&f=Calibri-Bold&ts=14&tc=d4d4cc&it=gif&c=round&bgt=gradient&bgc=ad6807&ebgc=d98807&be=on&w=125&h=30){kind=small}
Kcal 132 Fat 7.2g Fat(sats) 4.3g Carbs 14.5g (per 25.0g - 3 segments)It's still a good nine weeks until Christmas, but kicking off my Christmas 2011 reviews this year we have a limited edition offering from one of the true British classics - Terry's Chocolate Orange. The supermarket shelves adourning the Christmas chocolates, biscuits and nuts have been stacked for weeks now, and sitting right in amongst everything at Tesco I found this 'White Chocolate Smasher' variety. Last year you may remember that I took a look at Terry's Chocolate Orange Snowball and awarded it a semi decent 7.9 out of 10, classing it as a 'surprisingly good quality mass produced white chocolate'. This 'Smasher' version came billed as pretty much the same product, however with the addition of 'colourful crystal pieces'.
Like all Terry's Chocolate Oranges, this variety came in a 170.0g form that was split in to 20 individual segments. The presentation was .... well colourful to say the least. The outer cardboard box was decorated with some puzzling symbols and icons including boxing gloves, love hearts and butterflies (not too sure what that was all about), but it looked pleasant on the eye nonetheless. Unwaravelled from it's foil wrapper the traditional chocolate orange segmentation was further decorated by the promised 'colourful crystals'. On one hand I thought they looked interesting, but on another I also didn't quite feel like they fitted with the cult classic Terry's look.
Most the time white chocolate doesn't really smell of too much so it was unsurprising that it was just a mild set of orange smells emanating from the chocolate. It's pretty likely that the majority of my loyal readers will already know what I'm going to say about this particular chocolate. Yes indeed my conclusion was that the crystal candy pieces were an uncessary addition, but let me take you through the experience anyway :D . Upon placing the first piece in my mouth I was met with a sweet orangey, milky set of flavours that developed a pleasant vanilla note once the smooth melt had picked up pace. As the chocolate melted the crystal pieces came in to play, roughing up the texture before being left as remanants once the surrounding chocolate had disappeared. Crunching down on the remaining candy pieces, a rush of sweet flavours left a rather generic sugary taste in the mouth. Given the sweetness of the chocolate already, I didn't find this a welcome addition to the taste at all. Resultingly this wasn't a chocolate I felt like I could eat in any great quantity.
Overall I was disappointed, yet not overly surprised with what I thought about this seasonal offering my Terry's. Last year when I tried the Terry's Chocolate Orange Snowball I was fully expecting to find the white chocolate to be cheap tasting, overly sugar laden, mass produced rubbish (not mentioning any names *ahem* Cadbury Dream *ahem*). As you will have read that, chocolate by all means exceeded my expectations - it wasn't the best white chocolate I have ever tasted, but it did well to compliment the fruitiness of the orange. The only hope I held out for this 'White Chocolate Smasher' variety was that it was going to add bit of colour to the affair, whilst not detracting either taste or texture. Unfortunately by my accounts I thought it hampered both, making the aftertaste searingly sugary, and ruining the feel of the soft melting chocolate with it's jagged, sharp edges. Unless you are buying this for sugar hungry kids I wouldn't recommend it.
6.9 out of 10
Posts
37 comments:
I swear they haven't done anything decent with Terry's for years now. I remember the first time they came out with the dark chocolate one everyone went mad for it, but the different flavours they keep coming out with get worse and worse.
Oh dear I wasn't expecting you to score this well. I knew as soon as I saw the review title it was in trouble lol.
I really like terrys choc orange but the only time I ever eat it is at christmas time when I get given one in my stocking. Lol I think I have been given one every year since I can remember. It is a bit of a tradition in our house that me and brothers get given them.
Rxxx
Lol since when has there ever been a white chocolate version?
God I think I need to catch up with some of these reviews you have posted in your first year, there are still so many I'm yet to read. Thanks for the heads up on this Jim.
I love TCO they are so yum. Did you get this sent out early to you by Kraft as a sneak preview?
I haven't seen it anywhere myself before.
This looks like such a lazy variation to make. What is the point just adding coloured sprinkles to something that already exists? That is just so boring and stupid.
Why didn't they make one where you have milk, dark and white chocolate segments instead? Thats both colourful and different. See that was hard.
I hope kraft dont start making the new Cadburys flavour this bad. It's such a shame that they abuse a brand terrys these days. I know it has never been associated with being like very high in quality but its still an iconic brand that deserves so much better than what they are doing to it now. I'm probably taking this too seriously.
Colourful crystal pieces??????????
That says it all really. Totally and utterly pointless. I think they must have made this for kids or something.
I haven't eaten a terrys chocolate orange for years. I might buy one this weekend to see if they are like I remember. I fear they wont be cause everything seems to have changed since back in the day when I was a younger guy. I wouldn't be surprised if they have messed around with terrys.
@Steven and @Kim I dont see why you two are complaining so much. Its not as if they have taken away the original milk chocolate one or anything, I think you would have grounds to complain if they did that, but for the time being I think they should be allowed to just make what they want.
Jim they also make a popping candy version now will you be trying that one out sometime soon :) lol I would hazard a guess at the answer being no. I really hope you dont because the popping candy is really packed in there. I think you would absolutely hate it lol.
I tried the white choc version around xmas time last year and I was surprised at how good it was. You know me, I love my white chocolate but I thought that one was especially good.
I dont see the point in them making this one to be perfectly honest. What annoys me a little is that they could have done something more special instead of just this thing.
Dx
Upon placing the first piece in my mouth I was met with a sweet orangey, milky set of flavours that developed a pleasant vanilla note once the smooth melt had picked up pace. As the chocolate melted the crystal pieces came in to play, roughing up the texture before being left as remanants once the surrounding chocolate had disappeared. Crunching down on the remaining candy pieces, a rush of sweet flavours left a rather generic sugary taste in the mouth. Given the sweetness of the chocolate already, I didn't find this a welcome addition to the taste at all.
I knew you were going to say something like that. This means I have either a) read too many of your reviews or b) you are too predictable. Lol Im going to tell myself it is b) and go waste more of my time reading a few hundred more of your blog posts :-)
Cool review Jim I think this is one to avoid.
I do get worried for the future of our cadbury dairy milk when I see things like this. Imagine if they ever did a CDM bar with added sprinkles ...... the thought of that just makes my stomach turn. I just pray that kraft dont start doing stupid stuff like that.
I love tco but not even I would buy this in a million years. I have seen them come out with tons of flavours over the years but only a handful of them have ever been any decent.
The best one I can remember is the toffee cosmic that they made last year. That was normal milk choc with small toffee bits in it. It was gorgeous I wish they still made it :(
That really doesn't sound very appealing at all. They probably would have been better off to just sell the normal white one again for the white chocolate lovers.
I didn't have a chocolate orange in years. Might have to takea milk or dark one home for Christmas this year.
Hi Jim,
Its so funny you reviewed a Terrys chocolate today because yesterday I had my first one for like a decade. Strictly speaking it wasnt a whole chocolate orange but I had quite a few of segments from the assortment box they now make. Have you reviewed that yet? It had a lot of different terrys flavours in it. I will try find a pic for you.
As much as I love the occasional chocolate orange I wouldnt ever buy this one. It just seems a bit pointless to me, they must of made it just for parents to buy their kids.
The most pointless thing about it is that I dont think it is the sort of thing that would attract anyone new to try a chocolate orange.
Why does everyone on this blog always complain so much. Cheer up people its just chocolate.
I think it looks well pretty =>
Nice review Jim I saw this in the supermarket the other day next to the terrys volcano (crunchy candy) flavour.
There was once a time when terrys used to make decent flavours like coffee and mint but I think those days are long gone now. its a shame we have to put up with crappy ones like this nowadays, oh well.
Kim how the hell can you say that about Kraft? It annoys me so much that people have generated such a hate campaign for them ever since they bought cadburys. I think everything that has happened with cadburys since the takeover has been brilliant. We have had the bliss, wispa gold, bar of plenty and some wicked adverts.
As soon as the word Kraft is mentioned these days people seem to start complaining and have it in for them. I just think its a bit unfair.
They must be working over time in the r&d factories if they are coming up with ideas like this one.
Lol this looks like something a 5 year old would have penned on a bit of paper as an idea. Epically stupid.
I think I will be leaving this one well alone this christmas. I have a random question. Can you buy terrys choc oranges all year round or do they just get sold at christmas time?
The only time I ever see or hear about them is in the run up to christmas.
I think my five year old sister might appreciate this but its not something I would ever buy. Now I say that I'm not even sure I would buy it for her because she doesn't like orange lol. Its a bit useless by the looks of it.
Euggggggh I can't even look at terrys chocolate orange without feeling a little queasy. Me and a friend took the 'terrys chocolate orange challenge' once and tried to eat a whole one as fast as we could. I think one of us did it in about 5 mins, lol we felt very ill afterwards.
Believe it or not this isnt the stupidist terrys chocolate orange they have ever made. Once they actually briefly made one that totally orange coloured. It looked so stupid.
We bought this not long ago just to see what it was like (my sister had an eye on it aswell) but neither of us liked it much. Amazingly my mother actually did which is almost unheard of since she hates white chocolate and isnt keen on milk chocolate. Dark chocolate for her all the way lol
@Nick I know what you mean. The dark version has been around since the chocolate orange was created in the 1930's but in recent years it was hard to find until they kinda relaunced it with all the other variations out now.
@Matt - i see what youre saying but the only thing that Kraft have so far really had a hand in is the Bliss bar. All the others you mention date back long before the Kraft takeover. I think time will tell whether the takeover was a good move.
@ Andrew, as far as I know you can,you can certainly buy the bar all year round :)
I think this is one I can safely say I wont ever be trying. I can see why the bright colours might appeal to kids but I can't see why anyone older than ten would be interested in it.
Funny, I'm holding a chocolate orange in my other hand right now. :) This one is only 125g though and it's lime flavoured milk chocolate, the same kind I've tried this Easter.
"Most the time white chocolate doesn't really smell of too much" - you can say that again :)) Last evening I went out and bought a bio 40% cocoa milk chocolate and a small bag Manner's Casali Rum-Kokos White. I've been seeing these Casali balls for many years, but I've never tried the white chocolate version because... well, white chocolate was never my favourite kind of chocolate (and to be honest, this is the first time I buy something that's just white chocolate and it's not from Lindt). Now they've discontinued the white balls (and they've discontinued the Pina Colada ones as well) and I figured I should give them a try before they disappear from stores for good. I sniffed the first ball... nothing. Sniffed it again... something there, faint and unknown. I could only detect some milk scents from the second ball.
"Unless you are buying this for sugar hungry kids" - everything about it makes it seem like this is made especially for kids; the packaging and the way the actual chocolate looks, the fact that it is so sweet.
If this is the standard of innovation that we can expect from companies going forward the confectionery market is going to be a mess in just a few years.
There used to be a time when companies would actually put some effort in to the products they made. Sadly this doesn't look like it has two seconds of thought power put in to it.
Thansk for the review Jim. I don't have much to say today apart from this looks rubbish lol. Sorry for being so poignant.
I've tried this and although it wasn't amazing, I thought it was a nice novelty Christmas product. It's more of a kiddie thing really, I'm sure they'll lap it up.
I liked the colourful pieces and light fruit taste, although, it was a bit too sugary. I had it in small quantities and thought it was best that way. My friend also liked it, despite not expecting to.
The quality of the chocolate beats Milkybar anyway, Milkybar is just awful now!
Hi All,
There has been some interesting discussion today thanks again. If you haven't checked out yesterdays Chocri review be sure to do so ... there is even a response from the team at Chocri which is nice to see.
Nick - Re: 'the different flavours they keep coming out with get worse and worse.'
Following up the popping candy one with this clinkers one would suggest that isn't an over reaction :D
David - Re:'since when has there ever been a white chocolate version?'
It came out as a limited edition last christmas and has made it's way back again this year. There is a version without the clinkers stuff in thank god.
Sally - Re:'Did you get this sent out early to you by Kraft as a sneak preview?'
Nope I bought this with my very own money from the shops.
Steven - Re:'Why didn't they make one where you have milk, dark and white chocolate segments instead?'
I like that idea. It would be hard for them to manufacture I think though.
Kim - Re:'I know it has never been associated with being like very high in quality but its still an iconic brand that deserves so much better than what they are doing to it now'
I couldn't agree more with you. Sometimes less is more isn't it. Someone tell that to the guys at Terry's for us please :D
Anon / Daisy / Emma / Mysterio / Tony - Re: 'Colourful crystal pieces?????????? That says it all really. Totally and utterly pointless. I think they must have made this for kids or something.'
This seems to be the common theme today and I have to go with the majority of you. I can see how it is supposed to appeal to kids, but I even then I dont think if you asked the average 8 year old how you would make a chocolate bar better they would necessarily say put a load of colourful stuff in it :D I think Kraft need to take a look at this one in particular and ask themselves why they made it.
Alex - Re:'@Steven and @Kim I dont see why you two are complaining so much. Its not as if they have taken away the original milk chocolate one or anything'
For once I think you make a good point. The issue I think people are more concerned about is the time that they spent making this one when they could have been putting their efforts in to something better! That is the biggest issue I think people are having.
Golden - Re:'Jim they also make a popping candy version now will you be trying that one out sometime soon'
Haha I think I will spare us all that review. I don't think it would sit to well with me.
Katie - Re:'This means I have either a) read too many of your reviews or b) you are too predictable.'
Lets be safe and say it's a combination of both :D
Nigel - Re: Kraft and future plans for Cadbury
I honestly dont think we would see stuff like this for Dairy Milk. I think Kraft manage different parts of their portfolio well, to be honest half the time it is surprising when you find out that they make half the stuff they do.
When you look at their portfolio there is never much crossover in terms of what their brands offer. I hope they continue to do this and keep everything that is Cadbury seperate from things like Toblerone and Terrys.
... saying that doesn't anyone fancy seeing what they could do with a Dairy Milk with Oreo bar? Tell me that wouldn't be cool.
Anne - Re:'They probably would have been better off to just sell the normal white one again for the white chocolate lovers.'
Dont worry I have seen the plain white chocolate one about aswell.
James - Re:'I had quite a few of segments from the assortment box they now make. Have you reviewed that yet?'
I haven't reviewed any Terry's selections yet. Neither the Segsations or the All Gold. Let me see what I can do.
Matt - Re:'It annoys me so much that people have generated such a hate campaign for them ever since they bought cadburys.'
I think it is more concern that a hate campaign. There is a lot of uncertainty around Cadbury on the whole at the moment.
Luke - Re:'Me and a friend took the 'terrys chocolate orange challenge'
That doesn't sound like a fun challenge to me. I'm not surprised you cant stomach them now.
Alan - Re: Your comment
Thanks for answering Andrew for me :D there are so many people responding nowadays it is hard to do it all myself.
I'm surprised to hear your mum liked it if she prefers dark chocolate. That is most peculiar indeed.
Ana - Re:'"Most the time white chocolate doesn't really smell of too much" - you can say that again'
To be honest I sometimes prefer it when white chocolate doesn't smell of anything. You can get some that smell like gone off yogurt sometimes. It can be very unappealing.
This was definitely made with kids in mind as the target audience. I still dont think it is actually fufilling any need they might of had mind you.
Sam - Re:' I don't have much to say today apart from this looks rubbish lol'
Haha that could be because there isnt much else to say about it :D I wouldn't worry yourself there.
Thanks for the comments today everyone. Be sure to check out the 7Days of Chocolate Reviews tomorrow. It even includes another mini review for you all to mull over this weekend.
JIM
As always, thanks for the review. I've got to be honest, it doesn't exactly look appetising! I had guessed what sort of review it would recieve as soon as I read that the coloured bits were crystals. I'm sure they could have come up with a far better idea for a Christmas product. Even something as basic as adding cinnamon to the regular milk chocolate version would probably be better.
I really love this. Tbh I wouldn't have gotten it but they were on a 3 for 5 offer so I chose white, milk (plain), and dark (mint). The vanilla-ishness of the white chocolate mixed with the orange is delicious and almost overcomes the sweetness for me, and the little bits make it more interesting -- those that survived, that is, for I duly 'smashed' this for the first time and half of it promptly splintered all over the kitchen lol I guess I don't know my own strength ;)
I would like to add that our jim has just taken the tco challenge and eaten it in 1.18! We throw down the gauntlet to anyone who thinks they can do better. Video evidence essential!
Because they are sad fucks
Post a Comment