chocolate dragees STRACHATELLA

Milk And Dark In One Bite

Because the coating mixes milk and dark chocolate rather than committing to one, the flavor reads sweeter up front than a straight dark-chocolate dragée, with the dark streaks adding a more bitter edge as you chew through. The roasted hazelnut brings its own toasted note that balances that sweetness.

Set a piece out at room temperature before eating — cold hazelnuts lose some of their roasted aroma, which is a good part of what this dragée is built around.

For a coffee pairing, a full-bodied, chocolate-and-nut cup works well alongside the hazelnut here — DABOV's Rich & Chocolatey coffees share that flavor territory and won't clash with the mixed milk-and-dark coating.

What is stracciatella chocolate?

It's a milk chocolate base run through with streaks of dark chocolate — the same mix-in idea behind stracciatella gelato, applied here to a chocolate coating instead of ice cream.

Is this gluten-free?

Yes.

Does it contain palm oil?

No — the batch is made without palm oil.

What's the difference between this and the Almond and Cinnamon dragées?

This one centers on a roasted hazelnut in stracciatella (milk-and-dark) chocolate; the Almond and Cinnamon dragées use a whole almond in a plain chocolate coating with a light cinnamon note instead.

What should I drink alongside it?

A full-bodied coffee from DABOV's Rich & Chocolatey range complements the hazelnut and mixed chocolate without competing with either.