|
|
 |
|
|
When we opened CCBerries we wanted to make the finest chocolate covered strawberries available, using only the finest ingredients including gourmet chocolate and the largest strawberries available (almost always long stem). Our strawberries are fresh, never frozen and we use true tempered gourmet chocolate.
After a bit of research into our competition we found why they were able to sell their product for less: they were not using the same grade of fruit (never large long stem berries ) and/or they were not using chocolate. The substance they were using could not even legally be called milk, white or dark chocolate.
| This information is brought to you as a public service because we feel that the confectionery industry should be free from the behaviors listed below. |
Real Chocolate vs the fake stuff (OIL BASED)
Gourmet Chocolate : there is a difference. (and taste is just the start)
True gourmet chocolate requires skill and special equipment, this is because chocolate has cocoa butter in it. Cocoa butter is the key ingredient that requires chocolate to be tempered. Tempering is the process that makes the chocolate behave at room temperature and have that special gloss, and feel. If you just melt chocolate without tempering it will not set up correctly, which would effect how it behaves in transit, how it tastes and if it makes a mess when you touch it. The lack of tempering, and the skill needed to do it correctly, is the reason many hobbyists have problems when they work with real chocolate. Basically anyone with a microwave can melt a "coating" (fake chocolate), but skill and special equipment is needed to work with real chocolate.
It's not just about taste: it's about health.
Recently there have been various studies about the health benefits of real chocolate. Since our competitors don't use chocolate: those studies do not apply to them, the information that would apply would be about "trans fatty acids" and "partially hydrogenated oils".
So what are the real differences between ourselves and some of our major competitors?
| Feature |
CCBerries � |
Shari's
Berries � |
Secret Spoon�
and
Cherry Moon Farms�
|
Berry
Gourmet�
Closed
|
Pro Flowers�
and
Red Envelope�
|
The Berry Factory�
Closed
|
Eminger
Berries�
Closed
|
| 1) Gourmet Chocolate |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Yes |
| 2) Always ship with gel packs to preserve freshness |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
? |
| 3) Chocolate type selections for most boxes |
YES |
NO |
NO |
?
|
NO |
NO |
? |
| 4) Products meet FDA regulations to be called Milk, White or Dark chocolate |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Yes |
| 5) Advertises under search terms that actually match the product |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Yes | There are a lot more dealers and resellers of the above fake chocolate strawberries... we just don't have the time/resources to verify all of them, but more are listed here and here.
Why are these important?
1) Gourmet Chocolate just tastes better than any other substitute and real milk, White or Dark chocolate is not based on Partially Hydrogenated Oils.
2) Even in the winter months a package can be transported through a warm city or sit in a hot part of a truck or plane.
3) If you want only select type of chocolate we think you should be able to make that selection, so many of our boxes give you that option.
4) All of our berries are dipped in the finest gourmet chocolate, the products made by the listed "No" competitors don't meet the minimum FDA requirements to be called Milk, White or Dark chocolate.
5) Each of the competitors listed as "No" have advertised "Chocolate Covered Strawberries" as an internet search term or on secondary sales sites when their products can legally be called Milk, White or Dark Chocolate.
CCBerries�, Shari's Berries�, Secret Spoon�, Cherry Moon Farms� , ProFlowers�, The Berry Factory� Red Envelope�, Berry Gourmet� and Eminger Berries� are registered trademarks of their respective companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"
