Our panel tasted 8 boxed-chocolate assortments available from supermarkets and specialty chocolate shops. Five were made in New Zealand and three were imported from Europe.
The four experts tasted three pre-selected chocolates from each box. The chocolates were tasted "blind", so the tasters didn't know the brand. They rated each chocolate on its appearance, taste, and texture.
We picked boxes where the appearance of the individual chocolate is part of the appeal. For this reason, we didn't include boxes where the chocolates were individually wrapped.
We bought our chocolates from supermarkets and specialty chocolate shops just as a consumer would.
Our panel
Thanks to our panel, who spent a morning tasting chocolate ... we felt really sorry for them. Pictured below from left to right are:
- Anji Davies
Food, wine and confectionery buyer at Kirkcaldie and Stains department store, Wellington. - Jiri Havlik
Chocolate maker and owner of Melting Perfection Chocolatier, Wellington. - Margaret Brooker
Food-writer and author of 'It's my turn to cook'. - Pauline Nunns
Pastry chef and winner of NZ Pastry Chef of the Nation in 2005 and 2006.
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