Candy Review: Cadbury Chocolate Bars

While on a mission at my local Ralph’s, ostensibly for drinks and cleaning supplies, I decided to make a detour into the candy aisle. I didn’t expect to buy anything, as I’m fond of spending as little as possible, and only tend to indulge in my sweeter passions when they come at a decidedly inexorbitant fee. As it turned out, deviance from my intended path proved unwise. The store was holding a major chocolate sale – and Hershey’s bars weren’t the only discounted items.

Indeed, sweets from all over the world were marked down! Hazelnut-studded Ritter squares from Germany touted their half-priced goodness alongside super-dark French varietals which, even after their markdown, sold for $4.50 apiece. While all of these were tempting, my eyes were drawn to the Cadbury selections. At 4/$3.00, the British candy maker’s offerings were competitively priced with the offerings from Hershey’s and Nestle. How could I resist? Four scrumptious-looking Cadbury bars were on display, and one of each found its way into my basket. Three extraneous dollars later, I was out the door with my British booty.

Arriving home, I arranged the bars before me on the kitchen table and took inventory. My collection, swathed in a wrap of regal purple, included Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, Royal Dark, Fruit & Nut, and Caramello bars. I eagerly opened my first 99-gram (3.5 oz.) bar and bit in.

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Candy Review: Dark Secrets Dark Chocolate Bar

Bloomsberry and Co. Dark Secrets Chocolate Bar

It’s a new year, and don’t you think it’s time to try a dark chocolate from New Zealand? Of course you do. I noticed this black package with a silhouetted girl whispering into a man’s ear. The motto on the front reads: “The Best Secrets are Like Chocolate, Dark and Only Shared with Someone You Can Trust.” Dark Secrets is made by Bloomsberry & Co., and the label describes this bar as being “infused with a delectable sense of humor and superior ingredients.”

I’m not sure I know what a sense of humor tastes like, but I’m willing to learn.

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Candy Review: Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme

Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Cream Bar

(Image from BuhSnarf at Flickr)

The only white chocolate bar that has successfully managed to find a niche in mainstream candy aisles is Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme. Yes, I know there are other products out there like Zero, but they are very regional in distribution.

I am not so sure what makes the Cookies ‘n’ Creme bar all that appealing to the masses, since Americans tend to dislike white chocolate, but for some reason, the adding of cookie pieces (and smartly never advertising itself as white chocolate) has allowed this confection to achieve great success.

The candy debuted in 1994, capitalizing on the cookies and cream flavor craze that began in the eighties when the flavor first materialized in ice cream form.

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Candy Review: Paul Pape Chocomiis

Paul Pape Chocomiis

Last year we brought you news of Paul Pape’s adorable Valentine Chocolate Miis. This year we got the pleasure of reviewing some of the early just-off-the-press samples!

There have been some design changes since last year – apparently, some of the Miis didn’t arrive in great shape, so now they’re on a slab of chocolate to help them stay in one piece. The heart, which last year was a red hot, is now a smaller sugar heart (yay – I hate red hots!). Of course, to a Candy Addict, the most important thing is that they’re still 2 solid ounces of gourmet milk, dark, or white chocolate.

The box is designed to look like the popular Wii game console; in fact, it looks so eerily similar, I’m thinking of sticking it under my TV so all my friends think I have one. Oh, wait, people would actually have to come to my apartment for that to work. OK, I’ll stick it under there so I think I have one.

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Candy Review: Archie McPhee Mints & Maggots

Archie McPhee Gummy Maggots, Green Buddha Mints & Commie Mints

Yesterday I heard words I’ve never heard another human being speak. Ever. Not even Andrew Zimmern. “Mmmm, these maggots are delicious!” Maybe Zimmern has said this, but I’ve never made it more than five minutes into his show before changing channels. I’m more of an Anthony Bourdain guy. But I digress.

From the wacky folks at Archie McPhee I got a package containing Commie Mints, Green Buddha Mints, and Gummy Maggots. Of all the hundreds of items they sell, these are probably among the least interesting, i.e., safest.

The tins each contained roughly 100 chalky white mints the size of baby aspirins. Both the Commies and Buddhas had identical ingredients and were so mild that eating less than six at a time elicited very little minty flavor. I’ll keep the tins and maybe fill ‘em with Altoids or Fisherman’s Friend mints.

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