Among the very few, truly dirt cheap foods still available these days, instant ramen noodles continue their illustrious reign as the quick snack fix king of the grocery aisle. Employing a masterful blend of wheat flour, salt, and various spices along with a top secret chemical preservative mélange, the MSG-amped noodles quell hunger pangs in a pinch with only minimal side effects (if temporary tongue numbness and headaches are, in your estimation, easily dismissible).
While detractors claim that a Ramen-heavy diet can pave the way to a future filled with doctor’s visits, it’s hard to deny the universal appeal of this Asian insta-meal when budgetary concerns and convenient preparation are at the top of your list. Plus, if you’re too lazy to boil water, you can even just eat them straight out of the package for a crunchy salty sensation that will put mere pretzels to shame… or so I’ve heard.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the masterminds behind Komforte Chockolates can relate to this somewhat embarrassing culinary confession all too well given the existence of their 2.5 ounce Savory Ramen chocolate bar. Whether crafted as a nod to the good old days of all nighters and keg parties or created expressly for the tres niche, left-of-center candy lovers market, their wackadoodle offering succeeded in getting my attention.
Upon peeling off the Seattle-based company’s glossy white and vivid pink outer wrapper, I found myself momentarily admiring the compact yet thick 53% dark chocolate bar within. Imprinted with an attractive rippled design, it was easy to see cream-toned flecks of ramen tid bits scattered throughout, especially on the underside.
With a quick flick of my wrist, I snapped a piece off of the bar and then placed it on my tongue so that it could melt slowly. Within two seconds, my taste buds squawked, “What the HELLLL?†but that initial shock quickly subsided when I reviewed the outer wrapper which was entirely forthcoming about its garlic, onion, and soy sauce notes.
When you know what you’re getting yourself into, this admittedly quirky bar is actually half way decent. The onion and garlic are both immediately quite detectable – certainly not the top flavorings you’d think of pairing with an after dinner treat – but still quite palatable in their rich chocolate base.
The longer you allow a piece of Savory Ramen chocolate to melt on your tongue, the more likely you’ll experience a secondary wave of salty soy, which oddly enough is also a-okay. Throw crunchy but easily chewable dehydrated noodles into the mix and the result is a freaky mouth party in which you’ll be continually amused by the fact that you kinda dig this “What-the-flippity-flip?!?!” confection – one that from a literal and sane perspective, anybody in their right mind would probably give the double thumbs down to.
If you choose to crunch your bar (rather than allow it to slowllllly dissolve), you’ll have a far more sedate Komforte Chockolates experience. The ramen flavoring blend won’t be nearly as detectable, and the noodle crunch will be a lot more pronounced, both of which can be a good thing if you’re a candy tasting chicken.
So, who is this bar well suited for? Adventurous foodies, those with a deep affection for the unusual, and anyone who just wants to have a bit of edible fun. The majority of the sugar hounds out there probably wouldn’t keep it in their pile of reliable mainstay confections, but it would be great to have on hand for future dinner parties as a super conversation starter or as a quirky addition to a gift bag.
Treading with caution throughout the journey of life, while soberingly sensible, can result in far too many regrets. Shake things up by trying Komforte Chockolates’ Savory Ramen bar at least once. Whether you love it, hate it, or are rendered entirely puzzled, at least you’ll have another unique experience under your belt and isn’t that what this wacky ride should really be about?
Love your reviews, but yuck. Garlic, onion and soy sauce in my chocolate, no thanks.
April 22nd, 2012 at 2:43 pm