If you’d like more information about chocolate, our ingredients or where to buy our range of premium dark mint chocolates, please browse through our selection of the most frequently asked questions shown below.
If the answer to your question is not amongst the selection below, please do get in touch and we will be happy to help.
Chocolate is a food made from the seeds of the tropical tree called the Theobroma Cacao or Cacao tree. These trees grow in warm, moist climates and hence most of the world`s cocoa beans come from West Africa with Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Nigeria being the largest.
The cocoa nib is roast and ground into a liquid called mass. Chocolate is made from cocoa mass (this gives the chocolate solid content) and sugar with the addition of an emulsifier (typically Soya Lecithin). The higher the concentrate of cocoa liquor then the higher the % of cocoa solids.
Bendicks uses 95% cocoa solids, in the Bitters range, for a distinctive indulgent chocolate experience.
There are two types of chocolate bloom. The first is fat bloom which is caused by changes in the fat within the chocolate. The second is sugar bloom which is formed by the effect of moisture on the sugar ingredients. The most likely cause of fat or sugar bloom is very warm or damp storage conditions.
Caffeine is present in chocolate. Although there is far less caffeine in chocolate than there is in a cup of coffee, if you are avoiding caffeine (for dietary and nutritional reasons) you should, unfortunately, steer clear of chocolate.
Chocolates are best stored in cool dry ambient conditions (12 – 18 C) away from odorous material and direct sunlight or heat. Changes in the storage temperature are not recommended, as they will affect both the flavour and the life of the chocolate.
Although our products do not use nuts in their recipes and we take the utmost care during production, there is a risk of nut cross-contamination in the factory so we cannot guarantee that any of our products are absolutely nut-free.
This is an allergen warning statement. People who are allergic to nuts can have severe reactions to even minor traces of nuts. Although many of our products do not use nuts in their recipes and we take the utmost care production there is a risk of nut cross-contamination in the factory so therefore we cannot guarantee that any of our products are absolutely nut-free.
Soya Lecithin is a natural product extracted from the soya bean. It is used as an emulsifier to improve the fluidity of liquid chocolate, ensuring that the ideal chocolate texture and balance is maintained during the manufacturing process. Soya Lecithin is labelled as “Contains Soya” on our product packaging, this is to alert people who are allergic to soya products. The Soya Lecithin that we use is from a non-GM source.
As part of our commitment to using only the finest ingredients, no hydrogenated vegetable fats are used in Bendicks’ recipes.
Bendicks chocolates are gluten-free. However, they do include glucose syrup, which may be derived from a wheat source. The Coeliac Society states that glucose syrup sourced from wheat is suitable for inclusion in a gluten-free diet.
All Bendicks products produced by August Storck KG do not contain genetically modified ingredients. Like most confectionery manufacturers, our chocolate and confectionery recipes contain Lecithin (an emulsifier derived from the soya bean) All of these could potentially have come from genetically modified crops. However, the lecithin, and other ingredients used in our products, are tested and certified at source, that they are GM-free.
All Bendicks products are suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans.
Bendicks and KLBD are delighted to announce that following in-depth consultation, the iconic brand will retain its Kosher Certification. The next few months will see the return of the KLBD logo to the packaging
Bendicks uses four different types of peppermint oil. The peppermint oil used in Bendicks Bittermints® is grown in the Willamette and Madras regions of Oregon, USA.
Madras Peppermint (well known for its clear, cool, minty character) & Willamette Peppermint (warm, powerful, and smooth minty aroma and taste) are specially blended to create the distinctive Bendicks Bittermint flavour that wonderfully complements the dark, 95% cocoa solids’ chocolate and the peppermint oil in the dark mint batons.
You can buy selected Bendicks products in various countries outside of the UK. However, the full Bendicks range is available from our online partner Chocolates Direct and can be shipped worldwide.
Unfortunately the Bendicks Bittermint ‘yard’ is not available all year round, but can be found at our consumer events at Royal Windsor Horse Show and Goodwood Revival.
Unfortunately, we no longer produce Mingles. Why not try our Mint Collection instead?
A wide variety of sources – including consumer, taste and flavour trends. All our products are developed to the highest standards and when developing any new chocolate recipes, we always consider what our customers might like.
Our original and most famous mint.
Still made to the original recipe from 1931.
An intense mint fondant covered in thick 95% dark chocolate, a unique combination of contrasting premium ingredients.
An assortment of our finest
dark mint chocolates. This selection of quality mint chocolates makes a perfect gift, or a luxurious finishing touch to any meal or special occasion.
A deliciously soft peppermint fondant thickly covered with the smoothest of dark chocolate, to create the ultimate mint indulgence.
