Earl Grey Midnight Cake by 22 Grams Pâtisserie Honest Review

For my mom’s birthday, I was wracking my brain trying to decide what cake to buy. The really annoying thing about cakes is that you need to pick it up via car. This makes my shipping fee ridiculously expensive, so I’m always on the lookout for:

• Cake shops near me, so I can just pick it up myself, or
• Cakes that can be shipped through motorcycle riders, provided they have an insulated box (hello Lalamove)

As I was pondering upon my choices, The Tummy Train’s post on 22 Grams’ Earl Grey Midnight Cake popped up on my Instagram. It sounded like a very yummy cake, and the photos itself looked divine! Best of all, when I messaged 22 Grams, they assured me that I could have it picked up by Lalamove because they have the cake semi-frozen to ensure it doesn’t become deformed during transport. Cherry on top was the fact that they were located near SM North Edsa, so it’s quite near really.

At PHP 895 for a 6 inch cake, it doesn’t come cheap. In fact, I would call it VERY expensive. But the sheer number of elements that can be found in the cake does truly make this an experience that’s difficult to forget. Not only that, but my sister (the baker LOL, I’m the eater) assured me that each layer requires different baking techniques, so this was truly a labor of love!

Equally important is the assurance that you’re supporting the local industry by purchasing from them. Take a look at their quality ingredients:

• Loose leaf earl grey tea that has been cold steeped for 9 hours to achieve a round, smooth and light flavor
• Caramel chocolate cremeux from Davao/Batangas/Agusan
• Tablea glacage
• Roasted cacao nibs
• Salted walnut nougatin
• Benguet lemon curd, made from fresh Benguet lemons mmm

I wasn’t sure if all of these flavors would meld well together because they all seem kind of weird, but surprisingly it came together really nicely! In particular, I loved the tartness of the lemon curd, which provided a great contrast to the sweet chocolate. The boldness of the flavors were a surprise, but a good surprise!

Unfortunately, what I didn’t like was the roasted cacao nibs which was placed liberally across the cake’s side. The crunch and roasted flavor really turned me off, because it made the cake flavor rather bitter. I do know some people liked it though – like Tummy Train. Ah well, to each his/her own!

I am glad I got to try this out. I respect the dedication and talent that went into this cake, and eagerly await their next creation (hopefully without the cacao nibs!)