South Island Chocolate Mousse

SOUTH ISLAND CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Field test results by HANS WISKERKE Y ou guys probably won’t believe it, but I’ll write down the story anyway. Look, we got one of those 8 pm phone calls from a marketing research company. Nice female voice enquires if we ever use dessert products. Yes, we do. And then a list of simple questions. My favourite tactic is to alternate between responding ‘yes’ and ‘no’ while reading a book or doing the crosswords. After a few minutes the interviewer usually says ‘thank you’ and they’ve done their job (pestering people) and I’ve done mine (impersonating a thoughtful consumer). However, this night was different as she told me I could proceed to the field testing. Not being quite sure what she meant, I asked for some clarification—and that’s where the tramping comes in.

It turned out that 4Square has a new strategy to go up-market to make even more profit, and they wanted volunteers to test products that could be added to their product range. As their shops usually are pretty small and have a low turn-over, ideally these products should be attractive, physically small and have a long shelf life. That’s when I said, ‘aha, you mean tramping food’, because you want something light, nutritious and tasty at the end of a day’s walk. A bit of talking and a few emails further, we were on a sponsored mission to determine the ideal chocolate mousse for their stores. I won’t bother you with all the stats about packaging visual impact, taste-bud intensity, velvety smoothness, primal tongue texture and in-bowl appearance we had to fill out, but I thought you might be interested in the test locations.

Test location 1—Conical Hill When Mika and I planned our March mini-break, the old Steve from Tauranga had suggested we walk up the Routeburn to Harris Saddle, take a hard right and push up Conical Hill. We passed some huts on the way up, including a private lodge that looked like a French alpine chalet—more deck space for sunbathing than you could imagine. Anyway, what’s wrong with sitting on a rocky ledge next to a waterfall only 50 metres further?

We certainly worked up an appetite by the time we had slogged up the track, admired the keas and the views, said ‘hello’ probably 30 or 40 times, and scrambled up Conical Hill. After some 360° visual intake we dropped down the northern slope, found some smallish tarns and a bit of soft grass and put up the green tent on the green grass. Not a bad spot at all!

The chocolate mousse for dessert was OK-ish but hadn’t quite stiffened up as expected. We may need to re-test in a different season as the water in the tarn was just about lukewarm. Cooler temperatures might assist agent 407 in thickening the mixture.

Test location 2—Sugarloaf Pass For testing purposes it would have been ideal to stay on the same spot for a few days, but we reckoned no walking means no appetite, and no appetite means no dessert, doesn’t it? So up Conical Hill, down past the keas and another 30 hello’s, and just before you hit the Routeburn roadend a left up Sugarloaf. No more tarsealed Great Walk smoothie here, but a pretty steep track zigzagging up the hill. Once you get above the bushline the views down the Rees valley towards Lake Wakatipu are great, and that’s actually where our tired legs choose a spot to camp. A nearby stream offered a chilly opportunity for a quick wash and after another exquisite mains it was time for serious business again.

We’re still debating if lower altitude results in larger bubbles and a frothier mousse, or if the bubble size relates to the mixing and cooling of the ingredients.

Test location 3 – Rockburn track Yawn, turn, stretch, open the tent and woohoo!! Beautiful clouds hanging in the Rees valley below, sun just coming up: this is magic (and even better with a cup of coffee). A 20 minute warm-up brings us to the actual Sugarloaf Pass, where we drop the packs and spend an hour exploring the tops directly east. Tussock, tarns and views for Africa. Would have been a great camping spot but just an hour too far yesterday :-( Dropping down the pass towards Rock Burn we decide to take a left up the burn. Assuming there aren’t many backpack-thieves around we drop our packs at one of many perfect camping spots along the flatter parts of the river. We ventured a bit up to Theatre Flat, marvelled at the sunny slopes and squashed a few sandflies. Backed at the tent we donned the mozzie masks over our caps and waited for the little buggers to go to sleep before preparing the food.

Unfortunately this resulted in having dessert after dusk so no feedback on colour or bubbaliciousness this time. The taste was great however. Has anybody come up yet with chocolate toothpaste?

Intermezzo Being so busy with all testing lately, we felt it was good to have a few days off and went tramping. First action was to get back to civilisation as we know it via Rockburn hut (near the confluence with the Dart) and Lake Sylvan.

The hut is rather dysfunctional since a full-grown tree decided to fall on it, but the area would still be a good camping spot if it’s not too windy. After a night at the Sylvan roadend campsite we tried to hitch-hike back to Queenstown. The first one to stop was a shuttle bus, the cost of which we tried to avoid as those forty-five pop a head could be better spent on our next visit to the 4Square. The nice chap at the wheel offered to take us halfway to Glenorchy, as long as we would pay from there—fare enough!

Considering our plans to visit Te Anau and the Matukituki valley would involve many shuttle trips, it actually turned out a better deal to rent a nondescript white box with wheels and a radio. Fast forward one day put us in Te Anau, where the weather was still pretty good so we got up early and did the Keppler in one day. No trouble at all, as long as you now when to turn around and forget about the rest of it. Certainly different scenery, good views of Lake Te Anau and the eastern hills but a bit claggy towards the big ones further west.

Another long drive north from there, and after stocking up in Wanaka the white box with wheels was parked at the side of the road near the bridge and near two keas—an ominous sign!

Test location 4—Aspiring Flats (Kitchener Valley)

Trusting the keas to take care of our white box, we crossed the Matukituki West branch and made our way up the East Branch. A very technical section as it had an extreme density of cow patties, barbed wire and sheep droppings. Once leaving the flats the terrain became easier so without hardship we reached the confluence of the Kitchener River and the Matukituki East Branch. Confluences are great spots for lunch, and this one even has a 3-wire bridge to enhance your river-crossing-withdry-feet skills. A good hour after lunch we parked the tent on Aspiring Flats but were intrigued by the 370 m Turnbull Thomson waterfall at the head of the valley. Some forty river-crossings later we were quite a bit closer but decided to turn back. After all we had planned to make a fine dinner and dessert in daylight, as part of out trials.

This night we had probably over-fluffed the mixture. Re-reading the package it boasted to have choc chips, which we though were just powdery clumps that needed a good beating! Long day, wet boots, so we certainly enjoyed dessert.

Test setting 5—French Ridge Hut Yeah, probably not a good idea to have parked near those keas. They did a thorough job: front and back, left and right window rubbers attacked. Still we have to do another test so after a 5-minute drive we park the box at Raspberry Creek roadend. At least there’s safety in numbers here with over 50 cars for just a few keas.

As it’s late in the day our first campsite is only two hours up the track, but it certainly gives some extra flexibility in the schedule for the next day. Travel along the West Matukituki valley floor is pretty easy, but it gets different once we cross the West branch to get up to the hut. We spot our first ever bush fairy dancing down the track; upon closer inspection it turns out to be a rather attractive and friendly DoC ranger on her regular tour along the huts in the upper valley. Our scrambling up with full packs is probably less elegant but still effective.

A quick second lunch and hot drink at the hut allows time to head up the scree ridge towards the Quarterdeck Glacier. Although only 8 k (as the crow flies) west of our last testing location, this scenery is completely different with its wide views across the valley and the glaciers nearby. Back in the hut the last sample is meticulously prepared but with half a dozen keas around the hut it needs to stiffen up indoors. Good thing it’s rather cool inside.

The mousse is as close to perfection as a sachet can be: rich, chocolaty and moussy. Or is it just the perfect setting? Even the long drop looks great!

Conclusion: always be nice to those 8 pm callers— you could be the next one to go on a sponsored trip!

Disclaimer: Above testing procedure is not recommended for people sensitive to traces of peanuts or treenuts, and to wheat, soy, milk, or agents 102, 124, 142, 322, 333, 339, 341, 407, 415, 450, 471, 472a and 492. Maybe a fresh orange is healthier.