Do Valentines the Montezuma’s way

This Valentines Day, don’t just do supermarket bought chocolates, buy your special someone some indulgent delights that they will really lavish in, from Brighton’s very own  award –winning chocolatier, Montezuma’s.

You have probably seen this funky Aztec ‘M’ on slick bars of chocolate in your local Co-op or Waitrose, or even in John Lewis, but this British chocolate name originated in a little shop in  Brighton’s South Lanes, Duke Street, which first opened its doors back in 2000. It is a family run business with quality at the heart of its brand, magnificent chocolate made and manufactured in their factory in West Sussex (wouldn’t you want to go there!). Founders Helen and Simon Pattinson only buy the highest grade, organic cocoa from The Dominican Republic, probably the best cocoa money can buy in the entire world, and persevere to trade and farm in the fairest of possible ways.

The name Montezuma’s comes from the Aztec wealth of chocolate; it was such a precious commodity that they used it for currency. Chocolate was regarded as an aphrodisiac and their Emperor, Montezuma, reputedly drank it fifty times a day from a golden goblet exclaiming: “The divine drink, which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food”

Montezuma’s chocolate, for me, has always stuck out as the best chocolate one can buy in Britain, and I am fortunate enough to live only a few miles away from where it all began. Being a chocolate lover, and being only human, I tend to enviously buy this classy chocolate as gifts for willing recipients in times of celebration. And guess what, no one has got the hint to get me any Montezuma’s chocolate in return. So this Valentine’s Day give the gift of luxurious hand-made, local, and just plain yummy chocolate. I warn you though; it probably wouldn’t be shared…

There are so many different chocolates you could chose, from truffles, to buttons, to full on actual slabs of chocolate bliss. Though to spoil you for choice they have also designed a brand new selection of heart shaped treats for the Valentine’s Day range, which will include:
· Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Hearts cube – delicious milk chocolate shaped into mini hearts with gooey salted caramel in the middle
· Dark Chocolate Vanilla Caramel Hearts cube – indulgent dark chocolate mini hearts with a soft vanilla caramel centre
· White Chocolate and Strawberry Truffle Hearts cube – smooth mini white chocolate hearts filled with a creamy strawberry ganache
· Valentine’s Gift Set – milk chocolate salted caramel hearts cube, dark chocolate vanilla caramel hearts cube and a white chocolate and strawberry truffle hearts cube combined in a shelf-ready gift pack, finished with ribbon

Helen Pattinson, Montezuma’s co-founder comments, “Kick-starting 2016 with fresh and exciting new products ties in perfectly with the blossoming season of Spring. As always, we like to add innovation to our chocolate so we have had great fun offering a twist on tradition, with new flavours this season. The Valentine’s Day gift sets are a particular favourite of mine, as not only are they a crowd-pleasing favourite, they’re a perfect treat for those who can’t decide which flavours to choose!”

Montezuma’s chocolate is not only delectable, but as if you need any other reason to eat it, this chocolate is also fair – no, that does not mean that you can eat as much as you want and not see any physical body expansions, because yes, that is very unfair. Montezuma’s shows no compromises when it comes to their ethics and values. “It’s fair to say our ideals run deeper than our pockets and always will do.” These ex-lawyers turned Chocolatiers are extremely environmentally conscious and take radical steps to not only ensure that there is fair trade between suppliers and the indigenous  community but reaches a branch to recycling their packaging and transportation too,  maximising reusable materials an cutting waste by 70%.  These self-made chocolate connoisseurs have “a passion for creating chocolate [they] want to eat in an environment” they love and want to conserve. With this sustainable philosophy at the core of the business, coupled with an unctuous chocolate palette, Montezuma’s has become “Britain’s most innovative chocolate brand with a reputation far bigger than [their] actual footprint!”

Now, as if that wasn’t enough, for 5 years Montezuma’s has been supporting Chichester based charity, ‘Children on the edge’ raising thousands of pounds through customer donations and dedicating their entire advertising budget to the cause. Such a selfless act has continued to promote the companies repertoire of being Britain’s Greatest Little Chocolate Company. A little company with a lot of flavour.

If I haven’t given you enough reasons to go to Montezuma’s this Valentine’s Day and buy your loved one a present they relish to unseal (again and again), they take a stroll down the Laines and try it for yourself. The chocolate is simply divine and your loved one will be thrilled with such total tantalisation of the taste buds. It is satisfying and moreish and just such a pleasure to eat, it really is the best chocolate out there, and with its nourished company roots it will always prove to be a gift that keeps on giving.

So, on my recommendation, go on and do the Full Monte for your better half this Valentine’s Day, who knows maybe you get your own full monte in thanks.

Happy Valentines!