Sweets always get through almost everyone's better sensibilities. Whether you're a person on a strict diet, a person banned from sweets because of a health problem, or someone who at some point thinks that your health (and figure) is better off without sweets, there is and will always be a moment of weakness that you actually feel the need to succumb to that sweet craving. Especially if that involves round, pastel colored, cream-filled goodies that taste as good as they look - Macarons. Macarons are meringue cookies sandwiched with a filling, originating in European countries. I have tasted a few local versions of the treat and deemed them all heavenly, making macarons a top-treat for me. Macarons are macarons, but just a few days ago, I had a change of heart. Not because I don't like them anymore, but I'd say that they are not just macarons anymore. Macarons are now Alchemy.
Meryl Go, a passionate pastry chef and baker recently made the pleasure of concocting heavenly pieces of macarons a home business named Alchemy. A fitting name, for I personally think that her goodies do add a bit of magic into one's day. As a fan of macarons, seeing a good deal at DealDozen for a box of ten macarons for almost half a price is pure joy! I didn't waste anymore time and bought two boxes at once. It may seem like a hasty move for something I haven't tried before, but hey, after I took that first small bite, I knew then that I should've ordered more!
The box of ten includes five flavors: Chai Spice, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Ganache, Peanut Caramel, and Banana Walnut.
Alchemy Macarons in Banana Walnut (Yellow), Chocolate Ganache (Brown), Peanut Caramel (White)
It's difficult to name favorites, but I absolutely adore Banana Walnut! Given that macarons are really on the sweet side, what I liked most about Banana Walnut is that its filling evened out the sweetness of the meringue cookies, making it seem to come out more as creamy than sweet. You can actually taste the nutty goodness through and through. Chocolate ganache is every bit premium tasting. It's bitter-sweet, melt-in-your-mouth filling is a must try for chocolate lovers. Peanut Caramel surprised me most. I didn't know that something so white and pristine can have so much flavor. A bite leaves a nutty-sweet explosion in your mouth. Think about your favorite sweet pili-nut in a much softer setting. This is my mom's top pick, and yes I did manage to save some for her!
Alchemy Macarons in Chai Spice (Pink) and Salted Caramel (Blue)
Eye-candy flavors Chai Spice and Salted Caramel are my top 1 and 3 respectively (with Banana Walnut hitting the second spot). Chai Spice is actually the best i've ever tasted, of all the macarons i've tried since last year. Sweet and savoury meet in its greatest form. I can eat a box (or two) of Alchemy Macarons in Chai Spice! It's actually hard to sum up how good it is in just a few words, though every word that I can describe it with equates to the word perfection. It has the right amount of sweetness that doesn't make you grab a glass of water after eating a piece because of its richness. What's more, I've always loved tea. So simply put, it's perfect! Salted Caramel takes the whole idea of caramel mixed with salt so seriously, I felt like Meryl's macaron was the root of it all. This is another favorite. Obviously, I'm not much of a fan of anything that is too sweet, or makes sweetness as its sole flavor.
These pretty pieces are obviously crafted with such skill and passion, in turn making each piece seem to fizz through one's gloomy day. I'd say Alchemy Macarons can absolutely cure even the direst need for a sweet fix.
