December 5th: Bounty Dark

Kcal 134 Fat 7.2g Carbs 17.9g (per 28.5g / half bar)

It seems like forever since I reviewed the original milk chocolate Bounty all the way back in July. I don't know how this dark chocolate variant has evaded me since then, but it caught my eye on the shelf today. The bar follows much the same premise as the original, billed as 'moist tender coconut covered in rich dark chocolate' - the packet had no indication how strong the dark chocolate was formulated, which was of slight annoyance.

The bar came in a 57.0g format that was split into two smaller bars. The quality of the packaging was good and ticked both major boxes - it looked good and kept the product fresh. The only variation in the look of the bar was obviously the darker appearance of the chocolate, if anything it highlighted the pale inner coconut even more. The smell of the bar wasn't quite as strong as the original - I could still detect the coconut, however it didn't offer the same sweet dairy scents.

I am going to tell you right away that I found the taste neither better nor worse than the milk chocolate Bounty. Despite this, the flavours offered were fundamentally different - on the chocolate side of things anyway. The dark chocolate was of a mass consumer friendly type nature - the cocoa wasn't necessarily amplified, but the sweetness of the bar was removed. This had two knock on effects - firstly it meant the chocolate wasn't quite as flavoursome, but secondly it meant that the coconut innards featured more heavily in the overall taste ... to be honest they rather cancelled each other out. The nature of the chocolate meant the melt was slightly slower, meaning the milky, nutty, buttery flavours of the coconut could be savoured for longer in the mouth. I ate this as an afternoon snack and by the time I finished the second bar I found it largely fulfilling experience.

Overall I am going to sit majorly on the fence with this one as I can't pick a preference between this or the milk chocolate version. Which one I would choose would solely depend on the mood I am in and what I fancy at the time. If I was looking for a sweeter, milkier bar I would happily have the original Bounty. If I fancied a richer, nuttier bar I would go for this dark version. Despite not being able to pick a favourite I would very much recommend both as a means of getting a chocolate and coconut fix - its lucky really as its hardly like there are any other readily available alternatives.

8.3 out of 10 

December 5th: Scho-Ka-Kola

Kcal 32 Fat 2.2g Carbs 2.6g (per piece)

I had very little knowledge of this brand before Dean-German-Grocery sent me this product. According to wiki the Scho-ka-Kola brand dates all the way back to 1935, and is a chocolate that contains additional caffeine from cocoa, roasted coffee and cola-nut. The back of the pack told me that eating this chocolate provides 'sustained energy for more power and concentration' and that 'four pieces contain as much caffeine as a strong espresso' .... I smell a gimmick, but what the hell, I am always one for chocolate and coffee combinations!!

The product came in a 100.0g tin that contained 16 triangular pieces. The tin format was very welcome, I can't think of many (if any!?) other chocolates that are packaged in such a way - definitely points there for originality. The actual pieces were nicely designed as well; they were just about the right size to fit in the mouth and had a nice clean cut ribbed design. The pieces had a musty, nutty sort of fruity smell - I didn't find it all that appealing, it didn't seem fitting for the actual product.

The type of chocolate used was plain chocolate, and it had a really middle ground taste. It had more of an emphasis on its cocoa flavours rather than its milk, however neither were really that forceful on the overall taste. The coffee was very much the dominating aspect; but still wasn't quite the intensity of other coffee products I have tried recently (see Ferrero Espresso Pocket Coffee etc!), the flavours were quite forgettable once the product left the mouth. The textures of the pieces were quite nice - the melt was fast but smooth. I can't say I was all to crazy about the slightly bitter aftertaste that was left in the mouth, though it was no where near the levels of bitterness experienced with the Snickers Charged, I guess it was just a bi product of the additional caffeine. I ate all these pieces in three servings (six at a time), aside from providing a fairly fulfilling snack they also noticeably improved my alertness for a short period ... basically they had the same effect as a cup of coffee.

Overall these are not the greatest coffee and chocolate combination currently going, but as a whole product they aren't half bad either. The chocolate wasn't the greatest - to be honest in the grand scheme of things its taste was probably a little sub par, it just lacked a real flavour base. The coffee flavouring was a little better, and on the whole delivered an okish taste. These are a highly gimmicky offering, though the unique presentation and genuine short-term energy boosts these deliver make them a pretty fun product. I wouldn't recommend them on taste alone but as a whole product they offer something a little different - if you like the sound of Scho-Ka-Kola I see no reason why not to give it a try.

7.3 out of 10
Fancy trying Scho-Ka-Kola for yourself!? Fancy any another Ritter Sport / Milka / Lindt / Storck or German Grocery ... head over to Dean-German-Grocery!!

December 4th: Conscious Chocolate Choca Mocha Magic

Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???

Having seen this range recently featured on ChocoaBlog to rave reviews, I was especially looking forward to getting my hands on this locally produced Sussex made chocolate. Conscious are a small company based in the UK and describe their chocolate as: 'hand made, sugar free, vegan, raw chocolate sourced from the finest ingredients' - for more information check out their website (HERE!). I will be sampling a number of bars from the Conscious range in the near future - today I started with the 'Chocoa Mocha Magic' bar.

This bar came in a 40.0g serving that proved more than sufficient - it was a very rich chocolate. As you may have noticed by the picture it was really no frills presentation - the packaging format is entirely consistent across the range. According t0 the website it is packaging for the 'conscious' minded, personally I would have preffered some form of differentiation for each flavour variant. I am all for the recyclable credentials and the lack of marketing blurb, but I just would have liked to have seen a little more care and attention given here. Saying this I quickly forgot the aesthetic appeal of the product when I opened the inner foil layer. I was met with a utterly fantastic mixture of cocoa and coffee scents - probably the strongest I have ever smelt. I could literally smell the coffee beans, it was masivelly enticing.

The first thing I noticed about the chocolate was its supple nature. Just the slightest touch left a lasting impression on the surface - it was far softer than your average chocolate bar. Unfortunately this did mean it was a bit on the messy side, though it still made for a nicely paced, thick melt. The chocolate didn't have the smoothest texture ever but I guess this was to be expected given its 'raw' nature. The ingredients list made for some interesting reading, it included some things I had never even heard of before - 'agave nectar' and 'carob' (See HERE for more details!). One thing that I was sure of was the quality of the taste - it was superb. The cocoa flavours immediately exerted their influence as soon as the first piece entered my mouth. The chocolate tasted fresh, clean and incredibly rich - on the whole hugely enjoyable. As the melt progressed the coffee element grew in its intensity - in coffee terms it was more of a filter black coffee taste, rather than a creamy mocha. The coffee had an element of bitterness to it, making the chocolate seem all the richer. The roasted flavours of the coffee beans and dark chocolate made for a hugely satisfying and richly flavoured chocolate.

Overall this is the perfect example of why you shouldn't judge a chocolate completely by its wrapper. It's exterior look really didn't inspire much confidence - after unwrapping the bar though I encountered an entirely different prospect. The chocolate was utterly fantastic and was complimented superbly by the roasted coffee beans - the bar was crammed full of flavour. I am sure you are all aware of my love for chocolate coffee combinations and I can say this one is up there with the best of them. I really can't wait to try some of the other variants from the Conscious range - for a unique chocolate coffee experience, this bar is definitely worth a look at.

8.3 out of 10

December 3rd: Milka Amavel Mousse au Praline

Kcal 565 Fat 37.0g Carbs 51.5g (per 100.0g)

After the successes of both the Milka Amavel Mousse au Chocolat & Mousse au Creme Caramel, my hopes for this Mousse au Praline bar were pretty high. Once again Dean-German-Grocery supplied me with this bar - it is such a shame this range is not widely available in the UK ... I am sure many a person would be enticed by the promise of 'Alpine Milk chocolate filled with a hazelnut nougat creme filling'.

As with the Chocolat & Creme Caramel offerings, this bar came in a 160g size that was split into ten separately filled pods. Unlike the Creme Caramel version, a different coloured filling wasn't promised on the front of the packaging. The mousse was as displayed - a lighter brown colour. As with the other variants, I liked the overall presentation. The box was nicely designed, and the podded look of the bar was as ever unique looking, with each nicely decorated with a Milka logo. The smell of the chocolate wasn't as forthcoming as the other variants from the range. It offered the usual pleasant milky aromas, but offered very little indicating the Praline content of the bar.

The outer Alpine Milk further provided evidence of its credentials of a being a great flavour hosting chocolate. The creamy, sweet flavours of the chocolate were forceful enough to impose themselves, yet were subtle enough to let the flavours of the praline take precedence once encountered. Normally Milka chocolate has an undertone of hazelnut, so the hazelnut praline filling tasted entirely fitting. The filling had a delicious creamy nutty taste - it reminded me of the Ritter Sport Praline bar I reviewed back in November. The texture of the mousse was light and contrasted nicely against the denser outer chocolate. Despite its lighter nature, the flavours were still very long lasting, this was both an enjoyable and fulfilling chocolate.

Overall this was yet another delightful offering from the Milka Amavel range. I wouldn't say the praline filling was any better or worse than the Chocolat or Creme Caramel fillings - it was just equally as fantastically flavoured, and offered a delicious nutty alternative. One of the finest things about this range is the way in which the mousse fillings are light in texture, yet so full of flavour - it is a real art. I would highly recommend this bar, especially if your a fan of praline - another highly enjoyable Milka offering.

8.8 out of 10

Fancy trying the Milka Amavel Mousse au Praline for yourself!? Fancy any another Ritter Sport / Milka / Lindt / Storck or German Grocery ... head over to Dean-German-Grocery!!

December 2nd: Necco Sky Bar

Kcal 200 Fat 9.0g Fat(sats) 5.0g Carbs 30.0g

The Sky Bar has been in production since 1938 and forms another part of the New England Confectionary Co's portfolio. Why is it called the Sky Bar? well way back when it first launched in the 30's Necco used a 'dramatic skywriting campaign' in order to advertise the bar ... that's pretty sweet marketing for the 30's huh!? This bar is a bit of a rarity nowadays but CandyPirate have managed to get hold of some and were kind enough to send me one to review. Constituting of four different fillings: caramel, vanilla, peanut and fudge - this bar reminded me a lot of the Cadbury Snack they have in South Africa ... obviously with vastly different flavoured centres.

The wrapper of this bar is the definition of retro! I would love to know what it looked like when it was first launched, though I doubt it would look all that different. I thought it had a real classic appeal, and really gave the product a lot of character. The actual bar was also protected by a cardboard sleeve, and included some nice detailed pattern work integrated into the top of the four pieces. The product didn't have the most intricate of smells, it offered little more than I can describe as a sweet smell .... to be honest I was too busy looking at the wrapper to take too much notice.

The milk chocolate that coated the bar really wasn't all that good. The rate of the melt was ok but it had a slightly grainy texture. The taste was very sweet, with the flavours quite milky but all very sugar rooted. The aftertaste left a creamy taste in the mouth, though in truth I would say it was quite a cheap tasting milk chocolate. The 'star attraction' so to speak with this bar were the four different fillings. Each of them delivered their intended flavours relatively well. The fudge centre was more chocolaty than the rest, the caramel was by far the sweetest, the vanilla was creamier and the peanut had a nice nutty appeal. I must admit I was more expecting creme type fillings, and was initially surprised by their fondant type sugary consistancy. I did feel a little short changed with the peanut filling, as I was expecting a centre that took more of a peanut butter form, though the peanut fondant still delivered a satisfactory taste. This bar was on the whole was very sweet, but provided a fairly fulfilling snack and was a relatively enjoyable one at that.

Overall this was not the greatest tasting bar of chocolate in the world, though it still does have an element of appeal with the uniqueness of its design. Despite the bar being made in 1938 there are very few like it on the market - there's the aforementioned Cadbury Snack and the now discontinued Fry's 5 centres, but at present there are not many imitators. For this reason, in my book, this makes this a rather interesting a unique proposition. The flavours of the bar are by no means exceptional, but there is an element of appeal in the anticipation of seeing what centre you are actually consuming. If you have an interest in trying diversified products than this bar will be of interest to you, if your simply just looking for a great tasting chocolate bar then you should probably look elsewhere.

7.5 out of 10

Interested in trying Necco Sky Bar for yourself? Find this bar and many more American candy & foods delivered directly from the UK at CandyPirate!!

December 2nd: Caley's Plain Chocolate

Kcal 527 Fat 35.3g Carbs 46.6g (per 100.0g)

Excuse me if this review is a little short tempered, though to be honest this bar doesn't deserve much else. Caley's are a company based in Norwich, England - and according to their wrapper have been making chocolate since 1883 ... now that is a long time. Ever since buying this bar a few weeks ago (in Tesco!!), I have been putting off eating it, and just choosing to review other more appetising looking bars first - why have i been doing this??? ... well to be honest I think on my mission to finding the 'best chocolate bar in the world', I have stumbled across potentially the 'most boring chocolate bar in the world' - the Caley's Plain Chocolate bar.

Let me substantiate the reasoning behind this all. I don't know if the wrapper was intended to look retro, but in my opinion it just looked dull. The product lacked any description or marketing gumpf to bring the product to life. I am not a massive fan of over-the-top claims , but still giving your bar selling point is straight forward marketing. Looking more closely at the chocolate itself ... well as you can see above it lacked any sort of character - no branding, no design work whatsoever ... this could have been a value brand supermarket chocolate. Just to top off the lacking presentation, despite coming in a foil layer the bar lacked any sort of forthcoming aroma. A slight cocoa smell was detectable, but with a bar with 58% cocoa solids you would really expect more.

What the bar lacked in smell, it certainly didn't make up for in taste. The taste was hardly poor, but was just lacking in any sort of longevity or real impact. When in the mouth a buttery, friendly cocoa taste was evident, though this was largely forgettable as soon as the piece melted into a thin liquid. The flavours did not sustain themselves to any degree, which meant this was a pretty uneventful and unfulfilling experience.

Overall there is nothing more to say about this product other than it is just a lazy bar of chocolate. It lacked quality in pretty much all dimensions including both its presentation of packaging and bar, textures, taste ... this list could go on - but why bother? For a company that has been making chocolate since 1883 surely they should know something about a) basic marketing b) making good chocolate .... obviously not! Avoid!

5.7 out of 10

 

December 1st: Niederegger Lubeck Marzipan Classic Dark Chocolate

Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???

A really quite scary thing happened when I sat down to write this review. Midway through my second helping of this product I opened my inbox to find an e-mail from Chocolate Mission reader Justyna suggesting I review this bar .... what are the chances of that!? Anyway, Dean-German-Grocery were kind enough to send me across this dark chocolate variant from the Niederegger Marzipan range - those keen eyed chocolate-spotters amongst you may well have spotted the milk chocolate variant in Tesco recently!

Comprising of plain chocolate and marzipan (52%), this bar weighed in at 100.0g - this provided me with two plentiful servings. I liked the distinctive look of the red wrapping, its classy exterior look was replicated inside with the bar contained within a beautifully branded gold foil layer. The chocolate itself also looked fantastic. The chocolate had a slightly dusty looking surface, though a nice intricate logo was printed on each piece - the marzipan filling also appeared very generously portioned and very appetising. The product didn't have the most forthcoming of aromas, there were slight indicative hints of almond and dark chocolate, though they were not the most pronounced of scents.

I am not going to beat around the bush here - this was simply the greatest tasting marzipan I have ever had. To be honest the chocolate wasn't the greatest - although the 50% min solids indicated a strong chocolate in reality it was actually quite reserved. It had a nice smooth melt, but just really lacked defining flavours. It by no means ruined my overall enjoyment of the product whatsoever, though it would have been nice for the cocoa to have been more pronounced and forthcoming. The marzipan on the other hand was in a league of its own. I am no massive fan of the stuff, but this was exquisite. It avoided the crumbly, grainy texture of most, and actually had a nice moist smooth feel. The flavours were far less sugar based than other alternatives (Thorntons etc), and had an absolutely divine tasting buttery, almond taste. This bar was incredibly moreish, though 50.0g proved to be a highly satisfactory amount.

Overall despite the shortcomings of the plain chocolate, the marzipan filling made for an incredibly luxurious and enjoyable product. First things first - it looked the part!! Everything from wrapper to bar looked fantastic. The taste didn't let it down either; the plain chocolate wasn't up to much but the marzipan filling was absolutely outstanding. For marzipan fans I simply can't recommend this bar enough - it is the best I have ever tasted in this field. Even if your not a big fan of Marzipan I would really urge to give this a go ... it could well change your mind.

8.5 out of 10

Fancy trying the Niedereger Lubeck Marzipan Classic Dark Chocolate for yourself!? Fancy any another Ritter Sport / Milka / Lindt / Storck or German Grocery ... head over to Dean-German-Grocery!!