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Nestle Animal Bar
Kcal 98 Fat 5.0g Carbs 12.3g
For some reason or other my workplace has just started stocking these in our staff shop - aren't these meant to be for kids and not middle aged working professionals!?? Hmmm anyway ... I do have vague memories of being given Animal Bars as treats when I was younger which isn't all that surprising given they have been around since 1963. I can still see why the packaging and size of the bar are still relevant for kids, but personally I didn't particularly enjoy the actual milk chocolate all that much. Not surprisingly it was weak tasting and mostly sugar led with its non-threatening cocoa flavours. Best left for the smaller people of this world.
5.6 out of 10
Fox's Echo Milk & White Chocolate
Kcal 126 Fat 6.6g Fat(sats) 4.0g Carbs 14.9gAgain I remember eating these when I was younger - I used to have them now and again during my school lunchbox days. In the supermarket Echos sit alongside the likes of the Kit Kats, Twixs, CLUB biscuits etc, and they come described as 'milk & white chocolate with a crunchy biscuit base'. In comparison to some of the aforementioned products I have always thought that Echos look nice on the eye. Both the packaging and bars look attractive in comparison to other chocolate biscuit alternatives and to be fair to them they also hold up their end of the bargain in the taste. For my liking both the milk and white chocolates are a little passive in their flavours, though the combination of them both deliver a decent sweet chocolate flavour hit. I have always thought the texture of the chocolate is a little waxy, though I can't complain with the crunchy contribution from the slightly salty flavoured biscuit base at the bottom of each bar. If you are looking for a Kit Kat alternative you cant go far wrong treating yourself to an Echo.
7.1 out of 10
McVitie's Medley Digestives Hazelnuts & Milk Chocolate
Kcal 140 Fat 6.0g Fat(sats) 1.9g Carbs 19.2g
Kcal 140 Fat 6.0g Fat(sats) 1.9g Carbs 19.2gA few weeks ago I posted my first review from McVitie's new Medley range in the form of their Hobnob Medley bar (See HERE). After a bit of searching around the supermarket shelves I managed to locate the other variety in the range - these Digestive Hazelnut & Milk Chocolate. In essence these were very much the same as the Hobnob Medley, apart from the substitution of the Hobnobs biscuit pieces for the Digestive biscuit pieces, and the swapping of the raisins for the hazelnuts. To be frank only one of these two change ups work for me. The Digestive biscuits weren't half as forthcoming in the taste in comparison to the Hobnobs, but on the flipside the hazelnuts were more welcome than the raisins as they were more detectable with their wooden nut flavour enhancements. I would find it hard recommending one of these Medley bars over the other as to be honest neither are perfect. I still believe McVitie's could have done a better job with these bars.
7.2 out of 10
Bahlsen Messino Edlehreb
Kcal 140 Fat 4.9g Fat(sats) 2.8g Carbs 23.0g (per 3 cakes)Not long ago I read an article on TalkingRetail.com that stated that a brand called Bahlsen were going to be turning up the heat on McVitie's in the Jaffa Cake tablestakes. Whilst I have been critical in the past of companies like Cadbury entering in to this part of the market with weak price cut led offerings (See HERE), I have always been open to seeing how other manufacturers could play the Jaffa Cakes game. Cutting the long story short, these looked the part in terms of their presentation with both the outer packaging and inner cakes looking like a nice premium proposition. Unfortunately when it came to the taste the size of the cakes were a real issue for me as they were so small and thin they didn't create the same sort of flavour impact that McVitie's Jaffa Cakes do. The dark chocolate was noticeably more flavoursome and not as laboured in melt, however the other cake and orange jelly filling layers were so insignificant and minimal they failed to create lasting flavour impacts. Quite simply I wouldn't buy purchase these over the McVitie's originals at the moment, but if they made them a little bigger they would be serious competition.
6.9 out of 10
If you have any feedback on these products please feel free to discuss them by dropping a comment.
Posts
31 comments:
The animal bar looks pretty once out of the wrapper - I don't think I'd like to taste it, though.
The Echos look really pretty as well, both in and out of the wrapper.
Medley - not my thing!
Bahlsen... they make some of my favourite biscuits, so I'd be really curious to try the Messino :)
I think Messino fancy themselves as the more elegant, refined and delicate rivals of the Jaffa Cake :P
I find they look a lot neater anyway, the kind of biscuit you could put on a plate with other posh biscuits :D
Great post.
DO you remember the Neslte animal chocolates being long and thin? I remember eating them when I was loads younger.
I would of thought Echos deserved a bit higher. They are the best sort of chocolate biscuits you can get I think.
The chocolate isn't great but the bit of white chocolate goes well nicely with the biscuit. I love how smooth the choc feels aswell.
Rxxx
I thought the Hobnob medley were loads better than the digestives ones. It's not surprising I say that though. I once ate so many digestive biscuits I felt really ill. I can't stand the taste of them now lol.
My mum bought those wannabe jaffa cakes a few weeks ago, how random is that. Lol as soon as I tasted my first one I knew they weren't as good as the normal ones that mcvities make. I complained of course.
I've never seen one of those animal bars before. Are you sure they have been around since 1963.
When I was small I used to get given the thin bars of Dairy Milk you can buy. I was brought up on proper chocolate :-)
A four in one special, I like it!!!!!!!! Whats best is there is no coffee to be seen.
I really like Echo chocolate bars. I would have given them a better rating.
I tried the purple coloured medley earlier this week. Admittedly I wasn't very impressed but I was sort of prepared for it because of reading your review beforehand. I think they could have made them loads better.
Lmao its hilarious watching these companies churn out endless amounts of jaffa cakes copies only for them all to fail.
Why do they not just realise that everyone is happy with the original Mcvities ones? A) They dont cost much B) They taste the best. Why would anyone want to switch.
Jim you need to try the minty echos. I think they are loads better than the plain ones. I think you will enjoy them more.
I do like it when you do these mini reviews Jim. I think it is just nice sometimes to mix it up from your normal formula of one a day.
If your doing another one like this include fruit clubs, breakaways and taxi chocolate biscuits. Lol surprise us with something else aswell.
Jimbo! It looks like you have been busy my friend. You shouldn't be spoiling us with four reviews in one day.
Have you ever tried the LU jaffas? They are probably the closest things to being as good as mcvities. Don't ever try tescos own brand ones. That was a big mistake on my part.
-David I remember them being like that. I think that was back in the 80s though. I can vaguely remember that each one had just one animal printed on the top, and you wouldn't know which one it was until you unwrapped it. I desperately want to find a picture of one.
When do you announce the winner of your twitter prize draw?
Woah the animal bar is taking me back a bit. I don't remember it being long and thin like David and Golden_Touch are talking about. As far as I'm aware they have always looked like that.
The messino look nice but I would rather just stick with what I know. It's funny how they talk about 'turning up the heat'. I don't think they are going to worry Jaffas lol.
Echo - I haven't eaten one for years but I remember them being pretty decent. I might give some a try soon to see if they are still as good.
Medley - I have no interest in trying at all now.
Jaffa Cake things - nothing will beat the normal ones so why try?
Wow animal bars - havent seen those in ages lol I remember them being long and thin aswell although I think originally they were more this shape when they were launched.
However I also remember the Cadburys rival - the Wildlife Bar! anyone else remember those? they were pretty much the same thing but were in association with the WWF (world wildlife fund)and they donated a certain amount from each bar, and being DM tasted nice. They had various animal pictures on the front and on each bar, like pandas and hippos. You could collect a set of 6. Sadly they rebranded/relaunched them in around 2000 with the small thin DM bars we see today.
I too prefer the minty Echos, I'm sure you can get an orange one aswell can't you?
I havent tried or seen the Medleys yet or those Jaffas although havent those Jaffas been around quite a while?
I always think that Echos look and sound nice but they taste really bland. Bella is right in saying the mint ones are better but I still don't rate them very highly personally. I like the small reviews.
I'm sure I've had Animal bars at some point but never liked them much. Same with Echo - I don't know why but I have never liked them. Although the jaffa cakes don't sound so great, Bahlsen make some other nice biscuits, there's the ones with a butter biscuit and thick layer of chocolate on top. I think they also make a wafer biscuit with a hazelnut cream centre.
Sometimes I do wonder why these companies bother. Is there much point trying to tackle a product like mcvities jaffa cakes? Surely these companies are just wasting their money?
I love that you make yourself sound like you're so old Jim :P
I remember eating the Echo bars at lunch time, it was always such a nice surprise to see them packed in with my sandwich!
@Alan Only Tesco sell echo bars now and they don't list orange ones.
@ David really? Only tesco sell them now? I'm sure I've seen them in Sainsburys recently, I never shop in Tesco lol. I also see them in places like Farmfoods the freezer shop and other places.
They definitely did/do an orange flavour (its on the Fox's website with a date of november 2007) in fact they also did a honeycomb flavour several years ago:
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/141803/Foxs-Echo-debuts-new-flavour-4m-marketing-push/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH
An intriguing thing I seem to have missed is the orange flavoured Rocky! (under the Rocky tab on the Fox's website) I don't remember those atall and they were dated november 07 aswell lol
@ David really? Only tesco sell them now? I'm sure I've seen them in Sainsburys recently, I never shop in Tesco lol. I also see them in places like Farmfoods the freezer shop and other places.
They definitely did/do an orange flavour (its on the Fox's website with a date of november 2007) in fact they also did a honeycomb flavour several years ago:
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/141803/Foxs-Echo-debuts-new-flavour-4m-marketing-push/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH
An intriguing thing I seem to have missed is the orange flavoured Rocky! (under the Rocky tab on the Fox's website) I don't remember those atall and they were dated november 07 aswell lol
@Alan I must be thinking of the wildlife bars too - we used to get them it must have been early 90's? long and thin Cadbury's Dairy Milk with animals, I think I remember an emperor penguin. But the cover picture didn't give away the inside animal. I haven't seen them in forever, just the thin plain dairy milk. It's funny to me these small ones taste fresher/creamier than the regular sized bars and also melt faster, has anyone else noticed any difference?
Part 1
Come on folks nearly the weekend now :D
Ana
Its good hearing your opinion on all these things. Are there any other Bahlsen products I should try? A few of them have caught my eye on recent shopping trips.
Claudia
I think you could be right there. I think they fancy themselves as the higher end Jaffa cake offering.
David
Thanks. I think Alan may have unearthed something here. I think I may be confusing these Nestle bars with the old Cadbury Wildlife ones. I probably ate both in my younger years and just didn't know the difference.
Rachel
What rating would you give them? I trying to think of a way of integrating a readers poll on each review so we can start getting some readers ratings. Now that would be cool!
Ian
I too prefer Hobnobs. I wouldn't recommend eating a pack of digestive biscuits ... I would need a lot of teas to see that down me :D
Nick
You're poor mum :D She probably thought she was being nice buying you posh Jaffas :D It just goes to prove that some people don't like changing some things though.
Kim
That is what the Neslte website says. I'm glad to hear your childhood was priviliged.
Mysterio
Good to see I have finally pleased you. Again what sort of rating would you have given?
Richard
You tried the Hobnob ones then? How would you have changed them to make them better?
Tony
Competition is a good thing I think. Look at it this way ... if there weren't companies in competition, what is stopping McVities then lowering the quality of their product? If it is the only one of the market then people wouldn't have the choice to swap to a different brand. Competition is good!
Bella
I will see if I can find them. I haven't seen them recently though.
Duncan
Thanks for the feedback. What do the rest of you think about this review format? Yay or Nay?
I will make sure I include those you have requested in the next one if people like it.
Justin
I haven't tried the LU ones. My readers from Germany and Europe etc always say they are very good though. I will have to keep an eye out for them. I will stay clear of the Tescos ones now ;) thanks for the heads up!
Golden
Are you thinking of the Cadbury wildlife ones aswell? I think people might be confusing the two today.
Anon
I will announce this on my twitter feed tomorrow.
Paul
I think they must have looked different at one point. Quite a few people today have commented that they look different.
PART 2
Steven
I doubt McVities are concerned to much by the competition, but like I said above it is good that they have it coming in from the likes of Bahlsen and LU. The Cadbury Jaffas I don't approve of much mind you :D
Nigel
I hope it wasn't me who put you off the Medley.
I would welcome your views on the Echo biscuits if you get the chance to try the,.
Alan
Now you mention it I think I might of had those Cadbury Wildlife bars when I was younger. Like I said above I was probably given both without me ever noticing.
I will take a look around to see if I can find some mint/orange Echos.
As for the Bahlsen Jaffas I think they have been around for quite a while but I think they are going to be promoted quite heavily now if that article is anything to go by.
Tim
Thanks for the feedback about the format. I enjoy doing the smaller reviews like this from time to time.
Phil
If you remember the name of those Bahlsen biscuits be sure to let me know. They sound like my sort of thing :D
I think I share similar feelings to you about Echos. They are fine for what they are but I wouldn't exactly be distraught if I was to never have another in my lifetime.
Jonathan
See what I said to Richard above. Competition is healthy I think.
Tanvee
I am getting old! I'm 23 you know! The best lunch boxes I had were the ones with Kit Kats in! They were always my favourite.
David
I swear I saw them in Waitrose the other day!? Hmmm I could be wrong.
Alan #2
Fox's have quite a cool website don't they. I never saw the Rocky Orange either ... perhaps it was just a limited edition that was only around for a few weeks. To be honest I didn't ever go to the supermarkets when I was that age so it doesn't surprise me I never saw them
Thanks for the comments everyone. If you have any more feedback RE: the post format please share.
JIM
I found a review of them on chocablog, Jim:
http://www.chocablog.com/reviews/bahlsen-choco-leibniz/
Whilst in Morrisons this morning I noticed another new biscuit brand. It was a well-known brand but I can't recall the name! lol. It's going to drive me mad until I remember.
And btw Jim I'm 24 so I'm getting old too, lol.
The Choco Leibniz were exactly the ones I was going to suggest you should try :))
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