This is the Venchi Lunar New Year Chocoviar & Ingot Gift Box.
It contained:
- 3 x Chocoviar Crema Cacao
- 3 x Chocoviar Gianduia
- 3 x Chocoviar Dark 75%
- 8 x Dark Hazelnut Ingots
The dimensions of the chocoviar were about 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm, while the ingots were 4 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm.
Chocoviar Crema Cacao. This featured a cocoa and hazelnut filling encased in a milk chocolate shell and coated in 75% dark chocolate and milk chocolate ‘chocoviar’.
The cocoa and hazelnut filling melted into a creamy, velvety texture reminiscent of thick nut paste, offering a delightful balance of nuttiness and sweetness against the robust bitterness of the dark chocolate shell. The milk chocolate ‘chocoviar’ provided a welcome element of crunch that contrasted with the tenderness of the rest of the chocolate. Among the trio of chocoviar chocolates, this was our favourite.
Chocoviar Gianduia. This featured a whole, lightly roasted hazelnut coated in gianduia, enclosed in a 56% dark chocolate shell, and topped with 75% dark chocolate ‘chocoviar’.
The crunch of the whole hazelnut was delightful, yet the sweet nuttiness from the thick paste-like gianduia was almost overshadowed by the intense flavours of the two dark chocolates. However, their non-acidic bitter-sweetness enhanced the nutty notes of the hazelnut that were most prominent in the finish.
Chocoviar 75% Dark. This comprised 75% dark chocolate topped with 75% dark chocolate ‘chocoviar’.
The ‘chocoviar’ addition didn’t significantly alter the chocolate, as it shared the same darkness as the chocolate itself. Nonetheless, the dark chocolate offered bold and intense flavours with minimal sweetness, devoid of overt bitterness or acidity, allowing a nuttiness to emerge as it melted into a thick, rich texture.
Nocciolato Fondente. This featured a pair of whole hazelnuts coated in 56% dark chocolate.
Similar to the Gianduia, this variation presented a more appealing combination with just the hazelnuts and dark chocolate, allowing both elements to shine. Particularly enjoyable were the bittersweet notes of the dark chocolate combined with the contrasting nutty crunch of the whole hazelnuts.
In summary, we found the chocolates in this Venchi gift box enjoyable. However, they didn’t leave a strong impression to prompt us to consider purchasing other flavour variations.
This Venchi Lunar New Year Chocoviar & Ingot Gift Box contained 260 g. It was produced in Italy and received as a gift from acquaintances visiting Hong Kong in 2024.