Chocolate trading company is a little company on-line catering to every type of chocoholic, young and old, fussy, unfussy and special dieted. They are listed at Shopsafe.co.uk and have on a Retailbest.com award for Quality. They also show a great interest in the environment and organic foods, and that is very evident in the webdesign and layout.

The range of goods are immense, with ranges of normal, special occasions, Alcohol-free, Chocolate truffles, Dairy free chocolate, Dark chocolate bars, Diabetic / Sugar free chocolate, Fair trade chocolate, Flavoured chocolate bars, High Cocoa Chocolate, Hot chocolate, Marzipan, Milk chocolate bars, Novelty shapes, Organic chocolate, Single origin chocolate, Soya lecithin free chocolate, Wheat & gluten free chocolates & White chocolate

Their gift range includes Champagne & chocolate selections, hampers, Gift boxes & novelty chocolate gift items.

~ Products, selection & pricing ~
I have to say I was immensely impressed by the range of chocolate products this company have to offer, and how simple and impressive their menu is to navigate. As a rule I have a huge problem finding suitable 'treats' for myself as dairy allergic person, many sites carry only Green & Blacks which if I am not careful can contain small amounts of dairy products, and although they have a few different varieties Green & Blacks is stuck more on the 'bar' type of chocolate. Now don't get me wrong, I like Green & Blacks, but it is more like the chocolate I bake with or treat myself too in a chocolaty moment through the supermarket, not exactly special like a box of chocolates! Many supermarkets also do 'Soya' chocolate; however I have found it usually over sweet and have a rather weird texture.

What initially struck me is that the dairy free range on offer are not just dairy free, they are organic! So far as to say the dairy free range is actually a brand called Booja Booja truffles. The last 2 times I have tried the Organic gourmet truffle selection box, containing the following:

"A fine selection of award winning, assorted chocolate truffles. Contains: Champagne truffles, Ginger wine truffles, Hazelnut crunch rochers, Espresso truffles and Cognac Flambed banana truffles. All dairy-free, wheat and guten-free, 100% organic and Non-GMO. Oh yes, also suitable for vegetarians & vegans! Organic chocolate as it should be." **

I have to admit these are absolutely gorgeous. If you can imagine a soft smooth silky inside, with a slightly firm shell coated in cocoa you are close! Unlike most dairy free chocolate I have tried they are of a wonderful texture, minimal bitter after-taste and a chocolaty hit that will certainly have you reaching for more, but only in a way that you will have a wonderfully smooth after-taste that will linger for quite a while.

The selection box is the biggest box in the dairy free range at 220g, and costing £10.95 (before postage) may seem steep, however absolutely totally worth it. All the Booja Booja chocolates come in recyclable round wooden box. So far as to say I have had 2 boxes so far (birthday & Christmas) and my partner has apparently bought me a 'surprise selection' (IE 2 of the single flavour truffle boxes) for valentines, I only know this because he asked for the web address and asked me what I would like!

They have an extensive range of gift packages as well as ranges for specialised diets and occasions. I have bought my friend Bouchon Superior Selection and a 'Chocoholics Heaven' birthday card which she absolutely enjoyed, especially as a chocoholic! They also packed in some brochures & catalogues which her partner has dubbed her 'porn' as she wont let him look!

The Bouchon Superior Selection (Bordeaux wine flavoured chocolates wrapped up to look like corks) and a 'Chocoholics Heaven' card cost £4.99 and £1.50 respectively, and the card can be printed inside for you for direct delivery to the recipient.

~ Delivery & Packaging ~
When delivered expect a rather hungry looking postman! The chocolates come wrapped in a recyclable cardboard box around 2 - 3 times the size of the actual contents you have ordered, however the contents are well packed in recyclable packaging. You will also notice a nice '2" x 3" sticker on the box labelled "The Chocolate Trading Company" - and that's what usually get s the Postie hungry! Apparently seeing my deliveries go through has prompted the local post manager to go order some too! I will say however it is so well packed you open the box to a waft of delicious chocolate air, which tends to make you dive in to find the chocolates!!!

~ Customer service ~
They have really lived up to their customer service award. They have prompt postage of their products, usually arriving within 5 - 7 days of the order (sometimes less). All emails/invoices are worded in a friendly non fussy clear and concise way giving you a huge sense that this is a company you can trust. They are also extremely polite over the phone.

~ Extras ~
The company currently run a affiliate program, and as such you may be able to get through some shopping sites like 'Freefivers.co.uk' to get some cash back on your order

~ Payment methods ~
This company takes most major credit and debit cards via a VeriSign secured SSL gateway. If however you wish to pay by cash, postal order or still feel you don't want to hand your card details over a website, you can phone, post or even fax your order by using their details on the customer info page of their website

Please note the ** section of quoted text is from the product description of their website