May 23rd: Nestle Milk Chocolate

Kcal 207 Fat 10.6g Carbs 25.6g 

Before I kick on with this review I must thank ChocolateMission reader Alan who was kind enough to send this along for me to try. You may all recall from reviews such as the Kit Kat, Lion, Munchies etc that I generally find Nestle milk chocolate does a job in supplying the desired chocolate flavour hit to the additional flavour elements involved. Never before though had I come across a plain Nestle milk chocolate bar ... well not until Alan sent this one to me.

The bar came in a 40.0g size and was split into four square shaped blocks. On the whole I thought that the presentation was a little lacklustre. Nothing about the packaging really stood out to me and I just thought it cut an over simplistic look. The actual chocolate itself didn't look much better - the four square blocks were neither branded with the Nestle logo or patterned at all and just looked very plain. Despite being failed to be impressed aesthetically I thought the product smelt reasonably nice and had dairy based sweet smell. 

The wrapper stated that the bar contained 25% cocoa which is actually more than Cadbury Dairy Milk (22%). Although the Nestle bar could boast this, that was really the only thing where the Nestle chocolate was superior. Both the taste and texture of the chocolate were affected by the obviously high sugar content of the bar. The taste started off with some pleasant full milk flavours though as the melt of the chocolate progressed the sweetness literally dominated the taste and made for an experience that was verging on throat burning. As aforementioned it wasn't just the taste where the sugar was evident - the texture of the chocolate had a grainy feel to its melt; it was almost as if I could feel the sugar in the chocolate.

Overall as you can guess I really didn't think much of this bar. I have been enjoying some very high quality milk chocolate products from Hotel Chocolat and Lindt recently so comparisons were always going to be a little harsh. Still though when put in the context of similar priced alternatives like Cadbury Dairy Milk and Galaxy Milk Chocolate this Nestle offering just wasn't up to scratch. I still think it is an adequate milk chocolate to grace products that are more focused on their additional elements, but as a solus milk chocolate bar this is one that I wouldn't recommend.

5.2 out of 10

May 23rd: Milka Choco & Rice

Kcal 510 Fat 26.5g Fat(sats) 26.5g Carbs 61.0g (per 100.0g)

I don't think you guys are going to be needing any second guesses in regards to where this bar came from! Of course the lovely people at Dean-German-Grocery once again provided me with yet another bar from the extensive Milka range in the form of this 'Choco & Rice' variant. Formed of 'milk chocolate with crisped puffed rice' it wasn't exactly the most complex of Milka flavour variants available but it still had relative appeal to me anyway.

This bar varied slightly from the standard Milka line and came in a rather large 200.0g size. The product was about four times the thickness of the normal Milka bars and twice the length. Despite being rather on the largish size for my liking the presentation was all pretty top notch. The usual plastic wrapper still had the same resealable fold, which proved particularly handy given the size and how long it took me to eat. The chocolate itself also looked very appetising with the rice pieces looking a lot larger than I thought they would. Along with creating an impact visually the rice cereal also had an influence on the aroma where it complimented the usual Alpine Milk dairy scents nicely with a biscuit like hint.

I have had so many Milka bars now I knew exactly what to expect from the milk chocolate. The taste was as usual dominated by the cream flavours and retained a pleasant sweetness that never seemed to get overbearing. These flavours were delivered with the usual thick, smooth melt which combined with the slight note of hazelnut made the flavours last for a relatively long time in the mouth. I am always a little unsure when it comes to puffed rice in chocolate as it can often be flavourless, however the cereal in this bar managed to disprove this. The rice pieces substantiated a nice savoury element to the sweet tasting chocolate and added a nice variation to the texture with their crisp shells and soft centres. My only criticism of this bar was that due to the rice being so well portioned it meant the bar didn't seem all that satisfying - after eating a 50.0g portion I didn't feel particularly fulfilled.

Overall this was a product that I actually enjoyed more than expected and has proven that when done correctly puffed rice and chocolate can make for a good combination. I guess it is products like the Nestle Crunch that had previously shaped my thinking like this, though having got a lot of pleasure from this Milka bar I will think twice before making any preconceptions again. Milk chocolate and puffed rice may not sound like the most interesting of combinations but this bar managed to create a good level of intricacy with its range of cream, nut and cereal flavours. On this basis I would recommend it to any Milka fan or to anyone who has a soft spot for chocolate and cereal products.

8.0 out of 10 

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May 22nd: Ferrero Hanuta

Kcal 115 Fat 6.8g Carbs 11.6g (per 22.0g piece)

Fans of the Kinder Bueno attention as this is a product I am sure you will be very much interested in! Contained within my latest sampling package from Dean-German-Grocery were a fair few packets of these Ferrero Hanuta. These came described as 'Waffle biscuits' and were formed of two key constituents. As you will see in the picture above a middle chocolate hazelnut creme layer is sandwiched in between two enticing looking wafers; suffice to say all appeared a recipe for success though of course I had the pleasure of finding out for myself.

As mentioned Dean-German-Grocery sent over several packs of these which themselves contained two 22.0g pieces. The packaging was all very Ferrero with the white background and red and gold writing instantly making it recognisable to the brand. The presentation of the pieces themselves also looked particularly appetising with each of them contained within gold wrappers; this kept them looking both fresh and well presented. Upon opening the packet the hazelnut element made itself instantly recognisable with a whole host of savoury nutty smells very forthcoming in between the sweet biscuit smells emanating from the product.

Due to me liking the product so much I want to get the bad stuff out the way first. Despite looking fresh and being well within its sell by date the texture of the wafer wasn't as crisp as I wanted it to be. To test this out I obviously had to consume many of these (any excuse haha!!) but with every one of them I found the wafers to be just a bit too soft and lacking the desired crunch. Despite the lack of bite the wafers provided a decent amount of flavour and brought some very enjoyable wheaty, biscuit flavour influences to each bite. Of course the majority of the taste however was about the chocolate and hazelnut centre and boy was it divine. It was denser in its texture than I thought it would be, yet it retained a good degree of moistness. The chocolate hit was well delivered with some immediate cocoa flavours evident, though the most influential element was the hazelnut. The filling contained small pieces of crunchy hazelnut that when bitten into released a wonderful surge of woody, nutty flavours. The central filling was quite rich in its flavours, though at the same time had an incredible moreishness - I struggled limiting myself to one pack at a time.

Overall put another tick in the box for Ferrero as this was yet another highly enjoyable product from their vast portfolio. The chocolate hazelnuts filling was simply superb in almost every regard. It was rich in taste and had a wonderful contrast of smooth and crunchy texture elements that gave it both interest and uniqueness. Ferrero certainly do have a lot of products that incorporate both chocolate and hazelnuts as they key components, though I am struggling to think of one that isn't unique enough to warrant existence. The Ferrero Hanuta came now be added to the ever growing list of reputable Ferrero products, I very much recommend it.

8.4 out of 10

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May 21st: Galaxy Amicelli

Kcal 65 Fat 3.3g Fat(sats) 2.1g Carbs 7.7g (per 12.5g piece)

For some reason I have long ignored this product and for some reason always overlooked it when I had seen it in the shops. Ignore it I could no longer though as Dean-German-Grocery sent me a pack in the latest sampling package that they sent across. Although the Amicelli branding is rather Italian sounding I was surprised to read that these were manufactured in Austria. The on-pack description read 'light wafers filled with hazelnut praline wrapped in Galaxy milk chocolate' which I must admit sounded all pretty good to me.

The product came in 200.0g box that contained 16 separate finger pieces. I instantly loved the presentation with the usual light brown Galaxy colours implemented on a uniquely shaped box that opened with a very intricate flap system. Inside the box the finger pieces were all contained within plastic wrappers. Despite their delicate form they were all kept in very good condition with none appearing damaged. In keeping with the pretty flawless presentation the smell of each individual finger was also really rather pleasant with each combining a dairy led sweet scent with a nice hint of nut.

I thought the pieces were very suitably sized and each made for a wonderful biscuit substitute to compliment an afternoon/after dinner coffee. The milk chocolate that surrounded each finger was what you come to expect from Galaxy. It was thick in its melt and had a wonderful creamy nature about its smooth ebbing taste. The wafer element was also really rather good and brought some honeycomb crisp like flavours with its crunchy light texture. Running through the middle of each piece sat a pretty standard, yet still pretty pleasant praline filling that certainly didn't fail in delivering a nice hazelnut edge to each bite. It wasn't the greatest tasting praline filling going but it complimented the creamy milk chocolate and biscuity flavours of the chocolate well.

Overall it is a shame I ignored these for so long as they have actually now become a staple product to be present in my cupboard. I would necessarily rate these as a product to eat one after another, though I would say they are the perfect little treat to have with a hot drink or after a quite filling meal. The chocolate hit is delivered with the outer coating, whilst the inner wafer and praline elements add a degree of interest and prestige to the overall taste. If you are yet to try these I would strongly suggest you make a point of doing so. They may not strike you as a product that is particularly special but believe you me they really are worth trying.

8.7 out of 10

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May 19th: Lindt Sommerlaune Stracciatella / Lime Buttermilk / Strawberry Panna Cotta

Summer is just around the corner and having brought you Ritter Sport's summer variants Dean-German-Grocery thought it only right to send me Lindt's new summer offerings. Lindt's Sommerlaune range has been launched in three different flavours: Stracciatella, Lime Buttermilk and Strawberry Panna Cotta. These all sounded exciting to me with most of them jumping on the fruit flavour bandwagon.

All three of the bars came in a 100.0g size which were divided into nicely sized branded blocks. I liked the presentation of the range as a whole - the bright coloured wrappes really gave each of the bars a summery look, whilst the golden fonts and branded foil layers maintained the usual high class Lindt appeal.

Below are my thoughts on each of the three variants:

Lindt Sommerlaune Stracciatella Vanille:

Kcal 552 Fat 36.0g Carbs 52.0g (per 100.0g)

This came described as 'white chocolate with vanilla and cocoa chips on a dark chocolate base'. The bar had a pleasant dairy based smell that had a nice hint of vanilla essence.

Having very much enjoyed the Lindt Excellence Stracciatella I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately I was left feeling a little disappointed as it didn't quite reach the standard that I desired. With the dark chocolate being at the base the taste initially began with a well balanced level of cocoa flavours. As the dark chocolate melted the upper white chocolate layer came more to the fore with the milk and vanilla flavours having a strong influence. Unfortunately though the bar didn't quite generate the cream flavours I desired as the taste was noted with a bitter floral note - I think this may have been caused by having too much vanilla, though the cocoa chips further added to the slight bitterness.

Overall this bar was a pleasant enough dark and white chocolate combination though I couldn't help but feel that it could have been done better. I think Lindt may have got a little over zealous with the amount of vanilla extract they used here as there was a definite bitterness in what was a slightly odd aftertaste. This was still a nice chocolate but probably not one I will be rushing to try again.

7.7 out of 10

Lindt Sommerlaune Limetter-Buttermilch:

Kcal 542 Fat 34.0g Carbs 53.0g (per 100.0g)

Recently the likes of Hotel Chocolat and even Lindt themselves have proved that when it comes to citrus fruits and chocolates there can be some magnificent results. This bar came described as 'lime buttermilk flavoured white chocolate on a dark chocolate base' and had an enticing lime led aroma.

As I mentioned above I have recently had some very good citrus flavoured chocolate but this one didn't quite reach the levels of those previously reviewed. What I especially liked about the Hotel Chocolat Puddles Citrus were that they had such a fresh and clean cut taste. This Lindt bar didn't quite deliver that same proposition as the flavours seemed quite muffled and as if the lime flavours were being held back. Just as with the rest of the bars the dark chocolate base worked well and established a nice set of cocoa base flavours to each piece. The white chocolate above though was a little mellow in its flavours - by far the dominant elements were the milk and dairy influences ... it seemed almost as if the addition of the lime was an afterthought.

Overall this was yet again a case of 'the bar was good ... but could have been done better'. When I saw the lime flavouring of the bar I was expecting a very fresh tasting, fruity chocolate but this wasn't quite what I got. As I have described above the lime very much played second fiddle to the pleasant but still rather generic milk based white chocolate flavours. A fair enough chocolate but not quite what I had in mind

7.6 out of 10

Lindt Sommerlaune Erdbeer-Panna Cotta:
Kcal 538 Fat 32.0g Carbs 56.0g (per 100.0g)

This last bar came described as 'strawberry flavoured white chocolate with a milk chocolate base' and had a delightful wildberry smell which I thought was very tempting indeed.

If you have read the two reviews above you can probably guess I was little underwhelmed ... up until I tried this bar that is. I thought this variant worked a whole lot better than the other two and it really came across as a chocolate that was entirely suitable for summer consumption. The milk chocolate on the base of each piece worked a little better than the dark chocolate as it allowed the white chocolate and fruit flavours to come through earlier in the taste. Unlike the other two variants the fruit was very well implemented and gave a wonderful plethora of juicy strawberry flavours throughout the taste. The strawberry pieces were lined in the white chocolate which had a creamier cheesecake like taste than the others. The flavours were fresh tasting and lasted a long time in the mouth - this was a very satisfying bar.

Overall this was obviously my favourite out of the three and I would give it a big thumbs up. The strawberry element was well integrated into the white chocolate and made for a compelling and refreshing overall taste. This was especially enjoyable when consumed chilled from the fridge and would definitely be a bar I will be consuming again this summer - highly recommended.

8.5 out of 10

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May 18th: Hotel Chocolat Puddles Citrus / Salted Caramel

Following on from my reviews of the Hotel Chocolat Puddles Rhubarb & Custard and Raspberry Ripple I today got round to casting my eye over the other two variants that Hotel Chocolat so kindly sent me. Just as with the previous two these Citrus and Salted Caramel flavours came in 140.0g bags. Although both were devilishly moreish I was surprised at the length of time that they both lasted despite me frequently consuming handfuls at a time. Below are my thoughts of each of the two flavours below:

Hotel Chocolat Puddles Citrus:

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

I have recently been writing about how there is a shocking lack of citrus fruit and chocolate combinations but it seems that at least a few brands are starting to cotton on to this. Described as 'white chocolate with tangerine flakes and essential oil of Mexican lime' I was rather hoping this was going to be more along the lines of the better quality Raspberry Ripple than the poorer Rhubarb & Custard.

As soon as I opened the bag it was evident that this was going to be a very fruity chocolate as the lime made itself immediately evident with its delightful scents. I am glad to say that when it came to the taste the white chocolate was akin to the Raspberry Ripple and displayed the same cream led vanilla noted flavours. What really made this product stand out to me though was the way the citrus fruits were implemented. They could easily have been overly strong and sour but Hotel Chocolat managed to find an extremely good balance here. Both the tangerine and lime elements were distinguishable with the lime having a more constant tangy presence throughout the duration of the taste. The orangey flavours of the tangerine came through wonderfully when the flakes were encountered and made for a delightful progressive set of flavours.

Overall these were absolutely fantastic and combined a luxuriously creamy chocolate with a refreshing set of strong citrus flavours. Despite the threat of the fruits becoming over dominant in the taste the balance for me was absolutely spot on and this culminated in a quite frankly delicious and unique tasting white chocolate. I highly recommend these.

8.8 out of 10

Hotel Chocolat Puddles Salted Caramel:

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

Despite two out of the three white chocolate variants being rather good I was also pleased that Hotel Chocolat sent along these milk chocolate flavoured Puddles as I was nearing white chocolate overload. Described as 'solid discs of salted caramel milk chocolate' my hopes were pretty high due to products like the Caramellow slab etc ... suffice to say I wasn't let down.

Opening the packet I was once again astounded and extremely tempted by the strength of the aromas I was met with. A strong smell of toffee soon overcame my senses and I simply couldn't stop myself digging in right away. Just as with my past experiences of the Caramellow slab the chocolate here was simply divine on every level. The cocoa flavours were evident from the outset, though the progressive nature of the taste meant that they ebbed and flowed with several other key flavour notes that dominated the taste. The caramel element within the chocolate was absolutely superb - as the thick melting nature of the chocolate progressed there were hints of brown sugar, toffee and butterscotch. The aftertaste was also splendid and was noted with a delightful lick of salt that had me reaching back into the packet frequently.

Overall these were exactly what I expected and that was nothing short of excellent. The flavours of the chocolate progressed so fantastically as the Puddles were consumed and just made for an experience that was as enjoyable as it was satisfying. The contrasting sweet and salt flavour notes made for a chocolate that was ever so moreish in every sense and again leads to me highly recommend these.

8.8 out of 10

May 17th: Thorntons Dark Chocolate Balsamic

Kcal 558 Fat 46.6g Fat(sats) 29.3g (per 100.0g)

Not even in the world of Japanese Kit Kats have I ever seen a Balsamic Vinegar flavoured chocolate!? I guess there is a first for everything though, and directly out of Thorntons' square bars range I today sampled their 'Balsamic Vinegar flavoured 75% Tanzania dark chocolate'. To be honest I was pretty pessimistic about the likelihood of me liking this bar ... and that pessimism proved correct.

I ate about half of the 90.0g bar in order to write for this review, the other half is currently sitting in the bin next to my desk. As with the rest of the range the presentation was nothing to turn any noses up at. The dark rouge colour and nice fonts established quite a sophisticated look, whilst the flavour of the bar was quite subdued in communicating its uniqueness. The bar itself had some nice patterns printed into its surface, though it must be said that even from the smell I could detect something with this product wasn't quite right. Behind some standard cocoa scents there was an earthy kind of smell that just didn't resonate well with the context of the chocolate. 

I have already given the game away so I will be upfront and quickly tell you that I did not like this bar at all. Placing the first block in my mouth I was surprised to find the flavours of the dark chocolate were quite restrained, something that wasn't helped by the thin melt that was produced. The mild cocoa flavours turned out to be the least of the bars worries however, as mid melt the Balsamic element reared its ugly head. The Balsamic influence was delivered through a 'Balsamic Vinegar Powder', which ultimately not only managed to establish a benign feeling lumpy texture, but also a sour set of flavours. The Balsamic element added a cheap red wine like set flavours in that they were imposing, tart and truly horrible. Half of this bar was frankly more than I could handle, hence why I had no desire to finish the other 45.0g.

Overall this was one of the worst chocolates I have reviewed this year. I remarked that I had never seen a Balsamic flavoured chocolate before ... this bar is evidence enough to why this was the case. The flavours simply just didn't work - the dark chocolate was bad to begin with, but given the poorness of the Balsamic flavours it was made to look all that bit worse. I am not going to waste anymore time describing how awful I thought this chocolate was ... I think you all will have got the idea already. Suffice to say this is not a bar I would recommend.

4.2 out of 10  

May 16th: Lindt Blueberry-Lavender Fine Mousse

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

No I have not gone crackers ... you are reading the title of this bar correctly!! Dean-German-Grocery sent across another sampling package last week and in and amongst the five years supply of chocolate they sent (lol!) was this rather unique bar. Described as 'dark chocolate with a chocolate mousse centre and blueberry-lavender filling' I really didn't know quite what to expect. Lavender and chocolate!? Surely this couldn't work!??? ... there was of course only one way to find out.

This is the first bar from Lindt's 'Fine Mousse' range that I have reviewed and it came in a 150.0g format. The presentation of the product was pretty flawless with the black coloured background and gold coloured writing cutting a very sophisticated look. The chocolate was also well constructed with each piece very distinct with its three layers and branding placed on top. One slight criticism that I did have was that the whole bar was split into only ten blocks, which made each one a little too big for my liking.

I normally write about the aroma of the product briefly but what I experienced with this bar demanded it be given a substantial mention. The chocolate quite frankly didn't smell like chocolate at all. Had this been a blindfold test I would probably have guessed that the bar was a product from Evelyn & Crabtree and not even chocolate. The flowery smell of the lavender was extremely forthcoming and proved to be a real distraction to the actual good tasting chocolate.

For all its strength in the smell the lavender was thankfully absent from the taste. The 70% dark chocolate was surprisingly friendly in its taste and never reached anything like what could be described as bitter. It delivered some delicious cocoa flavours that were grew in intensity as the thick melt progressed and revealed the softer, smoother yet just as flavoursome chocolate mousse layer. Positioned above the mousse was the blueberry element that had a gooey jam like texture. The blueberry filling delivered some striking wild berry, red fruit flavours that had a nice tartness to it making for some lasting flavours in the mouth. In regards to taste this bar was surprisingly really rather good and I had no complaints whatsoever.

Overall had it not been for the background smell of the lavender I probably would have enjoyed this bar even more than I did. To be honest I think the lavender element was more implemented for a shock factor rather than delivering something actually incremental to the chocolate. I am still a little bemused myself to how someone at Lindt could possibly of thought it could of helped the bar!? Who knows!? Forgetting about the lavender this was a bar that at the heart of it tasted really rather good and combined a good quality dark chocolate with a pleasant blueberry filling. Do I recommend this bar? Probably not based on the fact the lavender serves as too much of a distraction. If your the adventurous type though this could be one to put on the wish list ... its certainly unique I will give it that.

7.5 out of 10

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May 15th: Marks & Spencer Cranberry & Cashew Bar

Kcal 198 Fat 8.7g Fat(sats) 4.2g Carbs 26.0g

I hope you aren't all getting bored of me reviewing these snack bars as I still have a few left. Although I have already rapped M&S over their blatant disregard for originality with these bars their take of the Apricot, Mango & Almond was actually rather good, with my only displeasure coming in the form of a rather dastardly nut. Regardless, I decided to give their range another chance, today looking at their Cranberry & Cashew bar. This bar didn't just stop at the promised cranberries and cashews contained within its yogurt coating - it also involved additional pieces of dried apricot and almonds.

The product came in a pretty predictable 45.0g size that provided me with a rather fulfilling snack to go with a spot of afternoon tea ... how very English of me! Annoyingly the product only displayed its nutritional information in a 100.0g form, though committed as I am I calculated that all for you above ... good god I am too kind! I liked the presentation of this product, the bar looked rather appetising with its large pieces of fruit and nut nicely dispersed, whilst the wrapper was also coloured relevantly and kept it all rather fresh. The smell was also pretty pleasant with some dairy like scents emanating in and amongst some nutty, sweet honey like aromas.

Much like I found with the M&S Apricot, Almond and Mango bar, the yogurt coating was well implemented, and delivered an ever present creaminess that had the slightest of sour tangs in its aftertaste. As mentioned the cranberries and nuts were well spread out across the bar, which meant that each bite was full of flavour. The cranberries were quite forthcoming with their acidic berry influence, though at the same time still had a nice sweetness that stopped them from being too sour and tart. The cashew nuts were for me the shining stars. I have forever been banging on about how they are under used in the confectionery market, and this bar gave even more evidence to this. The cashews were mild mannered though brought some delicious buttery, crunchy elements to each bite, in my opinion they are far superior to the more commonly used almond nuts. The whole 45.0g proved a satisfying amount, a fact that was largely down to the rather minimal amount of rice cereal needed to fuse the bar together - this was a bar really crammed full of its ingredients.

Overall this is my favourite out of all the Eat Natural, M&S rip-offs I have tried thus far. The blend of the tangy fruit, and subtle flavours of the nuts made for a really quite delicious accompaniment for the creamy yogurt filling. In a perfect world perhaps the dried apricots could have been substituted for additional cranberries, as they rather got lost in and amongst all the other elements. This is probably the best of its kind I have tried to date, though as I have said I still have a few left to try - definitely worth a look at if cereal bars are your thing.

8.2 out of 10

May 14th: Thorntons Fudge Milk Chocolate

Kcal 557 Fat 36.7g Fat(sats) 23.1g Carbs 49.2g (per 100.0g)

Continuing my way through Thorntons' new square bars range I today tried out their 'Fudge Milk Chocolate'. This bar came very simply described as 'milk chocolate with fudge pieces', though closer inspection of the on pack blurb revealed that the milk chocolate was formed of Papua New Guinea cocoa in a 35% recipe. 

Just like the rest of the range the bar came in a 90.0g form that I ate over the course of two separate occasions. There isn't much to say about the presentation of the product. The outer packaging made use of an appropriate beige colour, though despite the bar itself looking nice with some well integrated patterns in to the surface the fudge pieces seemed very lacking aesthetically. Despite being rather anonymous lookswise the fudge element could be heavily detected in the smell, where a heavy vanilla sweetness complimented some standard cocoa scents. 

This was literally bar of two halves in that the second half I ate was a lot better than the first. The first 45.0g offered little more than a standard flavoured milk chocolate with just the smallest of honey type hints in its aftertaste. Every block I ate in my first sitting was devoid of any fudge pieces whatsoever ... a pretty stark contrast to the second 45.0g I ate that contained plenty. In the blocks where the fudge was present the chocolate tasted absolutely superb and had an extra buttery caramel element to its taste - it was absolutely delicious. The texture of the bar was also markedly improved with the fudge as it seemed a lot thicker where present. This chocolate was not the most substantial ever, though 45.0g at a time made for a fair enough snack.

Overall this was a hard bar to rate as my experiences from both servings were very varied. Where the fudge pieces were implemented the chocolate was very enjoyable indeed and provided a type of chocolate that no other brand is currently offering on the market. Frankly though there is no excuse for the lack of consistency with the dispersion of the fudge - there simply needs to be the same amount in each half of the bar, and by that I mean that Thorntons need to double up the fudge content and not just balance out the current 7%. This is certainly a bar with great potential and possibly worth trying if you fancy it.

7.6 out of 10

 

May 13th: Oreo Chocolate Bar Green Tea

Kcal 200 Fat 11.6g Carbs 21.4g

Pete at J-List told me it is getting rather hot in Japan so be sure to order all your chocolate from the J-List website very soon as it will be removed in the coming weeks. A few days ago Pete was so kind to send me along this Oreo Chocolate Bar Green Tea variant which I thought as product was probably about as Japanese as they come. This bar offered the same proposition to the mini size Original and Strawberry mini variants I reviewed a few weeks back but of course had a green tea flavoured centre.

The bar came in a 36.5g size that came in one single piece. I thought the packaging looked petty funky and liked the use of the light green colour to communicate the flavour theme of the bar. Apologies for the level of brightness on the cross-section picture - you will probably be able to make out the very distinct green centre. On one hand I thought it looked pretty unique, though part of me couldn't help but think that my chocolate had gone mouldy :) The aroma that emanated from the chocolate gave a clear indication of the taste of the bar and the tea element was very evident.

When I reviewed the Kit Kat Maccha Tiramisu the green tea element was more in the background of the taste and was not quite the star of the show. In that context I thought it worked rather well but I must admit my perception of the flavour here when it was more of a figurehead wasn't quite as positive. Just as with the mini Original and Strawberry variants the outer milk chocolate was extremely thin and didn't particularly give a chocolate hit of much note. The inner centre for me had both its good and bad points ... the bad mostly associated with the green tea flavours. I did enjoy the crunchy yet soft texture that it had and thought the sweet, buttery bursts of chocolate cookie flavour were very enjoyable indeed. Unfortunately though the aftertaste was really not that pleasant and the green tea flavour came across as very strong and imposing with its herby, almost bitter taste. Due to the lack of cocoa emphasis from the coating and light textured centre the bar really didn't feel like the most substantial of snacks.

Overall I guess the green tea and chocolate combination was one that I just never got to grips with. Just as with Oreo mini variants I reviewed despite the lacking chocolate hit the actual bare constituents of the centre filling provided an enjoyable chocolate cookie based taste. Unfortunately though I just didn't enjoy what the green tea flavours brought to the mix and just felt that they were out of place within the context of the chocolate. I guess this is one of those combinations you either 'get' or you 'don't' ... a bit like Marmite. When it comes to being a lover or a hater though, I guess when it comes to this bar I would have to say I was more the latter.

6.8 out of 10

May 13th: Lindt Cassis Mit Wacholderbeere

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

Before you all go rushing off to Google Translate please let me do the honours - Lindt Blackcurrants and Juniper Berries. As you can probably guess this was another bar sent to me by Dean-German-Grocery from the ever expansive range of Lindt goodies they stock. This bar constituted of a 'milk chocolate mousse filling with a Blackcurrant liqueur and Juniper berry layer, coated in milk chocolate'. I have to say this was one of the more intriguing bars I have tried in a long while so this review is well worth your read .... honest ;)

This product was yet another in the Lindt filled 'Pods' range, and again came in the familiar 100.0g size. As always with this format I was impressed with the presentation - the outer packaging communicated the flavour theme well with some appropriate wild berry pictures. The chocolate pods also looked enticing with the dark coloured jam like substance seemingly very well portioned above the inner truffle filling. The jam not only looked appetising, but also had a large influence on the aroma of the product, which was notably very fruity in its fragrance.

One thing that particularly impressed me about this bar was the way the blackcurrant and Juniper berries were implemented into the taste of the chocolate. The milk chocolate that coated the product and formed the lighter truffle filling was not the most forthcoming in its cocoa flavours, however had a very pleasant dairy creaminess. The transition of the melt from the outer chocolate to the lighter truffle centre was very flowing in its smoothness, and really contrasted nicely with the more solid, almost jelly like texture of the berry filling. Personally I thought that the balance of the berry flavours was absolutely superb - combined they brought very striking, tarty, juicy red fruit flavours yet at the same time had a very complimentary sweetness. The aftertaste had the smallest of alcohol kicks it (due to the 'Creme de Cassis Liqueur!!), which increased the flavour longevity left in the mouth and made for an altogether more satisfying chocolate.

Overall this was a bar I wasn't expecting too much from, however delivered a very progressive flavour experience. The transition from the creamy chocolate to the fruity berry filling was extremely well implemented in each pod, and the smallest of alcohol kicks in the aftertaste ensured that the flavours were left nicely lingering. If your a fan of Lindt milk chocolate then this is yet another bar that I am sure you will enjoy. This is of course dependant on your love for red berries and currants, though I am sure, like me, you will all have been partial to a bit of Ribena in your childhood. Yet another recommended bar from Lindt's fine range.

8.6 out of 10

Visit Dean-German-Grocery for products like this ... and many more!

May 12th: Hotel Chocolat Puddles Rhubarb & Custard / Raspberry Ripple

It has been a while since I last reviewed something from Hotel Chocolat (well a month or so!) but last week brought one of those awesome days when the postmen struggles to my door holding another box of samples. The latest batch of goodies contained Hotel Chocolat's new summer product lines, included in which were four new flavours of their infamous 'Puddles' aka Chocolate Buttons.

As you will see below they came in nice looking plastic packages which held 140.0g of chocolate (plenty!!), although simplistic in looks they did the job nicely and kept the product in a fresh state. The two I chose to review today were of a white chocolate variety and were based on some of my favourite desserts when I was a kid. Hopes were indeed high and this what I thought of both of them:

Hotel Chocolat Puddles Rhubarb & Custard:

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

Described as 'rhubarb swirled in custard flavoured white chocolate' this particular variety had me foaming at the mouth Homer Simpson style. They say a way to a mans heart is through his stomach - sure, I think even Ann Widdecombe would have a good chance getting into my pants if she served me up Rhubarb Crumble and Custard ... I simply love it!

Opening up the packet I was met with a rather mild custard like aroma that neither struck me as amazing or unsatisfactory. Mind you, due to my incredible anticipation it wasn't as if I hung around smelling them long as I immediately dove straight in. Unfortunately I was met with a feeling of disappointment and I thought there were a few glaringly obvious things wrong. Firstly I couldn't detect the rhubarb in any shape or form - it was as if they forgot to put the 'rhubarb crisps' promised on the back of the pack actually in the product. Secondly the white chocolate was nothing like the creamy heaven sent vanilla tastiness of usual but was actually comparable to the truly detestable Cadbury Dream chocolate. Ok ok maybe it wasn't that bad, but the taste was so sugar rooted I got that awful throat burning sensation.

Overall I am left asking the question ... what happened here!? These were hardly inedible but these were truly so far off the usual Hotel Chocolat standard it seemed implausible. I honestly wouldn't recommend these to buy but on the same note I would like to hear from other people who have tried them ... is this me going bonkers!?? The disappointing 140.0g of these I consumed suggests not!

6.2 out of 10

Hotel Chocolat Puddles Raspberry Ripple:

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

Having ranted and raved my way through the first section of this double review I thankfully get to be a lot nicer here. Described as 'nibbles of raspberries in white vanilla chocolate' these were the least I was looking forward to out of the two but were actually far superior.

Unlike with the Rhubarb variant the fruit content of these was made evident from the outset and the sweet wildberry smell was extremely enticing. The all important factor of course was whether this was going to be back up in the taste and I was not left disappointed. Placing the 'Puddles' on the tongue the initial flavours were the strong raspberry tones that were delivered with a wonderful fresh zingy emphasis. As the melt developed the cream based flavours of the chocolate came through and just as the description suggested had some pleasant vanilla notes that made for a multi-dimensional taste. In the later stages of the melt the berry flavours were further enhanced with the small specs of raspberry bringing some added flavour hits to make for a well rounded but emphatic overall taste.

Overall ... PHEW :) I don't like being down on products so I am glad to be able to report that these get a double thumbs up. They were truly delicious and were fruity, creamy and wonderfully moreish with a thick longing melt. Unlike the Rhubarb variant I would really suggest you try these if you like the sound of them. They are truly splendid straight from the fridge or served with vanilla ice cream.

8.5 out of 10