Patriotic chocolate launch

Pemberton's chocolate farm has come up with the first box of the treat especially designed for the Welsh.

Siocledi Cymraeg (Welsh Chocolates) was dreamed up by Alan Jones, owner of the business in Llanboidy, near Whitland.

It is a new range of handmade chocolates, moulded in themes including a Celtic cross, the Welsh dragon and the plume of feathers.

The sweet treats even come in a box which has writing in both Welsh and English.

"This is the first box of chocolates that can truly be called Welsh," said Mr Jones.

"We came up with the idea after wandering around the shops at Christmas time and suddenly noticed that Wales didn't have its own chocolate.

"There were boxes of Belgian chocolates and all sorts of others, but no Welsh.

"So we spent the next 18 months coming up with ideas for it."

Mr Jones has been running the chocolate farm for the last 12 years.

"We try and use Welsh ingredients wherever we can and all our chocolates are handmade.

"These chocolates are as good as Belgian chocolates," he added.

Siocledi Cymraeg, packaged in a cream box with a window to see the individual sweets, is being launched during the Royal Welsh show on Monday.

"There is a range of chocolates in the box which should suit everyone's taste," said Mr Jones.

"When we conducted our research we found that the Welsh customer prefers the sweeter filling.

"Unlike the French - who prefer dark, bitter chocolate - the Welsh love chocolate made with cream and honey.

"So we have made chocolates with nuts, fruits and creams to go into the box," said Mr Jones.

Gastronomic experience

He added that chocolate lovers everywhere would be able to afford the new range.

"We've priced the box at £4.95 so everyone can experience a gastronomic experience for under a fiver."

Mr Jones said that among his ranges of 200 types of chocolate, one in particular was selling well.

"We make a three inch long chocolate love spoon which a lot of couple's buy for their guests at their wedding reception."

He revealed, that one idea Pemberton's were considering, was a dish of fresh strawberries covered with a hot handmade-chocolate sauce.

"It's a bit different to strawberries and cream," he said.