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Kcal 235 Fat 10.5g Fat(sats) 6.4g Carbs 32.7g (per 1/3 bag)Just last week Cadbury sent out a press release which announced the launch of three new products for the UK market (See HERE). The first two were inevitable new pack sizes for existing products which we have been expecting for some time - the Cadbury Wispa Duo and the smaller 39.0g sized pouches of Cadbury Nibbles. The third product talked about in the announcement however, was an entirely new one called Cadbury Crunchie Rocks, which were described as 'Crunchie honeycomb pieces, with golden cornflakes, tumbled in Cadbury milk chocolate'. Only a few days after reading that article, I found them on sale in my local Co-operative store for the pricey sum of £2.00 - I guess that is what you have to expect buying things from a convenience store in central London.
Just as they did with previous products like the Nibbles and the Clusters, Cadbury have launched these Crunchie Rocks in a 145.0g pouch, so this gave me opportunity to get some second opinions from some of my work colleagues. Packaging and presentation wise I thought these were a mixed bag - apologies for the awful pun! In terms of the pouch, the presentation is first class. The Golden Crunchie colours and branding are captured superbly and I think the matted pouch material gives the pack great stand out like it does with both the Clusters and the Nibbles. Whilst the packaging gets a thumbs up, I can't say the same about the aesthetics of the product. Just like I observed in my Clusters review, the inner pieces had dirty looking scuffed surfaces that didn't strike as looking all that fresh.
My disappointment at the poor looking chocolates didn't last all that long, as my mind was soon distracted by the gorgeous Cadbury chocolate scents that filled the air as soon as I ripped open the pouch. I have said it many a time before, but I just love the smell of Cadbury chocolate - I just get a comforting familiarity from the sweet dairy chocolate smells. Speaking of familiarity, it was also very much the name of the game when it came to taste, as the Cadbury milk chocolate took the lion share of the focus. The chocolate on offer here was Cadbury's 14% cocoa recipe, and it certainly did the job delivering the milky cocoa flavour hit for each mouthful. As I have previously reported, I think this secondary recipe isn't a million miles off the quality of their Dairy Milk chocolate, however there is a definite difference in the taste with the sugar and cream balance tilting more towards the sweeter side of things. At the heart of each cluster piece the cornflakes and honeycomb bits did a sterling job delivering the promised crisp, crunchy textures. At the point of the pieces being chewed, the Crunchie rocks released short, sharp bursts of sweet honey flavours, though the cornflake cereal created little impact on the taste in comparison. Shared across three of us the 145.0g bag only lasted a matter of minutes, but I felt a decent amount of satisfaction having consumed my fair share.
Overall I don't think Cadbury Crunchie Rocks are going to be shaking up the confectionery landscape anytime soon, but I think they are a relatively nice addition to the Cadbury range. In comparison to the now departed Cadbury Crunchie Nuggets (See HERE), I found them a more satisfying and fulfilling product, which was definitely a result of the cluster like format they came in. The Cadbury Crunchie bar itself is a product I enjoy on a very sporadic basis, but I like the idea of the Crunchie brand being extended in to sharing occasions. I think this new format is a sensible addition for the brand given that the normal bar isn't suitable for anything other than single person consumption - just think about how messy breaking apart a Crunchie is! For that reason, and more importantly because they taste pretty damn good, I give these a ChocolateMission thumbs up. They aren't the most exciting or innovative product we will ever see, but like the Cadbury Nibbles I think they have a purpose - its good to share after all :D
7.8 out of 10
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28 comments:
I'm surprised they haven't done a Crunchie Duo lol have you noticed they seem to be making the Duo spinoffs in place of the previous attemps at placing lots of bars under the Dairy Milk format?
I had a mixed feeling about the Rocks - I love the packaging, but wasn't sure about the product. My mum and sister both said 'they don't taste like Crunchies' and while I initially disagreed after a while I began to feel the same. I got the odd luttle burst of crunchie but most of time all I tasted was cornflakes lol. They were, believe it or not priced at 2.05, in Sainsburys,and I'm in the north! Fortunately they were on offer along with the other pouches at 2 for 2.50 so we bought the Giant Buttons which lasted about 2 minutes lol
Great review Jim. I haven't yet managed to find a bag of my own to try but I will let you know once I do.
I'm not a big fan of crunchies but these appeal to me a lot more than the usual bars. I think it is because I like the clusters so much. I can eat a big pack of those on my own lol.
Dx
I bought a pouch last week and really liked them. I agree that it is good to see them make more of a fuss of the crunchie brand.
It was one of theirs that always used to be on TV but you never see that anymore. It is just Dairy Milk all the way.
Share them? Why would you want to do a crazy thing like that now lol. I bet you I could eat a whole pack of these to myself :D
I don't want to be a moaning old biddy but why on earth do they insist on making these duo bars?
Surely we are all clever enough just to buy two if we want double the amount? It is such a waste of shelf space. Just think they could have a wispa mint in place of the wispa duo. Grrr its so annoying.
PS. Lol sorry after my rant I forgot to say that I hadn't tried these yet. I am still in Spain so I will try get some when I get back.
I agree with you there Lauren! I'd much rather a Wispa Mint than Duo.
I'll have to look out for these Crunchie Rocks, but am not sure I'll like them. As I said yesterday I'm not happy with Cadbury using their cheaper recipe in so many products, it spoils the experience for me. Although I do understand that cocoa prices are high and whatnot - can't have everything I suppose.
Wait a second Cadbury don't use dairy milk in some of their products? Since when?
They seem pretty decent if you ask me. A little like the cluster yet without the annoying raisin bits. I will likely give them a try at some point but I don't think I will be rushing out to buy them.
Agree with previous comments - not enough crunchie pieces imho. And for chocolate with cornflakes I'd choose the Ritter Sport Knusperflakes any day. These are an ok product, but nothing special I think. And too pricey for what you get!
They are doing loads of stuff with the Crunchie at the moment if you count the biscuits and cakes as well. It is good to see it getting more love.
Jim you can now buy these in all the supermarkets (well you can get them in Tesco). I had some last night and thought they were great. I know what you mean about the cornflakes not tasting of much but at least the crunchie bits are quite generously portioned for each bite. Well done cadburys.
Sorry but I just find it so annoying that they make these new products in such ridiculously large bags. No wonder we are turning in to a country of bloaters if companies keep being irresponsible and making thing so big.
I loved these. I would buy them over a normal Crunchie every day of the week if the portion size was smaller. I agree with Mark that it is annoying that you have to buy a huge bag of them before you even know if you like them or not.
@Lauren - the Duo bars aren't really double the amount, each piece is a bit smaller, and it's also cheaper buying a Duo bar than two single bars. I think theyre aimed at being more convenient to eat i.e if you want to give one to someone else or keep one piece til later. I actually quite like the Duo idea, far more than them trying to fit everything under the DM brand.
I don't agree with the people moaning about the big pack size. When you taste them you will realise how moreish they are lol You will be thankful then that you have a big pack.
Got to get me some of these soon. Great review thank you. I love all these new products this year.
Nice review. I think they are really good to and will be buying them again. They are on a 2 for 2.50 deal in Tescos BTW.
Cadburys go from villains to heroes in 24 hours lol.
Well done jim another great review. Do you have spies monitoring the shelves of supermarkets? You manage to get reviews up on you site before I have even heard of these things most of the time. I will have to hunt some of these down.
These look rather cool! I can just imagine the Cadbury peeps going 'hmm, we've whored out caramel to the extreme, what other popular bar can we whore out next?'Hence crunchie-mania.
Just impartially speculating of course.
Although just the thought makes my mouth feel sore. Crunchie is a pretty painful experience. But delicious at the same time. Oh the vexing paradoxes of life!
But hurray! caramel nibbles in a reasonable size! No more eating an entire bag instead of dinner then :)
Alan
I hadn't made that connection, but now you mention it I see what you mean.
£2.05 a pack is bloody expensive isn't it. The canny buggers have also released them in the big packs again. I can't say I blame them to be honest. People are going to pay that price to try something new ... it makes business sense doesn't it.
Nick
Good stuff chap - look forward to your thoughts.
Daisy
If you like the Clusters then you may well be a dan of these. I know a lot of people that are mad keen on the Clusters ... people in my office plough through them all the time.
David
It is indeed. Do you remember the old 'Friday night feeling' adverts they used to run. I may have heard wrong but I think they may be making a come back to promote the launch of these.
Golden
It is good to share chap :D Especially for me as I normally have hundreds of other products I should be getting my chops around.
Lauren
I'm not sure why they keep making all these Duos. I am guess the profit margins on them must be pretty healthy. It makes good business sense if you can get someone who wasn't going to buy a normal sized Wispa to trade up into a Wispa Duo bar which is more expensive.
Phil
Again mate I think it is all down to what makes them most money. If you think it they would have to introduce a whole new production line in to their factory to make the Wispa Mint ... whereas with the Duo bars all they have to do is run another batch of somethign they already make!
I do understand your frustration with Cadbury using their secondary recipe. I bet the average person doesn't even notice though. In a perfect world they would use Dairy Milk throughout but I guess that will never happen.
Paul
Since forever! Just take a look on the back of the wrappers. Some of the most common bars don't use Dairy Milk - Wispa, Crunchie etc.
Steven
I would buy them sooner rather than later. Their RRP doesn't look to clever if Alan is right.
Susanne
This is weird because in the pack I had the Crunchie pieces were very plentiful in bit :S ... you could hardly tell the cornflakes were there. As for your recommendation to the Ritter Sport Cornflakes you couldn't be more right! A really fantastic chocolate.
Emma
It is indeed viva the Crunchie :D
Duncan
Indeed I saw them today when I went shopping. Funnily enough they still weren't being carried in Sainsburys when I was there the other day. Sainsburys are normally the first ones to pick up the new Cadbury products as well. Odd.
Mark & Eddie
It is a bit annoying I know, but like I said above it makes business sense for Cadbury.
David
Haha I see what you mean there. They are hard to put down once you open the bag.
Justin
Thanks for the nice words. Cadbury are being pretty hefty with the innovation this year aren't they. I say lets not complain. It is better than going for the no npd approach that mars uk do.
Anon
Thanks for the info. That sounds like an offer worth buying in to if you ask me.
Katie
They have indeed. Lets hope they just stay heros for the near future. I don't like writing rants about my favourite brands.
Richard
Haha no I don't - but my job means I keep a close eye on what is happening in the FMCG retail market. Thus I pick up on the annoucements of the new products earlier some people might.
Thanks for sharing your views everyone. If any more of you guys try these I would love to hear all your views.
JIM
Lottie
The Wispa pimping hasn't even begun yet! I would have thought they would have pimped that part of the portfolio to the max before the Crunchie.
Come on then ... how long until we see Wispa biscuits? I think before the end of the year... around about September time :D
JIM
These were tasty i had about half a bag when my mate had a bag which he had found in a scottish shop priced at only £1 they were quite good was probably the best part of the trip to the east kilbride cocacola factory
I love Cadbury Crunchie! Too bad, I seldom see it in the grocery now :(
OMG how I wish I had a Crunchie bar right now. I first tried these in a British Airways flight to London and they had these for dessert. I had such a hard time finding these chocolates in the States, but I found a website (www.theindianfoodstore.com) that sells them for less than a buck! I bought 48 the second I saw it, but now I've run out...perhaps during Christmas time! I didn't even know these were available in mini size!
These are horrible now. When they came out at first there were no cornflakes in them and they were lovely although I think they may have been called Boulders. The cornflakes ruin them - they're vile.
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