Exotic Chocolate Wrappers

As an organic expansion on our Dreamy Creamy Textures post, and in line with our Rich Pickings theme of exotic foliage, wildlife and botanical illustrations and fabrics, as featured previously on Mirabelle, I have curated a collection of richly-adorned chocolate packagings that echo the lush Tropics and redefine the Olmec 'Xocoatl' beverage as a godly delicacy. This is translated in a pictorial style that is redolent of nostalgia and colonial grandeur, yet measured and aligned to the artisan quality of the finished article. It marries a carefully-thought-out choice of typography, colour scheme and archival motif to the heritage that the chocolatiers hold dear in relation to their superior quality produce, and ultimately to the expectation of the connoisseur.

The wrappers transcend their ephemera transience and defeat their purpose, thanks to their work of art quality and their intrinsic visual and gustative invitation to faraway lands. These wrappers will not be readily disposed of, morphing instead into collectables! Meanwhile the subtly flamboyant packaging is an invitation to an expectation. That of highly-desirable moreish content!

Sources: (1) Single Origin Bà Ria 76% Chocolate and (2) company logo from Vietnam-based French chocolatier duo Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat, niched as 'the first single origin gourmet bean-to-bar chocolate to come out of Vietnam'. They pride themselves on producing artisan chocolate, as far from modern industrial processes as can be. As an example, their antique cocoa bean roaster, bought on eBay, dates back to 1937! Marou's brand identity was executed by Rice Creative: "We wanted the packaging to be strongly linked to Vietnam. We began collecting beautiful ceremonial papers that are still produced by artisanal printers in Cho Lon, the old Chinese quarter of Saïgon. These papers are hand-printed with intricate traditional lattice patterns. Typically, the patterns are adorned with illustrated fruits, flowers and auspicious animals. Inspired by this illustration style we hand drew our own original chocolate oriented ornaments of cacao pods, flowers and leaves, throwing in some heavenly looking clouds for the tropical monsoon. Our custom lattice pattern keeps a traditional look and creates a framework to incorporate some modernist typography, inspired by the old signage still found around the country." (via The Dieline). Further reviews by Behance and Lovely Package. Marou Chocolate is available to purchase online from La Grande Epicerie de Paris, and other selected retail outlets worldwide. 

(3) Coffret Opale 12 Agates au Praliné (12 x Praline-filled Chocolate Bonbons in a Giftset Box) and (4) Chocolat Noir d'Origine Ghana-Indonésie-Equateur (80% Dark Chocolate in foil bag, for extra freshness) by Parisian chocolatier Chapon. Patrice Chapon is a passionate gourmet who used to churn ice-creams and sorbets for Buckingham Palace! In 1986 he decided to branch out into the world of cacao, turning a wish into a quest for perfection. A bean-to-bar chocolatier since 2012, Chapon has been spunning the magic in his atelier, with a little help from his carefully-renovated vintage machinery (Cocoa Bean Roaster, Cocoa Bean Breaker & Winnower, and Conche). Further review by Le Figaro (in French). Chapon Chocolate is available to purchase online from their own store, and from selected retail outlets (ex: La Grande Epicerie de Paris).

(5) Venchi Blend 90% Fondente Extra Dark Chocolate and (6) Venchi Selezione Extra Dark chocolate by Italian confectioner Venchi, founded by Silviano Venchi in 1878. The Piedmontese chocolatier delighted the customers, not only with chocolates but also nougatine, one of his recipes! The chocolate shop has come a long way since, and it has expanded to the point where it is now producing no less than 350 speciality chocolates, exported worldwide! Venchi Chocolate is available to purchase online from their own store, and from selected retail outlets worldwide (ex: Selfridges).

(7) Mint 67% Chocolate by Chocolate and Love. The cacao used by this ethical Swiss-made organic chocolate company originates from Fairtrade-certified cooperatives in The Dominican Republic, Peru and Panama. They specifically source their beans from countries where child labour is not known to exist. Besides all the ingredients are 100% traceable to source. C&L's commitment to high standards of quality, including reduced sugar contents, made them win the coveted Great Taste Awards 2014. Through their evocative 'Feast for the Senses' C&L awaken the senses to consumption. Likewise their choice of packaging design was carefully thought out and involved a New York artist who captured through his paintings the richness of the local environment and ingredients of origin. C&L Chocolate is available to purchase from selected retail outlets (ex: Ocado and Harvey Nichols).

A p p e n d i x : Here are two noteworthy premium chocolatiers who, despite not packaging their chocolate in fancy exotic design, have a Criollo and Trinitario offering that is on a par with that of their exotic wrapper counterparts!

• Willie's Cacao: Devon-based bean-to-bar chocolatier extraordinaire Willie Harcourt-Cooze is described as 'a modern day Willy Wonka who has roamed the world in pursuit of the perfect cacao bean' (ABC TV). He is a chocolate artisan and purist - who produces 100% pure cacao chocolate - and an intrepid adventurer who translates his passion effortlessly (I remember a TV series I watched a few years back that just sold me to his style and approach). More on the Harcourt-Cooze colourful lifestyle via The Daily Mail. Willie's Cacao Chocolate is available to purchase from their own store, and from selected retail outlets (ex: Waitrose and Selfridges). Pictured is Willie's Supreme Cacao Madagascan Black (100% pure cacao), available from Selfridges.
  

• Green & Black's: Established British purveyor of superior quality organic and ethical chocolate without the elitist preconceptions, Green & Black's ranges are available across the board, from boutique delis to mainstream supermarkets. The brand has successfully penetrated median mass market with its quality produce and has educated the British palate on taste, before upping the ante and taking on the rest of the world, under the umbrella of Cadbury. Five years later, the British giant was in turn bought off by Mondelēz International (formerly Kraft Foods Inc.). We hope that Green & Black's will keep its edge and not dilute and sell out! Meanwhile let's fondly keep in mind that Green & Black's very first chocolate, Maya Gold, was awarded the UK's first Fairtrade mark for a chocolate product, back in 1994. As for I, my all-time Green & Black's favourites remain White Chocolate (smooth in taste and speckled with vanilla) followed by Almond Milk Chocolate and Raisin & Hazelnut Milk Chocolate. Green & Black's Chocolate is available to purchase online from their own store, and from retail outlets worldwide.

All Mapped Out

Cartography has long established itself as a sub-element of Fine Art in its own right, by going beyond the initial purpose of geographical representation. Some maps, in fact, have been designed with no other purpose than to look pretty on the cover of a magazine or to sit pretty on a wall, with the geometry patterns of a city or country abstracted, colours and infographic-style landmark symbols maxed out and applied in a Naïf Art style to reinterpret a place that pops out to greet you. The result is pretty... stunning!

Source: (1) 'Milan' and (2) 'New Delhi' Art Prints by Jazzberry Blue, via Society6. (3) 'Glasgow Map' by Khuan+Ktron for Intro Magazin and (4) 'Olympic Golf Rio 2016' by Khuan+Ktron for Omega. (5) 'The Future of Thailand' (Commissioned by Winkreative for Monocle) by Chinapat Yeukprasert, via Behance. (6) Thailand Map by Hey for Monocle. (7) 'Oklahoma State Map' Art Print by Bri.buckley, via Society6.

Sweet Sensations

This is one chemistry lesson we won't want to skip! No boring textbook or crazy professor tagging the blackboard with obscure chemistry theorems in double-Dutch speak. Here we have liquid poetry in motion, harmless explosions revealing their complexity, dilutions into water creating swirly bursts of colours mixing into ombrés, captured on camera, immortalised in their fleetingness by a host of talented artists. The inky shots lend a cocktail of special effects, illusory textures, modern ballet choreography, 3D profoundness that captivate and take us to the antichamber of dreamscape and the imaginary before they evanesce.

If only our science teachers had used the trick as a way to captivate a class of pesky teens to illustrate themes based around the periodic table of chemical elements, molecular formulae, density and gravity, then kids like myself would have given science more than a passing glance. Now I simply cannot take my eyes off those little beauties:

Source: (1) and (2) Part of Marcel Christ's non-commissioned 'Pario' series, via Wired. The paint and water mix was blasted with compressed air and captured at the staggering shutter speed of 1/10,000th of a second, to immortalise pattern effects that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye! The result creates unique one-of-a-kind ephemeral abstract artforms that look set in glass (akin to those glass marbles or paper weights that enclose swirly patterns). (3) and (4) From the 'a due Colori' personal portfolio by Alberto Seveso, via Behance (3), which also applies the high-speed camera process to an ink and water mix. We would be forgiven for mistaking the liquid mix for crunched organza or magnified close-ups of pollen! (5) and (6) 'Abstract 1931b', both part of the 'Across the Volumes' series by Kim Keever, via Co.Design. Artistry comes out of diverse talented guises. Take ex-NASA thermal engineer Keever, who has channelled his creativity via visual effects created by dropping industrial paint tints into 200-gallon fish tanks, with a scientific approach. "The natural properties of the different pigments allow them to move in different ways through water molecules" (via Co.Design). Here pigments and water create clouds reminiscent of renaissance paintings.

Plastic Fantastic?

Following on our extremely popular Caught in the Pacific Trash Vortex post that highlighted social activist Chris Jordan's plea about the seabirds from the Midway Atoll, Mirabelle was contacted last month by the designers of an interesting educational infographic that really drew our attention further on the damage caused by the 'fantastic' yet pawned invention that is plastic. We have great pleasure in sharing this catchy bit of information with you.

As a beach babe living on the coast, Mirabelle is faced with the downside of plastic on a daily basis, so we thought we would even drill the awareness message further by adding an advert that also caught our eye. In our view, packaging as a whole needs a total rethink and overhaul, and the plastic supremacy needs to be toned down drastically. Plastic manufacturers/ suppliers and their immediate Fortune 100 clients are to blame, but then again it is up to the end consumer to "vote with their feet" and shun plastics for more sustainable less pollution-prone alternatives that will be less likely to end up back into the food chain. Folks, let's make this work and let's be smarter in 2013!

Sorry, Blogger won't allow picture to zoom in!

Sources: (1) OnlineEducation.net. (2) Concept Ad WWF, by Eric Eykhout, via Behance: "Plastic litter from all over the earth ends up in the ocean, gets caught up in ocean currents and has created a giant swirling mass of 7 million tons of toxic debris dubbed 'The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.' The waters in this immense area contain 6 times more plastic than plankton, a primary food source for fish, marine mammals and ultimately affecting humans as well."

Additional Resources: Find out about professional surfer Kyle Thiermann's mission to help reverse plastic pollution effects on 'surfers paradise' coastlines across the world, via Surfing For Change.

Interesting update (18/07/2013): Two scientists manage to break down phtalates (soft plastic components), using bacteria! (via TED Talks).

Grandeur & Decadence: Detroit's Michigan Central Station

The flipside of grandeur is decadence of dizzy-high proportions; nonetheless from the tragedy, from the combined obsolescence and degenerescence of the once-bustling station emanates solemn beauty at its most pared-down form, bathed in visual silence.

Pict 1-4: Michigan Central Station is one of Detroit USA's iconic derelict constructions. Built in 1913 it was sadly doomed as a white elephant, never achieving its full potential despite its credentials. Later in the 1970s, the motor town's changing fortunes further accelerated its demise. The station's future has been hanging in the balance since closing down in 1988 and demolition is now on the cards as the only viable option. That will be yet another Detroit symbol biting the dust. Photographic footage featured by Kevin Bauman on Behance.