Whittaker's Chocolate Launch, from New Zealand to Malaysia with passion!

“All you need is love,” said Lucy in the cartoon Peanuts, “but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” I’m with you, Lucy. The Aztecs were using chocolate to make a bitter, frothy drink as early as 1900 BC, and since Christopher Columbus brought it to Europe in the 1500’s, people have craved it, doted on it and written poems about it.

Whittaker’s have been manufacturing chocolate in New Zealand for the past 118 years, and for the second year in a row they’ve earned the Reader’s Digest Award for New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand. The company remains a family-owned business, and according to 4^th generation chocolatier Matt Whittaker, they intend to stay that way. Mr Whittaker was in Kuala Lumpur to launch the sale of his artisan-made, premium chocolate. All Whittaker’s chocolate is manufactured in one Wellington-based factory, ensuring consistent quality control. It's certified halal and is made with only fair trade cocoa beans.

The exciting news is that after extensive market research, three new flavours have been created especially for Malaysians. The mild-flavoured Macadamia Milk Chocolate Block is filled with crunchy nuts, while the Dark Peppermint is made with rich, Yakima peppermint fondant surrounded by 62% dark chocolate from Ghana. My favourite had to be the Peanut Butter Block, milk chocolate enclosing creamy smooth peanut butter, which contains neither salt nor sugar. I am a lover of dark chocolate, but there was something about this combination that triggered deep pleasure. Judging by sighs from the audience, I wasn’t alone.

To ensure a nut in every bite, a high percentage of whole nuts go into in the Dark Hazelnut and Almond Blocks, both of which made my heart sing. They use chocolate with 62% cocoa solids but for milk chocolate lovers, there’s Almond Gold too. The Berry and Biscuit combination contains real fruit and real biscuits without a trace of stabilizers or palm oil, while the Dark Ghana uses 72% cacao for a rich, deep flavour.

Whittaker’s chocolate will be available in selected grocery stores in Malaysia, including Aeon Big, Tesco and Giant. There will be 27 varieties of chocolate and they’ll come in four formats. I’ve always bought the large, 200gm block at the airport duty-free shop, and it’ll now be available at the grocery store for only RM19.90. For RM22.90 you can purchase a bag of 12 individually wrapped mini bars, weighing in at 180gm and perfect for sharing. For a smaller sweet treat, chocolate bars will be available for RM5.90 and slabs at RM4.90. There really is something for everyone.

Reason to purchase: Come on, who needs a reason to buy chocolate? Scroll on down if you need convincing!