Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate Review and #GIVEAWAY! 9/01

Caught in the act! She couldn't resist!

If there is one thing that is a hot commodity in my home among my husband and children, it's GOT to be chocolate. My husband is probably the biggest chocoholic I have ever met! I have personally seen him devour a 5lb chocolate bar in a matter of a couple of hours. He lives, eats, sleeps, and breaths chocolate. Sometimes I suspect he has chocolate running through his veins rather than blood! And my daughter, Sophie, has obviously inherited her Daddy's love for anything cocoa. If Daddy has anything chocolate, whether it be a candy bar, cookie, cake, or even cereal, she will throw an epic temper tantrum until Daddy gives her some. And then she comes back for more and more until it either runs out or Dan tells her no. (And trust me, telling a toddler no can produce even bigger tantrums!)

So yes, chocolate is a staple in my home. I am actually not a big chocolate fan, though. I will have a small piece here and there, but I am not as big a fan as my husband and children. My husband loves his chocolate, and even has his weekly stash of chocolatey goodness that he has to have OR ELSE. Dan without chocolate is like a coffee lover without their morning cup of Joe. He's got it bad!

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That's why I was so excited to get the opportunity to review Lindt's new line of Dark Chocolate Excellence bars! Lindt is already a favorite in my home, as their Swiss chocolates are of unsurpassed quality and have exceptional flavor. I was curious to see how these dark chocolate bars fared with my family!

The first bar we tried was the Lindt Excellence Intense Dark 70% Cocoa Almond Brittle Bar. In this new addition from Lindt, delicate crunches of almond brittle provide a sweet, subtle counterbalance to the deep flavor of the dark chocolate bar. Since this bar is 70% cocoa, it offers a deeper, far more intense and robust flavor than a lot of traditional dark chocolates. It is less sweet than I was expecting. My husband and daughter LOVED this bar. I was actually quite surprised that my toddler liked this more bitter variation of chocolate. But she happily devoured it and then came back for more.

The next bar we tried was the Lindt Excellence Intense Dark 70% Cocoa Nut Crunch. This was very similar to the last mentioned bar, as it offered the same intense flavor. This full-bodied bar is enhanced with the subtle flavor and delicate crunch of caramelized walnut and hazelnut pieces. Again, this was a big hit with my chocolate loving husband and daughter. I think that the caramelized nuts added a nice balance to the intensity of this dark chocolate. The flavors were beautifully married, and the chocolate itself had a wonderfully rich and creamy consistency. This chocolate paired well with a glass of red wine.

The last bar we tried was the Lindt Excellence Smooth Dark 70% Cocoa Bar. This bar is super dark chocolate at its finest. Excellence 70% Cocoa is a full-bodied dark chocolate, masterfully balanced to be neither bitter nor overpowering. This chocolate was creamy and smooth, and had a very pleasant finish. My daughter happened to find this bar unattended, since my husband accidentally left it within her reach, and she attacked it full force. We caught her red-handed...Or should I say brown-handed...With a mouth full of chocolate and a melty hunk of dark chocolate in her hand. While she knew she had done something she shouldn't have, she was still a happy little camper in her own personal chocolate heaven! See photo at the top of the post for her reaction to being caught in the act!

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Overall, we were quite pleased with our assortment of these new dark chocolate offerings from Lindt. While they weren't quite to my personal taste, as I am not the biggest fan of dark chocolates to begin with, the rest of my family absolutely loved them. Can you blame them? Lindt is coveted by chocolate lovers the world over because their master chocolate artisans painstakingly find the perfect balance of creaminess, intensity, and flavor.

I would definitely recommend Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate to those dark chocolate lovers out there. These robust, rich flavors would be perfect with a glass of wine and some fresh berries as a personal escape from the many demands of everyday life. Perhaps a bubble bath, a good book and some chocolates! Or maybe you'd rather include these as a special indulgence with your significant other as an elegant and romantic treat? Lindt chocolates are perfect for any occasion, big or small! And with dozens of delectable varieties, you're sure to find one that is perfect for your family, too!

BUY IT:

You can check out the awesomeness that is Lindt on their website.

Lindt chocolates can be bought online or at many, many fine retailers near you!

You can also follow Lindt on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

WIN IT:

One very lucky follower will be receiving an assortment of Excellence Dark Chocolate Bars from Lindt!

Please use this handy Rafflecopter form to enter!

This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ and will be open until 12:01AM EST on 9/01/2011. Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced here, tweeted, shared on Facebook, and contacted via e-mail. The winners will have 48 hours to reply and claim their prize. If I receive no response, I will be forced to draw a new winner.

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***