June 18th: Milka Amavel Mousse a la Birne-Mandel / l'Orange

The Milka Amavel range has consistently proven itself to be fantastic with scores often in the upper 8's and low 9's. In fact one of my favourite bars I tried this year was the Milka Amavel Mousse au Cappuccino, so when I was give the opportunity to try another two variants from the range I certainly wasn't going to turn Dean-German-Grocery down.

Both these Orange and Pear & Almond variants came in the standard 160.0g Amavel size and were both split into the rather awkward triangle shaped blocks. As well as the different flavoured fillings there was differentiation in the type of chocolate used. The Mousse a l'Orange was formed with Milka dark chocolate, whilst the Mousse a la Birne-Mandel used the more traditional Alpine Milk chocolate.

Once again both proved to be very worthwhile bars - here are my thoughts on each below:

Milka Amavel Mousse a la Birne-Mandel:

Kcal 555 Fat 35.0g Fat(sats) 19.5g Carbs 53.0g (per 100.0g)

I couldn't recall having tried a peach and almond combination before so I was looking forward to seeing what this one could offer. When I broke the block in half the inner filling could be seen to have a very pale and fluffy complexion. The aroma that revealed itself when the chocolate was split into was fruity though had a strong chocolaty base tone.

The overall taste wasn't quite what was promised though it was still was very tasty indeed. The outer Alpine Milk chocolate provided the standard sweet tasting creamy chocolate that it is known for. The transition of the smooth thick melting outer chocolate to the lighter fluffier inner mousse was as wonderful as ever and the development it brought on the flavours of the outer chocolate was also something to be hold. The pear flavours took a firm grasp of the taste when the mousse was encountered and provided a sweet, fruity context. I couldn't detect the almond anywhere in the taste, however there was a small hazelnut element brought to the experience by the outer Alpine Milk chocolate.

Overall like all good fruit flavoured chocolates this bar communicated the fruit influence well and had a fresh tasting influence. Despite the almond being somewhat absent from proceedings I wasn't left disappointed as the strength of the flavours was already pretty strong. If you like your pear fruit then this would be a chocolate you should seriously think of trying.

8.7 out of 10

Milka Amavel Mousse a l'Orange:
Kcal 565 Fat 39.5g Fat(sats) 22.5g Carbs 45.0g (per 100.0g)

As I have mentioned previously this bar was a little different to the rest of the Amavel range as it used dark chocolate rather than the standard Alpine Milk chocolate. The difference was exhibited clearly by the chocolate itself as the outer chocolate was a far darker colour to the milk chocolate filling. Despite the stronger chocolate the orange ingredient was by far the dominant aspect in the smell of the bar which gave it a very fresh feel.

I am a big fan of Milka Apline Milk chocolate but I thought that the outer dark chocolate worked just as well. The melt of the chocolate was equally as luxurious and maintained the same nicely paced smoothness when changing form. Much like the Birne-Mandel bar it was pleasant that the flavours of the filling did not come to the party until the mousse filling was encountered - this allowed for a nicely progressive taste. The cocoa flavours of the outer chocolate were notably amplified and didn't have quite the sweetness of the normal milk chocolate. This worked really well with the mousse as whilst the orange flavours were zesty and juicy, they were still rather sweet which meant that the balance of the taste was maintained by the dark chocolate.

Overall having tried both bars I couldn't pick a favourite out of the Birne-Mandel or this l'Orange as both provided wonderful fruity chocolate experiences. The decision to use dark chocolate rather than the sweet milk chocolate in this bar was a good one as I think using milk chocolate would have made the resulting taste a little on the sweet side. There are plenty of orange and chocolate combinations around but I would rate this one as good as any of them - another success from the Amavel range.

8.7 out of 10

Head to Dean-German-Grocery to find all your German Chocolate & Grocery needs

June 17th: Nestle Nuts

Kcal 243 Fat 12.3g Fat(sats) 3.1g Carbs 31.1g

This was yet another product supplied to me by Dean-German-Grocery and I believe that it is a bar that is available all over Europe apart from the UK ... which begs the question why the English name? When I read what this Nestle Nuts bar was formed of it immediately reminded me of the Topic bar that we have here in the UK. Comprised of milk chocolate, nougat, caramel and hazelnuts it sounded like it had a lot of potential.

Although this bar weighed only 1.0g more than the Topic bar at 50.0g it looked a lot larger. The wrapper was relatively plain, though I thought the simplicity with the yellow and red colours was actually rather nice looking. As you can see above the bar itself also looked very tempting when cross-sectioned with the hazelnut pieces appearing very well portioned along with the caramel. One thing that did slightly annoy me was the lack of nutritional information on the wrapper, which I have had to look up myself for you guys! Disregarding this slight annoyance the aroma of the product was suitably hazelnut led and certainly proved to be very enticing.

The milk chocolate that coated this bar was really your bog standard no frills Nestle stuff. I guess that sounds rather negative though to be honest it delivered the desired chocolate hit with its predominantly sweet, milky flavours and thickish melt. Sat below the milk chocolate the nougat and caramel combined to provide a very pleasurable combination of chewy, dense textures which made the taste last for a sustained time in the mouth. The flavours I got from both these elements were not particularly spectacular - the nougat especially struggled to create an impression with its flavours but thankfully the caramel made up for this with some butterscotch notes. The hazelnuts sat within the nougat were absolutely fantastic. They provided a fresh woody, nut element to the taste whilst also contributing a wonderful crunch element to the mainly soft, chewy texture.

Overall I would say that this bar provided a far more fulfilling experience than the Topic but didn't quite deliver the same amount of flavour. As a snack this bar was by far the more satisfying as the viscous textures made for a taste that was far longer sustained. Although the flavours were still majoritly nice I would say in comparison to the Topic the nougat and caramel were not quite as good, which ultimately meant I ranked it lower in terms of actual taste. For fans of the Topic bar I would recommend this as a product you should at least try to see which you prefer. This was yet another worthwhile treat served up by Dean-German-Grocery.

8.2 out of 10

Get all your German Candy & Grocery needs at Dean-German-Grocery

June 16th: Lindt Milk Chocolate Hazelnut-Gianduja

Kcal 590 Fat 42.0g Carbs 45.0g (per 100.0g)

A first glance this may just look like another milk chocolate and hazelnut combination but having tried this bar I can confirm that it was somewhat a little special. I got the chance to sample this bar thanks again to my friends at Dean-German-Grocery who kindly sent across a whole host of new Lindt bars that will be appearing on this site in the coming weeks. This 'Hazelnut-Gianduja' variant came described as milk chocolate with hazelnut, though a little research on Wiki revealed that 'Gianduja' is in fact a type of chocolate that contains hazelnut paste - this sounded right up my street.

This was another bar from the 'vollmilch feinshmelzend' (milk chocolate soft melt!?) range so it again came in a 100.0g size that was divided into ten well sized blocks. As well as the chocolate itself being nicely presented I liked the look of the outer wrapper as it communicated the hazelnut influence well whilst still maintaining a simplistic sophistication. The smell of the bar was predominantly cocoa led and had little influence from the nut element - this was somewhat surprising when put in the context of the taste.

Despite the chocolate only being a 30% recipe the strength of the flavours was certainly not lacking. The initial flavours were mostly cream based though as the chocolate heated in the mouth the cocoa and hazelnut elements came to the party. The hazelnut flavours were particularly strong and had a taste that was certainly akin to a good standard praline - it was sweet yet wonderfully nutty and the full on wooden flavours of the nuts lasted a long time in the mouth. Just as with the Lindt Milk Chocolate Creamy Caramel bar I reviewed the other week the melt of the chocolate was absolutely sublime. It had a silky soft ebbing melt that felt simply luxurious in the mouth - I guess a slight drawback from this was that the melt was extremely fast. Despite the longevity of each piece not being particularly long the strength of the flavours meant they left a lasting impression in the mouth and made for a deliciously rich chocolate.

Overall this was a bar that I loved from the very first piece and must admit I was rather disappointed when I finished the last one. As I said in the opening to this review it would be easy to just dismiss this as just another milk chocolate and hazelnut combination. In my opinion this would be a poor view to hold as the way the hazelnut was integrated into the chocolate made for a chocolate that was a strong tasting as it was wonderfully smooth in texture. Having to write so many reviews means that I rarely get to try products again after I have finished them - this however will definitely be one I will seek out again.

8.9 out of 10

June 15th: Lindt Fioretto Minis Limette / Cappuccino / Mousse au Chocolat

Dean-German-Grocery recently sent across another box full of German produced goods included in which were these new Lindt Fioretto chocolates. The Fioretto range looks to be pretty extensive and has a large number of different flavours aswell as sizes. Today I got the chance to try two of the variants from the 'Minis' range - Cappuccino and Limette, aswell as one from the standard sized collection - Mousse au Chocolat.

In regards to presentation I thought all three products were presented terrifically. The Mousse au Chocolat Fioretto came in a cardboard box that was decorated with a black and gold theme and included six large sized pieces. The Mini variants came in 115.0g bags that included around 8 pieces in each - again here I thought the choices of colours for the packaging were well executed and gave both products a welcoming yet stylish look.

I guess at this point in time it is worth mentioning that I didn't really have a preference to the bigger or small sized pieces. I thought that all three different chocolates looked wonderful and especially liked how each of them showed signs of distinct layering from their outer chocolate coating to inner fillings.

Below are my thoughts on the different chocolates:

Lint Fioretto Minis Limette:
Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???

These came billed as a 'lime filling with a cocoa creme and white chocolate coating'. What with the mass rush of new product development hitting the fruit flavoured chocolate market it was little surprise to see a fruit based flavour in the range.

Contained within their light green wrappers these chocolates had a nice fruity milk smell as I unwrapped them. The initial flavours I got from these were mostly cream based and as I was to learn were rather relaxed in terms of their strength in comparison to the filling. As the piece melted softly in the mouth the rice cereal that lined the outer coating brought a pleasant contrast of textures to the melt. Sitting below the coating was a layer of cocoa creme that raised the strength of the flavours in the mouth with some nice cocoa influences. The real intensity of these chocolates though were delivered by the lime fillings. They had a jam like jelly texture and had a real sharpness in its flavours. The lime was at times just a little overpowering of the chocolate, though more often than not it brought a tasty fresh zestyness to the base chocolate taste. 

Overall these were nice chocolates when eaten a few at a time though I must say I wouldn't like to eat a full sized version of this flavour. The lime filling didn't hold back in its flavours - it was juicy and refreshing but sometimes just a little too tart and could have done with being a little sweeter. That said I think fans of white chocolate and lime would get a lot of pleasure from these.

8.5 out of 10

Lint Fioretto Minis Cappuccino:
Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???

You guys won't need reminding of my love for chocolate and coffee combinations so you can probably guess that I liked the sound of these 'cappuccino flavoured praline centres with a milk chocolate coating'.

Although these had a nice hint of coffee in their aroma I must say they were a little reserved in this regard when compared to the other variants. I wasn't expecting anything less but it must be said that the milk chocolate was of a great quality. It provided a creamy cocoa background taste to each bite and melted with a terrific ease and softness in the mouth. Once again the rice cereal provided little in terms of flavour, however was a worthwhile addition due to the extra variation in brought to the textures. Just as with the Limette a cocoa creme lined the inner filling but it had a less of an effect on the taste due to the outer coating being of relatively the same strength. The inner cappuccino filling was relatively well executed though I would have liked to have seen more of an emphasis on the coffee flavours. The coffee element was certainly present but struggled to have a real impact as the softer truffle like centre also had relatively strong cocoa presence that just further elongated the flavours of the outer chocolate.

Overall these were decent coffee chocolate but were by no means my all time favourites. In hindsight I was probably looking for more of an espresso type coffee hit rather than the cappuccino one delivered here. People who enjoy quite mild flavoured coffee milk chocolates will like these very much.

8.0 out of 10

 

Lint Fioretto Mousse au Chocolat:
Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???

I thought these sounded the most boring out of the selection but they actually turned out to be my favourites. As I have mentioned above these were bigger in size and were about twice as large as the other two Mini variants. 

These pieces were formed with an outer coating of dark chocolate and rice cereal which brought a pleasant barrage of cocoa flavours as soon as the chocolate entered my mouth. A wonderful dairy undertone made sure that the strong cocoa flavours never verged on being bitter and made sure that the intensity was always kept in check. As with the Minis sitting below the hard outer shell was a thin layer of cocoa creme that was slightly sweeter than the outer chocolate. My absolute favourite thing with these chocolates though was the inner mousse filling. It was light, smooth and melted in the mouth wonderfully. It had a creamier taste than the other chocolate layers which meant that it gave a delicious aftertaste that again helped balanced the stronger flavours of the outer dark chocolate. 

Overall it was the development of the taste that really made this Mousse au Chocolat variant stand out from the rest. Right from the off the outer dark chocolate established a high degree of flavour that was firmly cocoa rooted. As I made my way further and further into the centre of the chocolate the taste started to get creamier, whilst the textures became softer and softer - it was a frankly wonderful experience. Very worthy of 9.0 rating on ChocolateMission - very recommended.

9.0 out of 10

Head to Dean-German-Grocery to find Lindt Fioretto!

June 14th: 7Days of Chocolate Reviews - Edition 1

I have decided to shake things up a bit here on ChocolateMission. Replacing the normal review posted on Sundays will be a new weekly post called '7 days of Chocolate Reviews'. Today I bring you Edition 1 - I hope you enjoy it and welcome and feedback.

The Chocolate Mission Omnibus:

Here I will detail the most notable of the reviews I posted in the previous week.

The most discussed review this week was my look at Hannah's White Mice which gained the title as the 'worst product I have ever reviewed for ChocolateMission'. Despite several readers such as Alan, Lottie, Gemma finding them similarly awful, Emma was on hand to give her support. See Review HERE.

This week also featured another retro throwback with Burton's Wagon Wheels also receiving a well over due review - See HERE. I also finally got round to adding a 'About Me & FAQs page' - please feel free to take and gander and ask your questions HERE.

News from the Chocolate Market:

* The Wispa Gold is coming back - SEE HERE - this is really great news! No doubt I will review it ASAP.

* Thornton's have a new Safari Zoo Park Competition which will be rolled out on their 'Moments' range - SEE HERE

* Mars products are now certified as Kosher - SEE HERE

* Marketing Week ran an article looking at how Mars & Snickers have reduced the size of their bars but not their prices - SEE HERE

Posts from other Blogs I enjoyed this week:

* GiGi Reviews - Gi continued to make her way through NY's finest Black & White Cookies - SEE HERE

* Candy Blog - Cybele finished her look at the new Herhsey's Pieces range with her review on the Hershey's Special Dark Pieces - SEE HERE

* Chocablog - Dom posted an awesome (and timely) review of Paul A.Young's Choc D'Amour chocolates (the ones that Kate from the Apprentice devised) - See HERE

Question of the Week:

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post - why don't you let me know what you think by answering my first question of the week:

'What do you think of Edition 1 of 7 Days of Chocolate Reviews?'

June 13th: Lindt Tequila Sunrise

Kcal 491 Fat 27.0g Carbs 54.0g (per 100.0g)

It has all gone a bit Lindt crazy over the past week hasn't it!? Not that I am complaining! This Lindt Tequila Sunrise was another bar sent to me by Dean-German-Grocery. This product was another from Lindt's filled pod range and was formed of 'dark chocolate encased orange flavoured tequila creme fillings'. Although I am not the biggest tequila fan this was a bar that I was looking forward to, as it certainly sounded like nothing I had tried before.

Just as with the other filled pod bars this one came in a 100.0g serving and was split into 15 separate blocks. I thought the presentation of the product was yet again superb, with the packaging still maintaining a classy look despite the quite vivid orange colours. The bar itself also looked pretty appetising with the pod shapes providing interest along with the enticing look of the plentifully portioned creme fillings. The smell of the product was a little more reserved than I was expecting, though some fruity cocoa scents stirred my anticipation ever so slightly.

The packaging did not display the strength of the dark chocolate, though I would hazard a guess at it being no stronger than 50% cocoa. It was relatively reserved in its flavour strength, though this actually boded quite well and let the inner creme filling express itself fully. I was expecting quite a sharp tequila hit from the creme however I was glad to find it was actually less imposing. The alcohol kick was there but not overly dominant and worked well with the fruit elements. The fruit influences came in the form of the zesty well rounded flavours of the orange and the sharper, tangier bursts from the pomegranate juice. The tartness of both these combined was balanced wonderfully by the sweet nature of the creme, and made for what was a truly delicious and refreshing taste.

Overall this was a well executed favourite variant by Lindt and one that I would definitely try again in the future. I was half expecting the tequila element to spoil the balance of the flavours, but truth to be told it was actually quite reserved in its impact on the overall flavour. I would have perhaps have liked the dark chocolate to have had more of a say in the grand scheme of the taste, however its relaxed implementation here was fine as it let the real selling point of the bar, the fruity elements, establish a firm grip on the overall taste. If you like your orange and chocolate combinations I would very much recommend this bar - Lindt triumph once again.

8.5 out of 10

Find this bar and many more Lindt / Milka / Ritter Sport / German Groceries at Dean-German-Grocery.com

June 12th: Zotter Cheese, Walnuts & Grapes

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

When I first saw this bar I probably had a face that looked like it had been smacked by a kipper. Cheese, Walnuts & Grapes!?? What on earth was I in for here? This wasn't the first time I have doubted Zotter. My last foray with the brand was with their Bacon Bits offering - a bar that included pork scratchings in its truffle filling. Despite my pessimism it turned out to be pretty fantastic - still though I couldn't help but feel that a bar formed of milk chocolate filled with cream cheese, grapes and walnuts may just have been taking things just a little too far.

As with the rest of the Zotter bars I have reviewed so far this one also came in a 70.0g size. The presentation was once again first class with the outer packaging incorporating both a sleek artistic design and clear communication of the flavour theme. The chocolate bar look no different to the rest of the range with its long, flat rippled surface. Once cross-sectioned the inner filling had visible fruit and nut pieces which were very evident in the light coloured centre. Even before the bar was cut in to an enticing nutty cocoa smell became evident once the thick foil was undressed.

Due to my complete lack of confidence in the filling combination I was very tentative at the size of the first few slithers I cut off and ate. I am glad to confirm that as I ate more and more these rather thin pieces soon became much larger ones - before I knew it the bar was gone altogether. I have commented on the smoothness of the taste of other Zotter variants before and things were not different here. The outer chocolate had a wonderfully silky soft melt in the mouth that felt absolutely luxurious with its dominant milk based flavours. If I was to have one criticism of this bar it would be that once again the cocoa didn't have quite reach the strength in its flavours I desired. As a counter argument to that I guess a stronger chocolate may have detracted somewhat from the simply delicious flavours that I got from the centre. The cheese cream was absolutely delightful - it had a wonderful truffle like texture and had a slight yogurt tang amongst its cream based dairy taste. The sharpness of the cheese was offset nicely by the sugary fruit flavours of the raisins that added partial resistance and chewiness to the plethora of soft textures. My favourite part of this bar though had to be the walnuts and I savoured every bite where they were present. The nuts were crunchy and fresh flavoured with some wonderful buttery, straw based savoury influences. To my surprise this was a bar that I couldn't get enough of - the full 70.0g was finished in one sitting.

Overall I don't think I have ever reviewed a product that has changed my opinion so drastically prior to eating it. My preconceptions were that this simply couldn't work on any level - come on now cheese and chocolate!? I like to think my instincts are good but sometimes you just have hold to hold up your hands and say you are wrong - this is one of those instances for me. The combination of the cheese, walnuts, grapes (raisins!) and chocolate was simply delicious and each complimented the other to provide an overall fantastic taste. For some of you I doubt reading my words alone will be enough to convince you that this bar works. I seriously urge you to give this one a try though. If you are brave enough do let me know what you think!

8.6 out of 10

June 11th: Cadbury Moro Gold

Kcal 310 Fat 16.9g Fat(sats) 11.8g Carbs 35.6g

Thanks again to my friends at Shopenzed I today got to try another one of the Southern Hemisphere's exclusive Cadbury offerings. Described as a 'chocolate flavoured centre with biscuit pieces surrounded in caramel and covered in Dairy Milk chocolate' it sounded exactly like the Cadbury Boost bar that we get here in the UK. Due to the similarities I thought it best to compare the two and actually found there to be a number of differences.

One thing where the two bars were similar was in the size of the product, both weighing 60.0g and packing a mighty 310 calories each. I liked the wrapper of the Moro Gold - I thought it was simple yet effective with its use of the traditional purple coloured theme and yellow and gold fonts. In regards to the actual bar the Moro Gold looked smaller than the Boost as it appeared a lot thinner in its width. Although not looking as aesthetically imposing the bar did have a sweet chocolaty scent that smelt rather pleasant.

I noticed a few fundamental differences between the Boost and the Moro Gold and the first of them came in the outer chocolate that coated the bar. I have commented before that the Dairy Milk down under doesn't seem quite as creamy as the stuff we get here in the UK - this again appeared the case here though I think it probably wasn't helped by the thin nature in which it was implemented. Although the outer chocolate wasn't quite the standard of the Boost the inner filling was a different story altogether. I generally find the inner filling of the Boost a little too sugary in its flavours but things were a little different with the Moro Gold. The chocolate flavoured filling of the Moro Gold was very light in texture and had a very cream based milky taste. The biscuit pieces that sat within the filling were terrific and provided delightful bursts of sweet and salty shortbread like flavours when encountered. The caramel that sat between the chocolate coating and the filling was very well portioned and added some delightful butterscotch and honey flavour notes with its chewy texture. Despite being 60.0g the Moro Gold didn't feel anywhere near as substantial as the Boost as the lighter texture of the filling melted extremely fast.

Overall despite the Moro Gold being billed as an equivalent of the Boost there were actually a fair number of differences between the two. The Dairy Milk was again not on the same level in regards to the quality of our UK stuff but I must say that I far preferred the taste of the chocolate filling with the Moro Gold. The lighter texture and creamier taste of the filling allowed the biscuit pieces to come through more and just made for a taste that wasn't quite so reliant on sugar. I probably wouldn't frequent this bar due to the hideous amount of calories involved but as an occasional treat I wouldn't mind having this bar again.

8.1 out of 10

June 11th: Burton's Wagon Wheels

Kcal 158 Fat 5.7g Fat(sats) 3.2g Carbs 24.6g (per biscuit)

It almost seemed like fate last week when I bought a Wagon Wheel from my staff shop and received a request for a review later that afternoon - Weird huh!? I have fond memories of Burton's Wagon Wheels from my childhood, they were a common feature in my school lunch box and I remember them being one of the most valued items in the playground swapsies marketplace :) Before today I hadn't seen the brand for a good few years! Are they even still available in the supermarket multipacks? Described as a familiar marshmallow filling sandwiched between two biscuit pieces the only thing notable about todays proposition was the wording 'chocolate flavoured coating' ... oh dear!

I must say the Wagon Wheel I ate today looked slightly smaller than the ones I used to feast on as a child!? It would be nice to know the weight of the product down the years - todays weighed in at 36.0g and I thought it was a fair sized snack to compliment an afternoon cup of tea. As well as knowing the hostory of its weight it would be also nice to see the development of the packaging. I may be wrong but I remember Wagon Wheels coming in glossier, foil packets. I thought the wrapper that this product was presented in was just a little simplistic and lacked anything that drove home the message of the contents or created any sort of anticipation. In addition to the lacklustre presentation I was also not that enamoured by the extremely sweet smells that emanated from the product.

Despite not being impressed by the design work on the packet it was nice to see that the product looked little different from when I was a child. The circular biscuit pieces contained the marshmallow layer well and the chocolate coating was evenly dispersed. Unfortunately my worries regarding the 'chocolate flavoured' coating proved to be well founded though, and it tasted really quite dull. I am finding it hard to summon the words to describe its taste as it went no further then providing a simplistic waxy sugary coating to the biscuit pieces. I guess the important thing to take from this is that I didn't get the desired chocolate flavour hit from the coating whatsoever. Whilst I thought the coating was poor my perception of the biscuit and marshmallow layers were a lot more positive. The biscuit elements had a pleasant malty base taste and brought bursts of both sugar and salt flavours when chewed. Sitting at the middle of the biscuits was the marshmallow layer - it was by no means anything special with its sugary taste but I still enjoyed the slightly chewy mallow texture as it added a nice bit of variety.

Overall this product didn't quite deliver the nostalgia hit I was hoping for, yet at the same time certainly didn't indicate to me that it was a product best left in the past. At the heart of the product there are still some great things - the brand name and image is still in my opinion strong and could be reinvigorated with a rethink of the packaging and presentation. The product itself also still has legs - the combination of the biscuit and marshmallow is still a pretty good one and I think that if it was backed up by a real milk chocolate coating then I could see it being far better received in terms of taste. I personally won't be rushing back for another Wagon Wheel anytime soon but would be interested to hear what you guys think!

4.8 out of 10

June 10th: Whittaker's 72% Cocoa Dark Ghana

Kcal 564 Fat 37.3g Fat(sats) 23.8g Carbs 45.4g (per 100.0g)

Ever since I first announced that I had managed to build an alliance with Shopenzed in New Zealand I have been receiving e-mails requesting I review some of the Whittaker's range. Although we don't have Whittaker's here in the UK from what I can tell it is a very established brand in the Southern Hemisphere - according to the packaging they have been around since 1896 ... now that is a long time. Given their heritage and praise from ChocolateMission readers I was certainly looking forward to getting stuck into this 72% Cocoa Dark Ghana bar.

Being the kind souls that they are Shopenzed sent me across a quite huge 250.0g bar. Straight away I was drawn in by the look of the packaging. It had a retro looking gold theme that I thought encapsulated both style and diversity - it really gave the product a premium look. The beauty of this product didn't just stop at the wrapper; below that layer the chocolate was wonderfully maintained in a thick golden foil wrapper. The foil layer not only sealed in the fantastically fragrant cocoa smells, but also made sure that the blocks were unblemished and in tip-top condition.

The whole 250.0g took a while to get through even with some keen family members helping me along the way (how very kind of them eh!?). The bar itself was split into well sized blocks that were perfect for eating one at a time. Just as the strong cocoa scents indicated the flavours of the bar were certainly forthcoming - this wasn't a chocolate that needed any sort of warming up in the mouth before the true flavours were revealed. The initial part of the taste was elegant and smooth with the predominantly dairy based flavours ebbing and flowing with the smooth melt. As the melt of the chocolate progressed from its early stages the raw cocoa flavours started coming to life more and presented themselves delightfully providing a rich tasting chocolaty flavour hit. Despite the cocoa being really quite strong the taste never flirted with the possibility of becoming bitter. The taste experience was smooth throughout its progression and just simply delicious - I guess this must have been largelly down to the plentiful cocoa butter in the chocolate.

Overall this is up there with some of the best dark chocolates I have had. It didn't quite deliver on the same playing field as the Hotel Chocolat 85% but I have to say it wouldn't be far off if it just had a tad greater thickness in its melt and possibly just another dimension in its aftertaste (vanilla maybe!?). This was a bar that I was really disappointed to finish - to put it another way if someone told me that this was the only chocolate I could eat for the rest of my life I probably wouldn't be all that disappointed. Having tried so many dark chocolates over the last two years for one to really stand out it has to be something rather special. For me this stood out as a wonderful dark chocolate and is one that I would suggest you try for yourself if your a fan of this sector of the market.

9.0 out of 10

Homesick Kiwi? Head to Shopenzed by clicking HERE

*** ALL NEW FAQs & ABOUT ME PAGE ***

Want to know a little more about me? Have a question that needs answering?

Be sure to check out the new FAQs page by CLICKING HERE

Be sure to also check out the ChocolateMission

Twitter Page - CLICK HERE

June 9th: Harry & David Moose Munch Confection Dark Chocolate

Kcal 220 Fat 11.0g Fat(sats) 5.0g Carbs 27.0g (per 42.0g serving)

Back in September/November I reviewed the Harry & David Moose Munch Bars, both of which are favourites of Liz's at *IShop4YouII*. Well after my positive reviews of the bars Liz was kind enough to send me this fantastic product in my latest package. The Harry & David Moose Munch Confection Dark Chocolate consisted of caramel coated popcorn and whole nuts pieces. Additionally some of these pieces were coated in Harry & David dark chocolate ... it sounded fantastic to me!

Liz sent me a 127.0g box that as I will unwittingly explain lasted me all of 20 minutes (for shame!!). The product was well presented and came in a smart looking cardboard box that incorporated the usual Harry & David type branding and fun illustratives. I liked the fact the box had a cut out window so the product could be visually seen. The confection mix not only looked appetising, but also smelt fantastic too. I was greeted with a vast array of sweet toffee and nut aromas as soon as I opened the plastic packet.

One would assume that since the product came in such a large box it was meant for sharing. As mentioned though I managed to eat my way through the entire lot in 20 minutes ... it was just so ridiculously moreish. Every single piece within the mix was coated in a simply delightful caramel coating - it wasn't like the cheap tasting sugar coated popcorn you can get - but more sophisticated in its buttery, sweet toffee like flavours. In and amongst the popcorn were some delicious tasting pecan and cashew nuts that were simply bursting with fresh salty nutty flavours. What made the mix truly excellent though were the dark chocolate covered pieces. The unsweetened cocoa added an extra degree of interest with the salt of the nuts and sweetness of the caramel providing spot on contrasts. The only major error I could find with this product was the lack of fulfilment it provided me - 660 odd calories later and I was still wanting more!

Overall as you will have gathered from this review this was a product that I simply couldn't get enough of. I found the mixture of the popcorn, caramel, nuts and dark chocolate simply superb ... it was a truly fantastic snacking product. I wouldn't necessarily recommend these as a product to eat by yourself, though for snacking occasions with friends I honestly can't think of many other products that would do you any better. If popcorn is your thing, these are a must try!

8.0 out of 10

*** EU & UK Readers Attention*** Ever been been browsing Chocolate Mission or any other Candy Site and felt frustrated not being able to get hold of an American bar/item!??? .... well feel frustrated no more!!! 'I SHOP 4 YOU II'!! is a great service that provides a unique "one stop shop" international shopping experience!!! Visit the Ebay shop - if they dont have the item you want instock simply give them a message - there is no harm in asking. This service comes with a Chocolate Mission Seal of Approval!! It is a genuinely great, fast and friendly service... Just say you came from Chocolate Mission.

June 8th: Ritter Sport Biscuits & Nuts

Kcal 544 Fat 33.9g Fat(sats) 17.4g Carbs 51.4g (per 100.0g)

Ritter Sport are never afraid to add to their already extensive product range and I today got to grips with another of their new flavour variants. This Ritter Sport Keks & Nuss (Biscuits & Nuts) came described as 'milk chocolate with hazelnuts (8.9%) and crunchy biscuit pieces (6.5%)'. I thought the hazelnut content was a little unimaginative though on reflection it wouldn't have made much sense Ritter diversifying from something they actually do very well (see Ritter Whole Hazelnuts range!!).

The Biscuits & Nuts variant is the latest addition to the 'King Size' part of the Ritter Sport portfolio and therefore came in a 250.0g size. As you can see in the packaging photos above the presentation was all rather standard Ritter Sport but it is worth mentioning the clear visuals that provided nice clarification of the flavour. In regards to the chocolate itself it both looked and smelt very appetising indeed. The biscuits and nuts appeared very plentiful and well spread out within the chocolate and the bar had a very fragrant nutty influence within its cocoa scents.

I have tried over thirty-five variants of Ritter Sport chocolate now but I thought this one was really one of the best. The milk chocolate was exactly what I expected from the Ritter brand - not the greatest quality yet still flavoursome with its tasty milk led cocoa taste. With the chocolate being rather standard it was of course left up to the biscuit and hazelnut ingredients to deliver and they certainly didn't fail. Both the nut and biscuit pieces had wonderful fresh crunchy textures yet still managed to avoid the sharp, throat scratching effect I have experienced with other clumsier bars. In regards to flavours they delivered here as well - the biscuits added a wonderful array of malt, butter and honey notes whilst the hazelnuts had terrific roasted earthy flavours and brought just the slightest hint of salt in the mix. The combination of these different constituents made for a chocolate that was multi dimensional in regards to its flavours and one that also felt very fulfilling.

Overall what with their being so many different Ritter Sport variants out you would expect the quality of each flavour to dip as the portfolio expands. I can confirm though that from what I experienced this certainly wasn't the case here and this has to be one of the better Ritter Sport bars I have tried for a long while. The chocolate was its usual unspectacular self however the biscuit and nut combination made for an overall taste that was as wonderfully tasty as it was satisfying. As you can imagine the 250.0g took a while to get through and I did end up sharing it with several other people to get their opinions. I must say the majority came to a very similar conclusion to my own - that this is one very good chocolate bar. For this reason I highly recommend you get yourself over to Dean-German-Grocery and try it for yourself.

8.9 out of 10

Head to Dean-German-Grocery for all your German Chocolate & Grovery Needs

June 7th: Hannah's White Mice

Kcal 530 Fat 29.0g Carbs 65.0g (per 100.0g)

I am probably going to attract some criticism for this review as I know that 'White Mice' have a cult following here in the UK. Indeed, as a child I consumed them on mass - they were always a common and prominent feature in my pick-a-mix bag when I was a wee one. Unfortunately (or maybe not!!), everyones main source of 'White Mice', Woolworths, is now no more. Shopping in my local Tesco last Sunday however I stumbled across a pack produced by Hannah's .... would these be a lovely trip down nostalgia road ... or a hellish 'never to eat again' product!??

The bag I found in Tesco contained 85.0g of 'White Mice' ... I would say under half that actually got eaten. The outer packaging was very simplistic and didn't do a very good job of maintaining the product. You may be able to make out in the picture above that the pieces had particularly dusty surfaces which gave the impression they were not all that fresh. In regards to aroma I was also not very impressed - the smells that emanated from the bag seemed very artificial in their sweetness and had a rather fake vanilla hint. 

You have probably peeked at the score already so I won't beat around the bush ... these were HORRIBLE ... and I mean HORRIBLE in every sense. Studying the blurb on the back of the packet it turns out that these were not white chocolate at all, but white chocolate flavour candy. One look at the ingredients and it was no wonder that the taste was sickeningly sweet and artificial considering they were solely made of 'sugar, vegetable fat, whey powder, emulsifier and flavourings' ...EUGH!! Not only did they taste awful in their overbearing sugaryness, but they had a rough, uncompromising melt which just to top everything left my throat feeling like it was literally on fire. Suffice to say I was left wondering what had come of my once loved 'White Mice'.

Overall these are frankly the WORST ... yes the WORST product I have had the displeasure of reviewing in my whole year of writing for this site. I know people are going to criticise me as these no doubt hold a place in a lot of hearts, but frankly they tasted terrible and after no more than three pieces were inedible due to the artificial ingredients tearing up the back of my throat. These are made with cheap ingredients, taste cheap ... yet aren't cheap anymore (65p for a bag!). I would honestly think twice before reaching for a bag of these ... leave your childhood memories untarnished.

2.4 out of 10