Have you ever tried dark chocolate with smelt fish?
Kirsti Lindberg-Repo of Taiga Chocolate on the joys of eating it, and of tasting it for the first time
We applaud chocolatiers and chocolate brands that have managed to create unique flavours and flavour combinations that excite our tastebuds.
But dark chocolate with smelt fish?
Well, yes, please. “It’s a very sensational taste,” says Kirsti Lindberg-Repo, Taiga Chocolate's Chairman of the Board and co-founder. She’s also the CEO and founder of Brand Audit Group in Finland, and a university professor.
“It has that bittersweet dark chocolate flavour as a background, and the combination with the dried smelt fish makes for a very long-lasting taste,” she adds.
“You simply need to taste it to understand it.”
Chocolate lovers – adventurous ones, in particular – don’t need any more convincing. Their Dark Chocolate with Smelt Fish does sound interesting, and you wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity to try it. In fact, a lot of people have already spoken and swear by it.
Taiga Chocolate is a brand of award-winning handcrafted chocolates from Finland. They won Best Natural Organic Product at NOPA 2018 in Hong Kong, and Best Confectionery Product at the Asia Food Innovation Awards 2019 in Singapore.
Their flavours are inspired by the Arctic, Finnish nature, and local, sustainable ingredients that are unique to the region. These include vitamin-rich berries like the sea buckthorn, bilberry and lingonberry.
“Premium chocolate makers have always managed to create new taste experiences,” Kirsti emphasises. “This was our goal as well – and according to our customers and the prizes we have won, we have managed it quite well!”
All the firsts
Another thing Kirsti wants you to know about their Dark Chocolate with Smelt Fish is its “delicious, soft and intense texture”. Her reaction the first time she tried it?
“I thought it was a new category of premium chocolates; a game changer,” she admits.
She even goes as far as to describe the chocolate bar as “like seeing the Aurora Borealis”. “The experience opens up in front of you very suddenly, and literally takes your breath away.”
Whether or not you end up feeling the same, it’s worth eating this chocolate – and in many different ways to maximise its special flavours and uses.
Start by bringing it along with you. “I eat chocolate every day, just one to five pieces,” Kirsti says. “It makes me energetic and happy! As I’m doing a lot of sports, it is great to carry chocolate with me while cross-country skiing or jogging.”
But it doesn’t end there
Taiga Chocolate doesn’t only use smelt fish in their chocolate creations. Reindeer crisps and cultivated house cricket, anyone? (Raises hand.)
When Kirsti looks at their Dark Chocolate with Reindeer Crisps, what comes to mind?
“It was very exciting to taste it for the first time,” she answers. “The combination is semi-sweet and crispy.”
The reindeer meat makes a difference. “The meat has to be of excellent quality. All reindeer meat is ecological and this gives it a specific and interesting flavour. It is extremely healthy and very delicious.”
Other than enjoying the chocolate bar as is, what are her tips for serving it? “It would be a very good ingredient for gourmet sauces and desserts,” she suggests.
And her favourite experience with it so far? “Enjoying it with coffee – this is my absolute favourite way of eating all chocolate.”
Just chocolate then
Kirsti also shares her personal take on chocolate, and dark chocolate.
“Dark chocolate is a relatively new product, as we have enjoyed delicious milk chocolate for decades in Northern Europe,” she begins.
“A decade ago, dark chocolate became more popular. It has this rich, semi-sweet flavour as well as certain health advantages due to the flavonoids it contains. This simple belief increased the demand for dark chocolate; it justified the consumer liking.
“In other words, there is a wellness aspect to Taiga Chocolate as well! (You have) flavonoids, fish, and berries from the cleanest forests in the world.”
Speaking of berries, Kirsti is partial to lingonberries in her chocolate. (Other than that, reindeer as well.)
“I very much like the innovative mixtures. It also depends on my chocolate-eating mood,” she says.
Whatever she decides, though, one thing’s for certain – and I’m sure we can all agree. “Good chocolate brings joy and happiness. This is the reason behind our efforts in manufacturing the most innovative and special handcrafted chocolate in Northern Europe.”
Not in Northern Europe? That’s okay. You can use your imagination and sense of taste: Taiga Chocolate is available to purchase online, and in Hong Kong and Singapore. Check out their list of stockists here.
Or you can always dream about them here, and on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Still have that holiday spirit? “We also have something that is very much loved by all ages and all nationalities, namely the Santa Claus chocolate,” Kirsti recommends.