With all the gingerbread houses, candy canes and hot chocolate crowding out the holidays, it is hard for Hanukkah treats to compete, according to Joan Nathan, author of Joan Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cookbook. Some people are looking forward to snacking on during the eight-day holiday from November 26 to December 6 this year is gelt, also known as chocolate coins.
Gelt is traditionally wrapped in gold-colored foil and is more than just a confection, according to Nathan: Gelt, which means money in Yiddish, is used as a currency of sorts during the holiday. It is sometimes awarded to those who win a game of threedel or given to children instead of real money.
Michael Laiskonis, creative director at the Institute of Culinary Education, said that chocolate in place of real money was most likely a custom that originated in Europe. In 1920 s New York City, the Loft Chocolate Company, which is no longer in business, was the first to produce and commercialize the chocolates, he said.
Gelt is usually molded from dark or milk chocolate and ranges wildly in quality, Laiskonis said. It is wrapped in foil because it is one of the best materials for packaging chocolate.
He said that it protects the chocolate from picking up moisture and other odors, and it doesn't impart any taste to the chocolate.
In case you want to buy gelt during Hanukkah, we have compiled a list of places where you can buy chocolate coins online. Our picks range from chocolate shops that ship nationwide to retailers like Amazon, keeping in mind expert guidance and considering well-known retailers and shops that specialize in molded chocolate.
Laiskonis said that one of his favorite gelt varieties is made by Divine, which offers milk chocolate and 70 percent dark chocolate coins. You can purchase single bags of gelt, as well as 10 and 30 packs. Laiskonis said chocolate is responsibly sourced.
Divine is co-owned by the Kuapa Kokoo farmer's cooperative in Ghana, and ensures fair trade standards and practices, he said.
This bag of gelt from Jacques Torres contains eight chocolate coins. Each package contains four dark chocolate coins and four milk chocolate coins. These confections have a 4.7 star average rating on Goldbelly.
Vermont s Lake Champlain Chocolates offers milk chocolate and dark chocolate gelt in bags that contain about 23 coins each. You can also purchase a gelt gift bag from the company. They have earned an average of 4.6 stars from 65 reviews on Amazon.
Li-Lac Chocolates is based in New York City and offers gelt in 1, 2 or 3 pound boxes. You can also buy chocolate dreidels or treasure chests filled with gelt. The coins are made from milk chocolate and are stamped with the Star of David, a Menorah or a Dreidel. According to Li-Lac, each pound of chocolate is equivalent to about 60 coins of gelt. The Li-Lac website has five stars for the regular gelt and threedel filled with gelt.
JoMart Chocolate is based in Brooklyn, specializes in molded chocolate, including holiday items like Chanukah Lollypops and figures from a snowman to Santa. The chocolate gelt is available in a bag with eight pieces or sold by the pound. The gelt is made from milk chocolate, and you can also get gift-wrapped packs.
See s Candies is a beloved Bay Area institution with a loyal following along the West Coast. It sells gelt made from milk chocolate in a white mesh bag of about 16 to 20 pieces, as well as a box of about 48 pieces, but both are currently sold out. If you're looking for a See's alternative, the company makes regular gold coins, which are the same product as gelt — including being certified kosher — without the Hanukkah-themed packaging. They have earned an average of 4.7 stars from seven reviews.