{"title":"INFUSION COLLECTION 2026","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"muscat","title":"MUSCAT","description":"\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eINFUSION COLLECTION 003 \/ FINITE COLLECTION 004\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eTHE CHOCOLATE:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eUtilising infusion, we have created a chocolate bar that cerebrates one of Australia’s most decorated dessert wines, Muscat. Rich in deep raisin flavours, the Australian Rutherglen Muscat is the perfect companion for our Chuncho cacao showcased as a complex 78% format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eTHE STORY:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eThe story of this bar is one of a loving father and his son. Andy, a humble hardworking farmer had seen the overhwhelmingly positive response to his son's Port bar, and had a suggestion. He recommended trying the Australian Muscat as an alternative, prized for its rich raisin flavour. He purchased a few bottles to try, which were sampled after dinners next to various single-origin darks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eThe first tests we made for this bar were at the start of 2023. It was underwhelming, but did improve with age. The second tests were done at the start of 2023\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eHISTORY:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAustralian Rutherglen Muscat is regarded as one of the southern hemisphere’s best fortified wines. With a history dating back to the 1850’s, the wine producing region Rutherglen received a colossal introduction of population and investment from the discovery of gold there in 1858.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eAlready an established fortified wine producing region with suitable soil, Rutherglen’s wine makers heavily exported their product with the fortification being a key component to its ability to travel well. Made with the Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge grape, the wine is produced by adding grape spirit to the wine, increasing its alcohol content and fortifying it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eTypically aged in barrels using a solar system, the wine is often aged for many years leading it to develop in complexity and richness. The final product is often described as tasting like raisins, toffee and fruitcake, it is a rich and delicious mouthful perfect for a late night sip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eBAR INFO:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e50g\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eINGREDIENTS: Cacao Mass* (Cacao Nibs, Muscat), Cane Sugar. *Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eContains: Sulphites May Contain: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tree Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecan, Macadamia, Pistachio)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eProudly produced in the Wairarapa region, Aotearoa New Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52842583327036,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9367\/5068\/files\/MUSCAT_78_1.jpg?v=1773801491"},{"product_id":"muscat-copy","title":"PORT","description":"\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eINFUSION COLLECTION 001\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eTHE CHOCOLATE:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eUtilising infusion, we have created a potent chocolate bar which carries the flavours of Port. We submerge nibs from our Marañon beans in a quality 10-year-old Tawny Port featuring developed and charismatic flavours. Produced in Portugal by Taylor's, one of the first historic wine houses, then matched in rural New Zealand with quality beans from the Marañon valley in Peru, this is an extraordinarily unique offering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eTHE STORY:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eOur now legendary Port bar. The chocolate bar that cemented us as one of the top makers in the country, and the bar that first broke through into international award success. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eWhen we first started making chocolate in 2019, infusing chocolate with whisky or rum was becoming a signature technique for many makers around the world. Johnty, not being taken by either of those, decided to give something different a go. The idea first came to mind when he was working as a chocolatier for Honest Chocolat in Matakana, where chocolate and wine tastings were often held. One of the regular customers came to the store one day and suggested a tasting of Port and chocolate instead. As a frequent traveller to Portugal, he said it was a match made in heaven, and there was no better drink to pair cacao with. This planted the seed for what would many years later become our breakthrough bar. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eOur initial tests surveyed 7 different styles and brands of Port, and it took 3 months before the results were deemed conclusive. A quality tawny was the preferred style, and Taylor's was the maker. Whilst we tested the Ports, we also tested the origins. Our short ferment Marañon was the pick. The natural flavours of the cacao integrated perfectly with the port, and there really was no other suitable option. We knew this bar was something very special. We couldn't find anyone else doing it around the world, yet it just seemed so obvious, we had to release it. Thankfully, we did. Just in time for the 2022 New Zealand Chocolate Awards, where it won the competition as the best overall product and opened the floodgates to positive PR for us. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTHE PRODUCER:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eINGREDIENTS: Cacao Mass*, Cane Sugar*, Port. *Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eContains: Sulphites\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMay Contain: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tree Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecan, Macadamia, Pistachio)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e50g | Produced in Aotearoa\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eNew Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003elucidchocolatier.nz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e@lucidchocolatier.nz\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52842598564156,"sku":null,"price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9367\/5068\/files\/Porto_68_1.jpg?v=1773801428"},{"product_id":"sauternes","title":"SAUTERNES","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eINFUSION COLLECTION 002.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTHE STORY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJohnty recalls the first time he drank Sauternes vividly. In 2019, at the end of one of the best meals of his life at Jano Bistro in Wellington, dessert was served, and with it a curious glass of soft golden-orange coloured wine. The sommelier explained it was a sweet wine from France, with notes of stone fruits, citrus and honey. Perplexed at the concept, Johnty drank. He then smiled in amazement. With a definitive taste of apricot and honey, a new interest had been discovered, and in retrospect, this bar was born. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAfter the success of our Port bar, we decided to begin developing other chocolate bars following the same line of thought. Wine had proven difficult to work with due to its tendency to oxidise before the infusion process was complete, so the idea was shelved. That all changed when we began working with our VRAE 99 Cacao from Juan Laura in Pichari Alta, Cusco. The flavours of the cacao reminded us of Sauternes, and on whim; a moment of inspiration, 6 bottles of Sauternes were purchased and the testing began. We made it once, sent some of the bars to be judged at ICA Asia-Pacifc, and sold the rest at our debut appearance at the Australian Chocolate Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOur first-ever test was recognised as the 4th highest-scoring flavoured dark chocolate bar in Asia-Pacific, and we knew we were onto something very special. The results continued later into 2025 where the bar also scored a silver medal at the AOC awards in London, and won a bronze at the ICA world final, taking home the special prize for alcohol amongst some fierce competition from some of our chocolate-making idols. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJohnty is often asked what his favourite bar is. While his lips remain sealed around the topic, it's safe to say that this bar, which rapidly became a breakthrough bar for us last year, would be highly considered. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTHE CHOCOLATE:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eUtilising infusion, we have created a truly unique chocolate bar celebrating one of the most famous dessert wines in the world. Sauternes from Bordeaux are renowned as the gold standard for sweet wines, often with flavourers of stone fruit and honey. These notes match perfectly with our floral and fruity VRAE 99 for an unforgettable tasting journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTHE PRODUCER:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJuan Laura, a farmer from Pichari Alta (High Pichari) in northern Cusco, produces a variety of single-harvest genetics, with our favourite being VRAE-99. Known for its floral and fruity characteristics, it really is the perfect match for Sauternes. Juan Laura is one of the last remaining producers we are yet to visit, but we have met multiple times at the Salon del Cacao in Lima. They are a full family operation, with the wife and two daughters all actively involved in the business. Their cacao is hard to secure and fetches a high price, but we feel it's absolutely worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHISTORY:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWith a production history dating back to the 16th Century, and heavily influenced by the Dutch merchants’ desire for sweeter wines to sell to Scandinavian customers, Sauternes wine from Bordeaux has been perfected over centuries, solidifying its place in the world as one of the most sought-after dessert wines. The key to its incredible flavour and sweetness comes from the application of the natural process of noble rot, which requires a set of specific weather conditions to sweeten the grapes naturally. The fungus, also known as Botrytis cinerea, thrives in humid mornings followed by sunny, dry afternoons. It penetrates the grape’s skin, allowing water to evaporate. As a result, the sugars and acids concentrate, producing a juice with intense and complex flavours, the most typical notes being stone fruit, citrus, and honey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBAR INFO:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e72% Dark chocolate, infused with Sauternes wine from Bordeaux\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTasting notes: Peach, apricot, honey\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e50g\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eINGREDIENTS: Cacao Mass* (Cacao Nibs, Sauternes), Cane Sugar. *Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eContains: Sulphites\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMay Contain: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tree Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecan, Macadamia, Pistachio)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eStorage: Cool, dry place. Do Not Refrigerate\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"preFade fadeIn\"\u003eProudly made in the Wairarapa region, Aotearoa New Zealand.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52842603086140,"sku":null,"price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9367\/5068\/files\/Sauternes_72_1.jpg?v=1773801400"},{"product_id":"infusion-collection","title":"INFUSION COLLECTION","description":"\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003eThe Infusion Collection: A Trilogy of Dessert Wines\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003eA sophisticated trio of bars for the fine wine lover. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003eUnlike traditional flavoured chocolate, these bars are created using a patient infusion process, one that has become a signature style of Lucid. Careful consideration of time, temperature,ratios and origin pairings, have lead to this harmonious offering dubbed \"The Infusion Collection.\" Showcasing some of the makers favourite alcohols from around the world through the medium of quality craft chocolate. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003eThis collection features one of each:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\"\u003ePORT: Infused with 10-year-old Portuguese Tawny Port. Deep and indulgent, offering a velvety texture with prominent notes of caramel, toasted nuts, and raisins. Paired perfectly with our short-ferment Marañon cacao - our tried and tested fan favourite.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\"\u003eSAUTERNES\u003cb data-index-in-node=\"0\" data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\"\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e Utilizing the infamous dessert wine of Bordeaux, this bar is delicate and subtle. Expect honeyed sweetness and delicate stone-fruit undertones hihglighted by our choice of VRAE-99 cacao. Our highest scoring international award winner.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\"\u003e MUSCAT: The most bold and pungent of the trio. The choice of Muscat used brings a rich, raisin forward sweetness remeniscent of Christmas pudding, enahnced by our choice of aged Chuncho cacao. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eOUR TASTING RECCOMENDATION: If you plan on enjoying all three at once, we reccomend starting with the delicate sauternes, continuing with the robust port, and finishing with the bold muscat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eTo really elevate the experience, we suggest pairing it with the corrosponding alcohol. This is not a tasting for the faint hearted, but it is certainly one we would put at the peak of craft chocolate tasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eFor individual ingredient lists and allergen concerns please see the individual product pages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eProudly made in Rural Wairarapa, Aotearoa New Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lucid Chocolatier","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52941892845884,"sku":null,"price":76.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9367\/5068\/files\/Infusioncollection2026.jpg?v=1775006658"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9367\/5068\/collections\/Infusion_collection_2026.jpg?v=1772785294","url":"https:\/\/lucidchocolatier.nz\/collections\/infusion-collection-2026.oembed","provider":"Lucid Chocolatier","version":"1.0","type":"link"}