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Kcal 220 Fat 10.0g Fat 6.0g Carbs 29.0g
My continued relationship with AmericanSoda (See HERE), has given me the opportunity recently to revisit a few of the American products I first reviewed way back at the start of the ChocolateMission. Two weeks ago you may recall me checking back over my past review of one of my all time favourite bars, the 3 Musketeers (See HERE). Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my redux review of that bar, I thought it would also be worthwhile seeing whether the Cadbury Caramello bar had improved since I last tried it.
Well one thing I think we can all agree on is that my photography skills have improved since August 2008 :D - I hope you guys now have a better idea of the bar presentation. Wrapper and production wise there was no difference. The foil wrapper still looked attractive, but disappointingly the bar was still split into four large sized blocks.
This format of course meant that the same issue I found over three years ago was still unfortunately there. I found the taste of the chocolate still pretty closely aligned to Cadbury UK chocolate (perhaps a touch less creamy!), however the usual thick melting texture still wasn't there. Just as with my experience in 2008, I found the caramel to be more of a mid grade syrupy sweet experience compared to the UK golden nectar that has that ever so delicious butterscotch, salt licked delightfulness. The burnt sugar aftertaste was still retained and gave it some unique character, but my own personal preference still resided with the sweeter finish of the British bar.
Overall like the 3 Musketeer bar there was no difference in what I perceived over three years ago and I still feel very comfortable with the original score I awarded it. Having since tried a crazy amount of different Cadbury Caramel bars from all corners of the globe since my last review of this US Caramello I would say it was probably one of the weaker ones. I can recommend trying this bar if you are interested in seeing how the same chocolate bars vary by region as it does offer something different to what many of the others do. Based on satisfaction delivery as a chocolate bar though I would still say you would be more happy sticking with the UK option.
8.1 out of 10
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Kcal 210 Fat 9.0g Fat 6.0g Carbs 29.0g
Today I continued my pursuit of finding the best Cadbury Caramel bar sampling the US variation. The US bar shares its name with the equivalent Australian bar...'Caramello'. The bar weighed in at slightly less than the UK Cadbury Dairy Milk with Caramel at 45.0g, and was split into four bigger sized blocks in comparison with the six blocked UK and eight blocked Aussie variations. Aesthetically this didnt bother me - it still looked nice but as I will go into, the design of the US bar did indeed have a few detrimental repercussions.
After opening the wrapper I was confronted with a familiar cocoa smell - it also had quite a strong sweet caramel scent which combined with the cocoa made for a very appetising prospect. Texture wise the bar had a slightly different proposition to its UK /Aussie counterparts. Due to the bar being split into four blocks it felt only natraul (and most convenient) to eat it in four chunks. The base of the bar was particularly thick and the caramel was well and truly crammed into each of the four block pockets...to the point of overspill (see above picture). What this all made for was a slightly detrimental texture as the two ingredients felt very isolated from each other. What I enjoyed so much with the UK version was the way the chocolate and caramel were proportioned, and how the chocolate melt coincided with the slow release of the sticky caramel. Unfortunately this wasn't the case here as the thick chocolate base did not retain the same melt in the mouth quality and conversely acted as a massive barrier between the two components combining ... slightly disappointing. Taste wise the chocolate retained many of the attributes of the UK Dairy Milk - it was creamy and had a rich cocoa taste ... absolutely delightful. The caramel in the US version was more akin to the Aussie version and didn't have quite the same smooth flavour depth of the UK equivalent. It was still pleasant but it had an over agressive 'burnt' aftertaste despite having a very sweet initial flavour.
Overall this didn't quite live up to the standards of the UK Cadbury Dairy Milk with Caramel. The design of the bar with its four block approach came at detriment to the texture and made for a weaker synergy of flavours between the chocolate and caramel. The taste of the chocolate retained most of the UK Dairy Milk qualities and was very pleasant, though the caramel was not quite of the same standard and varied in its taste. This is still a great chocolate bar but simply not as good as the UK version.
8.1 out of 10
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64 comments:
I completely agree with the score. It's strange, but the chocolate is better in these than in Rolos. But Caramellos are so messy, due to the odd design choice, I find myself going for Rolos far more often. Still a great bar though. Thanks for the review!
Justin The four block aproach was something I did find quite puzzling!? I just didn't get why Cadbury (Hershey) would want to cram it all in such a small amount of space....people may read this as me being bias towards UK products but the format and superior caramel in or single serving bar makes it the better choice.
I can see why you would choose Rolos over these...Rolos just seem product that would be easier to eat on the go...another factor I can see them being superior is the fact that a pack of Rolos would last me alot longer than a Caramello...their taste can be savoured more.
Thanks for your opinion Just.
Jim
Hey Jim
this was another of the bars I just tried and again was very disappointed with the taste and texture, I know our caramel is incredibly good but this tasted of nothing but sugar. And the chocolate - ewwww! It just clumped together in a greasy grainy yuky mess, which tasted horrible, reminding meof that nestle bar! lol i was surprised as i remembered your review being quite praisful.
Alan
Hey Alan what do I know eh? I thought this was still a pretty alrite chocolate bar ... you have probably just had too much of our far superior UK stuff!
Cheers
Jim
There is only one review I've seen on here that I think needs another look at and thats your milkybar one.
I think its so brilliant that you are going back over some of your older reviews to make sure you still think the same. In three years its likely that they would have changed recipe some of them. If it's anything to do with hershey it will probably have changed for the worse if we are talking ingredients. They have switched a load of their production to Mexico now I think.
I got one of these bars once because the site I was buying off was selling them off cheap in their sale. I didn't think that much of it tbh. It was a noticeable downgrade.
You haven't even reviewed the US Milkyway once yet. Can you prioritise that please. I want to see it come up against the mars bar.
You could redo some of the british bar reviews whilst your at it. You a much more competent reviewer than when you did some of them previous.
Lol you have to do the hershey payday review again. We go to see if you hate it just as much lol.
Brill reviews this week Jimbob. I appreciate you going over some of your old reviews again. I think that is brave of you putting yourself in a position where you might change your mind and admit you were wrong about something. Good on ya.
I've tried both and I didn't notice much difference tbh. I think if you were just eating them casually and not looking for differences you would just think they are the same thing but one has four blocks and the other has 8.
That caramel is just asking to be nom nom'd =) The review may stay the same but the photos are soooooo much yummier looking.
Dx
Well if anyone is going to be in a gd position to know which is best, it's going to be you Jim. Wicked review.
These are always so fascinating to see these country on country compares. Why do you think that they bothered keeping this one selling under the cadburys name in America? I don't see the sense of just having the one bar that stays cadburys and then having none of the others. As far as I know cadburys don't have any other bars out over there do they!?
Can I request you do your review of the Aero Mint Bubbles again?
I will have to just believe what you say about this because theres no way I'm wasting my money buying a bar over from america when I can pop down the street and get it.
I don't know what it is about caramel but it always looks so good if you can get the photography right. Is this a Jim Snr special????
Im going to buy one of these now just to see if I think the same. What a job that would be travelling the world trying out the same chocolate bars to make sure they taste the same. Talk about a dream job if ever there was one. Great review Jim.
I'm so craving a caramel bar now lol.
Jim have you reviewed cadburys caramel chocolates from everywhere now? If you have done them all you should do one final wrap up post to show them all and then come to a conclusion as to which you think is best and why.
That wrapper is ghastly :-/ its so ... ... ... brown. Sack the person who came up with that.
Hey Hun. If you are re-doing some of the old reviews can I ask you do the Baby Ruth bar again. I think you are criminally understating that one. I know its often see as more of a blokey bar but i personelly think it is one of the better american chocolate bars out there. Feel free to disagree with me if you think the review is alright as it is. Its not that I think needs changing its just I want you to be sure of the score you gave it because I remember it being on the low side of things.
Rxxx
Can I ask that you put a warning on these reviews please if the photos are going to be this foodpornish :) You are making my weetabix and banana look decidely sad now. Damn you Jim and your chocolatey ways.
Jim have you seen that the Cadbury Wispa Gold is coming back :-) I nearly wet my pants with excitement when I read it in the newspaper at the weekend. My friends thought I was mega sad that I got so giddy.
I consider myself an expert in the Cadburys caramel bar but not any of the international ones. Im looking over all the different country ones now and your reviewsare fascinating. I think that one from Ireland looks promising but the south african bar doesn't sound too brill. It's comforting to know that the UK one is the best. Lol I would hate to hear that one from say Australia was the nuts, I would have to buy it lol and it would cost me loads of money wouldn't it.
Another cheap plug for american soda I see ;) lol I don't blame you. I have used them b4 they are good.
I know its one of your fave chocolate bars but can you honestly hand on heart say that the difference is that noticeable? I must have a weaker palette than you cause when I tasted this one years ago I couldn't pull apart from my everyday one at all.
You should submit your work to a paper or something Jim. Your reviews are outstanding. You could be a proper food critic if you tried! You ever fancied it?
whats the sense in a company like american soda stocking this one? We can all just buy our normal one which is tons better.
Sweet update Jim. I think its a wicked idea doing these updates. If you want suggestion for a few more I think you should redo the Take5, York pattie, mint 3 musketeers and Hersheys whoppers.
What do you think to them as a start? Im not asking you redo them because your reviews are bad, I just think it would be cool seeing if you think the same about them.
Isn't this unfair to all the other chocs that wont get a second chance? It doesn't matter but im just saying it makes your methdology a little wonky.
I don't understand why they would make the same chocolate so different region to region but hey what do I know.
You would of thought it would be cheaper for them just to get some of our ones shipped over rather than them produce their own.
Jim you so need to get one of your american readers or blogfer friends to do the exact same test. I think it would be fascinating to hear what the perspective is from the other way round.
I think its going to be alot to do with what you are used to everyday. I would fully expect the american person to say theirs was the better one.
The only thing I can see thats better about the USA one is the name. Lol CARAMELLO sounds so much cooler than our crappy Cadbury Caramel. Thats just typically boring and british isn't it.
The calorie content of the bar has changed since the first time you reviewed it. Why are there now ten more calories? Hmm, whats in there before that wasn't originally I wonder.
The thing I took from the review is that both versions of the bar are good, its just that the english one is better :) I don't see why that should come as much of a shocker to anyone, we were the originators of the bar to begin with.
I was thinking we were in for a shocker for a minute there but obvs it wasn't to be :-)
The new photos are a million times better Jim. You have got so much better with them down the years.
Good god Hersheys suck. They can't even copy people properly lol.
Its funny how such a minor thing like making the blocks bigger can make such a diff. I can see how it can be like that for caramel chocolates though cause just a little too much of the sugary sweet stuff can be off putting and sickly.
The best Cadbury caramel is blatantly the one you can buy in the Ireland.
Not only is the chocolate epically amaze and xtra thick but with the caramel you get this delish toasted burnt sugar taste. It beats the uk one all ends up. The Eire bar owns all man.
There has to be one country's caramel bar you still haven't tried? Do the japanese have cadburys? What about some of the other european countries you never seem to mention them much at all.
I'm loving you going back over some of the older reviews. Have you ever considered reviewing the bar with the lowest score ever again :) Lol the hershey's payday deserves a second chance from you I think. Go on Jim do it :)
Noooooooo you broke the run! What were you thinking Jim. There isn't anything new about this one m8.
The chocolate bar might not have improved at all but one that that defo has is your ability to take amazing photos Jim. The caramel in that picture just looks the sex.
I swear you must touch your pictures up to make them look extra attractive. I never get chocolate bars that look so perfect like the ones you photograph. Come on, admit it boyo you have to use some sort of graphics package to make some of them look better than they really do.
I've seen this loads of times in cybercandy before but I've not even comtemplated buying it. I can see how it's cool for you doing the whole compare and contrast thing, but for me it's just like buying a normal cadburys caramel at x2 the price. I will just take your word for it lol.
Jim I don't want to be a pain in the bum but please can I ask you review this product I found on American Soda?
They have these things called chewy chips ahoy
http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/American-Soda/Home/Food/American-Groceries/Chips-Ahoy-Chewy-14-OZ-(396g).aspx
Can you please review them and tell us how they are diff to the normals ones.
How popular is the american one in america?
Is it one of their best sellers like it is here?
British chocolate > USA chocolate. I know that sounds generalist but can anyone name me one US version of a chocolate that is better than ours? ..... nup of course you can't cause one doesn't exist.
If they are keeping the cadburys name why didn't they use purple colours for the wrapper? Its so hard to tell that this is still cadburys because the colours they have used are so out of the ordinary from what they usually have. If they had any common sense they would have gone with a pruple wrapper.
It would be such a cool test to do reviewing all the different kinds of cadbury caramel. Tasting them all at the same time would be the only fair way to do it I think.
ah it's been too long. Great candy bar, maybe I'll pick one up today.
Hi All,
Yet another week has managed to fly past and the reviews aren't quite over yet (snack of the week still to come tomorrow!).
I see me going back over some of the older reviews is getting some mixed response. Whilst I appreciate that some of you might not see the sense in it, I'm glad that most of you are enjoying me doing this as it allows me the chance to ammend some of my previous review attempts. Like some of you have said I think I have improved as a reviewer down the years so going back over some of the older ones puts my mind at ease that they have at least been made a little better.
If any of you do notice a review that needs some 'attention' :D please drop me a note and I will see what I can do.
ERIC - Request noted
COLIN - I do believe this is the only Cadbury bar in the US yes. I haven't the foggiest why they kept this one cadbury. It's likely to do with the licencing.
ANON - Request noted (aero bubbles)
JK - I actually did these :D thanks for the kind words.
HAZEL - Probably not everywhere, but I've tried a fair few of them. My favourite is the UK one.
RACHEL - Request noted (baby ruth)
YASMINE - Indeed the wispa gold is back. I look forward to it seeing it back on the shelves.
MYSTERIO - Hardly a cheap plug. They sent me the bar, what can I say!?
XEN - You will genuinely be able to tell the difference trust me.
ANON - A food critic? Haha :D I don't think I could pull that off.
GOLDEN - Requests noted chap.
EMMA - I see what you mean but hey, this isn't the most serious of sites is it.
OLLIE - I will look in to that. I'm not sure if those countries have cadbury options or not.
SAKURA - The Payday again eh!? Hmmm I could do I suppose.
DUNCAN - I know, I know. The run is over. All good things have to come to end mind.
WARREN - Nope, no graphic packages used here.
SAZ - Request noted.
CARLA - I have no idea. There isn't ever much noise around it.
RODDY - Have you tried the UK one before? Perhaps you could try it and give us the US perspective of the UK one.
Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm signing off for the weekend. Back Sunday afternoon. Enjoy your weekends.
JIM
Lol my comment hasnt shown up again grrr dunno why that is :S went on ok my end.
I would place a sizeable amount of money on people from the US saying the exact opposite and claiming there one is better.
Are you aware how badly you are affecting my attempted diet Jim? I just about survived reading through the earlier ritter review but just looking at the photo of the caramel bar today has just got my stomach very angry. Lol it's rumbling like mad now.
Thank you for the review jim. Very good work as always young man. The quality of reviews have improved so much since you started out doing this. Its been a delight watching you develop your site and the way you write your reviews. I have read since 2009 btw, the best thing is that im still finding reviews of yours that I haven't read before.
I love that new picture of the chocolate Jim. That caramel could not look any more tempting, its so golden and gooey. Lol you've made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck I want a caramel chocolate so bad now.
Do hersheys not make their own caramel bar then? Im surprised Kraft let them do this.
Ignore the complainers Jim you have every right to go back over some of your older posts if you aren't happy with them. I think its well worth doing considering the amount of things that get changed all the time.
Whatever country it doesn't matter. The cadburys caramel is one of the most beautiful looking chocolate bars out there.
This is one that i have comonlly seen on the importer sites but I would never ever buy it. There are so many other chocs that I need to try from the US before I get one so similar to what we have here already.
This is a wicked update mate. I say keep on doing them if you are updating your photos at the same time :) I don't think it matters at all if the scores just stay the same. I think its just reassuring if anything. You obviously still feel comfortable with the way you rate things.
Combining caramel and chocolate is just heavenly. It's like getting the best of both worlds.
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