Review: GD Chocolates Launches Bite-Sized Buttercups
Listen, the stress of the national lock-down coupled with the dull and dreary weather we’ve been having has taken its toll on us all. It is no wonder many of us have been making a few more trips to the kitchen for sweet treats to get us through these rather bitter times. But, while I’d never begrudged anyone the comfort of a sweet treat, I must admit that for me, it quickly becomes an all or nothing situation. One block of chocolate quickly becomes the whole slab and all my healthy eating intentions are out the window. Luckily for snack fiends like me, there are healthier alternatives out there.
I regularly pop to Wellness Warehouse for healthier snack options to get me through the week and one of the latest additions to their shelves is a winner of note for chocolate fans. From the brilliant minds at Gayleen’s Decadence (now re-branded to GD Chocolate) comes GD Buttercups — a new bite-sized snack that is sure to satisfy your cravings for something sweet without the temptation of over-indulging too much.
Just like the much loved GD Chocolate bars, the artisanal, gourmet dark chocolate bites pack a powerful but delicious health-boosting punch. Free from dairy, preservatives, refined sugar as well as HFCS, and sweetened only with raw honey, these little bites are a must for anyone who loves snacks but would prefer their sweet treats to offer something more beneficial to their diet than just the sugar high.
GD Chocolate Buttercups are made with 71% dark chocolate and about 80% raw ingredients, providing all the superfood benefits of cacao. The buttercups are available in five deliciously indulgent soft-centre fillings to choose from including Mint, Mocha-Coffee, Turkish Rose, and newcomers to the range, Almond Butter and Vanilla.
My favourite of the range is the Turkish Rose and the Almond Butter. As a Turkish delight lover, the Turkish Rose is such a divine treat when I’m feeling a like a sneaky pick-me-up without the guilt. If you love nut butter, then the Almond Butter bite, with its gooey almond butter centre, will blow your socks off.
I love that the honey flavour really comes through in each bite of these chocolate treats and the different flavours combined with the bitterness of the dark chocolate helps to ensure they’re not overly sweet. These little bites are sure to be a go-to for me when ‘cheat day’ can’t come soon enough.
GD Chocolate Buttercups provide the perfect pick-me-up before exercising and are a great substitute for coffee when the dreaded mid-afternoon office slump kicks in. And if you’re happy to share them, they make a healthy yet delicious addition to school lunch boxes or as after-dinner dessert nibbles with friends.
GD Chocolate and Gayleen’s journey started more than 10 years ago when she adopted a healthier lifestyle but was loath to give up her favoured sweet treat. She started experimenting with chocolate and soft fillings and became the first chocolatier in the world to replace sugar or sweeteners with raw honey.
She says, “I was told by other chocolatiers that it wasn’t possible to make chocolate sweetened with honey, and eventually had to have my chocolate analysed to prove that I wasn’t lying! Not only did honey work, but what started out as a stall at a local market is now a national business, with GD Chocolate now sold at Wellness Warehouse, health shops, pharmacies, deli’s, online retailers and selected Spar stores around the country – all thanks to my loyal customers!”
Retailing at R20, GD Buttercups are now available at selected retailers across South Africa.
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