnut pralines, white chocolate with a center of blackcurrant, and chocolate-dipped candied orange zest. But one of the best ways to get to know the different varieties of Valrhona is with the Degustation Grand Crus (pictured above, $35.99).

There are 52 single-bite tasting squares in the box—13 pieces each of four different signature chocolates. Start with the Tanariva, a 33% milk chocolate, sweet and easily likeable with caramel notes. Then move up in intensity with the somewhat fruity Taïnori, a 64% chocolate. The rich Caraïbe at 66% is decidedly velvety, while Guanaja 70% is the darkest and certainly the most bold and intense of the set. Not enough for you? Valrhona also offers a larger set with 66 pieces of six different types of chocolate.

Valrhona

valrhona-chocolate.com

About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan writes A Passion For Food, where she chronicles her eats and travels adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.