I like a great many things about Antidote Chocolate. I like that each bar is named after Greek or Aztec goddesses. I like the gorgeous packaging. I like that today’s bars were given to me by my brother, who I miss muchly right now. I like that the chocolate is vegan. I like that its tagline is “health through pleasure”.
I like that the company focuses on letting the cacao shine, but that it also throw in unusual and inventive ingredients. I like that the cacao is half-raw, half-roasted. I like that Antidote Chocolate is the creation of a woman, Red Thalhammer, who hoped her chocolates could act as antidotes for troubles in our daily lives.
I like that I like the chocolate, too.
Antidote Hybris: Mango + Juniper 84% Dark Chocolate
Hybris, Greek Goddess of Reckless Pride and Insolence: With her outrageous behavior, Hybris is the antidote to fear and insecurity. Her overpowering spirit comes alive through juniper berries and mango, the king of fruits, to promote thriving strength.
I like that a goddess of reckless pride and insolence might not seem a logical choice for chocolate, but Red made it work by turning Hybris into a shield against fear and insecurity. I like this because fear, insecurity, and anxiety are common demons in my life, and I’d like to have such a shield.
I like that the aroma of the Hybris Mango + Juniper 84% Dark Chocolate was light and fruity, making me think of kombucha and white wine. I like that the taste was not acidic. I like that I tasted toffee apples, smoke, and chewy real dried mango, not sickly-sweet crystallised mango. I would have liked the juniper to be more assertive.
Antidote Hebe: Lemon Salt 77% Dark Chocolate
Hebe, Greek Goddess of Youth: Fresh and memorable, Hebe’s nectar is the antidote to time passing. Her youthful spirit, revived through lemon & salt, rejuvenates and addicts to laugh and play.
I like that Antidote’s description of Hebe and youthfulness does not make a single reference to botox. I like that the aroma was a little like lemonade, and that the delicate lemon-infused salt flakes shimmered on the surface of the 77% dark chocolate.
I like that the salt had a strong bold kick, and was intertwined with zingy lemon zest. I like that the salt accentuated the marscapone, floral, and oak notes of the chocolate, and that the overall taste reminded me of the margaritas that my mother would sometimes drink back when we lived in Orange County. I like that the citrus wasn’t bitter, and that sometimes I thought I tasted marshmallows.
Antidote Aletheia: Ginger + Gooseberry 84% Dark Chocolate
Aletheia, Greek Goddess of Truth and Wisdom: Lies are spread everywhere but Aletheia’s divine truth is the antidote to delusion and denial. Her clarifying spirit, through ginger and gooseberries, cleanses you feeling refreshed and strong.
I like that this was my favourite of the three Antidote chocolates I tried, and I hope that Aletheia’s wisdom will help me find my path here in Canada. I like that its aroma was spicy yet subtle, with an earthiness reminiscent of newly-growing flowers. I like that it was covered in ginger sparkledust.
Very simply, I like this chocolate. I like that its flavour notes encompassed sourdough bread and pecans and toffee and chewy gooseberries like tangy pineapple and molasses and smokiness and fruity-sour-zing and deep deep chocolate.
Yes, I like Antidote Chocolate. And I’d like to think I’ll one day get to experience each and every flavour in its range. I would like that.
Wow this chocolate sounds so good! Did you get it in Canada? If so where? All the things you loved about it sound like things I can totally get on board with.
Alas no, my brother brought it back to me from America, and I saw it in many health food stores and Whole Foods in New York City.
Yum yum yummo. I would like all of these, I can tell you that. What awesome flavour combos…. plus they are all deliciously dark. Perfecto.
Loving the names! So exotic and mysterious
I would really enjoy the ginger one though, the lemon salt one would be a close second!!!
Those are some gorgeous slabs my friend, though I am partial to the mango one
Cheers
CCU
Oooh! I am starting to feel like an addict. These photos were too beautiful, too alluring, too crisp. And there is no chocolate in this house BECAUSE I ATE IT ALL and now I have to go and shop and I will NEVER FIND CHOCOLATE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS.
This is a TERRIBLE STORY OF DEVASTATION and you better have bought yourself more chocolate, my dear friend, or else I might have to curl up in a ball and cry. CRY. Surely Italy has some equally gorgeous chocolate, though?
Ok I must be thinking on them because I really thought that that chocolate had Jupiter in it
That actually could almost make sense; after all, Jupiter was the king of the gods and the god of sky and thunder in ancient Roman mythology.
I was sold at the “health through pleasure” line. The flavours – such incredible flavours! – were a bonus and now I have this chocolate in my Favourite Chocolate category without even trying it. Your reviews are powerful indeed
Is “buy plane ticket to New York” now on your to-do list for tomorrow? That’s how powerful I aim to be.
I love how you always find and review chocolate brands and flavours I have never heard of and never thought possible
I’d love to try the mango one ~ I’m addicted to mangoes again lately cuz it’s getting warm here in Australia hehe
There’s an amazing world of chocolate once you get out of stupid-boring-chocolate-Australia.
The combinations remind me a bit about the now sadly departed Curious Chocolatier. And the “health through pleasure” that is genius marketing!
I feel so sad when I think about that. I want endless supplies of dark chocolate with rosemary and freeze-dried apricots!
I like this write up very much – reading your tasting notes (sourdough!!!) is always illuminating – but reading about greek goddesses is a little bonus here – and I would love to sample every chocolate in this range too based on reading about these three
Thank you Johanna. Many smiles!
I think we all need to be a little more assertive every now and then. Juniper may be stricken by fear, insecurity and anxiety but we all know how great it could be if it just relaxed and allowed itself to shine
Helen, will you please come here and help me find my way and my courage? I’ll repay you with many hugs, bowls of poutine, and drizzles of maple syrup. xoxo
You know the way – it’s just a matter of taking that first skip
I would love to visit for poutine though! /clicks heels
In my head, I know this. In my heart, the first skip seems like trying to leap over the Grand Canyon. xo
Before I discovered your blog I had no idea there were so many different types of chocolate in the world made by so many different companies. I haven’t heard of this Greek goddess chocolate but I love the packaging and the tag line is great and the flavours sound so much more interesting than ‘caramello’ or ‘hazelnut’ or ‘forest fruits’ – and I’m sure they taste better too! xx
Absolutely! The state of Australian chocolate makes me want to cry. No, really. It’s one of the things that makes me feel “ugh” about going back…
I love how these chocolates are named after goddesses and the packaging is so fun and bright!
Wishing we had more of that loveliness here in Aus. *sadface*
Me too. Both the chocolate and the state of chocolate in Australia is gross.
Everything about this chocolate is brilliant. Brilliant! I’ve never seen or heard of it before, so I’m pleasantly shocked to learn of its existence. Man, those flavor combinations make me think of the things I dream up…. or wish I’d dream up, anyway:)
I think I’d like your chocolates, too
This looks heavenly! Can you get it in north america?! Mmm the mango juniper sounds interesting. Such pretty packaging too.
They’re made in New York and I saw them all over New York City, and in a few other Whole Foods across the country. I don’t know about Canada though!
The packaging is gorgeous too …
Hmmm, as one stuck in stupid-boring-chocolate-Australia it’s very dispiriting to see such wonderful temptations! I checked out their website, and was hoping it was European, but then I see that it is American. New York isn’t on the calender til 2018. Oh well, I’ll have to wait then….
But does that mean you’re heading back to Europe before 2018? Woot! You travel so much; I love it