A bit of flu, then I was strangely without appetite for the greedy granny I am known to be  when these little beauties arrived courtesy of Postie.  They had been sent by kind and generous friends who know my weak spot. I apologise for the gap in the top row right of the image. I cannot lie, I was too weak to exert self-control and ate one immediately.  It was totally utterly truly deeply delicious.

I am horribly mean and usually make a chocolate last at least two days. nibbling it, putting it down, nibble nibble again. Well, this chocolate, dear reader, had the obligatory nibble, but then it went down the hatch in one. So delicious was it. It was then that Dick saved me from myself, holding me back, handing my the phone. ‘Take the picture.’ was the order. I did. Then I had another. Greedy granny was on the mend.

But who are Friars who made these handmade chocolates? I needed to find out more. But to aid convalescence I’ll just have another chocolate while I hunt the history.

Now we have it. Friars have 95 years of experience behind them, That’s right, they were founded 95 years ago by William Long who decided Keswick needed a luxury chocolate shop. Sensible soul.  As with Rosebud Preserves which I reviewed a few days ago, the founding principles still hold good. .

Innovation was key even all those years ago, and it still is. To this end Friars  have been leading pioneers  in developing plant based chocolate with flavoured centres, which the team of chocolatiers make by hand. First they make the shell, then the centre and finally the chocolate is dipped, decorated, and then eaten. Well, eaten by those lucky enough to be sent such a treat. And merely to show appreciation I will now have another.

Friars were also one of the first chocolate makers to start moving towards 100% biodegrade packaging. They use vegan milk and white chocolate and so on… and on… William Long would be proud. Now let’s discuss quality, and though I feel that it is not in doubt. I will have another to reassure myself. Scrummy.

Quality – Readers, there is a tasting panel. Bagsy me! Unless the tasters give a score of 9/10 the chocolate they are tasting will not be offered to customers.
In addition Friars work with unusual continental chocolate brands to bring something different to the UK, but of course, it has to be exceptional. It is. Perhaps just one more.

Longevity – Tradition is important to Friars, and the very first chocolates that William Long produced for his customers were rose and violet creams – heavens, my mum like vilet creams. I can remember the taste, and there was a little frosted violet on the top, but I daresay that was not Friars. However, Friars still make them, and they are as popular today as they were then.

As you can see, Friars are no whippersnappers, they know the world of chocolate inside out, and it shows.

So to round off, I shall have yet another chocolate, because I know you know that I don’t spare myself in the pursuit of research for your edification.Yep, good as I have come to expect.

One more point, for though I personally feel that there are no calories in chocolates unless they touch a plate, this is something I will not pass in front of experts. It is certainly not a theory with which the scales agree, but heavens, these are such a treat one simply has to – have yet another. So do please give yourselves a treat, or your friends and family at Christmas. Then they will offer you one, if not two, I’m sure.

Go on – enjoy.   You know you will.

To find out more information go to Friars