Hot Chocolate Festival 2013 : Last Stop, Gem Chocolates !

Gem Chocolates
2029 West 41st Avenue
Mon closed | T-F 10a - 6p | Sat 10a - 5p | Sun 12p - 5p

#35 - "BC BLUE BOOSTER"
Made with BC blueberries.

#36 - "BETTER THAN NUT PIE" Ground hazelnut praline-inspired.

#37 - "MONTY'S HEAT"
A spicy hot dark chocolate.

#38 - "BURN ME UP"
Inspired by the classic French dessert - creme brulee.

All flavours are made with organic, fair trade real chocolate and served with a surprise treat of a specially paired chocolate, biscotti, or nutty creation. Flavours are subject to availability or substitution, depending on supplies.
 
My last stop for the hot chocolate festival this year is revisting a vendor that Jerkface and I tried last year, and having the same exact drink we tried last year. The shop is as clean and modern as I remember it. Gem Chocolates is a chocolate shop, their chocolates having won several awards. "Gem Chocolates recently received the Four Star Award as one of the 2013 Best Chocolatiers & Confectioners in America by the International Chocolate Salon, won the Silver Award at the 2012 Canadian National Chocolate Competition, as well as a Gold Medal and two Bronze Medals at the 2012 International Chocolate Salon Caramel Competition." We went on Valentine`s day, (great quick stop for a date because they offer award-winning chocolate, gelato and hot chocolate) with the intention of trying Burn Me Up, but the drink has nuts in it. So they offered us the BC Blue Booster blueberry hot chocolate instead.

Their mouth-watering chocolate display.

The BC Blue Booster with a design of beautifully caramelized sugar as a topping at $6.15.

We were given the choice of dark or milk chocolate for the drink, and of course.. We chose milk! The caramelized sugar topping was a nice little treat, solid before it melts inside your mouth. Not to mention, it looks really pretty. While enjoyable just to eat, the overall drink tastes better with the caramelized sugar and whipped cream mixed in. You cannot escape the blueberry taste when the entire drink is blended, and it`s a yummy blend. Impressive, coming from me because I don`t even like blueberries! If you are looking for a flavourful but not too rich nor too creamy of a hot chocolate, this is the place to go :) Gem Chocolates didn`t disappoint me this year!

*Gem Chocolates main website: click.