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I was contacted last week about trying out a new bar from Lindt, the Lindt Excellence Chili Bar. I excitedly responded that I’d love to, and then sat back and thought about it. I realized I had never tried a chili-infused chocolate of any kind – solid or liquid – even though it’s said to be one of the oldest ways of consuming chocolate. I anxiously awaited my sample, which showed up quickly.
The packaging of the bar is a lightweight cardboard that folds over in the back like an envelope so you can easily store any chocolate left over (does anyone actually have chocolate left over?). The bar itself is wrapped in the standard, easy-tear gold foil. Each bar is 3.5 oz.
“This combination of fine dark chocolate with exquisite chili pepper delivers an absolutely unique taste experience. When savoring this new creation, chocolate connoisseurs will experience how the initially mild, delicate flavor of cocoa gradually gives way to a full-bodied but harmoniously spicy touch. Seductively piquant!”
I would have to say they nailed it! The bar is a very smooth dark chocolate made from sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter and chili extract.
At first bite it’s a nice, mild dark chocolate with a very light fruity hint, but after just a few seconds the heat from the chili hits the back of your throat before creeping to your tongue. It’s not uncomfortable – and trust me, I’d be the first to say so. I’m not a wuss when it comes to heat, but I generally like to taste my food and don’t add extra hot sauce or peppers to it!
My husband, on the other hand, does and though he doesn’t like chocolate bars without nuts he gave the Chili Bar a try and loved it. He even took a square into work with him this morning so a co-worker who also loves spicy food could give it a try, and unsurprisingly he loves it as well!
My three daughters each got a smallish sliver as well and thought it was “neat” and “cool!” that a chocolate bar could have chili in it that made your mouth “feel spicy.” A hit all around!
Overall it’s a very good chocolate bar, and as I said above everyone who’s tried it has loved it. I’m glad I got the chance and I’m going to keep an eye out for it at the store so I (and definitely my husband!) can have a bar in the snack cupboard at all times!
It looks like it can be purchased online at the Lindt website (third one down on the right side) as part of a 6 bar chocolate kit for $17.94. I’ll update as I find more locations!
[images used with permission from Lindt]
this is my all time favorite…when i want chocolate it is the one and only bar i buy…..
I discoverd this wonderful chocolate delayed, spice, a little surprising but fascinating, I love…..
I bought a bar at a Target store, just for the novelty. The chocolate is initially soothing, as we all want our chocolate to be. Soon, however, the heat of the chili overpowers the cool smooth chocolate, and you mouth begins to wonder what you have done to it. It is not bad, it is just very different, but it leaves one with a heat which is not what chocolate sampling should be all about.
824 days ago
[...] to mess this up. I had high hopes for a straight black spicy coffee, and I was not disappointed. Dark chocolate and chili have become a common pair lately, and the same delightful bitter / spicy combo is present here. The [...]
Looking at all these positive reviews, I guess it’s just me, but when I ate the Lindt chili chocolate it irritated my throat quite a bit…guess I should have let it melt away.
Lindt Excellent Chili bar is to kill for….. The chocolate is smooth and rich followed with a little spice of chili.
I absolutely LOVE this stuff! If I see it in a store I just have to purchase at least two or three bars to make sure I have a plentiful supply. And yes, there is always some left over as the satisfaction it gives me makes 2 squares enough to satisfy my chocolate craving.
I often wonder if we’re not all engaging in some form of mass hysteria, when it comes to these quirky combinations. I had the Lindt Excellence Chili and thought it was utterly horrible. The taste starts like regular 70% dark chocolate, but as the chocolate begins to melt (and the pepper oils begin to settle onto the tongue and esophogeal track), a creeping, burning sensation builds. Within 30 seconds of swallowing, I was left with a cloying aftertaste and a firey sensation that is reminiscent of mild heartburn.
I gave samples of this bar to 4 other people I work with. All thought the same thing I did.
I applaud Lindt for pushing the envelope, but this is definitely a dud.
This is not some quirky new invention… this is how the inventors of chocolate ate and drank it. Chocolate originated in central america, where we add chili to anything. IN fact, in my family we have enchiladas sauce which is made with dark chocolate, ancho chilies, and cinnamon. Its pre-hispanic. So please do not call this quirky combination. Its history. My history.
1225 days ago
[...] Lindt Excellence Chili Bar [...]
1230 days ago
[...] chili lindt. o sweet mother… that stuff is just DIVINE. Lindt Launches Excellence Chili Bar no other chocolate compares (that i’ve tasted). __________________ There is something about [...]
Just a follow-up…about a month ago as I was strolling through my local Fred Meyer (Kroger)…there it was! They now carry the Lindt Chili chocolate! Something I’ve discovered since that day, which I wasn’t able to try when I stumbled on this chocolate in France, is that it goes great with espresso. A nice treat I (too often) enjoy at home.
Hi Kaylan! Well, chalk it up to different strokes for different folks :)
I don’t know what you guys see in this chocolate. I love chocolate and everything, but I don’t like dark chocolate, and to add chili?
That’s just crazy! When I first tasted it, all I could taste was the dark chocolate, but then a few seconds later at the back of my throat I tasted the chili.
That chocolate was the worst chocolate I have ever had!
I found these at my local Grocery Outlet store for a dollar a piece (3.5 oz size).
I only got one to try it out… and love it! I think I’m going back tomorrow to buy quite a few. For that price, awesome Christmas gifts, and awesome to keep around the house.
They also had the Peruvian Extra Dark for a dollar a bar. I might buy a few of those for baking… but they weren’t nearly as good as the Chili Dark.
To answer Steve – besides Target I’d try Walmart for speciality chocolate bars. My Walmart even had the Lindt chocolate cherry/chili – although someone says it’s filled and I may have to be selective in what I use it for – perhaps some cookies as an add-in.
I found the Lindt Chili chocolate bar while traveling in France last winter and absolutely loved it. I contacted Lindt to see if I could purchase through a retailer here in the states or online or directly, etc….and received a boilerplate reply which was no help. Anyone know of a way to purchase this chocolate bar, other than the select international retail locations?
I LOVE the Lindt Chili bar! My niece who lives in Paris and travels the world brought a bar back for us to try at Christmas. YUMMMM. I live in Birmingham, Alabama and our CVS and Rite-Aid drugstores just started carrying the bars a couple of months ago for $2.49 each. I also tried a Dagoba bar with chili and choco bits and it was WAYYY too bittersweet–I didnt like it. I have also tried a Moonstruck Chocolatier Dark chocolate Chile Variado bar and it was great. A friend in N.Y.City sent it to me.
I have used the Lindt Chili chocolate a few times and find it excellent. You also can’t beat that price!
It’s been great in:
chocolate mousse (usually cut it 50/50 with dark chocolate)
chocolate bread pudding
cut 25% in creme brulee.
Sounds excellent — I’ll be looking for it.
I think the Vosges chili/chocolate bar is another excellent combination. I also tried a white chocolate jalapeño combination (totally crazy, I know) from a german brand called Leysieffer that is amazing. I got that at the airport in Frankfurt, so I don’t know what to tell you about finding it anywhere else… but it’s a good chocolate find.