February 12th: Walkers Chilli & Chocolate Potato Crisps

Kcal 131 Fat 8.3g Fat(sats) 0.7g Carbs 12.5g (per 25.0g bag)

You can't say I don't mix it up on this site ... today I bring to you ChocolateMission's very first Crisps review :) ... that's 'Chips' to you Americans. So what do we have here then? Well we have Walker's latest marketing campaign - 'Do us a flavour' ... this 'Chilli & Chocolate' variant has been chosen as one of six finalists, along with some other even more obscure sounding flavours ... 'Cajun Squirrel' anyone? (More HERE)

I sampled these today in a 25.0g multi pack bag, which rather oddly complimented my lunch time sandwich. Now I can't really pass comment on the presentation of crisps - to me they all look the same ... suffice to say though the standard Walkers foil bag kept everything fresh, and the comedy picture on the front provided some interest. I can't say I was a massive fan of the smell of the product ... to be honest I thought they would have had a sweeter aroma, though the smell was very much spice led.

Despite the smell indicating the more savoury nature of the product, the first flavours I encountered were predominantly quite sweet. If you have ever tasted hot chocolate powder before mixing it, these were the sort of flavours that were present in and amongst the starchy potato ones. To be frank I thought this wasn't particularly striking me as that pleasurable, though the later elements to the taste made the whole experience partionally better. The chilli and paprika elements were obviously far more suited to the crisps format, and were by far the dominant flavours come the aftertaste.

Overall although these were a bit of fun trying, I can't say these are a product that I would bother buying again. I definitely wouldn't buy these in place of another Walkers product, and I doubt very much they will be the eventual winner of the 'Do us a flavour' competition. I have seen some odd products in the form of chocolate coated bacon recently, which gave me hope that this combination of sweet and savoury might actually work. For my money though, this is a variant probably best stayed clear of.

6.5 out of 10

February 12th: Ritter Sport Diet Yogurt

Kcal 497 Fat 37.0g Fat(sats) 20.8g Carbs 42.0g (per 100.0g)

You may remember that at the start of the year I had best intentions of reviewing some of the 'lighter' choices available on the chocolate market. Well unfortunately due to the lack of quality products I sort of abandoned my search before it really got going. Thanks to Dean-German-Grocery, today I resumed my search with the Ritter Sport Diet Yogurt bar. You may recall that I reviewed the Ritter Sport Diet Milk Chocolate bar in January, well this bar was formed of that same milk chocolate, just containing a plentiful yogurt creme (42%!).

The product came in the usual 100.0g Ritter Sport size, and looked pretty much identical to the original Ritter Sport Yogurt branding aside. The only minor difference I could distinguish between the two Yogurt bars was the fact that this Diet version was slightly flatter in regards to the heights of the blocks ... the fact that I can actually notice this really underlines how much Ritter Sport I have tucked away in the last year and a bit! Anyway, the yogurt filling looked damn plentiful, and thoroughly appetising wedged in between the milk chocolate. The smell of the product wasn't all that strong, it largely smelt of dried milk, with a sweet, dairy led scent.

When I tried the Ritter Sport Diet Milk Chocolate a few weeks ago I was pretty unimpressed with the taste. The substitution of the sugar for the artificial sweetener was very noticeable in the aftertaste, though this wasn't such an issue with this bar. The milk chocolate definitely wasn't as enjoyable as in the standard Ritter Sport Yogurt bar, but it wasn't the focal point of the taste, which made it less noticeable. The smokey kind of taste that I detected with the Diet Milk Chocolate variant was present once again, though it didn't affect the aftertaste as significantly as the yogurt creme was largely dominant. To be honest I couldn't detect any difference in the taste of the yogurt creme from the original bar. It was creamy, but with a soured, tangy aftertaste that really gave a it an enjoyable progressive taste. The textures of the chocolate and filling were fantastic, with the chocolate melting at a nice steady rate before revealing the tender, silky yogurt creme. I ate this bar 50.0g at a time, with both servings really delivering a satisfying snack.

Overall it has to be said that this bar wasn't quite of the standard of the original Ritter Sport Yogurt, but it was still an offering that I really quite enjoyed. To be honest though, I am massively sceptical as to how this bar constitutes being 'Diet', as it only actually contains 20 less calories, and 1.0g less of fat per 100.0g than the original Ritter Sport Yogurt bar. Despite the yogurt creme still being extremely well delivered, the chocolate simply just didn't taste as good. Personally I wouldn't say it was worth sacrificing the flavour from the chocolate to save the minimal nutritional gains. This is still a pretty good bar of chocolate, but to to buy it on the basis of being a 'Diet' option I think would be a bit a silly.

8.1 out of 10

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

February 11th: Lindt Excellence Crunchy Caramel

Kcal 520 Fat 28.8g Fat(sats) 17.0g Carbs 61.0g (per 100.0g)

Every once and a while a bar comes along that I savour from beginning to end, and this Lindt Excellence Crunchy Caramel was certainly one of them. Described as 'fine milk chocolate with crunchy caramel pieces' it sounded like a bar that was to my taste, and given the fact it formed yet another part of the tremendous Excellence range, I must admit I had certainly been looking forward to this one.

As with every Excellence product this one came in a 100.0g size that did me nicely tremendously for two separate servings. As ever, particular attention was paid to detail by Lindt, with the outer packaging incorporating a number of different golden coloured, smart looking fonts and patterns that suited the product perfectly. As you can see above the chocolate also looked the part with the crystallised caramel pieces appearing plentiful and well dispersed. The sweet, diary concentrated smell was very forthcoming upon the opening of the bar. All in all this product was pretty much faultless in regards to its presentation.

So did the taste match the promising appearance? You bet it did! The milk chocolate was wonderfully balanced in both flavours and textures. It had the smoothest of melts, and seemed to longingly soften into a dense thick liquid. The creamy flavours of the chocolate were tremendously focal, but still allowed for the sweet, cocoa elements to influence the experience. Not only was the chocolate luxurious, but the crunchy caramel pieces were wonderfully flavoured. The pieces added bursts of syrupy, burnt, salty notes that made for an amazingly addictive overall synergy of flavours with the chocolate. The combination of the two different elements made for a very sweet experience, though 50.0g seemed near enough the perfect serving size.

Overall it has been a long while since a product has hit the dizzy heights of the 9 out of 10s, but this bar has done it with some room to spare. There is no simpler way of putting it other than this Lindt offering was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from beginning to end. The presentation? ... fantastic as ever, the taste? ... sheer heaven, satisfaction? ... completely. This is a product I whole heartily recommend, and one I will definitely be enjoying again in the near future.

9.2 out of 10 Fancy trying the Lindt Excellence Crunchy Caramel for yourself!? Fancy any another Ritter Sport / Milka / Lindt / Storck or German Grocery ... head over to Dean-German-Grocery!!

February 10th: Marks & Spencer Marzipan

Kcal 170 Fat 8.2g Fat(sats) 2.8g Carbs 21.0g

It almost seemed a little pointless reviewing this marzipan bar from M&S, as I was 99.9% certain that it was never going to measure up to the sheer awesomeness of the Niederegger range. Having recently shown a massive interest in the rest of M&S's confectionery offerings though, I thought why the hell not and today took the plunge and tried this 'dark chocolate bar, with a soft marzipan centre, decorated with milk chocolate'.

This bar came in a small 36.0g size that I could tell wasn't fully going to satisfy my rumbling stomach. Small size aside I was reasonably impressed with the presentation. The wrapper constituted of a red, semi-transparent film material that allowed a clear view of the bar, whilst also appearing rather decorative. The product itself was about 10cm long (no I didn't measure!), and really quite thin. Despite its meager presence it looked quite appetising with a consistent dribbling effect of milk chocolate placed on top of the smooth looking dark chocolate. The smell of the bar set a reasonable expectation of the taste. The scents were predominantly cocoa led, though there was strong, sweet smelling undertone that could also be detected.

It won't surprise you to hear that this bar struck many of the same chords as the Thorntons Almond Marzipan bar .... what?? ... an M&S and Thorntons product tasting not to dissimilar ... I never! The dark chocolate was largely underwhelming, its melt was quite lazy and it took too long for the unsweetened, coffee like flavours of the cocoa to be substantiated in the mouth. Presentation aside the implementation of the milk chocolate was meaningless, as it brought nothing to the taste of the product, at no point could I detect an extra wealth of milky flavours. Obviously the dominating aspect of the taste was the marzipan that just as I thought it would be, was no where near the levels of the Niederegger products. I must admit it did differ slightly from the Thorntons bar as its flavours were more almond concentrated, but saying this it completely lacked the buttery smoothness of the Niederegger loaf etc. I was feeling really quite hungry before I ate this bar, and unfortunately after consumption I can't say I was all that satisfied. 

Overall comparing this bar with the Niederegger range was always going to be a harsh as M&S are by no means marzipan specialists. However, given the nature of the product, comparisons are the name of the game and this simply just couldn't match up on any level. Truth be told the dark chocolate was lacking flavour, a place where if M&S were going to deliver a superior product this would of had to be it - unfortunately it wasn't the case. As expected the marzipan just simply lacked the quality of the Niederegger range, there is no other way of putting it. This product isn't a travesty, though I wouldn't recommend you buy it if find yourself in M&S with the munchies - frankly there are far better options available.

6.6 out of 10

February 9th: Lindt Irish Coffee

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

Whittards turned provider once again for todays bar, at the bargain price of 40p!! As my regular readers will know I am not the biggest of drinkers, but I must say I am always rather partial to an Irish Coffee to finish off a nice meal. I didn't know quite what to expect from this bar, the description on the pack stated 'milk chocolate with a whisky and coffee liquid filling', though I wasn't sure whether this filling was going to be creme like, or pure liqueur. I guess I should have taken a hint from the rather large '7% whisky' in the ingredients, but in my haste I didn't bother looking.

The bar came in the same 100.0g, pod-like form as the Lindt Christmas Punch. I had mixed feelings about the presentation of the product. I was very impressed with the layout and fonts etc of the wrapper, but as already stated I was a little disappointed at the lack of indication of what type of filling was included. That said, the pod format itself was once again aesthetically pleasing, and looked very detailed with the Lindt logo cleanly displayed on each piece. I was quite impressed by the smell of the product, which became evident as soon as I opened the foil layer. A pleasant synergy of dairy, coffee scents were very forthcoming and really enlightened my senses for what was to come.

For me personally this was a bar that really struck me down the middle. I really enjoyed the chocolate constituents of the product - it was absolutely fabulous. The milk chocolate had a fantastically paced melt, that was terrifically smooth and thick. The taste was just as immersive, with strong creamy, slightly coffee tinted flavours that grew wonderfully in their intensity as the melt progressed. This was all wonderful up until the chocolate melted to the point where the centre was exposed. Unfortunately it wasn't the creme truffle like centre I was hoping for, but more of a straight liqueur one. It was almost as if the pods contained a shot of whisky - it was short, sharp and extremely strong in its alcoholic malty flavours ... I am no whisky connoisseur but this wasn't good stuff. As the whisky 'shot' didn't last long in its presence, the creamy flavours of the milk chocolate were the ones left lingering in the mouth, but a slight aftertaste of whisky was ever present.

Overall this was a hard bar to rate, as I guess it is solely down to personal preference. Personally I wasn't a fan of the whisky content - it was too strong, and just a bit of a shock to the system with its striking alcoholic flavours. If it were up to me I would have had a creamy, milk filling, with a hint of whisky to just give it a small indicative edge to taste; I think this would have been the best way to compliment the truly wonderful milky, coffee flavours of the chocolate. I probably wouldn't have this bar again in the near future, but I am sure a number of you will definitely get some pleasure from this unique Lindt offering. 

7.4 out of 10

February 8th: Hotel Chocolat Heart Strings

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

You now have under a week to get your acts in gear for Valentines Day!! Luckily I have already passed my eye over some of Hotel Chocolat's range - including the quite superb Season of Love Selection. In addition to those offerings, for the past few weeks I have been getting stuck into this Hotel Chocolat Heart Strings. This gigantic heart shaped chocolate mould came described as a 'solid milk chocolate heart decorated with cookies coated in strawberry flavoured chocolate and sugar, filled chocolates with Kirsch creme and praline and meringue pieces'.

The product was simply huge - and weighed a massive 700.0g (hence why I have been eating it for a good few weeks now!). There was no denying it looked utterly fantastic; I have said it before about Hotel Chocolat products but this one looked more appropriate sticking on the wall and admiring rather than eating. The box was wonderfully sealed with a lingerie type bow, which when undone revealed the impressive looking innards. The chocolate included swirl patterns, mini truffles, meringue pieces .... I will reiterate ... it looked stunning. As well as looking aesthetically good the smell was also quite forthcoming. It was awash with the usual dairy, cocoa scents of Hotel Chocolat milk chocolate, but also included a degree of sweet smelling berry fruits.

In regards to taste this was a hard product to rate as it was really quite variable in its flavours. The milk chocolate was unsurprisingly fantastic - thick in its melt, creamy yet imposing with its cocoa influence ... simply to die for. At times however it just reminded me a little too much of the Hotel Chocolat Caramel Sweethearts, in that some of the added ingredients such as the meringue and cookie pieces just did little apart from adding an unnecessary sweetness. This was particularly noticeable near the centre of the heart where the sweeter white chocolate was present. Despite this though the additional Kirsch and hazelnut truffles added some fantastic injections of nutty, liqueur flavours to the milk chocolate. I did on the whole enjoy most bites - the base milk and strawberry swirled chocolates were both delicious, it was just the added pieces at times made it all a little too much.

Overall based on looks alone this is a product that is not going to fail to bring a smile to someones face this Valentines Day ... to be honest it is just a huge bonus that it tastes pretty damn good as well. As I have said at times the taste can get a little on the sweet side, though there is no denying the quality of the chocolate, which was simply luxurious. This is one of the more pricey Hotel Chocolat products on offer this Valentines Day, but if your willing to put your hand in your pocket you won't go wrong here. 

8.2 out of 10   

 

February 7th: Hershey's 5th Avenue

Kcal 280 Fat 14.0g Fat(sats) 5.0g Carbs 35.0g 

It has been a long time coming but I finally today got hold of a Hershey's 5th Avenue. The 5th Avenue promises 'crunchy peanut butter in a rich chocolaty coating', yep, unfortunately the real chocolate coating has recently been replaced by 'mockolate' as Cybele would so rightly put it. I have tried many of these 'crunchy' peanut butter bars before, to really not much success. Could the 5th Avenue succeed where the Clark, Cadbury Crispy Crunch and Butterfinger bars have failed? There was only one way to find out! 

The bar came in a plentiful 56.0g size that settled my mid afternoon munchies nicely. The outer packaging had a pretty classical look. It was no frills stuff but it protected the bar well and kept a relative freshness. The bar itself looked relatively appetising, I was expecting the outer layer to feel quite greasy, like the Clark Bar, though it managed to avoid this and looked pretty enticing when cross-sectioned. What I particularly enjoyed about this product was the smell that was released when I opened the wrapper. It was very reminiscent of the smell of Reese's products, and was wonderfully nutty.

I was expecting to completely despise the outer 'mockolate' layer, though to be honest I didn't think it was all that bad. Its taste very sweet and short lived due to its thin portioning, but it at least did manage to deliver some sort of milky, cocoa flavours. Often with bars such as the Butterfinger I have found the 'Crunchy Peanut Butter' layers overly sugar based, but I thought the centre here was far more enjoyable. The peanut butter flavours were strong and creamy, and definitely benefited from being a tad more moist than the comparable bars ... it sounds funny to say, but it was just far more like standard peanut butter. Though the outer 'mockolate' quickly melted away in the mouth, the peanut butter centre was much longer lasting in its flavours, and left a longing presence.

Overall compared to its comparative set, I thought this was a far better product. The lack of real chocolate was disappointing, and it unfortunately looks like we won't see it coming back anytime soon, but despite this the 'mockolate' was more than bearable, it was actually ok. The peanut butter centre was far more enjoyable than in comparison to the Butterfinger, Cadbury Crispy Crunch etc delivering a far more satisfying moistness to its buttery, nutty taste, and avoiding being overly sugar rooted. If your a peanut butter proponent this is a bar well worth checking out.

7.7 out of 10

February 6th: M&M's VALENTINES GIVEAWAY!!

CHOCOLATE MISSION COMPETITION!!!

And the winners are *DRUMROLL* ............

Rachel Bignell

Jon Parker

Ben Daubney

Congratulations guys/gals your prizes are on the way!!

-----------------------------------------------------------

Those Kind people on the M&M's brand team all the way in America have kindly sent me some of their Valentines themed M&Ms s Chocolates to help promote their latest Limited Edition product line.

Want to be in with a chance of winning one of three packs? Then simply send your answer to the question below to Jim[@]Chocolatemission.net (remove the brackets of course!!)

Who Manufactures and Distributes M&M's?

a) Mars

b) Cadbury

c) Hershey's

d) Nestle

Remember to include your address in your e-mail so I know where to send your prize if you are lucky enough to win.

The draw for the winners will be announced on the site on the 14th of February.

Good Luck!!

Jim

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Small Print

1. Competition only open to UK residents

2. Competition rules can change at anytime and to my discretion

February 6th: Marks & Spencer Organic Fairtrade 72% Dark Chocolate

Kcal 580 Fat 47.0g Fat(sats) 29.0g Carbs 34.0g (per 100.0g)

I am forever receiving e-mails from my UK based readers to review more Marks & Spencer chocolate, so today I have truly obliged and have delved into their organic and fairtrade chocolate range. As you can probably guess by the name, I sampled the 72% dark chocolate - a bar that was formed of four simple ingredients: cocoa mass, cane sugar, cocoa butter and vanilla. I had already tried some fantastic dark chocolate recipes of this strength (Lindt, Hotel Chocolat etc), so this bar had a lot to live up to. 

The bar came in a 100.0g form that was split into 16 nicely sized blocks. Aesthetically I liked the outer wrapping, the black background with gold writing looked classy, however what I wasn't all that keen on was the information it communicated. Now I am all for organic and fairtrade produce, but was there really a need to mention that this bar met both these standards fifteen times?! Overkill don't you think!! The chocolate wasn't the most inspiring looking, though it was kept relatively fresh inside a cellophane wrapping. I wasn't all the bowled over by the smell, a cocoa scent did emerge once the wrapping was opened, but it was hardly the most imposing aroma ever. 

I was really astounded by the taste when I put the first block in my mouth. This is going to sound odd but it had absolutely no taste whatsoever. It wasn't until the melt of the chocolate started that the chocolate started to release its flavours - it felt odd to say the least. The melt itself was smooth, but quite fast in its later stages. This was by no means a really strong tasting dark chocolate, I actually found it to be particularly sweet and subdued for such a high cocoa concentrated bar. Even when the melt was in full flow the cocoa flavours just didn't seem to have any character, it just lacked any sort of speciality in its taste. The lack of strength in its flavours and very fast melt meant that this bar didn't have a very long aftertaste. Although not the richest of dark chocolates, 50.0g provided a fair snack. 

Overall this wasn't a necessarily bad tasting chocolate, but it just wasn't a necessarily great tasting one either. For a 72% recipe I was expecting a far fuller flavoured chocolate than what was delivered. The overall taste just didn't have anything that excited me, or made me really take notice of its flavours. All in all, I personally just thought this chocolate was just really average ... 'run of the mill' some might say. I am all for supporting fairtrade produce, but I personally wouldn't recommend this bar on its taste alone - there are far better dark chocolate alternatives out there.

7.1 out of 10 

February 5th: Lindt Pistache

Kcal 589 Fat 42.0g Fat(sats) 22.5g Carbs 47.0g (per 100.0g)

Despite Dean-German-Grocery supplying me with pretty much anything that has ever graced a Lindt logo, I actually picked this bar up for little next to nothing from the now in trouble 'Coffee, Crockery and Tea shop' Whittards. This bar had been recommended to me on a few occasions, and is formed of milk chocolates filled with pistachio nuts and almond cream. Pistachios are not the most commonly used nut in chocolate, so I was interested to see what Lindt could make of it.

This bar came in a standard 100.0g size that was split into several filled pods, just like with the Lindt Christmas Punch. I must say I absolutely loved the look of the product - from wrapper to bar it looked classy. The outer packaging contained a relevant green coloured theme, whilst the bar was not only protected by a foil wrapping but also by a simple layer of cardboard to maintain it in perfect condition. The pod format also looked superb - unique on the outside and truly tempting when cross-sectioned ... just look above. Not only did it look tempting, but it also smelt it too; sweet, dairy scents were radiated by the bar as soon as it was released from its foil wrapping.

Sometimes I feel the need to be blunt, and I will be here ... this bar tasted absolutely divine in every sense. The milk chocolate had all the good attributes of the Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy - it was tremendously creamy in its flavours, and wonderfully paced in its smooth longing melt. At the centre of each of these pods sat one of the most fantastic fillings I think I have ever tasted - the almond cream. As you probably guess it was fantastically creamy in its flavours, almost like a more solid form of double cream with a hint of buttery nuttiness. The pistachio nut was a fitting finale, and provided an added burst of earthy flavours along with its added crunchy texture. I do have one slight criticism of the bar, and it was that since all the flavours were so smooth and creamy they did not culminate to the richest of overall tastes. I actually managed to eat all 100.0g in one serving which gives you an idea of both how good it tasted, but also how it wasn't the most satisfying of chocolates.

Overall despite this not being a thoroughly fulfilling product, it was certainly a very tasty and enjoyable one. Everything from the packaging, smell, chocolate, inner-cream, and pistachio nuts were all delivered with a touch of Lindt finesse. Pistachios are not the most classical mix with milk chocolate, but here the combination was delivered superbly. If your a fan of chocolate with nutty cremes this is a bar I would strongly suggest you try. This is definitely a bar I will be buying again the future.

8.4 out of 10

February 5th: Eat Natural Bluberries Pistachios & Yoghurt

Kcal 211 Fat 12.1g Fat(sats) 7.8g Carbs 23.0g

Last month I gave my first review of the Eat Natural range with the Apricot, Almonds and Yoghurt variant, a bar that I buy pretty much every time I feel in the mood for an Eat Natural product. Today I decided it was about time I tried another from their vast selection, and sampled the Blueberries, Pistachios and Yoghurt variant - a bar that contained all of the aforementioned plus cranberries, coconuts, brazil nuts, and puffed rice cereal.

As always with Eat Natural products, I ate this bar as a means of consuming my breakfast on the move i.e. I ate it during an early morning lecture. Despite weighing in at a whole 5.0g less than the Apricot variant (45.0g), this bar still tied over my hunger well until lunch. To be honest I absolutely hated the colour of the outer packaging - I mean look at it! The colour reminded me of those awful 70s shell suits (See HERE), seriously what on earth where Eat Natural thinking!? Luckily I was more taken by the look of the bar itself. The pistachio nuts, blueberries and cranberries were all highly visible beneath the thick yogurt coating, and really extenuated the 'natural' properties of the product. The smell of the product was highly likable to that of the Apricot variant, with the tangy dairy scents of the yogurt very prominent, masking most of the nutty undertones.

It would be a lie to say that this bar varied massively in its taste from the Apricot variant, as in truth it largely didn't. As the smell suggested the dominant aspect was the yogurt coating, which supplied a milky, but ever so slightly soured base taste. In addition to this, the bar supplied some wonderfully enjoyable acidic, sweet fruity flavours from the blueberries and cranberries. They didn't quite provide the juicy bursts I was hoping for, however they were still highly detectable in the taste with their sharp, striking flavours. Pistachio nuts are not always the first nut type I would consider to place in a confectionery product, though their presence here was a very welcome one. Their earthy, mellow flavours were nicely balanced with the milky flavours of the shredded coconut. Although they were not the strongest tasting, they still managed to substantiate themselves in an amongst all the other flavours. An aspect where they were a slight let down was in their texture, especially in comparison to the almonds in the Apricot variant, as they didn't quite bring the same crunchiness to the experience. Thankfully the rice cereal was used rather sparingly, and just as a means of fusing the product together.

Overall this bar proved to be another pleasant offering from the Eat Natural brand, though I would say I still marginally prefer the Apricot bar. The yogurt coating was once again very well delivered, and bought an ever present creamy, yet slightly tart taste. All the fruit and nut elements brought pleasurable distinct flavours, but I must admit they didn't quite have the diversity in their textures I was hoping for. Again I feel compelled to comment on the fat contents of this bar; for what I would consider a 'lighter choice' the 7.8 grams of saturated fat does really suggest otherwise. One thing you have to consider with this though, is that at least you know where this fat is coming from, and it isn't from some sneaky chemicals or oils like in most chocolate bars we get nowadays. If your after a fruity, nutty snack on the move, I would suggest you could do far worse than one of these bars.

7.4 out of 10

February 4th: Cadbury Highlights

Kcal 160 Fat 10.4 Fat(sats) 6.4g Carbs 19.2g

My search for this bar took me far and wide ... but I luckily stumbled across 'Sweet N Lite', who just so happen to be the only online (or offline!) shop on earth with this Cadbury Highlights bar in stock. A quick e-mail to owner Bev revealed that Cadbury have temporarily stopped manufacturing this bar. Luckily they still had a few left in stock, though their supplies are dwindling so if you fancy getting hold of some be sharp! The Cadbury Highlights is a 'Milk Chocolate with no added sugars' ... could it size up to a standard Dairy Milk bar?

Although aesthetically appearing the same size as a Dairy Milk this was a little deceiving, and it actually weighed 35.0g. The majority of the weight must have been lost in the thickness, as it appeared a lot skinnier than its Dairy Milk comparator. Regardless, the product was typically well presented - and was protected nicely in an appropriately coloured foil wrapper. Apart from looking thinner, the bar appeared no different to any other Cadbury product and included the corporate logo on top of each block. The product didn't radiate the usual dairy oomph in its aroma, but did indicate some minor cocoa influences.

To be honest I really wasn't that surprised by the taste. Hand-on-heart it was nowhere near the excellence of Dairy Milk, though that is not to say it was inedible...far from it in fact. The absence of the sugar was evident from the outset of the taste, it really just didn't have the same sort of impact with its flavours. The texture of the chocolate was still wonderfully smooth, and the thickness did mean that the flavours were substantiated progressively, which was certainly a positive. Unfortunately the taste just wasn't all to my liking. The cocoa didn't seem to come through in the taste as much as with Dairy Milk, and I detected more acidic, natural yogurt type flavours. One thing I did note after eating the bar was that cocoa content was higher in comparison to a Dairy Milk (27%). As I have said though this unfortunately seemed to be offset by the sweetener (Maltitol), which affected the taste just a little too much for my liking.

Overall considering the actual contents of the bar, nutritional information and of course taste my thoughts are more positive than the taste score probably suggests. Frankly the bar doesn't taste as good as pretty much most standard chocolates on the market ... though when you put that in context most other bars can't claim to only have 160 calories and be sugar free. If it's taste your after then this simply isn't a bar you should be considering, but if your watching your weight or your sugar intake then this is as good as any product in that specialist market.

7.7 out of 10

Sweet N Lite Specialise in Diet / Sugar Free / Diet Specialist Foods - Take a Look at their Website by Clicking HERE or the BANNER

February 3rd: Ritter Sport a la Mousse au Chocolat

Kcal 535 Fat 35.9g Fat(sats) 21.9g Carbs 46.4g

I am not going to lie, this was never one of my most desired Ritter Sport bars; frankly, because I never even knew it existed!! Suffice to say when this turned up in my latest sample package from Dean-German-Grocery I certainly liked the sound of it - 'plain chocolate with a chocolate cream filling'. As with most Ritter variants the filling was very generously portioned, accounting for 40% of the total constituents.

The outer packaging had a nice relevant brown colour scheme, the picture of the chocolate mousse was also a nice touch. In relation to some of the other variants from the Ritter Sport range, the bar had a bit of a boring look. Don't get me wrong it still looked great with a nice two tone chocolate effect, however compared to either the hazelnut or yoghurt variants it wasn't the most exciting. Although not lighting any fireworks in the looks department, the product smelt fantastic. It had an extremely forthcoming cocoa scent, much like the one offered in the Ritter Sport Dark Whole Hazelnut variant, both enticing and indicative of the taste.

The chocolate was of the typical Ritter Sport plain formulation and included 50% cocoa solids. Much like I found in the Dark Whole Hazelnuts variant, the flavours of the outer chocolate were balanced sublimely. The taste had a strong cocoa influence that grew in its intensity as the melt progressed. This intensity was well and truly kept in check by the milky undertone that ensured the taste had no element of bitterness whatsoever. Unfortunately the middle filling was not quite of the same standard as the outer chocolate. Texturewise I would say it was in a bit of a no-mans-land, somewhere between being truffle like and actual solid chocolate. It was firm in its texture, and unfortunately lacking a bit of flavour in comparison to the outer chocolate. It did add the slightest extra milkiness, though it largely remained firmly in the background of the overall taste. Due to the richness of the outer chocolate this was still relatively filling, to be honest I was expecting something a bit less so from a 'mousse' containing bar.

Overall this was a hard bar for me to score, as though I still in the grand scheme of things enjoyed it, on reflection I thought the actual proposed filling was a bit poor. I am sure you have got the picture by now - the outer plain chocolate was superb ... a really rich and tasty chocolate. The filling in comparison was a letdown, lacking both a definitive flavour and a relevant mousse like texture. This was a bar that was still really tasty, though taking into account its real potential and the other alternatives available, for the minute I would generally recommend other variants from the Ritter Sport range over this one.

7.6 out of 10

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

February 2nd: Hotel Chocolat Season of Love Selection

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

My first look at Hotel Chocolat's Valentines Day offerings proved a tad underwhelming with my review of the Caramel Sweethearts. I am glad to say though, today things got an awful lot better. Today's review is a bit of a picture bonanza - indeed I got a little swept up in the magnificence of this Season of Love selection, and got a bit camera happy.

To save this review from being never ending, let me just say briefly that as you will no doubt be able to see the presentation was fantastic. Each of the fifteen pieces were uniquely crafted, and came wonderfully dressed in a fantastically designed 400.0g box. The selection came described as 'a balanced selection of irresistible, hand-finished truffles'.

Here are my views on the different pieces, with the usual ratings from 'Poor' to 'Superb'.

Hazelnut Heart:

Incorporated a fantastically creamy outer milk chocolate shell with a simply sinful hazelnut praline centre. Nothing more to say other than it was one of the finest praline chocolates I have ever come across. Superb.

Champagne Love / Kirsch Love Heart / Blackberry & Prosecco:

These pieces combined wonderful outer chocolates with some divine sharp liqueur/alcohol truffle fillings. The Champagne Love was a real stand out with the white chocolate complimenting the tangy, acidic champagne centre perfectly. Very Good.

Gianduja Square:

Another praline filled, milk chocolate piece that had a bit more emphasis on its cocoa flavours in comparison to the hazelnut heart. The aftertaste was longer sustained though it didn't have the same creamy breadth. Very Good.

Eton Mess:

A very intricately made truffle that was formed of a strawberry buttercream filling with meringue pieces, encased in a white and milk chocolate shell topped with strawberry. This not only looked wonderful but had the taste to back it up. The filling had a classic combination of creamy, sharp fruit flavours that went superbly with the inspired meringue inclusion ... the great quality of the chocolate topped off what was a really an outstanding piece. Superb.

Macadamia Star:

Another milk chocolate praline but this time made with macadamia nuts. I wasn't a fan of the grainy texture that came with the macadamia influence, though the buttery taste was still highly pleasurable. Not my favourite but still a very credible chocolate. Good.

Raspberry / Dark / Milk Chocolate Hearts:

These are what the Caramel Sweethearts should have delivered - simply no frills chocolate pieces. The quality of the 40% milk, 74% dark can never be questioned ... fantastic every time. A special mention must go to the white chocolate raspberry heart piece, it was both creamy and fresh tasting. Very Good.

Vanilla / Orange Truffle:

Both of these truffles combined thick, tasty outer chocolates with creamy ganache centres. The vanilla truffle was a particular favourite of mine, and really delivered a wonderful vanilla flavour hit. They may not be the most inspired out of the selection but they still delivered wonderfully. Superb.

Chilli Praline:

This piece had a mousse type hazelnut praline, contained within its milk chocolate casing. The lighter texture was certainly unique to the selection and made for a nice change. The milk chocolate was of course fantastic and a real warmth was brought to the aftertaste by the chilli. Another favourite of mine. Superb.

Caramel Baby Truffles:

These came as mini, half sized pieces that contained gooey caramel in milk chocolate. Probably the least exciting out of the entire selection, yet still delivered in terms of taste. The milk chocolate nicely went with the sweet, gooey caramel. Good.

Cocoa Bliss:

Yet another milk chocolate praline, though this time topped with cocoa nibs. Very similar to the Gianduja Square piece, though the cocoa nibs added a little more interest to the texture of the piece with an added crunchiness. Very Good.

Wowzer! I don't think a review has ever contained so many superlatives - but this selection is simply worth every one of them. If you or your loved one enjoy liqueur and praline chocolates this selection will be a guaranteed winner. The presentation is fantastic, the selection is very vast and every single piece tastes like a little bit of heaven. I can't recommend this selection enough. Utterly superb.

9.3 out of 10