Assorted box of chocolates

Mixed praline box from Sawade with five classics

The mixed praline box from Sawade is the house's classic selection, ten pieces in five varieties under a mauve-pink sleeve. Dark cream truffle, Marc de Champagne truffle, marzipan-praline, pistachio nougat, and layered nut brittle lie side by side in pairs.

Mixed praline box is a tasting of the entire assortment from Sawade in Berlin-Reinickendorf, ten handmade pieces in white paper cups. Two of the five fillings contain alcohol, which is worth mentioning when sharing.

Creamy, brittle, and nutty side by side

The dark chocolate cream truffle gives way as soon as it feels the warmth of your fingertips, and underneath waits the tart cream filling that gives it its name.

Next to it lies the Marc de Champagne truffle, whose pomace brandy makes the cream lighter and a touch sharper. The marzipan-praline contrasts the soft almond paste with a piece of burnt sugar that crunches when you bite into it.

The pistachio nougat reveals its green nut openly, and the layered nut brittle in milk chocolate provides the sound. Soft, crunchy, sugary – the texture changes with every pick, which is why this box ends up empty faster than a single-variety one.

Because each of the five varieties is included twice, no one at the table has to miss out on their favorite piece, and the second half of the box keeps the choice open. For two people, it lasts throughout an entire evening; in a larger group, it is finished in a quarter of an hour.

Take it out of the cool hallway in good time, as cold ganache releases its aroma reluctantly. At room temperature, the same filling melts instantly and carries its brandy much further.

Why a mixed box is harder to assemble than a single-variety one

The marzipan-praline brings together two substances that age differently, as the almond paste remains moist while the brittle wants to stay dry. Therefore, the burnt sugar lies as a separate layer on the almond paste, and the chocolate coating seals both together.

In a single-variety box, each piece makes the same demands on temperature and air. Here, however, soft ganache and dry brittle lie next to each other, and the closed sleeve must protect both from moisture at the same time.

This is also evident when placing the pieces, as a powdered truffle must not transfer sugar to its bare neighbor. Each piece therefore gets its own paper cup before the tray goes into the sleeve.

Sawade decorates every variety by hand and consciously avoids artificial flavors or preservatives, as well as palm oil. With five such different fillings, this means more effort than with just one.

With an espresso after the meal

The mauve-pink box likes a strong espresso after dinner and an evening where everyone stays seated. It is a suitable gift wherever you don't know what the hostess likes best.

Kept cool and dark at 15 to 18 degrees, the chocolate coating stays shiny, whereas in the refrigerator, the ganache loses its melt and the brittle its snap. Next to the heater, the coating turns gray.

Almond, pistachio, and hazelnut are all three in the recipes and run through several layers of this selection. If you pass it around the table, it is best to mention that right away.

If you prefer alcohol-free, go for the alcohol-free praline box, for pure ganache the truffle praline box, and for pure nut the nougat praline box. The Berlin assortment from Sawade can be found at Sawade Berlin.