What have we here? The Nestle Grand white Fudge Turtle, a Nestle Signatures treat. I opened up the package to see what looked like a white-chocolate covered Oreo cookie, so I figured we were off to a good start. (That type of Oreo may be one of my favorite things about the Christmas season, so much that I’ve started dipping them myself.) One bite into the turtle, and I was overwhelmed by the flavor of white chocolate. White chocolate is a good taste most of the time, but the thickness of the “white fudge� as they call it, was overwhelming the rest of the flavors of this candy. And it was really a bit too sweet, if you ask me.

The white chocolate layer surrounds another level of milk chocolate containing caramel, pecans, and cashews all tucked into this 2-inch disc. Because so much chocolate covers the turtle, you can’t see its traditional little legs, made of nuts. Which shouldn’t really matter all that much to chocolate fans. Of this turtle, I’d have to say I’m not that much of a fan. I mean, Nestle does okay on this one, though less white fudge would have made for a better premium candy. I think there was just too much confusion among the many competing tastes or flavors, shooting it’s overall score down a few notches.

Nestle, a Switzerland-based chocolatier, first came to us in 1866. For over a century, they’ve been serving up the goods, but the company today does so much more. Bottled water (Mmm, chocolate water might be nice), milk, coffee, seasonings and pet food make up its diverse product lines. But remarkably, the company got its start in baby foods. The Nestle Grand White Fudge Turtle isn’t for kids—that’s for sure. They would be prone to a sugar rush that could last for days on end. Keep this far from your children, or they are liable to suffer a tummy ache from the sickly sweetness.

Tags: Nestle, milk chocolate, fudge candy, caramel chocolate, sweets

The Crown Jewels brand has been perfecting the truffle since 1992, and the company assembles chocolate-covered mint, cherry, orange, raspberry, creamy caramel candies and more out of its Salt Lake City, Utah manufacturer. With eight pieces in a box and each one individually wrapped, Crown Jewels Mint Chocolate Truffles are, as the box says, delicious. Each rectangular truffle is about half the size of your normal “fun size� candy bar. But unlike your run-of-the-mill candy bar, this chocolate really has a sophisticated, gourmet taste. I bit into my first Crown Jewels truffle loving the milk chocolate outside but adoring the creamy, cool taste of melt-away mint chocolate cream inside. I’d compare it to the types of candy you get in a heart-shaped box on Valentine’s Day. You want to eat them all at once, but you hate the thought of finishing the box so much that you always save some for later. And eating the last filled candy is the most painful, because then it’s all over.

I think it’s appropriate to eat this candy in several bites to get the most out of it, but you can down the whole thing in one bite if you’d rather. Whatever you do, just try these. They are, as the brand states, crown jewels, and a cut above the competition. The only thing I disagree with is the company’s on-the-box claim that the chocolates are “individually wrapped in beautiful foil.� Whether or not that’s important, I’d have to say that there is nothing beautiful about the foil wrapping on these truffles. In fact, the mint green wrappers are quite plain, without any design or even a brand name on the packaging. (Some of Crown Jewels products do have the name—it just depends on what type of box you buy.) Pretty nondescript, but these make great basket fillers or stocking stuffers. It’s a good thing we all learned not to judge a book by its cover or a candy by its outer shell. You don’t want to miss out on this sensational sweet treat in the chocolate truffle industry.

Tags: mint chocolate, milk chocolate, truffle candy, creamy candy, sweets

Only Hershey can attempt something like remaking the classic cordial—and pull it off with a bang!  I first say and tried these chocolates last year around the holiday season, and absolutely loved them.  Let me tell you why…

Hershey has tried many variations to their original Kisses, such as Kisses with almonds, Caramel Kisses, Hugs, Dark Kisses, the recent Hershey Kissables, and the Limited Edition filled with Cherry Cordial Crème.  Hershey Kisses have been around for a century already!  But this limited edition item is one of my favorites.  Now, don’t expect a big, juicy cherry in the middle of this one like other cordials (it’s way too small!)  This cordial is filled with the cherry filling that comes with the usual cherry, only with a slight variation.  Though it may be lacking the cherry, I must tell you that this filling has a much thicker consistency, and is creamier than probably any other brand of cordials.  This turns into a big plus if you don’t particularly appreciate the runniness and stickiness of other, bigger cordials.

My favorite attribute of the Hershey Kisses Cherry Cordials is that they are bite-sized and ready for people like me who are always on the go.  Other cordials come in a much larger size and are not individually-wrapped.  Hershey’s Cordials are individually wrapped like all of their other kisses, so they are easy for grab-and-go kind of people.  Not to mention their handy white ribbon that pokes out of the top and is a signature of Kisses also makes it easy to unwrap the colorful foil.  The second and probably my favorite characteristic of these cherry Kisses is that they’re small enough to fit in your mouth without having the cherry liquid dripping everywhere!  Bigger cordials are certainly a mouthful, but Kisses Cordials are a more pleasant bite size.  Their size also makes them less overwhelming, so you can eat them more often without getting sick of them.

Do you know why Hershey Kisses are called kisses?  Well, no one knows for sure, but some claim that the name came about from the sound and motion that the machines make while they dip down to drop an exact amount of chocolate onto a moving belt.  People claim that it actually looks like the machine is kissing the belt before it drops a delectable surprise on it.  Another fun fact?  Hershey Kisses were originally hand-wrapped!  Imagine hand-wrapping millions of tiny chocolate Kisses today…  Ouch.

Thus, Hershey’s latest creation of Cordial Kisses is a very satisfying and bite-sized (not to mention convenient) version of the classic Cordial.  They were originally made as a holiday limited edition.  This year they were available around Valentine’s Day.  However, for now they are still considered a limited edition item, so get ‘em while they’re hot!  This favorite may not be around for long.  (Visit www.hersheys.com/kisses for more information and fun facts!)

Tags: Hershey Kisses, milk chocolate, cherry filled candy, bite size candy,  sweets

If Heaven came down to earth in the form of a candy, it would be called the Lindor Truffle. Every little bit of this treat is pleasing to the taste buds. Rolled up in a round ball of chocolaty goodness, Lindor Truffles may very well be the best ball of milk chocolate ever made. Once you put the ball in you mouth, you are introduced to a taste that is unequaled by any other candy. First, there is a thick chocolate coating that your teeth have to bust through before you can get to the other piece of goodness. The outer shell is almost as good as what’s inside, which is a delicious glob of creamy nougat.

I know…sounds awesome, right?

But it’s even better than it sounds. The nougat is chocolate, too. This candy is just chock-full of chocolate that you won’t be able to resist after you eat one. Even if you’ve never had one, the candy will call your name if you’re just looking at it in the store. What chocolate lover can resist something called a “chocolate truffle�? Those two words together are like music to any desert-lover’s ears. The buttery texture of the truffle awaiting on the inside makes you want to eat the whole box. Because of the amount of sugar and calories in each Lindor Truffle, these are treats that are best left for a “once in a while� desert. Maybe you can use them as a means of celebration or reward. But with their awesome taste, you will want to celebrate and reward yourself as often as you can. The packaging of each individual treat lends itself to a gift-like desert. The shiny foil wrapped around the spherical candy is fun to unwrap which only makes it harder to resist. Once a Lindor Truffle is in your hand, it is futile to even try to resist its temptations.

Chocolate truffles are a favorite desert treat all over the world and have been since their creation in the 1980s. Each culture has a different way that they prepare truffles, but one thing is consistent among the cultural creations – creamy goodness. You will not be disappointed with Lindt’s variation, either. The company produces several different flavors for their chocolates and truffles, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, hazelnut, and so on.

Tags: Lindt, milk chocolate, chocolate truffles, creamy candy, sweets

I bit into this piece of candy not knowing what to expect. I’d never heard of the Annabelle’s candy company before trying their most popular Rocky Road variety. I was hesitant about the first bite because I’m not a big fan of marshmallow, which is what the center is entirely made of. But I was pleasantly surprised. Annabelle’s Rocky Road is a chocolate covered marshmallow treat with cashews on the inside, although I didn’t notice any in my piece. That’s just as well, though, because the minty green marshmallow was enough to get me hooked. There’s just something about the combination of chocolate, mint and marshmallow that I couldn’t resist. It was a very soft chew which is something that I’m always looking for with my candy. I don’t really like crunchy treats or candy that crunches too much, so the marshmallow was just an added bonus to the minty chocolate taste. And with only 45 calories and 2 grams of fat per piece, I think I’m going to the store today to buy a few more.

After eating this, I wanted to find out more about the company to see what other treats they make. The Annabelle Candy Company has actually been around for a long time. A Russian immigrant who wanted to make some of the best candy that the country had seen started it. The company took off in 1950 from San Francisco and was named after the immigrant’s daughter, Annabelle. When he died in 1971, the control of the company was to Annabelle. Currently, her children run the company and it is one of the largest independently owned candy manufacturers in the country.

What’s even better than that? The candy made by Annabelle’s Candy Company continues to be made by hand. What company still does that? You can be sure that your Annabelle’s candy is made with quality products and each piece is handled carefully. It’s almost like each piece was created just for you. Since the company’s beginning, they have also added other flavors and creations, all involving the best chocolate products and treats that are sure to please any candy-lover’s taste buds.

Tags: dark chocolate,  marshmallow candy, mint chocolate, Rocky Road, sweets

 

I have seen these oddly-shaped packages in the stores, but I never thought about trying one. One of the allures of a Toblerone, though, is the packaging. Instead of a traditional candy bar wrapper, Toblerones come in long, slender triangular cardboard package. It definitely stands out from the candies surrounding it on the shelf. Even more, the lettering on the box is raised. If you run your finger across it, you can feel the letters that spell out “Toblerone.� The color scheme is also interesting. A yellow box with maroon lettering immediately draws your attention away from the normal candy bars around it. The quality of the packaging is indicative of what you will find inside. I opened one end and pulled the candy bar out, which was wrapped in typical candy bar foil for freshness and quality. The actual candy bar is made up of little chocolate triangles that are held together by a strip of chocolate which seems to replicate the mountain scenery of the Switzerland mountain ranges. Part of the fun of eating a Toblerone is that you can break off a triangle at a time to eat it.

The taste of Toblerones is as high of a quality as you would expect from candy made in Switzerland. First, the chocolate is tasty. It’s got a different taste than the normal chocolate candy bars that I am used to eating. It could be because of the honey and almonds on the inside. I like the combination of chocolate and almonds, so this was a pleasant surprise. I normally don’t like to read the ingredients before trying a new candy so I can be hit with the flavor without expectations. But I can safely say the Toblerone greatly exceeded what I expected with the honey and nougat mixed into the chocolate pieces. The almonds and honey are not overwhelming, leaving the chocolate to be the main focus.

Since Toblerones are made in Switzerland with Swiss milk chocolate, you can be sure that each candy bar is made with the best quality products available. According to their website, they are made with the best of ingredients that are imported from all over the world.

 

Anyone who is a true chocolate connoisseur will know what I’m talking about when it comes to the pure real taste of Droste Pastilles. These chocolates don’t waste time with gimmicks or anything like that. They get to the point. They are one of the chocolate treats out there that are so sophisticated it’s takes a certain type of person out there who likes these to keep coming back for more. Know this isn’t the kind of chocolate you gobble down. No that would be rude and out of form. You take your time with these imported chocolates. Like spices from around the world, you don’t slap them on and chomp away. Nay. You take your time. Like making love to your taste buds, these Droste Pastilles have the same effect. They are the chocolate that is taking it’s time. Much like the way it is manufactured for greatness. The men and women of Holland are not throwing gallons of bad chocolate beans into the mixer. They are carefully and calmly treating every piece as if it is their last. That is how they take care of their of their chocolate over there. It is looked after like a small infant, preparing for the world.

Droste is the name that brings people to their knees. When you hear this name you know you are getting nothing short of perfection. I’m not joking folks, this chocolate is one of the best out there. If not one of the best, thee best! I say that with a full heart. And confidence on my side. Have you ever had Droste? Have you? NO?! What is the matter with you. This should be kept a secret. Everyone in the world should know about the glorious wonder that is Droste. They are the chocolate that has been sought after by kings and queens since it’s inception. How could you have missed the eighth wonder of the world. That is how amazing this chocolate is! And not only do they come in different types like Dark Chocolate, and Milk chocolate and so many other flavors my fingers ache when I try to type them. You must seek out this treasure immediately and pass on the knowledge of this divine treat to everyone you come into contact with! Quit reading go find it! NOW!

You know the name. You have come to depend on its power. On its ability to make you weak in the knees. It has dominated the chocolate confection world for decades. It’s the raw power that can move mountains and stop wars. To make the angels in heaven stop in their tracks. It was the gift from the divine powers above to the little creatures that inhabit this planet. This could only be one thing. It is, Hershey! Hershey has been around longer than any other candy manufacturing name in the world. It has outlasted every other competitor and struck them down with a mighty blow! It has given you the milk chocolate collaborations that take everything the past had to offer and thrown it in the idea machine and come out with some of the most amazing candy bars we as miniscule consumers have used in our every holiday from new years to Christmas. It is in every store in every shop in every home in the world. This is the magnitude of the name Hershey. It has stamped it’s name in the history books and refuses to stop giving us new ideas and creations.

For example here is the  Hershey’s Raspberries ‘N’ Crème. Not only do you have the rich milk chocolate perfected over the decades of practice, but you’ve have got their white chocolate (which is perfection to say the least. I am more of a white chocolate person anyway so this is two times the treat) and they have mixed it with raspberries. Now these are not artificial raspberries, this contains “real raspberry fruit bits� and they are not joking when they say this. I have had to pick out a couple of raspberries out of my teeth, only to put it back in my mouth. I know it’s gross, but I love it. I love every creation Hershey has to offer to us. They are my favorite, hands down, the best chocolate candy bar manufacturing company in the world. All hail the greatness of Hershey! I am not worthy of your awesome power. I have already consumed the entire Hershey’s Raspberries ‘N’ Crème bar that I opened before writing this blog about it. I couldn’t help it, and the bad part is I WANT MORE! I could eat more. But I don’t know if it’s smart. You see what it does to me, I’m going crazy!

 

 

 

Foil. The perfect choice for wrapping chocolate. Whatever shape the chocolate (heart, star or bunny), foil has the ability to perfectly cover and address the chocolate’s entire surface. And it is inevitable that every object will be created in chocolate at some point in time. Chocolate people, chocolate roses, chocolate shopping carts. And then there are the more elaborate chocolate creations: Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge.

A bit less complicated but no less endearing are chocolate foil-wrapped sports balls. These ¾-inch diameter chocolate orbs are solid milk chocolate and are indistinguishable from one another if not for their foil wrappers. They come in six varieties: footballs, soccer balls, tennis balls, baseballs, golf balls and basketballs. If there is a more perfect gift for athletes, coaches or sports fans around the holidays (other than tickets to the big match), I fail to know what that might be. No matter how small the gesture, giving milk chocolate sports balls are, nevertheless, a thoughtful way to tell someone “go get ‘em� before the big game. Not being an athlete myself, I know that I’d still love to receive tiny chocolates that were molded and foil-covered to appeal to my interests. A foil laptop, for instance, would be a joy to consume. I’m sure I’d also get some kicks from eating a chocolate foil-covered Space Needle (being that Seattle is my favorite city) or a chocolate-covered Reality TV show…not that I know how that could happen. The nature of this candy is such that you’d most likely buy it for a gift, and not for yourself. Imagine the joyful look on the face of your beloved sports fan, coach or athlete to receive such a personalized gift that’s not only fashionable, but succulent as well. Whatever the occasion, you’ll “hit a home run�* with these chocolate sports balls.

*Insert triumphant sports term of your choice here.

A true chocolate lover knows no bounds. A true chocolate connoisseur knows the history and origin of their beloved confection. A true chocolate fiend will try chocolate of any variety - milk, dark, rich, light, white, bitter, sweet, bittersweet. From the usual, to the unusual, the known and the unknown. A true choco-holic will listen very closely to what I have to say.

Chocolate, any chocolate originates from the cacao bean - pronounced “ka-kow” not “co-co”. The scientific name for the cacao tree is “Theobrama cacao” which, when translated, means “food of the gods”. Many years ago, these precious, fragrant beans were so highly prized they were used as currency by the Aztecs - a rabbit sold for 10 cacao beans and a mule for 50 cacao beans. Back then, the beans were dried and left to ferment in the sun for several days. The fermented beans were then ground into a powder, water or milk was added along with cinnamon and chili peppers and the concoction was drunk. It was said to have great medicinal value and it was a rare and delicious treat.

Today, chocolate is a lost art form. Many people only appreciate the milk variety of chocolate, but we chocolate connoisseurs know that the beauty, grace and true delectable nature lies in that of dark chocolate. Hershey’s now makes a line of products known as “Cacao Reserve”. Delicious to the last bite, this tempting delicacy feature a 65% cacao strength. The higher the percentage, the more intense and flavorful the chocolate is. 65% is wonderful by any standard and this chocolate is no exception. It is bold, intense and fragrant. The chocolate stays on your tongue long after it has melted and is reminiscent of coffee. This particular bar features cacao “nibs” which are small coarse pieces of the actual cacao bean. They add a delightful crunch to the bar and make for an even more flavorful chocolate treat. This is not a bar you just “chomp”; rather it is a bar to savor. Very dark chocolate goes well with a fine dessert wine, or even a glass of milk. This chocolate can be used for baking or just as a way to treat yourself. This is truly one of the most delicious confections I have tasted in years.