Kcal 538 Fat 32.6g Fat(sats) 19.7g Carbs 53.6g (per 100.0g)First off I would like to apologise to all the readers who logged on to the site today expecting to read yet another light hearted and informative chocolate review ... I am afraid today you get more of half review, half rant! At heart of matters today this Thorntons Lovebirdsxx offering takes centre stage and it can billed as a product constituting of 'two milk chocolate lovebirds decorated with dark and white chocolate with a smooth chocolate heart truffle'.
Together the birds and single truffle piece weighed in at 170.0g and would set you back £5.99 if bought in your local Thorntons shop. Speaking about the presentation ... boy where do I start!? As if the transparent plastic box wasn't cheap looking enough Thorntons sure did a job of making the inner bird shapes look ridiculously tacky which is something I think completely out of kilter with their premium brand positioning. Upon unsealing the plastic case of pure tackiness I was met with some standard chocolaty smells which did little to detract my attention from the perfectly formed yet gaudy looking birds.
Sigh - now where do I begin with the chocolate!? Frankly the 30% milk chocolate delivered nothing more than your run-of-the-mill sugary milky taste and just had nothing about it that made it stand out as good quality milk chocolate. The white and dark chocolate that 'decorated' the birds did little more than just that ...'decorate'. The dark chocolate in particular had no cut through in regards to the taste whatsoever, whilst the white chocolate did nothing apart from bring a cheap sugar rush to already sweet milk chocolate base taste. In fact the only redeeming thing in regards to chocolate for this Lovebirdsxx package was the single chocolate truffle which actually brought some additional notes of butter and caramel to the party in and amongst it's soft truffle centre. It wasn't the highest quality truffle I have had recently but it was a damn sight better than the birds.
Overall I don't think I need summarise my thoughts on this product as think they are laid bare in the above paragraphs. What with current affairs with Britain losing one of it's most renowned chocolate brands it is with great regret that I have to keep banging on about how I think Thorntons are in continuous decline. This product summed up everything that I think is wrong with Thorntons at the moment - they are producing way too many substandard chocolate products and are trying to play in parts of the market that don't fit their brand. Personally I used to to think that Thorntons held very prestigious brand equity - they were a brand that commanded a price premium because they produced high quality, sophisticated chocolates. These Thorntons Lovebirdsxx were neither high quality chocolate or sophisticated and it is products like this that I think are destroying what is left of Thorntons premium brand position in the eyes of consumers. For the love of god Thorntons we don't have many British chocolate producers left ... get your house in order!!!
6.2 out of 10
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26 comments:
I can't understand why Throntons would put their name next to a product like this? What have they come to?
At first I thought they looked pretty cute but then I sorta realised that they are kinda cheap looking like you say Jim. I really hope my b/f doesnt get me them lol
Rxxx
These made me go Awwwww Lol. I think they are adorable but I can see why a boy might think they are little sicko. The chocolate does sound bad though.
Dx
£5.99? Looks like there's hardly anything in there!
Jim to make things worse these are actually £6.99 on their site + postage and packing to go on top of that.
At least they are better looking than those awful I love you truffles you posted about the other day. Although if you look at the scores neither of them did that well did they.
Yet another epic failure by Thorntons. Like you say Jim I want to see them get back to producing the quality they did before they sold out to product cheaper crap.
Totally agree WHAT are Thorntons doing? Its like the Christmas shapes - for goodness sake Thorntons use your proper chocolate not this 'cake chocolate' rubbish. It's totally not what you expect from Thorntons. Stick to the premium strands. The new fusions are delicious and the Revelations are fab. Stop making rubbish stuff and do what you do best!
I just dont get it with Thorntons,I love their bar range which proves they can make good chocolate but stuff like this is just awfull.
I don't think my review was quite as harsh as this, but I have to agree. The trouble is, this is the same kind of thing Thorntons have been making for 30 years.
30 years ago, it was acceptable, but times have changed and the world has moved on. I don't think they've sold out or have become any worse because they are capable of great things (their solid blocks are mostly amazing) - and yet they've always produced stuff like this.
It just seems like their "seasonal gift" department is stuck in 1979.
I don't think all hope is lost for Thorntons yet, they still make some very good stuff like the tonka chocolate that won in your awards last year.
I do agree with you though that they should rethink making cheap stuff like these bloody bird things. I cant understand who they are going after with these.
Lol like a few above I first thought these were quite nice, but I know what you mean, esp for the high price it is rather alot for such a product. And I do agree that Thorntons really should go back to producing premuium lines - if ever a mistake was made it was branching out from their shops into other outlets!
It's abit like their easter egss, they are exactly the same as when i was little, when you had your name written on one in white icing - they still do that lol
They are such blatant sneaks. They use their 'good name'to justify putting stupid high prices on junk because they have yet to realise the average consumer these days is far more informed than they credit for.
The birds look quite cool though, in a gaudy way. KInd of what you hallucinate whilst on substances.I don't think that's what the aim was though, the 'ironic retro' thing is not thorntons forte. They seem to truly believe all their old-fashioned stuff still looks good.
Also, why is there only one truffle? I mean really. How in holy h are you to share that?
I saw these on sale in my local Thorntons the other day and thought they were quite humourous.
I am not sure what I would like of them if I was given them by my partner mind you. It might be one of those moments when I have to flash a fake smile and give a 'aww darling they are so cute'. It is a pity the chocolate isn't all that good from what you say.
Jim you have been pretty critical of all of the Thorntons valentines day stuff. Can you suggest somethign that is actually any good? That would be more useful to us all.
I too thought these looked sort of 'cute' at first, but seeing them from the second photo they do look quite tacky. That's a crazy price to pay for them! A much more delicious and cheaper option for valentines would be some of their caramel shortcakes.
I have to say, I probably would have liked to receive these when I was a teenager, given the look maybe that's who these chocolates are aimed at? If my husband produced these on Valentine's Day now though, I would think it was a jokey pressie before giving me the real one (Hotel Chocolat choccies of course!).
Well, I still think the birds are rather cute.
The thing that confuses me most about Thorntons is that I can never work out who their target market is. They have such a mish-mash of products and the quality is always hit and miss.
Just another greedy chocolate company, it seems.
This review is way to negative I think they look fine.
I wouldn't say they look like the usual Thorntons chocolate but it is nice to see them try something a little different.
I can't believe the people that are saying these appeal in any way shape or form. They look like cheap rubbish and the chocolate doesn't sound clever either.
Price-wise, yuck yuck yuck, but I have to say, like the little hearts, I guess I'm just a sucker for the cutsey-wootsey shapes! I'm not a cheap date, but I think they're a little funky and awfully sweet looking. Again, more of a present topper or a prelude to an actual gift, but still...pricey! And, dare I say, like the birds, "Cheap cheap cheap?"
This looks like something dreamed up by a comittee of marketing bods.Pile it high and sell it cheap.
It is like they have made a cheap chocolate present for kids... shame really.
I do hope Jim that if there is someone going to be buying you Valentines chocolate this year, they read your blog first!!!
I'll say it straight: I think they're ugly. I don't makes them ugly to me. Maybe it's the eyes, so exaggerated, maybe it's the fact they have no neck, their overly simplistic shapes, maybe all of these combined... I'm not sure.
David
They still do some good stuff but I would rather they didn't product garbage like this.
Rachel
I am sure if you drop him a few lines he will avoid this. Best being open about what you want really.
Daisy
The chocolate and presentation were equally inept in my opinion.
Claudia
Size isn't actually an issue here. Together they are actually pretty big.
Nick
Oh dear! I was quoting the instore price.
Lauren
I wouldn't recommend either these or those truffles to be honest. You are far better off choosing something from their normal range.
Golden
They still do produce some good stuff ... just they waste their time with these crap seasonal lines.
Lily
Funny you should mention the Fusions! That review should be up in a matter of weeks! Without spoiling the review I would say they are well back on track.
Dom
As I said to rest of the guys whilst I appreciate that they want to expand their portfolio I think they should do it in a cleverer way rather than produce crappy seasonal offerings like they are at the moment! They are really harming their brand equity.
Baron
I also have no idea who the target market is here?? I have seriously thought about it and can't imagine a bloke ever buying these .... and I can't imagine a woman ever buying them for herself ...confusing :S
Alan
I also think it was mistake branching out into as many outlets as they have. You can literally buy their chocolates ANYWHERE ... which makes them less special in a way.
Lottie
The truffle was also the best bit about the whole package which made it pretty disappointing there was only one. I think if they were going for iconic retro they really missed the mark here :D
Katie
I think we all know that fake smile and response to a crap present well. I hope you don't have to do it.
Paul
I would check out some of the Hotel Chocolat stuff - more coming this week.
Phil
100% with you there chap. The caramel shortbreads perhaps wouldn't be the nicest looking present ever but they are so damn tasty.
Anon
I think most people are with you there.
Rachel
Targetting everyone isn't really a strategy for a premium chocolate brand. Even Cadbury are more targeted than Thorntons
Alex
I don't mind them trying something different as long as it doesn't negate their usual high quality.
Emma
I can't understand why they would either.
Jess
For your money you can get such better gifts! Economic times like these are great for present toppers :D
Anon
Indeed.
Cinabar
Haha so do I! I might have to do one of those fake smile and nods if not! Don't worry I am well practised!
Ana
You're not a fan then :D You are right they do look a bit odd don't they.
Thanks everyone - the last Valentines Day choc reviews are upcoming this week.
JIM
these aren't for everyone but I think my daughter would get a kick out of them
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