Like Chocolate? Patchi? Try Ghraoui!

did you know that ‘patchi’ is originally from lebanon?

this expensive chocolate ‘patchi’ is now very popular among malaysians, especially those planning a wedding – it’s the perfect ‘sweet’ addition to a hantaran kawen. however, many have not heard of its equally exclusive ‘cousin’, ghraoui – another mid-east born chocolate, from syria!

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ferrero rocher is a MUST-get souvenir from mr. khairul whenever he travels abroad. calling him at the airport, i will always remind him, “don’t forget my ferrero rocher!” hihi.

however, this time around, he came back from syria with a different brand of chocolate - ‘ghraoui’. pronounced as ‘grawi’, it’s introduced in syria as far back as the 1930’s! i was very intrigued, especially when told that it’s as exclusive as patchi, if not more so!

 

 

wrapped in a gold-colored box, it’s accompanied by a little orange pamphlet that detailed each 120 varieties of chocolates they make for ghraoui.

i’m a VERY picky eater, so this list really helped me pick and choose the ones that i like, and would actually enjoy eating!

• i absolutely do not like dark chocolate
• preferably not white chocolate
• no choc with too much nuts – peanuts, pistachio, almond, hazelnut – ANY nuts

 

 

there’s dark chocolate with crushed pistachio, and many more – but strictly milk chocolate for me, with just a little bit of nuts!

 

 

the first time i was introduced to patchi brand? it was given away as complimentary door gifts at an event in dubai two years back. personally, i don’t see (or rather taste) any difference. patchi or ghraoui, they’re both deliciously creamy with rich chocolate taste.

i am taking the same stand as when i wrote about the laduree’s macarons – just because something is expensive, doesn’t mean that it’s better tasting than any other chocolate in the world!

my chocolate soul still faithfully yearns for ferrero rocher!

 

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most of the work to make the chocolates were done manually by the staff. i read that there’s even a 3rd generation of staff working there, following the footsteps of his father and his grandfather who had served for mr. ghraoui senior before.

 

 

source : here

 

there’s a ghraoui outlet in dubai mall. check it out if you’re interested! there are a few patchi outlet in malaysia, but i don’t know about ghraoui…

 

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man, i love chocolate.

my favorite? ferrero rocher of course would be on top of the list. followed closely by kinder bueno, and then kit kat. see the pattern in the type of chocolate that i like? i’ve always preferred chocolate with a little bit of crunch in them – wafer, or biscuits, rice crispy or crushed nuts.

mr. khairul loves white chocolate, and his favorite would be the white chocolate toblerone.

what’s your favorite?

 

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oh, and have you seen the movie ‘chocolat’ starring the grungy johnny depp? better watch that if you’re a chocoholic! and even if you’re so-so, you’d see chocolate in a whole new light!

want to read instead? try roald dahl’s ‘charlie and the chocolate factory!’ delightful tale of an innocent boy and the eccentric owner of a chocolate factory!

 

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“..when he sees one of his chocolates melt rapidly in your hand, he is pleased in spite of the mess. “a low melting point is a sign of true quality chocolate,” he smiles. “i don’t substitute vegetable oils to make the chocolates last longer. that’s what they do in America, and now, sadly, some companies in europe are beginning to find that acceptable as well. i don’t. i won’t.”

~ bassam ghraoui, son of founder of ghraoui.