Palmer’s Chow Down Mix is one of those concoctions that really look like they threw a bunch of leftovers together. It honestly looked really unappetizing to me. You can see from the photo that it’s a mix of mini pretzels, some candy-coated chocolate pieces and a bunch of white candy-coated items. The white candy-coated items are more mini pretzels, a wheat circle (reminds me of a certain cereal) and wheat squares (reminds me of yet another cereal).

I’ve never been a huge fan of anything claiming to be “yogurt covered” or covered in today’s candy makers’ fake white chocolate. So, knowing this about me, you can understand that I thought it was a candy I was not going to like. Upon opening the container, a huge aroma of vanilla bursts out of the tub. It wasn’t overpowering, but it let you know it was there. Once I ate some of the Chow Down Mix, I was actually surprised that the flavors work together nicely. We all know salty pretzels work well with anything sweet but the combination with the white candy coating and the candy-coated chocolate pieces was actually pretty good.

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I love everything about Ritter Sport chocolate. I love that it’s a family-owned business since 1912. I love the cheerful colors of the wrappings. I love the squareness of the bars. I love that there are so many unique flavors – Butter Biscuit, Yogurt, Milk Chocolate with Strawberry Creme – and regular Dark and Milk chocolate, too. Most of all, I seriously love the taste of this chocolate. It’s all incredibly good! I’m talking, “I want to try every variety ever made and will hunt for them across the globe”, obsessively good.

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It’s been many years since I last tried sugar-free chocolate, for good reason… it was disgusting. I would rather have had no chocolate than gross chocolate. I guess one of the many things that have improved with time and technology is sugar-free chocolate. Simply Lite’s Milk and Dark Chocolate bars are all the evidence I need to know science is awesome.

Now, sugar-free does conjure up some negative feelings to some folks, myself included. I’m not going to get into a philosophical debate about sugar vs. sugar-free, but I have been privy to concerns being raised about sugar substitutes. So many concerns that my little mind – tuned in by all the marketers trying to sell us the next best thing – was a little curious about the ingredients. I read the nutritional packing with some scrutiny and red lights started a-flashin’ when I read the warning “excess consumption may cause a laxative effect”. But, like all things, excess can cause long-lasting effects, no? Moderation, they say wisely. So I threw a little caution – along with a wrapper or two – to the wind because I did, of course, need to eat some of three different bars to tell my little tale of Simply Lite chocolates.

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The good folks from Pure Dark recently gave me a sampling of their goodies to review here on Candy Addict. Sometimes, the candy is just so-so, but Pure Dark blows the rest out of the water. It’s intense and just what dark chocolate should be!

My favorite by far was the Bark Classic. The “bark” is made of pure dark chocolate topped with cherries, roasted almonds, and caramelized nibs. It has the slightest hint of salt that perfectly balances out the intensity of the nibs. Nibs are little pieces of cocoa beans that are roasted and caramelized- but all you really need to know is that they are delicious. Nibs in chocolate = good.They remind me of chocolate covered coffee beans which is a plus if, like me, you’re into good coffee. Nibs are like the root of chocolate.

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It’s nice to take the occasional break from candy-eating and have a chance to try out some new gum. My two packs of Dentyne Pure couldn’t have come at a better time. I had just finished my morning latte and had an appointment with the eye doctor within the hour. I was a little apprehensive about having coffee breath and my mind wandered to all the terrible things people must deal with in their occupations. Massage therapists rubbing on a customer he would rather pay NOT to touch… Podiatrists with a funky-footed patient… an eye doctor treating a patient with medium-bold coffee breath. And now I’m back to reality.
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