One of the things I have found since I started blogging is the pleasure of being sent new things to try out, to play with, to taste, to review.
It is a wonderful chance to try things that I might not otherwise, to make more than I would usually, and to generally have a good nose at what is about in the world of food – or the world of food PR in truth. As most of these things are sent by the PR companies whose job it is to promote said new (and sometimes well established) brands. And who are looking for positive comments for their clients.
Now I haven’t been active in the blogging world for very long, but one thing I have seen is that a sense of fairness is essential. If I am reading a blog I don’t want to think that I am reading artificially gushingly admiring descriptions of things that the blogger actually hated. A bit of trust is needed, don’t you think?
Yes I do. Although I admit it makes me feel uncomfortable to write about things I don’t like.
So I am really very sorry and sad to have to say that I really didn’t like the Galler pralines sent for me to try recently.
The packaging is glorious, and I really had high hopes when I opened the package. I had been sent a layer from the small box of Les Carres fresh pralines, and I was expecting such good things.
Sadly I was very disappointed.
First impression: slightly confusing as the four chocolates were not easily matched to the pictures on the descriptive leaflet, so I had no idea what I was tasting. I expected this not to matter – these are supposed to be quality chocolates fillled with fresh ganaches and pralines, and I thought that each flavour would be shouting its identity.
But all I could taste was sugar. The chocolate coating was nice, but far too sweet. I like white chocolate so it isn’t as though I only eat dark bitter 80% plus chocolate, but how can you produce good quality pralines where you can’t taste the chocolate? I just didn’t expect such a waxy sweetness. Neither did I expect the chocolate to be so gritty on my tongue. There was a difference in flavour between the different pralines, but I really couldn’t tell what flavour each was. I had cut each in half and tried out the second half on my husband. He couldn’t tell either.
I’d like to say that these were delicious, smooth, moreish, melted on my tongue, filled my mouth with rich, deep flavours of nuts and cream, and all the other things that you want to have in a serious box of chocolates. But I am sorry, M. Galler, I just can’t.
So I would say that if you are after a sweet chocolate flavoured confection rather than a high percentage serious chocolate product, you may like Galler. If you are looking for a very smart gift for someone, and are more concerned with the outer effect than the inner flavour, you may like Galler. But if you want a serious shot of chocolate… no. I don’t think I would give you Galler.
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