Sharmel Classic Zefir in Dark Chocolate, 9 oz (250g)

The original, and the one to try first. Classic zefir is apple purée whipped with egg white and set with agar, flavoured with vanilla — a pale, airy sweet that collapses on the tongue rather than stretching like a marshmallow.

Udarnitsa's Sharmel line coats it in real dark chocolate, cocoa solids no less than 56%. That is a genuinely dark shell around something very light, which is why the combination works; a milk coating would make it cloying.

No colourings. The ingredient list is short and the apple is doing the work.

Sharmel's own line on the box translates as "the art of indulging yourself."

Ingredients: dark chocolate (sugar, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, milk fat, emulsifier sunflower lecithin, natural flavouring), sugar, molasses, apple purée, apple powder, egg white powder, gelling agent (agar), acidity regulator (trisodium citrate), preservative (sulphur dioxide), flavouring "Vanilla".

Allergens — contains: egg and milk. Contains sulphites.

Nutrition — about 10 servings per container, serving size 1 piece (25 g): 92 calories, total fat 2.5 g (3% DV), saturated fat 1.6 g (8% DV), trans fat 0 g, cholesterol 0 mg, sodium 3.5 mg (0.2% DV), total carbohydrate 16.4 g (6% DV), fibre 0.3 g (1% DV), total sugars 13.5 g including 13.5 g added sugars (27% DV), protein 0.6 g (1% DV), calcium 0.9% DV, iron 4.3% DV, potassium 0.1% DV.

Net weight 250 g (9 oz). Made by Udarnitsa, Moscow, Russia. Store at 18±3°C, out of direct sunlight.