Explore the world of fruit and chocolate

10 Oct 2024

Chocolate Knowledge Summer Food + Drink Recipes

Fruit and chocolate… it’s the flavour combination of the gods. Become inspired by the harmony that fruit and chocolate bring with Hotel Chocolat.

When paired together, fruit and chocolate is a classic — and for good reason. Just imagine the velvety taste of chocolate, lifted by the tang of fruity flavours.

You may be used to seeing traditional fruity chocolate staples like orange or fruit and nut chocolate. However, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a whole other world of fruit and chocolate combinations to experiment with.

It’s time to open your mind to the endless ways you can indulge in fruit and chocolate.

Bowl with fruity chocolate

The history of fruit and chocolate

The balance we know and love between fruit and chocolate dates back to ancient civilisations. The Mayans and Aztecs were amongst the first to enjoy cacao. They often combined it with spices and fruits in the earliest versions of drinking chocolate.

As cacao made its way to Europe in the 16th century, curious confectioners began experimenting by combining the bitterness of dark chocolate with the natural sweetness of fruits like oranges, cherries, and berries.

Over time, this harmonious pairing evolved into the cacao goodies we know today — where ripe, juicy fruits complement the rich, velvety textures of high-quality chocolate.

We’re so grateful for the Mayans and Aztecs — and you should be, too.

Sliced blood orange, a cup of Orange Supermilk Hot Chocolate, and hot chocolate flakes

Fruity chocolate for the traditionalists

As much as we love experimentation and innovation, it’s equally as important to pay your respects to the best-loved fruit chocolate flavours. At Hotel Chocolat, we’ve taken these classics and added our own twist. Trust us — you’ll never look at traditional fruity chocolate combinations the same way again.

Our 80% Dark Fruit & Nut Chocolate Slab is brimming with gooey raisins, crushed hazelnuts, gently-roasted almonds, and tangy Montmorency cherries for a perfectly chewy yet crunchy texture. If you prefer your fruit and nuts encased in creamier chocolate, we also have a mellow 40% milk chocolate option for you to sink your teeth into: The Fruit & Nut Chocolate Slab Selector. The contrast between our, velvety-smooth and cacao-rich chocolate and the natural sweetness of the plump raisins offers an exquisite balance.

Craving a bit more of a tang? Our Lemon Chocolate Cheesecake Selector combines creamy white chocolate with flavours of mascarpone and lemon. Their white chocolate shells are satisfyingly snappable. Go on — sink your teeth into its zesty lemon top layer, containing a squeeze of authentic lemon juice. We’re not about artificial approaches here, so you couldn’t get closer to the real thing if you tried.

Fruit and nut chocolate

Fruity chocolate with a twist

It’s not just the classics that deserve your attention. Feeling adventurous? Come and explore some of our unique creations that blend fruit and chocolate in new and exciting ways.

Take our Rum Soaked Sultanas, for example. These plump, juicy sultanas are soaked in rich rum before being lovingly enrobed in dark chocolate. The combination of the sweet, slightly tangy fruit with the depth of the dark chocolate (plus the warming notes of rum) creates a comforting, decadent flavour profile.

Enjoy as an after-dinner treat or used to top off a rich chocolate mousse. They’re perfect for adding a touch of luxury to your usual sweet treat collection.

Another standout you can’t miss is our Enrobed Cherries. These are bursting with natural sweetness and encased in a smooth layer of dark chocolate. Savour the delightful pop of tartness and enjoy its beautiful contrast with the creamy chocolate exterior.

Try adding these to a fruit and chocolate platter for a sophisticated end to your next dinner party — we’re sure your guests will be impressed by the exciting combination of textures and flavours.

Pot of Hotel Chocolat Rum Soaked Sultanas

Fruity chocolate for dessert lovers

Is dessert your favourite part of a meal? Ours too. With this in mind, we’ve reimagined some of the nation’s most-loved fruity puddings into bite-sized morsels. With Hotel Chocolat, you can tuck into your dessert anywhere, and at any time.

Quintessentially British in every sense, our White Chocolate Eton Mess Selectors combine smooth strawberry mousse, crisp meringue, and white chocolate brimming with cocoa butter. The result? A chocolate nibble that recreates all the joy of tucking into this classic dessert on a summer’s day. If you prefer something with a bit more snap, we also have our gorgeous Eton Mess Slab Selector — perfect for sharing (or not).

Less extravagant but never lacking in taste, our Strawberries & Cream Chocolate Puddles offer a stunningly creamy texture and fruity strawberry notes. They’re beautifully snappable and make the perfect afternoon nibble.

If you’re on the lookout for a bolder flavour experience, our Chocolate Orange Tangs bring together two classic partners. It could only be the harmonious relationship of chocolate and orange.

The bright citrus notes of the orange contrast beautifully with the deep, rich chocolate, creating a dance on the taste buds. They’re an excellent pick-me-up for any time of day, and also work wonderfully atop a dessert or with a cup of tea.

Fruity chocolate for the adults only

We all know that fruit chocolate combinations are already rather indulgent, but we always like to take it that step further.

As such, we’ve added an extra hint of decadence to our fruity chocolate products by adding a splash of something nice. Made for adults only, these tipsy chocolates aren’t PG – so please keep them out of reach from little fingers looking for something sweet to snack on!

We’ve taken succulent cherries, soaked them in kirsch, and then enrobed them in layers of milk and dark chocolate to create our Kirsch Cherry Liqueur Chocolates. The snap of the chocolate shell and the rich, juicy cherry within embodies the perfect balance between sweet and tangy.

Or, if you’re in the mood to celebrate, our Kir Royale Chocolate Selector boasts a feisty fiesta of flavour. Relish in the juicy blackcurrant tang, the warming notes of real Champagne, cradled lovingly in a whipped cream finish. It’s fruity, zingy, and packs a punch.

If you love mixing fruit that goes with chocolate into your cocktails, why not try our Cacao Gin? Distilled with cacao, it offers a depth of flavour that works beautifully with its tangy citrus notes.

Don’t forget to serve it up with a twist of orange peel or a splash of lime juice. You’ll experience the ultimate fusion of fruity chocolate and gin in one sophisticated drink.

Kir Royale Cocktail Chocolate Selector

How to use fruit and chocolate in your celebrations

Planning your next event? Why not use some of our fruity chocolates to add a touch of indulgence to your sweet offerings?

Chop up some of our Chocolate Orange Tangs and sprinkle them over a rich chocolate cake for a hit of citrus. Alternatively, add our Enrobed Cherries to your cheese board for a delightful contrast of sweet and savoury.

For a special occasion, use our Rum Soaked Sultanas to top off your favourite chocolate desserts. Whether it’s a rum-infused chocolate tart or a dark chocolate mousse, we’re sure the sultanas will add a burst of flavour and texture, elevating your dish.

If you’re looking for something to impress your guests, serve our Kirsch Cherry Liqueur Chocolates with a rich, bold red wine. The pairing of the juicy cherries with the dry notes of the wine will create a flavour experience that your guests won’t be forgetting any time soon.

Of course, if you find it too difficult to select just one fruit and chocolate flavour combination to enjoy, we’ve bundled up some of our most popular fruit chocolate products into one delicious box.

Enter the Exuberantly Fruity Sleekster. This collection of 38 chocolates makes the perfect gift for anyone looking to explore what fruit goes with chocolate in the most mouth-watering way possible.

Hotel Chocolat Sleeksters

Get fruity with Hotel Chocolat this season

No matter your taste, you’re sure to find your ideal fruity chocolate in our collection. Enjoy as a one-off treat, as a bite to share, or as an addition to your gatherings and celebrations.

Find your favourite and stick with it — or go all-out with a spot of cacao experimentation. There are no rules here — and that’s the beauty of chocolate innovation.

Browse our Fruity Chocolates today, and open your mind (and taste buds) to a whole new world of flavour.

By Rhian Wood