Godiva hosted a star-studded launch party to celebrate its new Gold Discovery Collection at the IFC Mall atrium. Guests were treated to an exhibition on the origin of chocolate, as well as live tastings of the latest flavours.
Gafencu sat with Belgium-based Godiva Master Chef Chocolatier Jean Apostolou and Shanghai-based Chef Chocolatier Philippe Daue to find out more about this latest collection.
What is the inspiration for this new collection?
Chef Jean: The collection is a revamp, a reinterpretation of classic Godiva flavours with a contemporary twist. The point of this collection is not to shock people, but to reintroduce them to the 2.0 version of old favourites while also introducing some new ingredients and textures.
What new flavours can we expect?
Chef Jean: The collection has 16 different flavours. We’ve included a greater variety of fruits and nuts and introduced caramels to the mix. We’ve also boosted the texture of each bite by experimenting with mousse fillings and ganaches for example. It’s a surprising collection because each piece is drastically different from the next.
Did you take inspiration from regional ingredients?
Chef Philippe: As an international brand, we are constantly exchanging ideas with our chefs across the world to stay on the cutting edge of flavour development.
For this collection there are some very Asian flavours such as lychee and passion fruit. Nuts are also an Asian favourite, so that’s something we’ve built upon. Pistachio, macadamia, pecan, etc. have been used as a response to current global tastes.
Why did you focus on Asian tastes?
Chef Philippe: Firstly, Asia is home to an immense variety of ingredients that are not traditionally found or paired with chocolate. As a chef, it’s very exciting and refreshing to experiment with these flavours and create something new.
Also, Asia is one of our largest growing markets. Asians are becoming more educated in chocolate culture now, and we want to capture that interest by including some familiar tastes.
Which is your favourite from the collection, and why?
Chef Jean: My favourite is the almond one. The sweetness of the chocolate with that hint of salt rounded off by the crunch of a whole almond is just fantastic.
Chef Philippe: I love the pistachio one. It’s a hard nut to work with and to balance out. Jean has found the perfect combination, and the result is delicious!
Thank you.
The new Gold Discovery Collection is now available in Hong Kong.
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box 6pcs: HK$180
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box 9pcs: HK$260
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box15pcs: HK$415
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box 20pcs: HK$525
Interview: Tenzing Thondup