I want to get really high quality pure chocolate cocoa powder for a cake I'm making for a special friend. I found an 11 pound bag for 90 dollars. Anyone have any good recommendations regarding where I can buy this cheaper? Looking for cocoa powder - pure Belgian - semisweet. TIA!

Anyone?

I've never heard of semi-sweet cocoa powder...Do you mean baking cocoa? Like that Ghirardelli "baking cocoa?" That stuff is closer to Nesquick than anything. If you want high quality cocoa powder, you can go to Amazon and buy Cacao Barry or Callebaut (French/Belgian) cocoa powder in 2.2 lb bags. It'll cost about $10 - 13 per pound, but it's the real deal and the best way to get it home--unless you have a friend who works in a professional pastry kitchen ; ). You can even spring for the Valrhona cocoa, if you want to pay $17 per pound. All of them are deep, dark, and beautiful cocoas. Cacao Barry works well, is priced well, and has a great taste. Callebaut is the same company, but I haven't tried it yet. Many people swear by Valrhona only--but it's up to you!

You may want to try King Arthur Flour. My stepmom won't buy her chocolate from anybody else.

Thank you both for the replies! I'm googling those suggestions now!

Hi anica-ness, 

I just look at the site you suggested and I was wondering if Delices and Gourmandises was a safe business? I'll always be a little scared when I order online (especially for quality of the products)

Hi anica,

I just go on your blog Delices & Gourmandises but everything is in French. Do you know where i can find the recipe in English?

Hi,

I've been ordering items from Delices & Gourmandises several times now but everything was perfect. The after-sell services are great and all the products looks quality. It didn't take too much time for the delivery products and we can participate freely to a lottery once we place the order.

I do not know liliduv if there are some recipes here but it is the one I found,

http://delicesandgourmandises.wordpress.com/

Wow ! Your friend is spoiled ! He is really lucky ! If you want to surprise your friend, I recommend you to have a look on Delices & Gourmandises website. They sell the finest ingredients as far as pastry and confectionery are concerned. My grand-mother often make some pastries for us and she usually order at Delices & Gourmandises. I am quite sure you will find a high quality pure chocolate there. 

Ma grand ma is Belgian and every time she comes to visit me, she brings chocolate from delices et gourmandises. I love their chocolate with liquor. I know that we can order from France or other neighbor country but not sure for UK. Any way it's Belgian chocolate and it's normal to be the best. 

Yes you can order your ingredient to délices et gourmandises. That's a brand your can find in every grand mother's house. You should fill out a form on their web site and you going to have catalog. 

Delices and Gourmandises is a safe business. I have ordered quite a few times from them and I have not had any issue yet. Delivery is on time and your order is well packed. I even heard about a lottery awards for its customers. I haven’t won anything though.

The only place you could find pure and high quality cocoa powder is where it is produced for the first time aka Ivory Coast.

Delices and Gourmandises does have recipes written in english. All you have to do is go on google and type in the recipe you are looking for in English with the word "Delices and Gourmandises" included. You will see that there are plenty of recipes written in English.

I'm a little leery of people with a history of only making comments promoting a company. I think we've been infiltrated by bots.

My most favorite Belgian chocolate is from the Wommelgem. But they would never reveal their secret about the cocoa powder. But maybe some locals would.... Try to contact someone from there trough some social networks :-)