The Flat Turtle Cookies

I was provided with product samples at no cost. I do not accept monetary compensation for writing about these products or about my experiences while using them. All opinions expressed are my own.

After I announced my goals for the Ten in 10 Challenge, I received a very thoughtful message from Laurent Lanneau from The Flat Turtle via Foodbuzz, asking whether I'd like to receive a sample of their "delicious gourmet cookies for the adult palette." (Laurent felt the cookies could help me gain a little bit of weight.) Intrigued, I wrote back saying that I was grateful for the message and that I'd love to try the cookies.

A few days later, a beautifully wrapped box of cookies arrived for me at work. And inside the box was a generous offering of each of the four flavors of cookies:

• Green Tea Matcha
• Chocolate-Coriander
• Coconut-Curry
• Lemon-Thyme

I wanted to love all of the varieties, but I just couldn't. It was really difficult for me to discern the different flavors in each specific cookie because they had been loosely wrapped together rather than wrapped individually with each variety in its own compartment inside the box.

On the surface, I didn't see anything outrageously unusual about the flavor combinations. Green tea matcha has been used to flavor green tea ice cream and a variety of Japanese confectionery called wagashi, so it makes perfect sense to use it in a cookie. The pairing of coconut with curry and lemon with thyme also seems very natural. The combination that piqued my curiosity, though, was that of chocolate and coriander. I had expected something more along the lines of chocolate and chilies, so the coriander was a nice surprise.

Unfortunately, the powerful aroma of the coriander and curry permeated the box and ruined the more delicate flavor combinations, especially that of the lemon and thyme. My tastebuds had to work harder to sense the subtler flavors that had been mixed into the shortbread dough. No matter how many I tried, every cookie tasted as if it had coriander in it, which was really disappointing because I wanted to experience each cookie for its specific uniqueness. The packaging, while pretty, damaged the integrity of the product beyond repair by the time the box reached me. If you do opt to try the cookies from The Flat Turtle, I suggest buying the individual boxes rather than The Tasting Box. Unless, of course, The Flat Turtle decides to rethink their packaging strategy.

I know I couldn't fully enjoy the cookies the way they came, but I do want to thank Laurent for thinking of me and for sending the cookies. I hope I get to try them again at some point in the future.

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