September 13th: 7Days of Chocolate Reviews - Edition 14

Hi Everyone,

This weeks round up post is going to be in a slight different format this week . I am going to attempt to congest the usual four sections into just a few small paragraphs as I have been working hard at my latest feature **** STARS & THEIR BARS **** which is linked at the end of this post.

This week the site featured some really high scoring products with the first being my reivew of the Cadbury Wispa Gold which appeared on Monday. Since publication the review has attracted countless positive remarks about the bar ... way too many to mention! If you haven't left your views yet be sure to check out the review HERE. Not to be upstaged the next product reviewed also managed to obtain a staggering 9.3 score on the ChocolateMission rating scale - Hotel Chocolat's Sleekster Serious Dark Fix Selection (see HERE). This was a fantastic selection of chocolates which I would undoubtedly be recomming in my upcoming gifting feature.

News on the market -I am sure none of us missed the Kraft £10.2bn hostile takeover bid for Cadbury (see HERE) .... good or bad guys!??? I am a bit split myself. There are both positives and negatives in that but I can't help but worry that Kraft could change the Cadbury production methods and switch to the shortcut ways that many American producers opt for. Let me know what you think! In other news Nestle are launching some Toffee Crisp & Munchies mini bites tubs (see HERE), more news on those Cadbury cakes I talked about last week (see HERE), Thorntons profits are plunging (see HERE), cocoa prices are rising (see HERE) and lastly a number of chocolate manufacturs have signed up for an ethical cocoa scheme (see HERE)

Other posts I enjoyed this week included this review of Dreyer's/Edys Apple Pie Ice Cream at GiGi Reviews (see HERE), Marvo's review of Jif's new Omega-3 laden Peanut Butter (see HERE), Japanese Snack Reviews look at the latest Kinako Ohagi Kit Kat (see HERE) and lastly Foodstufffinds reivew of the polite sounding 'Good Afternoon' bar from the Chocolate Society (see HERE).

Now here is what you have all not been waiting for:

****STARS AND THEIR BARS****

In case you didn't see last weeks post for the last 7 days I have been hounding celebs via Twitter to find out their favourite chocolate bars. I have had some lovely resposnses from some ultimate Z-List celebs! Take a click on the above and let me know if you know of any other celebs I can add to our list.

N.B This is all work in progress at time of pulbication.

I hope you all have fab weeks - let me know what you think about **STARS AND THEIR BARS***

Thanks

JIM

September 12th: Whittaker's White Chocolate

Kcal 559 Fat 33.7g Fat(sats) 20.9g Carbs 54.5g

Those kind folks at Shopenzed have been at it again and have sent me another package full of the latest goods to grace the Southern Hemisphere's confectionery market. Lesley my contact from Shopenzed, was pleased that I loved the last lot of Whittaker's bar she sent so being the kind person she is she happily sent me across another few offerings from their range. The first of which I tried today in the form of their White Chocolate offering. This bar was described on pack as a 'quality white chocolate crafted to a traditional recipe using creamy whole milk'.

Like all the other Whittaker's bars this came in a gigantic 250.0g bar (nope no sneaky Cadbury 230.0g here!) that I brought into my office to share around as I never would have finished it by myself. I have said it before and I will happily say it again - the presentation of this product was simply fantastic. The outer gold foil wrapper looked class and the clever integration of pictures and stylish font yet again gave this bar a very premium feel. Below the outer paper wrapper the chocolate was contained within a thick gold foil wrapper than maintained the chocolate in a really first class condition. The chocolate not only looked appetising but it also smelt utterly divine with a strong dairy sweet floral smell evident upon opening it up.

As aforementioned due to the size of the bar there was no way I was going to eat the whole bar to myself so I shared this amongst some people in my office and having tasted it there was only one word on everyones lips - 'Milkybar'. Yes indeed this chocolate tasted no different to the UK's own Milkybar but just with a touch less sweetness. That is not to say the taste wasn't sweet - it still was and it had a strong brown sugar type influence to the cream based flavours that were substantiated with the melt. In regards to the melt itself, it was well paced and softened at a reasonable rate in the mouth with a kind smoothness. Just like Milkybar the predominantly creamy, sugary taste had a nice vanilla hint to it which sort of softened the impact of the sugar hit to the tastebuds. On the whole I thought that the taste was well rounded and the creamy, milky flavours made for a moreish white chocolate. Although moreish, due to the sweetness this wasn't a chocolate that I wanted to consume in huge quantities so in that light I guess it wasn't the most fulfilling of snacks.

Overall this was yet another quality bar from Whittaker's and they have once again proved that their high standards are maintained across their range. This white chocolate was still on the sweet side in comparison to most other chocolates, though on the balance of things it avoided the pitfall of being overly sweet like so many white chocolates that have gone before on this site. The peak of the melt was really where this chocolate was at its best, when the double cream flavours developed a fantastic vanilla hint that left a longing set of flavours in the mouth as the chocolate liquor slipped down the throat. Would I recommend this bar then!? Yes ... but only to my readers who don't have Nestle Milkybar at hand as that bar delivers roughly the same experience only with a touch more sugar. If you like white chocolate this is one of the better options out there in what is really a rather poorly executed part of the chocolate market.

8.5 out of 10

Head to Shopenzed for all your Southern Hemisphere goods! Ships worldwide!!

September 11th Trumpf Schogetten Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts

Kcal 553 Fat 35.0g Carbs 53.0g (per 100.0g)

You must all be getting a little bored of these Schogetten review by now - I think this must be the seventh bar of theirs that I have reviewed in little under a month. So far I think their range has been a bit of a mixed bunch - the Tiramisu really stood out as a bar that I enjoyed, whilst the Cappuccino and Milk Cream Caramel were hardly chocolates that offended me in any manner. Unfortunately a few of their bars really have resonated with me - the White Chocolate and the 'For Kids' offerings stand out as prominent examples. Not to be deterred by any of this, Dean-German-Grocery gave me the opportunity to try yet another from their range, in the form of this Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts bar.

In true Schogetten style the chocolate came billed as a straight up no bends proposition - simply 'milk chocolate with hazelnuts (10%)' and came in 100.0g size that was split into 18 individual block pieces. I have commented before how Trumpf haven't exactly pulled out all the stops with the Schogetten packaging and this product did little to change my mind. Aside from the small on pack picture and branding their was little to communicate the flavour theme. Although I still think Trumpf have work to be done there, As I have repeatedly said I like the way the Schogetten bars are already broken into the separate blocks. Once again the surfaces had clean cut appearances though I was a little wary of the smallness of the hazelnut fragments when I split once of the pieces in half. In regards to aroma the bar didn't do much more for me than most of the other Schogetten bars - a strong sweet, chocolaty smell emanated from the foil packaging but didn't overly excite me in any manner.

I hate to make this review a little boring but there is very little I can do to glam up on the chocolate on show here - it was almost mediocre if every sense in terms of taste. One thing that Trumpf can be attributed with is consistency and their milk chocolate delivered exactly the same experience that it has done throughout the entire Schogetten range. In terms of flavours the chocolate had an underpinning milky taste that developed a strong sugary influence as the melt progressed. Again like most other Schogetten offerings the chocolate did have a small hint of hazelnut paste throughout the taste though surprisingly the small hazelnut particles did very little to enhance the flavour. In some pieces the woody, nut flavours were a little stronger, though on the balance of things I would say they had little influence whatsoever. One thing that the hazelnut pieces did add was a small roughness to the texture which wasn't particularly too my preference, especially when the melt is normally so soft. With a little help from some work colleagues the bar was finished within a few days in the office ... put in to context goods like Hotel Chocolat normally last a matter of minutes.

Overall I think I have already summed up this bar quite well when I said it was 'mediocre in every sense'. I would like to stress that like many of the Schogetten bars that have gone before it didn't offend me, taste awful or anything like that but at the same time it just paled into the background of the other hundreds of bars I have tried over the last few years. Personally I am often never a big fan of chocolate nut bars that implement the nuts in small pieces - I am really more of a wholenut man. Unfortunately the smallness of the pieces I think led to the lack of nut flavours and rough texture that I experienced with this bar which altogether made the experience less pleasant than I was hoping for. In a market that isn't exactly lacking in alternatives I would suggest you try a bar like the Ritter Sport Milk Whole Hazelnuts to get your fill.

6.9 out of 10


Head to Dean-German-Grocery for all your German Chocolate & Candy needs

September 10th: Twix Cappuccino

Kcal 125 Fat 6.2g Carbs 16.2g (per 22.5g finger)

I have no idea where he is getting these products from but ChocolateMission reader Alan has managed to pluck another bar seemingly out of nowhere and was kind enough to send along this limited edition Twix. Old skool (yes I am cool enough to spell that with a k!) may remember my review of the limited edition Twix Java that was released in America which I tried way back in the day when this very site was first being set up. The Twix Java incorporated the heavenly formula of coffee flavoured caramel and a cookie base, coated with milk chocolate - it was superb and I wish they would bring it back. Well today thanks to that kind chap Alan I got to try this bar produced by Mars Polska (Poland) - the Twix Cappuccino.

This bar came in a standard Twix size with two 22.5 finger pieces that I ate over the course of one sitting. Personally I thought the packaging looked superb, and was pleased to see that this limited edition used the same foil material that can be seen across the rest of the range. The mixture of gold and silver colours made a vibrant appearance, whilst the on pack design was well structured and clear. As you can see in the photo above the fingers looked very appetising with the caramel a darker orangey colour than normal - it looked both distinctive and enticing. As well as looking the part the foil wrapper also managed to maintain a great degree of freshness to the product - it not only looked unblemished looks wise, but it also had a pleasant chocolaty, coffee aroma that didn't fail to whet my appetite further.

Although I couldn't read the packaging (Polish!) I was expecting the biscuit section of this bar to be made up by a shortbread biscuit just like our standard UK Twix, but upon closer it looked slightly darker. When it came to the taste it was obvious this was the case because the biscuit had a slightly touch of cocoa which I think gave it a slightly more interesting flavour than it would have done had it just been the plain shortbread. In regards to the outer chocolate I didn't any differences whatsoever between the UK chocolate and the Polish stuff. Both I would describe as nicely paced in melt and with a smooth, milky taste that substantiates a fair tasting chocolaty context with each bite. As with all Twix bars the main focus of the taste obviously came through the caramel and once again it was well executed in this bar. In comparison to the Java this Cappuccino bar was a little more relaxed in its coffee flavours and had a creamier chocolaty taste. What made this bar so delicious was the way the sweet flavours of the chocolate combined with the richer, bolder influences of the coffee which all culminated in a subtle lick of salt from the caramel ... in a word 'Yum'! Both fingers provided a satisfying and fulfilling experience though I could easily have seen myself reaching for yet another finger if it were possible.

Overall I have to take my hat off to Mars here for producing yet another fine Limited Edition in the form of this Cappuccino bar. Personally given the choice I still think I would choose the Twix Java over this bar as I enjoyed the stronger coffee flavours of the Java. That is just my personal preference though and I can definitely see many people preferring this bar over the Java as I guess the majority of people like their coffee a little more subtle and creamier in taste. What I find so satisfying about bars like this and the Java is that they do exactly what they say on the wrapper i.e. this one actually does taste of Cappuccino! Although I have rated this bar slightly lower than the Java I would strongly suggest you give it a try if you like your standard Twix. This is one I would most certainly have again.

8.5 out of 10

September 9th: Hotel Chocolat The Sleekster Serious Dark Fix Selection - Part 2

If your a little confused as to what is going on today I suggest you quickly check out yesterdays post which was Part 1 of my review of Hotel Chocolat's Sleekster Serious Dark Fix Selection.

Today I conclude my review of this chocolate collection, so lets get right to the point and take a look at the last few remaining pieces in the box:

Espresso Ganache - I commented in Part 1 yesterday that Hotel Chocolat's coffee chocolates are generally not strong enough, though this one was a little more to my liking. I wouldn't quite describe it as espresso strength but it was stronger flavoured than the Coffee Caramel. Maybe I just like my coffee strong but I still feel that Hotel Chocolat could have upped the strength of the coffee element here. Regardless this was still a very nice tasting chocolate and I would definitely have another if offered. Very Good.

Macadamia Bite - This one was my personal favourite out of the entire lot and the rest of my family agreed. It wasn't quite as complex as some of the other chocolates though it was one of the most flavoursome and combined a delightful creamy macadamia ganache with a whole nut macadamia, covered in dark chocolate. It was simply a beautifully crafted chocolate and I loved the thick, rich dark chocolate melted away in the mouth to reveal the creamy nut paste and macadamia piece. The macadamia nut itself had a delightful freshness and yielded wonderfully when bitten into. The chocolate left a longing note of cocoa and buttery nuttiness in mouth, it was utterly divine. Superb.

Blackcurrant & Champagne - First off I must comment on the appearance of this piece. It certainly had a standout wow factor in the box and I was further impressed when I bit into the chocolate and saw the dual coloured filling. As good as it looked I wasn't all that taken in by the taste. I felt the addition of the tart blackcurrant to the already acidic champagne made for a sharp taste that I would have preferred to be a little gentler. My champagne loving family member loved them, but could see my point about the slightly vicious taste. Good.

Calvados Truffle - As good as the Champagne truffle looked above this one looked similarly good with its whipped like surface appearance and sublimely smooth inner creme. Just as with the rest of the chocolates the outer chocolate substantiated a rich set of cocoa flavours in the taste though these were quickly overpowered by quite a strong creamy, alcoholic taste. The rawness of the alcohol wasn't too much to my liking though the more mature taste buds of another family member thought it was exquisite. Good.

Gin Truffle - I can't stand gin so I left this one to the experts in my family :) On reflection this seems to have been a good decision and I was told that the gin came through very powerfully in the filling and brought a pleasant warming sensation to the mouth. As powerful as the gin was the chocolate still had a great say in the initial taste and substantiated a real richness to both pieces. If you like your liqueur chocolates then this is certainly a chocolate you will want to get acquainted with. Very Good.

Fruit & Nut - This piece came described as 'hazelnut praline with chunks of juicy raisins, topped with a whole hazelnut and covered in dark chocolate'. I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed with this one as I didn't get any raisins in the chocolate I had. Since the inner praline was hazelnut flavoured I think it probably would have been a better option to top the chocolate with a few raisins instead. Regardless one and allagreed that the dark chocolate was still delicious and the creamy inner hazelnut praline was nothing less than tremendous. Very Good.

Overall given such the high standard set by the White and Light Selection last week I thought Hotel Chocolat were going to have their work cut out delivering something equally as good but they not only managed to do that, but also surpass it. This dark chocolate selection was nothing short of sublime and I genuinely enjoyed every single piece. Both myself and the rest of my family agreed that the Hotel Chocolat dark chocolate was just slightly to our preference to the white chocolate, though the selection on offer with both collections was equally as outstanding. I think one thing to note here is the high amount of chocolates that contain either nuts or alcohol. If your not a fan of either of them you may be better off going for plainer alternative. If you like your chocolate selections varied though this is one you should seriously consider - there is no better way to say it than 'Superb'.

9.3 out 0f 10

September 8th: Hotel Chocolat The Sleekster Serious Dark Fix Selection - Part 1

If you took a look at the site last week you would have seen my two part review of Hotel Chocolat's The Sleekster White and Light Selection, which managed to get a score of over 9.0 on the prestigious ChocolateMission rating system. Well as you may have been able to ascertain by now this week I have been casting my eye over this 'Serious Dark Fix Selection', which I will be reviewing in the same way I did the white selection, split over two days. Hotel Chocolat described this as 'a collection full of dark chocolate adventure and exciting flavours' and it sounded right up might street.

Just like last weeks review this collection was formed of 16 different chocolate pieces which were all doubled up. Like last time being the kind guy I am I decided to give half to the rest of my family so they could also provide their input with some welcome second opinions. Straight from the off we all concluded that the presentation of the product was every bit as good as the White Chocolate selection and everything from the outer packaging to the chocolates themselves were equally as glorious in appearance.

What with their being so many different types of chocolates in the box I understand these posts can get rather long ... so lets get on with it. As usual I will be using the rating system ranging from 'Terrible, Very Poor, Poor, Standard, Good, Very Good to Superb'.

Mini Slabs selection - 85% Ghanaian, 75 % Tanzanian, 72% St Lucian, 72% with Ginger - I thought I would have a little fun with these and mix them up to try tell them apart. Obviously the ginger one was very easy to pick out and it was certainly one that went down well with my ginger loving father. Personally I couldn't detect to many differences between the 75% and the 72%. One was a little more acidic and crisper tasting, whilst the other had a slightly smokier, aged taste ... both were exceptional. The one that I could pull out from the rest was of course my all time favourite chocolate - the 85% Ghanaian. I still think it is the tastiest chocolate I have ever had with its full on, yet non-bitter cocoa flavours and thick, smooth melting. Superb. Dark Gianduja - Having tasted this it I think it only further added weight to the arguement that Hotel Chocolat need to bring back their Gianduja Squares product. This was one of the more milder choclates from the selection though the addition of the hazelnuts to the creamy cocoa flavours made for an interesting and variable taste. Due to the silky smoothness of the melt this chocolate didn't last all that long in the mouth, though it didn't manage to leave a lasting impression with a strong hazelnut aftertaste. Very Good.

Orange & Lemon Sandwich - This wasn't one of my favourites from the White and Light Selection and this was again the case here. I thought the acidic fruit flavours worked a little better with the dark chocolate, though I again just didn't fully get on with the cirtus influence in the praline. The rest of my family thought a little more of this one than myself but we were in agreement it was one of the weaker ones from the lot. Standard.

Caramel & Rum Truffle - This truffle was described as a 'smooth chocolate with a generous splash of rum' and it was very good indeed. The outer chocolate substantiated a fine set of cocoa flavours from the outset and once melted revealed a centre that was very finely balanced in terms of taste. The centre was milky with a nice alcoholic edge that was finished nicely with a sweet note of caramel. We were all in agreement that this was an exceptional chocolate. Superb.

Plum Pannacotta - I thought this one was one of the more adventurous chocolates from the selection and I thought it was reasonably well executed. The inner filling was described as a 'ganache contrasted with a light and fruity panacotta' and it managed to substantiate both a creamy and fruity tasting centre with combined well with its outer dark chocolate shell. The older generation member of family who tried this one thought it was outstanding and was suprised at how strong the plum can through in the taste. Very Good.

Chunky Nut - Yum Yum Yum ... brielfy sums up what I have to say about this one. If your nuts about nuts then this is a chocolate to die for. This small chocolate managed to cram in pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds all into this one small chocolate. What was so utterly fantastic about his piece was that each of these different nuts were detectable at one point in the taste experience and it made for chocolate that was not only variable in terms of flavours but with some wonderfully fresh, crunchy elements to the texture. The hazelnut piece on top was a nice touch and it really capped off what was a delicious chocolate. If you like your nut based chocolates you will love this one. Superb.

Coffee Caramel - I hate to finish off on a slightly disappointing one but this one really didn't deliver the strength of coffee that I wanted it to. Don't get me wrong the outer dark chocolate and creamy inner, caramel and hazelnut noted centre was tasty but the coffee element just wasn't executed with the impetous I wanted it to be. Hotel Chocolat should take note here ... make your coffee chocolates a bit stronger. Oh and whilst your at it - a coffee flavoured slab wouldn't go amiss ;) Standard.

Remember to check out the site tomorrow for Part 2 of The Sleekster Seriosuly Dark Fix Selection review which will of course contain the all important ChocolateMission rating.

September 6th: 7Days of Chocolate Reviews - Edition 13

### Jim's Corner & QOTW ###

Howdy Partners,

I don't have much to say this week apart from give you all a few updates on the latest news my side and some 'up and coming' ChocolateMission features.

Earlier this week a Cadbury Wispa found its way into my possession! Be sure to check out the site on Monday for the review and of course the all important ChocolateMission score.

I also received another box full of treats from those lovely folk at Hotel Chocolat who included some samples of their upcoming Halloween range. I probably won't be sharing my review of them for a few weeks but if you stumble across any Halloween themed goodies you want to see reviewed then please be sure to drop me a line.

Lastly this week I want to brief you on an up and coming feature that will be appearing very soon - 'The ChocolateMission Hall of Fame'. Indeed I have finally found a use of the ChocolateMission Twitter feed apart from pimping my reviews! I am now going to be using Twitter to try and ask our favourite celebs the all important question 'What is your favourite chocolate bar' ... :D So far despite several @Tweets being sent the way of a number of Z-List celebs we have only had one response!! I will be creating a page soon to track all the responses. Lets just pray I don't get thrown in prison for celeb stalking eh!? This should be a really fun ongoing feature. If you know of anyone you want me to try get hold of on Twitter leave me a comment with their Twitter name! Oh and of course join my Twitter feed yourself by clicking HERE!

Have a great week everyone

JIM

The ChocolateMission Omnibus:

In terms of scores it has been another topsy-turvy week which started off with a pretty wrank offering served up by the ever inconsistent Thorntons. On Monday I tired their Dark Chocolate with Mint bar which I found disappointing on a number of levels. I have to admit I am losing faith in Thorntons' a bit as I don't like the fact that their products are generally a premium price but don't always deliver the goods. Seemingly I am not alone in this view with Maggs and Phil both expressing similar opinions HERE.

Tuesday and Wednesday saw me split my review of the massive Hotel Chocolat White & Light Selection across these two days with me ultimately revealing the product had scored a superb 9.1. Many readers such as Lottie, David and Steven expressed their love for the praline chocolates, though the Eton Mess also came in for a lot of attention from the likes of Susanne and Daisy HERE. I hope you all enjoyed the format of the review as I will be following up that one with my review of Hotel Chocolat's Seriously Dark Fix selection this week.

Schogetten featured twice this week in the form of their Praline bar and then their 'For Kids' offering HERE. Although the likes of George and myself couldn't see the point of their 'For Kids' bar we all had alot more positive things to say about the Praline bar with the general consensus being that it was a phenomenal chocolate for the price HERE.

News from the Chocolate Market:

* McVities are launching a new limited edition of variant of Jaffa Cakes for Halloween. See HERE

* Uh Oh stock up on your favourite Cadbury bars folks! There could soon be strike action coming soon which could hit their supply chain. See HERE

* Cadbury will be releasing a new line of flapjacks and mini bakes. See Here

* Here is a nice article on how Nestle are weathering the economic downturn with their chocolate business. See HERE

* Old article but one for my American readers - Hotel Chocolat is opening its first store stateside! See HERE

Posts from other Blogs I enjoyed this week:

* Chocablog - Resident Chocablog chef Ben posted his latest recipe this week. This Rocky Road Ice Cream Tart looks absolutely fantastic. See HERE

* GiGiReviews - Managed to turn me lime green with envy when I saw her review of this new Ben & Jerry's ice cream. See HERE

* Japanese Snack Reviews - posted one of the most unusual reviews ever ... even for a Japanese site!! Mammoth meat crackers anyone? See HERE

* Impulsive Buy - Marvo has been trying some awesome cookies this week. His look at the latest Oreo and Chips A'hoy offerings are well worth a gander at. See HERE

* FoodetteReviews - Jess wrote a nice review of the Reese's Big Peanut Butter Cup. See HERE

September 5th: Trumpf Schogetten For Kids

Kcal 556 Fat 35.0g Carbs 55.0g (per 100.0g)

My pursuit of finding the best Trumpf Schogetten bar took another step forward today as thanks to Dean-German-Grocery I got to try yet another from their range. I must say that their range has proven to be a little more expansive than I first thought and Dean-German-Grocery sent another two variants along with this one that I will be reviewing soon. At the ripe old age of 22 years old I guess I wasn't exactly the target market that Trumpf had in mind for this 'For Kids' offering, though this wasn't going to deter me from giving it a go anyway. Described as 'milk chocolate with a milky centre' it didn't actually sound all that different from a few Milka bars I have tried in the past and I was struggling to come to terms with what actually made this a more 'For Kids' product.

In regards to the actual product presentation there was nothing there either that really helped me determine how this had been positioned at kids. The size of the product was the same - 100.0g split into 18 individual pieces and the packaging merely communicated the 'For Kids' theme with just a simple piece of branding and smiley face. Personally I think it would have made far greater sense for the actual bar to have been smaller, as well as the size of the blocks themseleves ... what parent wants their child eating 100.0g of chocolater afterall!? Moaning aside I thought the cross-section of the chocolate looked pretty appealing with a plentiful yellow tinted creme centre nicely sitting below a dense outer chocolate layer. In regards to aroma the smell of the chocolate was quite subtle with just a mild dairy bases smell evident upon opening.

Whereas I struggled to see how the packaging and proposition was positioned at kids when it came to the taste things were a little more transparent. If I was to describe the taste in basic terms I would label it a cheap tasting Kinder chocolate. Like I have said previously with Schogetten milk chocolate the taste was really very sweet and this was only further compounded by the inner milk filling that lacked the desired cream based flavours and more tasted like the dried milk powder I used to have as a nipper. The flavours I got from the filling were slightly milky, though had a quite imposing sweet tasting edge that just meant the overriding influence was unaminiously sugar based. In a way I guess I can see how this could appeal to kids as obviosuly when we are younger our tastebuds can feal with sweeter tasting foods. Personally for me though this chocolate just didn't play the right notes and I found myself not wanting more after just a few blocks.

Overall I am finding it hard to criticise this bar as at the end of the day it was never meant for my consumption. A lot of kids products nowadays are literally just packed to the brim full of sugar as it is obviously a far cheaper ingridient than the finer products we have on the market right now. Although not targeted at me, what I can do is make a judegement agaisnt other similar positioned products like Kinder chocolate and I can conclude that this one certainly pales in comparison. As a marketer what I can also pass comment on is the poorness of the execution of this product - its meant to be for kids but aside from the very basic branding nothing about the packaging or design work communicates this. This was certainly not the best offering from the Schogetten rang and will not be one I will have again.

5.6 out of 10

Head to Dean-German-Grocery for all your German Chocolate and candy needs!

September 4th: Hachez Cocoa D'Arriba

Kcal 550 Fat 46.0g Fat(sats) 29.0g Carbs 25.0g (per 100.0g)

When Dean-German-Grocery send across a box full of samples they generally ask what products I am interested in and send them along. From time to time though they like to mix things up and they often include some products that I have never even heard of before. Take todays bar for instance - Hachez Cocoa D'Arriba - this was a 77% cocoa dark chocolate bar. Supposedly the Hachez brand has been around since 1890 ... I had never come across it before!

The bar came in a standard 100.0g size that I consumed over a number of different sittings. The outer packaging gave the bar a very classy look and I was very impressed with the sleekness of its aesthetic features. As well as the packaging looking classy the chocolate didn't disappoint either. Each block was branded with the Hachez logo and had a very clean cut looking surface with little signs of wear and tear. With the bar being contained in a foil wrapper the fresh smell of the chocolate didn't go unnoticed - it had scent rich with cocoa and hints of coffee beans.

Up until this point I was impressed with the product and my mind changed little having tasted. The taste was relatively mild to begin with though as the chocolate warmed and started to melt a nice surge of flavours were released. To begin with the taste had very mild milk based flavours though the cocoa flavours soon came to the party flexing the strength of the 77% recipe. The cocoa flavours were strong but never bitter and were nicely rounded by the vanilla note in the aftertaste. In relation to bars like the almighty Hotel Chocolat 85% this chocolate had neither the depth of variety in its flavours or the same thick yet smooth melt. That is of course a rather harsh comparison considering it is my favourite chocolate ever. All in all the bar still provided a rich tasting experience and one that certainly delivered in terms of that all important 'chocolate hit'.

Overall this was a good yet perhaps an unspectacular first look at the Hachez range. Solus dark chocolate bars are always going to have a hard time considering the high standards that previous bars from Lindt and Hotel Chocolat have already set. Although I wouldn't rate this bar in the same league as the previously mentioned manufactures this is hardly a product that you could do wrong buying. This was by no means my favourite dark chocolate bar ever but it gave me a reasonable amount of enjoyment and I would possibly consider having it again.

8.1 out of 10

September 3rd: Trumpf Schogetten Praline

Kcal 539 Fat 32.0g Carbs 56.0g (per 100.0g)

I think Dean-German-Grocery were probably a little surprised when I reviewed a few German bars that were not supplied to me by themselves, but by ChocolateMission reader Lottie. Indeed, in the past few weeks I have reviewed three Trumpf Schogetten offerings - starting with the Cappuccino, then the Milk Cream Caramel and finally the Tiramisu flavoured bar. Just in order to prove they stock absolutely every German brand ever created, Dean-German-Grocery kindly sent me this 'Praline Noisettes' flavour, which came billed as 'milk chocolate with a praline nougat filling'.

This bar came in the standard Schogetten size in a 100.0g bar that was split into 18 nicely sized pieces. I must say I am really coming to like the style of the blocks already split into individual pieces - it is not only hassle free but it saves the messy business of splitting the bar up which I am coming to believe is rather handy. In my opinion the packaging could still do with a little work, I personally think it looks just a little retro with the photo dominating the front. I think that Trumpf should keep the use of colour to split out the flavours (duh!), but should make the rest a little more subtle - it is a little garish at the moment. One thing I won't complain about was the smell; as just I hoped for a strong whiff of nut was released from the foil wrapping when I split it.

The smell suggested that this was a chocolate that heavily influenced by nuts and the taste confirmed this. Now I have been a little critical of Schogetten milk chocolate in my previous reviews though I thought it suited the filling of this bar more. The milk chocolate provided its usual base flavours that I have now come to realise taste a lot like chocolate milk ... sweet, very milky but don't fail in delivering a firm chocolaty context to the taste. The praline nougat filling was a little drier in texture which differentiated it nicely from the smoother outer chocolate and although it was also pretty sugar based it was thankfully the hazelnuts that dominated in terms of flavour. As soon as the praline was encountered I detected a strong wave of roasted, woody hazelnuts that really hit the mark in delivering a wonderfully rich taste. If I was to say it was a like anything I have tried before I would compare it to Guylian Seashell Truffles which goes some way to telling you the sort of quality that was on offer here. The strength of the nut flavours meant that six blocks of this bar at a time were a more than satisfying snack.

Overall this was my favourite Schogetten milk chocolate bar yet and I have to admit to being surprised at the level of quality that this bar produced. I believe this was the case due to the filling being a lot stronger than the previously reviewed Milk Cream Caramel and Cappucino bars which meant that the milk chocolate was less of a focus itself and more just a vehicle for the inner praline. The praline itself was very enjoyable - it brought a full on, fresh tasting hazelnut element to the party and didn't hold back in terms of the strength of its nut flavours. I have come to realise that Schogetten is really quite a cheap chocolate and one thing I can't deny that it is good value for money. If your a fan of praline chocolates and don't wish to pay through the nose to get your fill this is a good option.

8.4 out of 10

Head to Dean-German-Grocery for all your German chocolate & candy needs

September 2nd: Hotel Chocolat The Sleekster White and Light Selection - Part 2

If you didn't check out the site yesterday you may be wondering what the hell is going on. If you haven't read yesterdays post I suggest you take a quick glance as today I am bringing you Part 2 of my review of Hotel Chocolat's The Sleekster White and Light Selection. Right lets get cracking ...

Lemon Cheesecake - This one was formed of a lemon ganache and whipped mascarpone buttercream with an outer coating of white chocolate. This wasn't one of my favourite pieces but the rest of my family loved the slightly tart, citrus cream flavoured centre for its delicate taste and smooth, soft feel in the mouth. Although not one of my personal favourites it was a nice change up from a nut biased selection. Good.

Apricot Praline - This piece came billed as a white chocolate truffle with an apricot praline filling topped with pine nuts. This was a bit of a disappointment for both myself and another family member as we felt it lacked a real apricot influence. The combination of the chocolate and filling made for a delicious creamy taste and the pine nuts were a nice unique touch. At the end of the day though the chocolate didn't quite deliver on its proposition. Standard.

Coconut Cube - This one sounded a little busy in terms of its ingredients but it certainly didn't disappoint. This white chocolate piece included a macadamia praline with pieces of toasted coconut and layer of white chocolate with essential coconut oil and yes ... it was delicious as it sounds. The wonderful base white chocolate cream flavours were nicely complimented by some fine nuts flavours with both the coconut and macadamia elements ever present adding further to the milky taste. Another standout element about this chocolate were the variable textures from the smooth melting chocolate to the slightly gritty praline and toasted hazelnut. Superb.

Mocha Buttercream - Oh what could have been! I was expecting quite a bit from this piece as the description of 'airy light buttercream with a dash of chocolate and coffee' really had me salivating. Unfortunately despite the wonderfully cream based flavours from the outer white chocolate the centre was more hot chocolate than it was coffee routed ... the coffee was very milk indeed. Still a fine tasting chocolate but a little bit disappointing given the promise of the description. Standard.

Fudged Praline - 'Almond praline studded with pieces of fudge topped with a milk caramel chocolate button' .. surely a match made in heaven? In my opinion is wasn't quite as good as I hoped but conversely the rest of my family thought it was wonderful. Myself I thought that the almond praline was again lacking in flavour and didn't quite think the sugary fudge pieces worked with the already quite sweet white chocolate. My family thought otherwise and commented that the more subtle flavoured filling allowed the toffee flavours of the fudge to come through in the taste more. Good.

Pure Nut Crest - I liked this one so much I nabbed both for myself, it was utterly fantastic. Hotel Chocolat billed this piece as an 'extremely nutty experience with finely ground hazelnuts and cocoa butter' and in my opinion it was one of the best in the box. The textures this chocolate produced were wonderful - the transition from the outer chocolate to the inner praline was seamless with both melting like butter in the mouth with the greatest of softness. The initial cream based, vanilla hinted flavours of the chocolate were fantastic and the inner praline left a longing woody, hazelnut note in the mouth. Superb.

Gianduja Square - There have been a few grumblings from readers that Hotel Chocolat should bring back their Gianduja Square products and having tasted these I have to say I totally back this campaign. The piece was rather large to consume in one mouthful though the milk and white chocolate fusion melted with the softest grace. The taste was noted with just a touch of hazelnut which altogether made for an interesting and variable overall taste. Hotel Chocolat please bring these back! Superb.

Overall there are no two ways of putting this - The Sleekster White and Light Selection is a simply fantastic white chocolate selection that I would 100% recommend for white chocolate lovers. This box of chocolates was beautifully presented and variable in terms of options - I think it is fair to say that there is something to satisfy most tastes. With all selection boxes you expect their to be a few duds but I personally didn't dislike any of the ones in this selection. Indeed I thought some of the chocolates were superior to others, but there weren't any that I probably wouldn't try again given the chance. I am going to be writing a feature post about the best chocolates to gift as presents soon and I think it is a very strong likelyhood that these will be featuring. If your a white chocolate lover this is pretty close to white chocolate heaven.

9.1 out of 10