Brazilian Brands: Sonho de Valsa
Brazilian Brands is back! Today’s item in the spotlight has a somewhat romantic association which reminds me of a British confectionery favourite. Rolos were (and possibly still are) milk chocolate covered caramels that came in a tube-shaped wrapper. The tag line was “Do you love anyone enough to give them your last Rolo?”. I suppose this led romantic 9 year olds to handing over a half melted choccy to the object of their desire (not that I ever gave or received one).
Anyway, on to the Brazilian chocolate for the romantically minded.
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Sonho de Valsa
Name: Sonho de Valsa
Product: Chocolate bonbon
Description: Sonho de Valsa was released by Lacta in 1938 and they say that the packaging hasn’t changed much in all those years.
As you can see, the chocolate comes in a very distinctive pink wrapper and sports a fairytale couple having a little dance. The dance in question is a valsa (waltz) and apparently the musical notes that you can just make out between the images of the couple are from an actual waltz by Johann Strauss!
Break open the wrapper and you will discover a milk chocolate covered ball. The chocolate is covering a crispy sphere, not unlike a Ferrero Rocher. Bite through the shell and you find a crunchy, buttery cashew nut filling.
Creamy cashew filling surrounded by a crunchy wafter shell and a layer of milk chocolate. Very sweet, very tasty, hits the spot.
Verdict: Am I actually turning into a Brazilian? Sonho de valsas are seriously sweet but I like them! I like the crunch from the crispy wafer shell and I like the creamy, crunchy cashew filling.
Apparently these sweets were originally designed to appeal to women (hence the mushy name) and they are now a classic gift “for your loved one”. It seems like it must have worked because Lacta’s rivals, Garoto, brought out the virtually indistinguishable Seranata de Amor (Seranade of love) in 1949.
As romantic gestures go it’s not quite up there with a dozen roses, but hey, it tastes good so stop complaining! I’ll leave you with more sappy mush highlighting Sonho de Valsa’s marketing ploy.
Awww, it’s enough to bring a tear to your eye isn’t it? It isn’t?! Oh you heartless people!
May I have one, please!
:)
Not my cup of tea, or praia. I prefer dark chocolate and am baffled by how popular this chocolate candy is. But I DO love Rolos!
Mmm, rolos are good aren’t they? I haven’t had one in years – they still make them then?
Rolos ignite fond childhood memories, especially trips to the movie theatre where we would always get some before the film. Ah, watching classics like the one below while eating rolos: heaven.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077305/
Later in life you have your nacho movies, but it isn´t the same.
Groan at the “nacho movie” joke – the Cat from Outer Space film sounds awesome though! :)
And Tom, by nacho movies I mean those seen while eating nachos, and not failed shoplifting attempts for porn in any downtown shop (“hey, that´s nacho movie!”).