“If any man has drunk a little too deeply from the cup of physical pleasure; if he has spent too much time at his desk that should have been spent asleep; if his fine spirits have become temporarily dulled; if he finds the air too damp, the minutes too slow, and the atmosphere too heavy to withstand; if he is obsessed by a fixed idea which bars him from any freedom of thought: if he is any of these poor creatures, we say, let him be given a good pint of amber-flavored chocolate… and marvels will be performed.”
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, 1775-1826,  ‘Physiologie du gout’ – ‘The Physiology of Taste’
HISTORY
Aah chocolate – that beautiful gift from the bean of the Theobroma cacao plant. Chocolate has been around for a very long time, but not as we currently know it. Evidence shows that the cacao bean could have been fermented and made into an alcoholic drink in Central America as early as 1400 BC! The Mayans seasoned their chocolate, mixing the roasted seed paste with water, chilli and cornmeal, transferring the thick, unsweetened gruel-like mixture between earthenware containers several times until a foamy drink formed.
The Mayans loved their chocolate and the cacao bean was traded as currency. It caught the eye of explorer Christopher Columbus in 1502, and he brought some back to Spain with him. A few years later when the chilli was replaced with sugar the cacao drink gained popularity in European courts. The rest is history.
THORNTONS
The very first Thorntons chocolatier opened its doors in 1911 in Sheffield. Travelling confectioner Joesph William Thornton handed the keys to his sons Norman and Stanley and said, “Make this the best sweet shop in town!” They’ve done a rather good job at that!
Now, over 100 years later Thorntons is seen by the  British public as the ultimate chocolate treat on the high street, with over 600 stores across the UK. There’s even one here in Shetland! Everyone has their favourite Thorntons chocolate – what’s yours?
ETHICS
Brits consume a whopping 660, 900 kg per year in a UK industry worth £3.96 billion (Mintel 2012). Demand for chocolate in the west has caused some cocoa farmers to resort slavery and child labour to cut costs and remain viable in what can be a very volatile market. These practises have featured in the news over the last decade or so and have driven consumer buying choices.
Thorntons has a strong corporate social responsibility policy, sourcing sustainable, ethically produced raw materials for their high quality products. They provide a range of organic, fairtrade and no added sugar ranges to appeal to all tastes.
THORNTONS INDULGENCE INTIMATE WICKER HAMPER
Nothing’s better than a chocolate fix after a long day at work, so why not give yourself an indulgent moment with a stunning keep-sake wicker hamper full of chocolate goodies?
Each indulgent intimate wicker hamper contains:
• Dreamy Desserts (192g) – this box of 16 chocolates includes all your dessert favourites: raspberry cheesecake, summer fruit cup, tiramisu, passion fruit mousse, pecan tart, lemon meringue, chocolate fudge cake and banoffee pie. My favourite from this selection was the banoffee pie.
• Irresistible Gooey Caramel Melts (200g) – Does just what it says on the box – they’re irresistible and gooey and deliciously caramelly and they are ever so nice melting in the mouth. These didn’t last very long at all. Individually wrapped: this only means it takes a little longer to shove them all in your mouth as you have to slow down to patiently unwrap each one first.
• Scrumptious Chocolate Cocktails (104g) – including Peach Bellini, White Russian and Strawberry Daiquiri. A grown-up chocolate treat.
• Irresistible Nutty Praline Melts (200g) – so incredibly moreish, these didn’t last very long either once they were opened. No, not nearly long enough. How did the bottom of the box appear so soon?
• Magnificently Milk Chocolate Block (90g) – delicious and creamy; this is the creamiest milk chocolate I have ever eaten. The bar size is ideal for sneaking to the couch with after the children have gone to bed and scoffing while watching catching up on the latest episodes of your favourite show on Netflix. The inner wrapper advises, “Relax, unwind, enjoy!”
• 70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block (90g) – decadent and dark! Superb for slowly savouring each mouthful.
• Thorntons Chocolate Liqueur 70cl – Think Bailey’s but chocolate flavoured. This goes down a little too well over ice!
Retailing at £44-99 this hamper has something for every tastes. Our family certainly enjoyed it! My family has to put up with an awful lot with me being a food blogger – late dinners (cold dinners!), complete recipe fails that I have to apologise for and hastily concoct a Plan B, hidden vegetables and weird and wonderful products to review. Sometimes we get sent something to review which makes them all smile like the cat that’s got the cream: this is one of those times.
You can find Thorntons on Twitter and Facebook. They also have an online shop.
“If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?”
Marquise de Sévigné (French writer and lady of fashion) February 11, 1677
GIVEAWAY
Thorntons has ever so kindly offered one of my readers the chance to win an Indulgence Intimate Wicker Hamper of their own. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below.
PLEASE NOTE: The contents of this hamper were correct at the time of photography. Thorntons reserve the right to substitute products of equal value.
How to Enter
For your chance to win one Thorntons Indulgence Intimate Wicker Hamper RRP £44-99 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
Terms & Conditions
This giveaway is open to UK mainland entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 48 hours of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Thorntons. The prize is one Indulgence Intimate Wicker Hamper. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory!
Closing date is midnight on Monday 29 September 2014 and the winner will be announced that day.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Don’t forget to visit Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary giveaways page for more fantastic prizes!
If you want to be kept up to date on my recipes, occasional craft tutorials, adventure stories and giveaways then please subscribe to my weekly newsletter; it gets sent out every Monday morning if there is new content. Your email address won’t be passed on to anyone, you will never be spammed and you are free to unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked.
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a Thorntons  Indulgence Intimate Wicker Hamper for review. All opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post.
any dark chocks !!
Coffee flavoured. I don’t even like coffee so not sure how that works.
Viennese Truffles are lovely!
I can’t honestly answer what my fav flavor is, s is the 1st I have heard of this brand. But I do admit, collection looks delicious
The Praline melts are to die for
I love Pralines and Truffles yummy
Champagne truffle 🙂 xx
Lemon mousse
I love fruit flavoured ones.
Diplomat
Viennese truffles! 🙂
I love nutty praline mmmmm
soft strawberry centers.
toffee
My favourite is the silician lemon- can’t get enough of it!
toffee
my favourite from thorntons isnt a chocolate, its the peanut brittle! mmm…
BUT
i absolutly ADORE their mint selection. mint chocolate is the best EVER!
I love the Champagne Truffles
I love their Champagne Truffles
Caramel
I don’t know it’s name but it’s like a coffee truffle? SO DELICIOUS!
I love the continental range
Any of the truffles
anything dark!
Love the Sicilian Lemon bars – they are delicious!
praline melts
Strawberry 🙂 yum
Champagne Truffles
70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block
Viennese Truffles
nutty praline..omnomnomnom
Champagne truffles
strawberry or orange
I love the dessert range of chocolates best.
Sicilian Lemon
I love the champagne truffles 🙂
I love the pralines
Peach bellini – to match my favourite tipple!
I ADORE ANYTHING WITH PRALINE IN IT 🙂
Salted Pistachio
Caramel Melts
Mint crunch dark chocolate.
All of the praline 1’s
coconut
Nutty plaline
Praline melts
Strawberry Dream!
Anything with strawberry in because it makes me think I am being healthy!!
I love anything fruity – easily pleased
My favourite thornton chocolates are dark ones with nuts in oooh lovely
Any of their praline truffles – they’re divine! Or anything white chocolatey…delicious! Rosie x
apricot parfait
Alpini!! Oooo yum
Milk chocolate
Champagne Truffle
Milk chocolate covered toffee is my favourite.
Praline
Their Viennese truffles 🙂
I love the Alpini xx
Cappuccino flavour.
champagne truffles i love them
The Caramel Melts.
Champagne Truffles
The Chocolate Cocktails one’s sound delicious!
chocolate gingers are my all time fave
i love coffee choclates
mhmmm the Champagne Truffles 🙂
Caramel Melts yummy
Sicilian lemon mousse every time
Lemon mousse x
Champagne truffles 🙂
nutty praline
truffles mmmm
my favourites are Thorntons truffles!
Looks soo yummy !! Good Luck everyone 🙂
Most of them but the Lemon Mousse chocolate is the one!!
My hubby loves chilli chocolate
strawberry
Sicilian Lemon. Nom nom nom!
fudge yum yum
Mint chocolate
viennese truffles are gorgeous
the praline melts x
I love the alpines chocolates
Strawberry Cream
i love all thorntons chocs but my favorite would hav to be the alpini bar – hazlenuts and almonds praline – whats not to love!!
Thorntons are my hubby’s favourite 🙂
lovely prize 🙂
I love their Lemon Meringue chocolates 🙂
Coffee
70% Dark
love the coffee
champagne truffle – i love them
I have no idea what they are called but they are white chocolate with a delicious lemony centre!
I love any thorntons chocolate with soft caramel 🙂 I also love their creamy butter tablet 🙂
I love thorntons fudge!! yum!
I love all of them, Thorntons is my word for Heaven.
the caramel!
Sicilian Lemon, they are gorgeous and zingy
Their rum truffles are delish!
Fudge brownie is delicious ~
I love Thorntons truffles especially rum and raisin
Of course if I won, I’d save it all for Christmas. Yes indeed.
I love the peanut brittle
would love this win so love chocs
Their chocolate covered toffee is just the business
Gooey Caramels…..scrumptious
Champagne truffles
praline delicious
Viennese truffles
My favorites are the Viennese truffles
Viennese Truffles and my favourite Thorntons treat
coffee mmmm
Dark chocolate 🙂
I love the Viennese truffles
praline x
Peppermint cream
praline
Anything coffee flavoured…yummy!!
Alpini chocolates definitely my favourite
I love the chocolate Mousse from the Continental range
I love the Champagne truffles, gorgeous!
Classic milk orange for me
they do the most amazing truffles! xx
The dreamy desserts…. they are addictive! x
terkish delights are heavenly
Praline melts do it for me!
70% dark chocolate
I love the Viennese chocolate with the whipped centre, mmmmmm
chocolate fudge cake
I love the cappuccino truffles & the rum truffles! 🙂
Love their truffles. Yum!
Definitely the nutty praline melts. Mmm…
I love the Truffles, and the praline centres!
In our household our favourite has to be the strawberry ones 🙂
ALL OF THEM,MMMM
I love Thorntons Dreamy Desserts Raspberry Cheesecake – Delicious
Nice Prize
Chocolate ginger
strawberry every time
Praline
I love the Thornton’s plain milk chocolate (especially when it’s in easter egg form!) but I am also partial to their champagne truffles.
Got to be strawberry creams!
I love Thornton’s Milk Chocolate and I’m very partial to their truffles!
champagne truffles are lush x x
I LOOOVE TRUFFLES
Anything praline works for me so definitely praline melts!
I love their Praline melts
They all look delicious!
I love all Thorntons apart from the coffee ones
I love the ones with the praline centres 🙂 deeeelicious
Viennese truffles are utterly divine
I love their mint chocolate
Nutty Praline Melts
Cappuccino is my favourite. Melts in the mouth.
Viennese continental
Has to be the viennese chocolate bars 🙂
I absolutely loved their lemon and sea salt bar, but sadly it’s not available any more. Dark ginger is great.
Champagne truffles are my favourite.
Thorntons are one of the only places I know that still do proper coffee cremes, I love them!
When I pop up my local shop, I buy a small bar, usually a fudge/caramel one, somehow they seem more grown up! But I am salivating at the thought of the tirasimu and Bailey’s ones, mm-mmmm!
I don’t know what my favourite is because I don’t get to try Thornton’s chocolates very often. It would probably be something along the line of orange or coffee.
The Cappucino truffles are amazing with a glass of prosecco
praline melts 🙂
Tiramisu from the dessert inspired chocs
I adore the chocolate truffles,they are delicious.
I love any chocolate as long as it’s not dark x ….. fab prize fingers crossed I have done it the right way as I don’t want to miss out on the fab prize x 🙂
champagne truffles
My favourites are the Caramel Melts x
My favourite is Turkish Delight hmmmm x
Praline Melts x
Strawberry creme
i love the mint batons
hazelnut pralines
I love Thorntons….too much my wife says as she pokes me in the belly 🙂 my excuse is they sell ice cream from the Thorntons shop near my office and as its been warm at lunch time 😉
rum
Vanilla Truffle
I love the Champagne Truffles
NUTTY PRALINE MELTS
I love the melts
Rum or coffee truffles for me.
Sicilian Lemon Mousse
Turkish delight
anything from the desert collection
I like strawberry
Any of them! But I love the praline ones.
I love them all but wish they would do more floral flavoured ones I love rose and violet creams but never seen them in thorntons x
Mmmm dark chocolate – the darker the better!
champagne truffles
Praline melts
WE love the chocolate coins they do at Christmas.
Lemon mousse is my fave
praline melts
Champagne truffles
I love the simple praline ones, they are so delicious 🙂 x
Turkish Delight
I adore their raspberry cheesecake Mmmm
Turkish Delight
The alpini
Just the plain milk chocolate
Nutty Praline Melts x
The strawberry creams… mmm…
I love the chocolate buttons. x
Praline chocolate
Alpini or Turkish Delight x
I love their dark chocolates and caramels
Turkish delight
champagne truffles YUMMY
tiramisu
Strawberry crème
Coffee!! Yummy
I love their champagne truffles 🙂 x
Caramel hearts
Alpini
White chocolate ones
I just love the chocolate covered fudge or the Lemon souffle bar
the amaretto truffles. yum diddly dum!!
My kids thought this page was wonderful telling them all about the chocolate and where its from. The pics etc. The prize is good too – thank you
Thank you! So glad your children enjoyed it and delighted to hear people are reading it and not just skipping to the competition entry form! 🙂
caramel
Alpini are my favourite, I love Thorntons chocs so much
They used to make a delicious cookie type chocolate at Christmas which were delicious, but I couldn’t get them last year
All of them!
sicilian lemon
Lemon Mousse
any dark chocolate yum yum
Classics mint selection!
I love all the ones that come in The Desert Collection, so yummy!
Mint
Vanilla Flavour Fondant Mouse 🙂
strawberry creames are yummy
Diplomat
Champagne Truffles… cos I’m that kind of girl !
Champagne!
banoffee pie dreamy dessert – yum!
Dreamy deserts sound soo good!
Alpini
great prize
how can you not like all of them so scrummy and elegantly delicious
any of the dark chocolate varieties and I love the caramel ones too – well, in truth, I love the lot
The hazelnut ones!
Strawberry creams
Anything as long as it’s dark.
I love Thorntons!
love the coffee truffles!
milk
any of the dark chocolate
Thorntons make the BEST mint chocolate 🙂
champagne truffles
Praline… yummy!
All time favs are their Viennese Truffles, yum yum
i love the coffee ones
Anything honeycomb
Caramel
http://www.thorntons.co.uk/product/Chocolate-Toffee-Fudge/Milk-Chocolate/Gooey-Caramel-Irresistibles-200g/pc/2198/c/2203/1076.uts
All of them but at the moment I love the Lemon Meringue
honestly anything Chocolaye flavoured is great for me but if i really had to choose i would say the pralines
nutty praline
i love the chocolate bars
Champagne truffles.
STRAWBERRY CREAME
The pralines are amazing definitely my fav!
The white chocolate lemon cups (not sure of their proper name!)
Champagne Truffles.
Love the plain dark chocolate
Champagne truffles
I love the Viennese truffles
The Magnificent milk chocolate block.
Praline
vanilla truffles mmm
The very next one
The nutty praline is amazing!
Love their truffles!
Praline melt
Great prize, liked and shared x
Champagne truffles.
Champagne truffles anytime!
the praline ones
The champagne truffles.
The champagne truffles are awesome
I love the strawberry creams 🙂
Sicilian Lemon
love them all
Champagne truffles – utterly divine!
thorntons praline melts
champagne truffles
i have just been onto the crafts page as i love crafts myself and i was delighted to read about your wedding and the theme you went for.i made my daughter a jewelled bouquet for her wedding in a posy style it was lovely and she will always have it to keep just like you.congratulations to you both sounds like you had a wonderful day
Thank you, we did have a lovely day 🙂 I’d love to see a photo of the bouquet you made for your daughter, what a lovely thing to make!
having trouble choosing here.love all their chocolates but at a push turkish delight.
I love their marzipan coated in dark chocolate… drool.
turkish delight xxxx
The truffles!
70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block
It has to be chocolate orange!
all the nutty ones
Praline melts
Lemon meinguw
milk chocolate 🙂
anything milk chocolate
I love nutty praline!
the nutty praline is divine!
Nutty Praline Melts – yummy !
I just love the Diplomats
I love their caramel and praline chocolates!
I love anything praline – so it’s got to be the praline melts’
Nutty praline for me :o)
i like thorntons classic melts
dark chocolate with over 80 per cent raw cocoa
I love the Dark chocolate truffles they are so yummy and rich you only need one at a time to make you smile ( does not stop me eating more though! )
Champagne truffles
I love the champagne truffles
anything praline 🙂
viennese truffles
The lemon meringue
I love the Chocolate Gingers
I love nay type of chocolate although I prefer white chocolate
Nutty praline irresistibles
the praline melts are my favorites
Plain milk chololate
Truffle
Strawberry cream
champagne truffles yummy
Raspberry 🙂
Vanilla Flavour Fondant Mouse
any with nuts xx
Their truffles are lovely
Continental Rum Truffles are my favourite ;o)
I love Thorntons Chocolate Fudge yummmmy
Viennese
I love the coffe ones
Continental Alpini
love any but especilly with nuts
Eton Mess
70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block
I love all dark chocolate
i love their fruit creams
any with nuts! yummy!
Mint Crunch Dark Chocolate Block (90g)
Truffles
praline melts are so yummy
Champagne truffles
Praline melts – yumtastic
I like anything with a cream centre!
Champagne Truffles for me 🙂
I love the vanilla truffles
I love chocolate,
Made up with many streams,
Or made up with many swirls,
A full bodied chocolate,
Or a cream,
For a boy,
Or a girl,
But the best for me
It’s got to be
Chocolate with Brazil nuts in
boozy soft centres
Lightly Salted Macadamia Chocolate Block is truly scrumptious!
The Sicilian Lemon Mousse chocolates
Dark Chocolate
I love the praline chocs.
The Champagne Truffles are gorgeous ! 🙂
my favourite is milk chocolate
I love their Irresistible Belgian Chocolate Truffles! Yum!
Love Thorntons chocs xx
Sicillian Lemon Mousse
Champagne truffles for me too!
Love Sicilian lemon, so light; also the praline chocolates like Aplpini and Diplomat.
Praline Melts
I love the praline melts but I love all thorntons chocolate its amazing 🙂
Champagne Truffles yum yum
Love a soft caramel flavour
I love the truffles!
Champagne Truffles
Peach Bellina cocktail Chocolate
Good old milk chocolate for me 😀
I love Praline melts
vienesse truffles yum
I love the strawberry ones.
Passionfruit Mousse. Scrummy!
I love the 70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block
White choc and fudge chocolate
love simple milk chocolate
Love their vanilla truffles
Wonderful prize. All looks so tempting 🙂
The lemon mousse chocolates
Anything with hard caramel and dark chocolate. I can’t resist!
lemon mousse
Creamy milk chocolate caramel
My favourites are the Gooey Caramel Irresistibles
The 70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block is my favourite – im a traditionalist, and I like a classy taste as a treat
I’ve finally managed to like dark chocolate so the 70% Dark Chocolate would be for me!
dark chocolate block x
Coffee cremes
Alpini
i love the strawberry cream ones
70% Deliciously Dark Chocolate Block
My favourite are the Strawberry cream ones.They are delicious.
Alpini – I must go in and buy one every time I walk past Thorntons!
cappuccino and zesty lemon
Praline melts
Love the fudge
Praline
any one that has fudge or caramel in them yummy yummy
Strawberry cream 🙂
Zesty Lemon out the classics box,And Lemon Mousse out the other box.But to be quite honest i like all the fruity flavours.
Champagne truffles are my favourite
Praline Mmmmmmm 🙂 x
nutty ones xx
anything coffee flavoured for me 🙂
Praline melts
champagne truffle hearts. LOVE those
anything with praline
ooh difficult to choose only one – champagne truffles.
All of them!
Viennese truffles are terrific!
I love the fruit creams, so the apricot parfait gets my vote
Alpini is my favourite
Thortons toffee is my absolute fave-does no favours for my fillings though!
Champagne Truffle.
i love thorntons white choc! x
the lemon mousse chocolates are lush!
I love the fudge ones in the classic collection
Strawberry Daiquiri
Chocolate truffles – very moreish!
Rum Truffles
I really like Classics Almond Marzipan
Champagne Truffles x yummmy!
hampagne Truffles
truffle
Praline melts
Anything with caramel
Praline melts and truffles 🙂
Turkish Delight has a slight edge, but I just love chocolate and Thornton’s is up there with the best.
I love the marzipan bars and the mint selections
Turkish Delight. mmmm
i love chocolate whatever the flavour!!! but particularly like soft caramels x
dark chocolates
dark chocolate brazils
ohhhh praline melts!!
Love the Nutty Pralene Melts, scrumptious.
All Thorntons flavours are great – why pick just one?
Anything nutty, especially a pistachio chocolate they do
Would love to win this!
Strawberry Creme
Nutty Praline Melts! Anything prailine is the best!!!
I like their cappuccino truffles
Nutty Praline Melts
lemon mouse chocolates
Continental vanilla truffle – even though its 6.00 am I’m salivating at the thought!
This a Chocolate lovers dream
Champagne truffles of course
DARK CHOLATE AND GINGER
Praline Melts
Anything with white chocolate.
Banoffi pie- but I haven’t tried the cocktail chocolates yet!
Mint Crunch Dark Chocolate
champagne truffles
Has be any strawberry ones
Milk chocolate praline
The champagne truffle
Anything with Toffee in it 🙂
I love LOVE LOVE! strawberry! xx
caramels
ALL OF THEM!!!!! I LOOOVE ALL OF THEM!!!
milk chocolate toffee truffle! 🙂
Faye x
The vanilla flavoured ones, never shared !
A soft caramel centre of some kind
i love their tablet that they do, and they use to do chocolate covered pretzels which were so tasty!
lemon mouse chocolates 🙂
I love their nutty Alpini bars.
Anything with a liquore gets my vote….ps I’m just awful at spelling, I haven’t been dipping into the chocolates yet today!
I love the Thorntons chocolate covered toffee, wife loves the coffee crèmes!
Fudge brownie milk chocolate.
Strawberry creme
rum truffles
champagne truffles…. mmm….
I loooooove alpini!
Caramel melts would be my choice
vienesse truffle
Nutty praline melts :0)
Strawberry cream
Dark Chilli Chocolate
Alpinis!
Milk Chocolate and anything with fruit cremes! Sicilian Lemon bars are heaven!
any milk chocolate and praline
Their Continental Champagne Truffle is my fave.
turkish delight
I love the marzipan bars!
Difficult choice but I think I’ll go with Champagne Truffles
yummy praline x
lemon mousse
champagne truffle or the praline
I like their white chocolate!
tough question! Coffee flavour has to be my fave 🙂
70% Dark Ginger Chocolate Block
Champagne Truffles
Love the truffles and strawberry dreams
Any of the praline chocolates! I could really do with some right now ha.
champagne truffles
Anything with caramel.
Strawberry Dream!
Alpini
I love the dark chocolate gingers
Nutty praline melts
the praline melts
Alpini
Thorntons diabetic Turkish Delight
I love anything truffle x
If you could see me you’d see i’m begging to win this one 😉 x
Haven’t had thorntons for ages but love the diplomats, chocolate Brazils and cookies. Listed them all as couldn’t chose a favourite.
Nougat
The Chocolate Riche is my favourite thornton’s chocolate, simple but delicious
love good old milk chocolate!
I love their special toffee
I love any in dark chocolate