Alfajor Blowout!

Posted by Edmund in Chocolate, Other Chocolate Treats | 0 comments

In Argentina, there are few sweets that captivate the population as much as the simple alfajor, a simple cookie sandwich covered in chocolate and typically stuffed with a layer of dulce de leche or sometimes chocolate. It is literally everywhere, so that, even if you do not like dulce de leche, you will be tempted at one point while staying in Argentina to try one or two…or a dozen. You might ask yourself, how could such a simple concoction become a national addiction?  And that’s exactly why I had to go through tasting the best of the best.

Alfajors in Buenos Aires:

1. Cadbury Tres Sueños (White covered with milk): Way too sweet. White and milk are a horrible blend. Never get it again. So bad, no rating is needed. It just shouldn’t be eaten.
2. Havanna Alfajor, Chocolate Mousse: Harder than the other alfajors I’ve tried. It has a strong cookie crunch. Cookies are not dry, but they blend with the chocolate very well. The chocolate is well-balanced, though a tad sweet. 3.2+/5.0
3. Havanna Alfajor, Dulce de Leche: Excellent! Cookies are a little dry, but the dulce de leche is so creamy and perfect that it in large part covers up the dryness of the cookies. 3.8/5.0

In Bariloche:

1. Bonifacio Alfajor: Good flavor. Cookies grow on you, but they are overpoweringly dry. The chocolate is good, but there isn’t enough dulce de leche flavor to the alfajor. 2.5/5.0
2. Abuela Goye, White Chocolate: Keeper! Great texture and balance of flavors. Cookies taste great and blend well with the chocolate. The dulce de leche is just right, with lots of chocolate blending in well. Surprisingly good for a white chocolate alfajor. 4.0/5.0
3. Abuela Goye, Dark Chocolate: Keeper! Even better than the white chocolate. Different from other alfajors, but very interesting. The dark chocolate cookies work great. They give the alfajor a fresh, intense chocolate taste. The only flaw is that there isn’t enough of a dulce de leche flavor, but it’s very easy to overlook because this alfajor is just so good. 4.2/5.0
4. Fenoglio Alfajor: Great, rich dulce de leche (best I’ve had so far). It blends well with the chocolate. The weak link is the cookies—too dry, little flavor. 3.5/5.0
5. Turista Alfajor: Mega Keeper! This is by far the best I’ve had. It has creamy and rich dulce de leche, probably the best I’ve had so far. The chocolate is also rich and melts in your mouth. The sweetness is perfectly tempered, which is surprising, considering there is so much dulce de leche and chocolate. About as good as it gets. 4.5/5.0