Tasting Cococo's Award-Winning Rosemary Fusion Bar

Cross-posted from Calgary is Awesome.

Just before the holidays, I received an email from Calgary-based Cococo Chocolatiers (aka Bernard Callebaut) asking me if I wanted to taste their new Rosemary Fusion chocolate bar, which recently won a silver medal in the Flavoured Milk Chocolate Bar category at the 2012 International Chocolate Awards. You can never have too much chocolate during the holidays, so I said yes.

I'd expected them to just send a chocolate bar for me to taste, so imagine my surprise when a basket of goodies - crackers, cheeses, prosciutto, nuts, and of course, two of the bars, arrived on my doorstep!

I decided I wanted to get a range of opinions, since I was told the flavour was "polarizing", so I decided to bring the chocolate to Christmas dinner. I should've known not to mention the "polarizing" part when telling people what it was because many were afraid to try it!

"It tastes like Mexican Christmas"

Despite being billed as "Rosemary Fusion", the first flavour that hits your tongue is actually the spicy-savoury habanero sea salt. The smooth, creamy milk chocolate melts in your mouth with herb undertones from the rosemary and thyme.

The overall verdict from the people who tasted was that it was OK, but probably not something we'd buy on our own. Only one person really disliked it.

Somehow a square made it to B.'s grandma, who has dementia - she took a bite... and then another... then realized it was spicy and stuck out her tongue, asking for water!

If you'd like to try this polarizing bar for yourself, Rosemary Fusion has been on sale at Cococo Chocolatiers/Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut since Boxing Day! Get it and try something bold for the new year.

Full Disclosure: As noted in the opening paragraph, I received a gift basket from Cococo, including a sample of the Rosemary Fusion chocolate bar. I was not compensated for writing this post; all opinions are my own.