Alter Eco – Mint Crème Truffle Thins

Ah yes, Alter Eco, my old friend. I’ve had a few positive interactions with the brand, by which I mean I devoured their chocolate very handily and swiftly. I’ve always had a soft spot for truffles (pun intended), and figured what better way to try it in bar form than with a brand I’ve come to appreciate.

It’s interesting to note that this bar is missing a lot of things, according to the labels. Organic, non-GMO, no gluten, no soy, no corn, no artificial sweeteners and no additives. Oh and it’s also fair trade. Again, all good and interesting things to note, but ultimately we have to test if the taste and experience is enough to warrant that premium. I for one certainly hope so as I tend to like more sustainable ways of doing business.

Beneath the shiny facade that is the thin aluminum foil packaging hides what appears to be 10 squares of chocolate. The bar is relatively thin, though not enough that I can get a clean snap as I try to separate it. It could also be from the heat damage that this crazy summer has caused. Only a mad lad like me would try to get things shipped in the summer instead of waiting for cooler heads to prevail like normal people.

A quick examination of the cross section shows a nice distribution, visually at least. Between two decently thin layers of dark chocolate, is an equally thin layer of mint creme. As someone who absolutely loves the combination of chocolate and mint, especially darker chocolates, this already has a big bias in it’s favour.

The texture is softer than a solid block, though that’s likely a combination of factors including heat damage. The fondant layer in the center also lends itself to a softer and structurally unsound piece of chocolate, so it’s understandable that it doesn’t hold up as well. That being said, these do tend to melt in your mouth very nicely, without any grittiness or uneven edges or what have you. I guess that’s where the truffle part comes in. It’s still somewhat solid enough that you can chew it as is, but where’s the fun in that?

The chocolate here is supposed to be of Ecuadorian origins, and is around 60%. It does feel a bit on the lighter side, but it’s also not that sweet. Most of the sweetness comes from the refreshing, minty fondant in the centre, and it contrasts the semisweet nature of the chocolate on the outside. Overall a very nice combination of chocolate and mint, and it is refreshing while satisfying enough to leave me feeling content afterwards.

If it wasn’t obvious by now, I love mint chocolate, and when you add in some quality ingredients to back it up, you end up with something I would get again, without a doubt. These are indeed pricey, but I have long touted the quality over quantity mantra. These are pricey yes, but not so much that they put me off to trying them. Do what I do though, and wait for a sale.