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It's been a while since we last had a proper 'Bits n Bobs' review but today I have the pleasure of showcasing you all a number of goodies sent to me by my pals at AmericanSoda (Website See HERE). Despite the name, these chaps also import all kinds of American foodstuffs. You will no doubt have seen many of my 'Snack of the Week' products have come from these guys lately - namely the Oreo Golden Double Stuff Cookies being a particular highlight (See HERE).----
Goldenberg's Chew-ets Original / Milk Chocolate Peanut Chews
Original - Kcal 270 Fat 14.0g Fat(sats) 6.0g Carbs 35.0g (per 6 pieces)Milk Chocolate - Kcal 270 Fat 14.0g Fat(sats) 6.0g Carbs 33.0g (per 6 pieces)
I have to admit that I was dreading having to both eat and review these when the guys at AmericanSoda told me they were sending them across. Having read up on them on other American review websites such as Candyblog (Cybele's review HERE), the prospect of fake chocolate and even fake caramel didn't sound an altogether desirable mix. Factor in the vague on-pack descriptors 'Bite-size chewy pieces loaded with peanuts' and the inclusion of the much dread trans fats, things didn't sound very promising.
Well consider me pleasantly surprised! These weren't half bad you know :D The so called 'chocolate' on both was ...errr.... pointless considering that both variants were relatively flavourless. The milk variant was a little sweeter, though frankly the chocolate was a complete non-factor by the time the inner molasses and peanuts were encountered. This may sound negative but I guess if they weren't going to bother with decent chocolate then it made sense for them to let the peanuts take centre stage. Thankfully this was something they did rather nicely, and their roasted, salty flavours played off nicely against the sugary, treacle like fillings. The chewy textures made their mouth longevity a decent long while, I genuinely couldn't pull a favourite out of the two. I wouldn't count them as an essential purchase, but if you are looking for a basket filler you could do a lot worse.
Original - 7.2 out of 10
Milk Chocolate -7.2 out of 10
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Hershey's Milk Chocolate Drops
Kcal 200 Fat 12.0g Fat(sats) 7.0g Carbs 25.0g) (per 15 pieces - 41.0g)My initial reaction when I saw these was that we had yet another Galaxy Counters product at hand. To be fair to Hershey's I don't think Galaxy (or Dove as they are known in the US) actually have these out over there, so one might forgive them for just plugging an existing gap in their current market. As you can probably tell from my photos these were pretty simple in proposition and build 'milk chocolate drops - no shell, no mess' was what was promised on the front of the wrapper.
Now normally this type of candy and chocolate don't smell of much when their packets are opened. Well I wish this had been true about these guys - the Hershey's disgusting wrank milk smell was unfortunately evident here, even my old man winced when taking the photographs. Not allowing myself not to be perturbed I just got on with things and at the end of the day just enjoyed a decently average bag of chocolate. Glazing agent shell coatings aren't my favourite thing in the world, but they were at least very thin here and didn't inhibit the release of the flavours to a great degree. The chocolate was everything I expected it to be with it's sweet milky cocoa flavour set later followed by the unique Herhsey's yoghurty like after taste. Hershey chocolate sits fine with me so I got an average amount of enjoyment from these. They didn't offer anything I hadn't experienced before but they still made for a decent enough snack.
7.0 out of 10
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Kellogg's Pop Tarts Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Kcal 190 Fat 5.0g Fat(sats) 2.5g Carbs 19.0g (per pastry)Kellogg's Pop Tarts aren't one of my favourite products in the world, however they have featured on ChocolateMission previously when I took a look at the 'Chocotastic' flavour we have available here in the UK (See HERE). Anyone who knows their American foods will know that Pop Tarts are 'serious business' in America! Kellogg's have a pretty extensive range of different flavours to offer - I think I counted around 30 last time I cared to look on their website.
As I said above they may not be my favourite things ever but I was hardly going to turn down the opportunity of trying these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavoured ones. Replacing my usual bran flakes and fruit, I tried eating two of these this morning, however failed miserabley when I just couldn't take the sugar overload that I got from just the one. Aromas wise it has to be said that these pastries smelt very pleasant and the fresh baked pastry smells gave signs of real promise. Once toasted the surrounding pastry was a little dry and flavourless but it at least wasn't quite the sugar onslaught of the upper topping of frosting and inner filling. Taste wise the filling wasn't bad - it wasn't quite the full on effect chocolate cookie dough experience desired (ala Ben & Jerry's), but for a limited duration at the start of each bite I did get hints of cookie and chocolate before the sugar took over. My big issue with these was that I didn't they didn't to provide much in the way of sustenance. By 11.00am I was hit with with a severe case of the hunger pangs! Pop Tarts fan might want to take a look but I think I will be sticking to my usual cereal for the time being.
6.7 out of 10
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Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Minis
Kcal 200 Fat 12.0g Fat(sats) 6.0g Carbs 23.0g (per 11 pieces)HERSHEY WORKER #1: "Guys we need to come up with a new development for Reese's"
HERSHEY WORKER #2: "Hmmm I know, lets do miniature versions of the normal ones"
HERSHEY WORKER #1: "Wow that's great ... but haven't we done that before?"
HERSHEY WORKER #2: "Oh yeah ... errr
*2 minute pause*
HERSHEY WORKER #2: Eureka!!! I know!!! Lets make them even smaller!!"
HERSHEY WORKER #1: "Wow what an idea! We're the best!"
.... That's how I envisage the geniouses at Hershey's came up with these :D See my review of the original Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures HERE.
Ignoring my pessimism, and just reviewing the product at hand these were admittedly still pretty cool. Each of the mini-miniatures was about the size of a 5 pence piece - about five or so made for a comfortable mouthful at any given time. What I loved about these so much was that they were not only great when eaten by themselves, but also as when eaten alongside other foods such as cereal, ice cream etc. These didn't present anything different in terms of the chocolate being crappy and the peanut butter filling exceptional, but still I imagine they would bring a great deal of pleasure to anyone who has enjoyed Reese's products before. Recommended for Reese's nutters :D
7.9 out of 10
Posts
65 comments:
Its good to see a proper bits and bobs back on the agenda, I've missed not having it the last few weeks. I never realised that americansoda did food aswell. I hadn't bothered looking at their site before cause I just naturally assumed they just sold fizzy drinks.
Awesome reviews Jim, I'm loving your joke on the Reeses one very funny stuff.
I don't think we are in any position to be criticising hersheys for making products like the drops or the minis. When you think about how many incarnations there are of dairy milk it puts the whole thing in to perspective. Dairy milk alone has tasters, normal sized bars, minis, large blocks, butttons etc etc I could go on lol.
Well i never realised you were such a witty young man jim. I get the point you are making about hershey lacking imagination but I think that same conversation is likely had at several more companies than just them. Infact I think there are probably more companies where that conversation is being had than where it is not lol. Anytime companies need a new product nowadays it just seems to be these people reformating or resizing an exisiting product. Its not just chocolates either.
I'd not heard of those goldenberg peanut things before. Are they popular in the US or are they a smaller brand. If you say they are a big cheese brand im going to be very surprised. I don't recall seeing them in the likes of cybercandy or anything before.
They have a full section of american foods in selfridges london now. Unfortunately its just as expensive as all the online sites. Lucky Charms are still like seven pounds a box, its a right rip.
Hey hun fab bits and bobs today I love it.
I can't say I can agree with you about hersheys chocolates. Yes its unique, but uniquely disgusting if you ask me :P lol it smells and tastes like barth, it makes me cringe just thinking about it. I like the thought of those reeses minis much more. No one makes pb chocolates like reeses do. All imitators pale in comparison.
Rxxx
Will american soda consider doing a discount code for chocolate mission readers? I remember that one of the german sites did this for us once.
Jim i've been looking at your reese's reviews and I was well put back when I saw you rate the white chocolate ones better than the original milk chocolate? Is that really the case?
I never would of thought that in a million years. I thought you were a milk>white person all day long mate.
What are you on about Jim pop tarts are wicked. You could always have cereal + pop tarts you know ;) Theres nothing stopping you having both now is there.
Fake chocolate and fake caramel? Eww that sounds horrid. I wasn't even aware you could get fake caramel.
You've managed to pick 4 rather dellish looking products there today Jim. How in heavens do you get the time to eat them all. Actually thinking about it now im not to sure I would be that keen on the hersheys drops. Im not that keen on hershey milk chocolate in the first place but im not as radically opposed to it compared to my other mates. Lol I know people that genuinely hate it. They turn their noses up at it at just the slightest mention of Hersheys.
I would rather just buy reese's pieces than those mini reese's. The chocolate you get with any of their products is just disgusting. The candy shells are tons better imo.
Looking at what hershey are doing here its apparent its not just the british brands lacking ideas then lol. That makes me feel a little better, we aren't the only hopeless ones. They are all just as bad as each other (apart from germany obvs)
Pop Tarts FTW!!!! I so wish we had interesting flavours like these. It's such a crime we only get the two of them.
Omg american soda sell Root Beer. I can't tell you how much I love that stuff.
Im going to ask for a pack of 12 for my birthday Jim. Thanks for showing us the site.
The best flavour of pop tarts are the apple strudel ones. They are sooo good. They taste like the Mcdonalds apple pies.
If your going to be posting four such yummy looking things can you please in the future give us prior warning =)
I think the Hershey drops I can live without but the other three are all my sorta snacks. The pop tarts looked especially amaze, I was expecting a better rating than a 6.
Oh damn you Jim you have got my cravings going now. I'm going to have to buy some pop tarts and some pb cups on my way to work now. God this site is so bad for my diet. I can't control myself when I see these things.
Hey j
what you make of that new chelsea boss? I hadn't heard of him before tbh with you. I hope he doesn't turn out to be as arrogant as mourinho. God thats the last thing we need.
Cheers for the reviews of all the american things. Im not a big fan of american chocolates etc but I do like the odd peanut butter cup. I think those mini ones would be tremendous on top of ice cream or something. God you got me hungry now lol. Nice one mate.
N
I'm really loving the reviews today Jim. It feels like forver since you did some proper reviews of some american chocolates. Its good to catch up on what available out there.
Apart from the peanut chews the others don't do it for me im afraid.
1. I hate hersheys chocolate
2. Pop tarts are disgusting
3. Why have minis when you can have big ones.
Sorry for being so negative but its just the truth.
The only pop tarts flavour I want to hear about are these
http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/American-Soda/Home/Food/Breakfast-Cereals-+-Treats/Kelloggs-Ice-Creme-Sandwich-Pop-Tarts-(384g).aspx
Please please please review them. They got 25% less sugar if that helps :)
We now get hersheys chocolate in my asda. Im yet to try it because of all the bad things I hear about it though I might be brave and give some of the plain milk choc a try. I will report back with what I think about it later if I can get there today.
Yay BandB is back!!!!
Brill reviews Jim I hadn't clocked you were now being sponsored by these american soda people now. None of these things have scored amazingly but I don't think I would turn down the chance of trying an of them if offered them. I do love reeses peanut butter so I would be keen as mustard to try them.
Awwwwww those mini reese's are so cute =) mega mega wants.
Loving the bits and bobs review Jim. A very welcome return if ever there was one.
lmao @ the hershey charade.
Despite what you say I can't help but want to try those pop tarts. They just sound so nice. I love the thought of the cookie smells filling my kitchen in the morning. I think if I had some pop tarts like that in my cupboards I would bother having breakfast for once. I normally just don't bother now, I would rather the time in bed
Those little peanut chew look like mini versions of the latest snickers limited edition (maximo one without the nougat). I like the idea of them I have to say. I always thought that it would be nicer in smaller bits. Nice one Jim.
Your site has sponsors now? Man that is mega impressive. I will make sure I start using them if it helps you out in any way Jim.
Fab reviews J. I love the look of the drops and the minis they both look so cutie in your pics.
The thing im not so keen on are those pop tarts. The last time I had the strawberry ones from asda they made me feel so sickly and ill. They make me shudder just thinking about them now.
Dx
Hershey chocolate = disgusting vomit taste YUCK
I think some american food can be alrite but I more now increasingly think its just junk food.
They keep making all their chocolates with worse and worse ingredients. Its getting to the point where they cant call chocolate, chocolate now.
Hats off to you Jim another awesome set of reviews here. I know some idiots criticise some of the things you choose to review sometimes but imo you do an amazing job with the variety you do. Keep up the solid work pal.
I don't care what shape,size,weight,volume,number reeses peanut butter cups come to me :-) Im happy eating them any which way. Am I allowed to say I more often buy the nutsrageous than the cups though :P lol I don't want to offend any of you tradionalists.
You don't like Pop Tarts :O :O :O :O how can you say such horrible words. Pop tarts are amazin. If you ever get sent anymore that don't want I will happily take them off your hands for you. Don't let them go to waste now.
Great photos jim. Im especially loving your work with the mini peanut butter cups. They look well cute, you can tell they are like the size of skittles.
Woah woah woah. Five in one! Its going to take me a year to read all these lol.
I seriously don't understand all the fuss about reeses peanut butter cups.
The chocolates crappy and the peanut butter isn't even that nice. All my m8s love them though. I must be the odd one out.
That stuff your wrote about the hersheys employees geuinely had me chuckling to myself. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that was a common sort of situation at half of these modern companies. It would certainly seem that way when you consider all the products they bring out :)
Give me the Reeses mini cups please :D
The peanut chews are exactly the kind of thing I hate - I just don't get why anyone would buy something with fake chocolate on. From what I can tell quite a few American companies make those sort of products. At least if Cadbury's were going to do it they'd use their extra sugary chocolate recipe, which is better than nothing.
Ugh, pop tarts. Apologies to their photographer but I think this is the first of his photographs I can't bear to look at lol.
Whoa, that is a harsh description of Reese's chocolate. I had some of their pb cups just yesterday (on sale 2 packs/80p in Sainsbury's!) and I think it nicely complements the peanut butter. Wait there is a vital point missing from the minis review - these are _unwrapped_ ...for those of us who aren't ahem remotely impatient, but just wish to do our bit to save the environment ;)
@Gareth Hartridge's UK root beer ftw! It's available at Waitrose/ Morrisons/Wetherspoons.
Possibly mentioned already but the American Soda link goes to americanAsoda.co.uk instead of americansoda.co.uk
great to see your take on these. I'd love to see you try more of the poptart range particularly.
The thing about the Hershey bits, for me, is lack of shell. That's one of my favorite things on M&Ms.
As a kid I really enjoyed chocolate Pop-Tarts but now they are just as you explain them; dried out and not filling. The best part is the warm center after toasting but the corners are bad. Having had a Pop-Tart in years so that review was pretty interesting to read. Thanks!
Alyssa Steffes
Hi All,
Bits n Bobs has indeed returned and with a rather good response by all accounts. Thanks ever so much for all the kinds words about everything.
I've been speaking with the chaps at American Soda today and they are ecstatic with the reviews and all the feedback/suggestions you guys have given. I will give you an update of any news that follows on from this.
NICK - No no squire! AS are jack of all trades (well ... jack of all American food trades haha!)
KIM - I'm not sure if they are popular so to speak but I think they are viewed as 'classical' ... rather like the Necco products they have over there.
LEWIS - I saw a box of those Lucky Charms priced at £9.99 last time I was in Selfridges ... I 'resisted' so to speak :D
ANON - Im investigating competition possibilities etc
IAN - Indeed it is. The white chocolate isn't white chocolate in it's greatest form, but personally I think the milk chocolate they make is so god damn awful.
SAZ - Caramel isn't caramel if it doesn't have cream in it! These Goldenberg Peanut Butter Chews don't!
GARETH - Root beer is tremendous isn't it.
NIGEL - I think its a big risk paying £15m just to get the guy out of his contract. It seems the whole football industry just has more money than sense these days though. I'm not a fan of Mr Mourinho either by the way. The last thing we need is poor imitation of him.
FLETCH - Request noted.
SAM - You remind me of my own self when I was younger. Now I can't survive without breakfast :D Its the most important meal of the day blah blah blah :D
JOEL - This site has had sponsors for ages chap. I'm surprised you haven't noticed before.
PHIL - Sadly I think an increasing amount of companies (including ones here in the UK!!) are making chocolate that isn't really chocolate. Its funny you mention the Cadbury secondary recipe thing, now you put it like that it doesn't seem half as bad them using that instead now does it.
THEA - They are indeed unwrapped. I'm not an environmentalist I'm afraid so it wasn't something I picked up on :D I haven't heard of that Root Beer before. You have now given me the perfect excuse to nip in to waitrose at the weekend now. I think it will be a root beer & dim sum shopping trip.
ANTON - Thanks for the heads up chap. I always really appreciate it when readers make me aware of these things. Thanks chap.
RODDY - Request noted chap.
As I said people thanks for all the kind words and feedback again today. Half these comments make me red in the face blushing lately, you are all way to kind :D You must all want some extra competitions or something haha
Onwards and upwards
JIM
Does anyone know if this company as good as they are said to be or is this just advertising b/s?
I hope they have plenty of reeses in stock, im just about to buy them out lol :-) typically great reviews m8.
Those pop tarts sound like the most blatant case of something sounding better than it turns out to be. I've had that with a few of the flavours of pop tarts I have tried before. The vanilla milkshake ones are exactly the same. They just tasted like pure sugar to me. I wouldn't recommend.
I've had reeses pb cups in many different types of forms before but I think im going to need to investigate further in to these minis ;)
I think its only right I check to see that these are ok for everyone and provide a second opinion for us all. Its going to be a tough task but someone has to take the hit and do it LOL ;)
I couldn't help but laugh at your reeses minis review. im sure they pat themselves on the back all the time like that, it can be the only explanation as to why any chocolate bar that ever gets made these days gets repackaged into a million and one different sizes. All you need to think of are all those Duo and Duo + 1 bars to get some sort of perspective. Lol don't even mention something like the Kit Kat. I think if you counted how many ways you could buy a milk chocolate kit kat you would be amazed. I can think of 6 right away.
Hersheys drops haha how amazingly unoriginal.
I do get what you say though mate. If everyone else in the world has done that sort of thing there is no point being the only brand out there that doesn't. It would make sense to be the only ones in the market not making that sort of thing.
Hersheys chocolate is the worst chocolate ive ever tasted and I include all the crappy chocolate you get from those minor companies at easter in that. I would ever dream of paying normal sort of prices for it let alone over inflated importer ones. Pop Tarts are a different story altogether though. I LOVES thems =] x x x
Great reviews mate. I know exactly what you mean about pop tarts being sickly. I used to eat them all the time but now I can't handle them Out of interest did you ever try eating them frozen? I know it sounds crazy but it actually works. It makes them well nice, alot more bearable than they are hot imo.
Wow its not often these sites actually have reasonable delivery costs. It seems like do the right thing and charge you what the parcel costs to ship and not some dodgy flat rate that isn't even relevant to what you order.
I remember once I bought 3 chocolate bars (normal sized snickers ones!) off Cybercandy and they charged me £5.99 for normal delivery. It was so stupid it cost me more in postage than it did buying the chocolates. FAIL!
I get the issue you have with pop tarts Jim. I used to love them but I always found myself feeling hungry by mid morning whenever I had them for my brekkie. I think you can buy special wholegrain ones now but I would of thought they are more gimmicky than anything that helps the issue. I could be wrong. I say a chocolatemission experiment is needed ;) We know how you love being our guinea pig.
I love the reviews today Jim. I know we are starting to see more american chocolates and sweets make their way over here but it only seems to be the real basics doesn't it. Has anyone noticed how mountain dew is getting really popular these days? It used to be one of those ones that was a real rare commodity but it now seems like you can buy it just as easy as you can get coca cola.
They even brought out all the limited editions they did in America in some places over here. I remember seeing them in Tesco briefly.
OMG they have vanilla coke http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/American-Soda/Home/Drinks/Regular-Soda/Coca-Cola-Vanilla-12-FL-OZ-(355-ml).aspx
That was my all time fave drink and then the swines took it away from me. These american soda people are great. How do they get all these rare drinks?
I think you need to try some more of the pop tarts because I think you would enjoy some of the fruit ones better.
I have always found the chocolate ones very sickly but honest the fruit ones are much, much better. Just be careful burning your tongue on the molten jam. Lol I always do that.
I'm considering giving hershey chocolate another try after reading some of your reviews of it. I think I have only tried it the only time but I remember it not being a particularly enjoyable experience.
Which of their products would you suggest J? I hear the cookies and Creme chocolate isn't bad. Do american soda sell that one?
Jim whatever happened to that other american site that used to send you stuff? The Yankeesoda company? I ordered some things from them once and they were brilliant. It would be such a shame to hear they aren't around anymore. Their website doesn't appear to work now :(
God you are testing my resolve big time this week.
First Hotel chocolat and now pop tarts, both some of my favourite snacks ever. If you want to know a good flavour of PTs to try can I suggest the cookies and cream ones. They have chocolate and pastry and a sweet vanilla filling. IMO they are the best, them and the smores ones.
I used to be a sucker paying ridiculous amounts to ship in this sort of stuff direct from America on ebay. I never realised until a few years ago that their were companies now that specialise in buying this stuff over and selling it online. My how times have changed lol.
I think when I worked it out once I paid nearly ten quid for a pack of two reeses pb cups. Lol how embarassing is that. Now I can simply waltz down to tesco and buy a three pack for like 65p lol. It does make me feel well stupid now.
Ooooh I like the idea of chocolate mission readers getting some sort of discount. See if you can make it happen Jim :-) 10% off would be amazing if you can wrangle that for us.
ANON - no this isn't advertising b/s.
OLLIE - No i've never thought about trying them frozen. Next time I get some I will give it a try.
JACK - Cybercandy are renowned for their excessive postage costs.
STU - Request noted chap.
HENNERS - Indeed I had seen that Mountain Dew got distribution over here now. I'm not a fan myself but it does look like AS do the full range.
KATIE - I don't think they are rare as such. I think they are just what they get in America.
TONY - I would suggest you try some of the Kisses or the milk chocolate with cookies bar. That's one of my favourite Hershey's chocolates.
PEZZA - They got eaten up by another food importing company I believe. It may have been americansweets I think.
SEV - Request noted.
BRADLEY - Blimey £10.00 for 3 peanut butter cups, that is pretty crazy stuff.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I believe American Soda have been reading it all.
JIM
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