Goin’ loco over choco

Nothing comforts the body, heart and soul more than a sip of hot chocolate drink, a bite of warm, freshly baked chocolate doughnut, or both. Chocolate is a passion that lingers on and on and because it stirs up feelings of warmth and comfort, it is always a big treat.

Rich and luscious, it comes in the form of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. The difference is in the amount of cocoa solids and cocoa butter in the chocolate, with dark chocolate having the highest amount (about 70 to 85 percent).

DOUBLE Chocolate Donuts. More than just being absolutely delicious, chocolate is also good for the health. Dark chocolate, for one, contains high levels of antioxidants, such as polyphenols. Some people even consider it as a superfood because it contains flavonols, which help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Foods rich in antioxidants are also believed to delay, if not prevent, the onset of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some forms of cancer and degenerative diseases related to aging.

CHOCO-GLAZED Timbits. Chocolate likewise helps improve eye health, boost energy level, maintain good blood flow in the body and prevent premature aging.

Small wonder chocolate is such a popular flavor in doughnuts, breads, pastries, cakes, desserts, confections and hot and cold beverages.

One of the top food chains that offers an extensive line of chocolate products is Tim Hortons, best known for its premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks, doughnuts, gourmet sandwiches and wraps. The company, which is named after its founder, Tim Horton, a National Hockey League legend, opened its first store in Ontario, Canada in 1964. Even when Horton passed away in 1974, the company continued to flourish and develop new products under the stewardship of his business partner Ron Joyce. Timbits (technically doughnut holes), muffins and cookies, flavored lattes were added to Tim Hortons’ regular menu. The company also expanded its operations from Canada to the United States and the Middle East and, in 2017, made its way to the Philippines.

CHOCOLICIOUS Tim Hortons’ food and beverage menu includes quite a number of chocolate selections, all of which are certified best-sellers especially in the chain’s Philippine stores. This has prompted it to introduce two new chocolate products, which diners will be able to enjoy for the whole month of August—Chocolicious Donut and White Hot Chocolate.

Chocolicious Donut is a yeast-risen doughnut teeming with chocolate brownie filling. It is dipped in white fondant and outlined with chocolate flakes. Bite into the soft pastry and the rich chocolate filling oozes out. Pure indulgence!

White Hot Chocolate is a delightful hot chocolate drink with a rich, smooth texture. It has a perfect milky note and just the right amount of sweetness to please the palate. The white chocolate drink comes topped with a generous piping of whipped cream.

These two new products are welcome additions to Tim Hortons’ already extensive line of chocolate products, such as Chocolate Dip (regular yeast doughnut dipped in chocolate), Chocolate Glazed (glazed chocolate doughnut), Double Chocolate Fudge (chocolate doughnut dipped in chocolate fudge),

Chocolate Dip Boston Cream Donut (doughnut filled with Boston cream and dipped in chocolate), Chocolate Éclair (éclair filled with whipped cream and dipped in chocolate), Chocolate Glazed Timbit (chocolate doughnut hole), Chocolate Chip Muffin, Triple Chocolate Muffin, Chocolate Chunk Cookie, and Double Chocolate Cookie with Peanut Butter Filling.

The menu also includes such beverages as Hot Chocolate and Frozen Hot Chocolate (with whipped cream topping and drizzles of chocolate syrup).

Most of these chocolate favorites were on the buffet spread when the two new menu additions for this August, Chocolicious Donut and White Hot Chocolate, were launched at Tim Hortons Glorietta 4 very recently.

Remember: These two chocolate treats will be available up to 31 August only.