Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate CONTEST!

I feel like I’ve done a lot of product reviews and giveaways lately, and trust me I’m not complaining! It’s so much fun to try new products and then give my wonderful readers (that’d be you) a chance to give them a try.

Today though I have a very different review and a super great contest for you.  Oh and yes, it involves chocolate, and tea. You can tell why I’d be excited.

 

 

About a month ago (actually before the other giveaways I’ve offer lately) I talked to Francine from Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate through a mutual connection (not giving away any names but she’s on her a lot.) Francine now lives and works out of the Brandywine Valley which is the Greater Philadelphia for those of you who aren’t familiar.

Francine has such a great story. After studying chocolate making at the Ecole Chocolat in Vancouver, Canada Francine moved from her native New York to pursue her dream of making her own artisan chocolates here in Pennsylvania.
 

Francine’s chocolates are made using fair trade chocolate, quality and even organic ingredients. Not only that but five percent of all of proceeds are donated to the Church of Christ disaster relief efforts.

 

 

I was so excited to try her chocolates so Francine was kind enough to send a variety box of her chocolates for me to try and I have a lot to tell you about them!

 

Francine sent me three of her flavors which were all so different but equally delicious.

 

 

The flavors I tried were the Dark Salted Caramel, Turtle in a Shell, and the newest tea-infused Black Currant.

 

The first chocolate I tried was the Dark Salted Caramel.

 

 

“Buttery caramel center in a 64% dark chocolate shell sprinkled with sea salt.” I must say that is a good way to describe it! The caramel was not you expect now a days from most candy caramel which can be syrupy and tough. Instead the caramel is soft, buttery, and melts in your mouth reminding me so much of the chocolates I had in England. I love dark chocolate so the combination of the light almost savory caramel, dark chocolate and just a light dusting salt went together so nicely. An easy favorite for those who don’t like overly sweet chocolates!

The second chocolate I tried was the tea infused Black Currant.

 

“38% white chocolate center infused with black currant tea in a dark chocolate shell.” When I first talked to Francine she mentioned her new creation, the Black Currant. How she knew Black currant was one of my favorite flavors of all time I have no idea! Black currant is such a popular flavor in Britain which makes this chocolate remind me the most of England. What I love about this chocolate is it is not what you would expect.
 

As soon as you bite into the Black Currant you the taste sweet berries with a creamy finish. You can definitely taste the tea infusion in this one. The sweet of the currants and the herbiness of the tea mixes so well with the dark chocolate. The ribbon of white chocolate on top pulls the whole chocolate together making it such a sweet treat. This is the best chocolate for fruit lovers!

 

The last chocolate I tried was the Turtle in a Shell.

 

“Buttery caramel and roasted pecan center in a 64% dark chocolate shell. Topped with roasted pecan.”  This was my favorite chocolate of all. The “turtle” had a slightly milder dark chocolate that went perfectly with the roasted organic pecans. You can instantly taste the bits of pecans swirled in caramel that is more substantial to compliment the crunchiness of the nuts. I love the almost liquor-flavor of this chocolate. If I had to choose I would buy a box of just these! (And probably one of each of the other ones….who could choose?)
 

But with a good segue to that…
 

You don’t have to choose!
 

On Francine’s website the chocolates are arranged into collections.
 

The Royal Collection features quintessential tea-infused British flavors. Looking at the Lavender Earl Grey, ginger blossom, even chocolate Chai I started to get home-sick for my home-away-from-home! I know a certain blogger friend who would like the Chai especially and I would like the Irish Mist with black tea and Irish cream! This would make such a unique gift!
 

I have envy over the Imperial Collection including Wine and Spirit Infused chocolates including the best liquor flavors like Kahlua, Pina Colada, Amaretto, Champagne, and more! These chocolates not only feature liquor flavors but also the great tea-infusions Francine prides herself on. This is what tea infusions were made for: organic black tea, white tea, osmanthus flowers, rooibos and so many others it makes my mouth water!
 

The Traditional Collection which includes "Old Time Favorites" with a twist like the Salted Saramel, the Turtle, and four other flavors including Hot Chocolate, Hazelnut Gianduja, Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry, and Peanut Butter Ganache! This is the one for classic flavor lovers!
 

Not only that but Francine offers lots of special items such as Wine Chocolates for Borderland Vineyards and Chocolate covered Brownie bites!

 

 

Review: I love the variety Designs by Francine includes in the artisan chocolates. Every chocolate is incredibly unique using flavors from all over the world. While this is a new business, Francine is well on her way to having a hit! Despite my vacuum-like qualities sometimes in actuality I am very picky about chocolates. You can tell Francine puts a lot of love in to all of her chocolates. My favorite was Turtle in a Shell because I love pecans. I’m big about supporting small and local businesses because that’s usually where the best products come from. I hope you decide Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate no matter where you are in the US, you’ll be supporting a pretty great business from what I’ve seen.

Great for tea time too!

Have I made you hungry yet? Good!

When Francine and I talked about this review she had the great idea of doing something different than just a giveaway. Since her chocolates are so unique we wanted to give you my readers a chance to come up with a tea-infused flavor of your own!
 

The Contest

 

Have you ever thought about having your favorite flavors prepared in an artisan chocolate? Here’s your chance! Designs by Francine Artisan chocolate is giving one reader a chance to create their own unique chocolate including their favorite tea blends!

 

• One (1) reader will receive a 12 piece box of the chocolates they create from Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate!
• The winner’s name and unique chocolate creation will appear on Designs by Francine’s website for sale! (With recognition for the winner)

Here’s what you do:

• Name the type of chocolate: white, milk, or dark.
• Suggest the type of tea you would like infused in the center of the chocolate. Be creative! (For ideas check out Francine’s website)
• NAME YOUR CHOCOLATE! Come up with a name that reflects the flavors and personality of your creation!

The Tea flavors are endless! Have fun!

 

The Rules:

 

• The Contest will run for two weeks from September 12th to September 25th. Designs by Francine will decide the winner soon after and I will announce it here on the College Cuisiner and contact the winner!! Please give Designs by Francine time to create your unique chocolate.
• Open only to readers living in US
• Entry must be included in a comment on this post.

• Leave a way for me to contact you: email, google account, etc.

Please spread the news via Facebook, twitter, and your own blogs!

 

Tweet and Facebook this contest!

 

 "Just entered the Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate #contest on the @CollegeCusiner! #Enter now! http://www.thecollegecuisiner.com/2012/09/designs-by-francine-artisan-chocolate.html"

 

Thanks to everyone who enters! Good Luck!

 

P.s. if you are in the Philadelphia or Brandywine Valley Area on September 30th, Francine will be at the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail Harvest Festival at the Borderland Vineyard on Landenberg, PA. Stop by for a chocolate tasting utilizing Valrhona, Michel Cluizel and Venchi fine chocolates! Let her know I sent you!

 

Love,

 

The College Cuisiner

 

Note: Designs by Francine offered a free sample and the opportunity for a contest on the College Cuisiner. I was not compensated for a positive review and all opinions are my own. Like…yummy.