Tcho Dark Chocolate Chocolate Squares Disappoint!

The Good: Good ingredients, Accurately captures the promised flavor
The Bad: Expensive, Bitter, with a dry aftertaste more akin to a baker's chocolate than a dessert chocolate.
The Basics: Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolates are disappointing in that they have a high cacao content with little flavor or enjoyment to be derived from consuming them.


When it comes to exceptionally dark chocolate, I find there to be a difficult balance to find in getting an accurate flavor for the dark chocolate and making a treat actually worth consuming. Far too often, I encounter dark chocolates that are far too milky and fail to live up to the promise of their dark chocolate flavor. Only once in a long while do I encounter a dark chocolate that is more like a baker's chocolate - bitter and unpleasant - than an actual consumable confection. The Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolate squares are one of the rare examples of the latter problem.

Basics

Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolate squares are one and 1/2” squares of chocolate that are 3/16” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a dark brown and gold foil wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Tcho chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is a milk chocolate patty with an artistic grid filigree stamped into the top.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the plastic wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The Dark Chocolate Tcho squares smell exceptionally strongly of cacao. Anyone who loves dark chocolate will instantly recognize the aroma of strong, dark chocolate undiluted by the milk chocolate medium or additional sweeteners that most inexpensive chocolates are hampered by. The aroma is akin to baker's chocolate.

In the mouth, the Tcho Dark Chocolate squares are dry and surprisingly sweet compared to the aroma. The initial sweetness fades within seconds to an obvious bitterness that accompanies very dark chocolates with high cacao content. Unfortunately, the Tcho Dark Chocolate lack any real depth of flavor or subtlety; these are dry and bitter with little pizazz. These might as well be baker's chocolate for their flavor.

There is a heavily bitter aftertaste to the Dark Chocolate chocolate squares, which leaves the mouth dry and robs the delight from any part of the flavor experience.

Nutrition

The Dark Chocolate chocolate squares are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Tcho chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are cacao beans, cane sugar and cocoa butter. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable in these candies.

A serving of the Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolate squares is considered a single square and while there is nothing bad in them, they are not exactly loaded with nutrients.

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they may contain trace amounts of tree nuts.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Ours did not have an expiration date that I could find. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Tcho Dark Chocolate chocolate squares are a good example of a dark chocolate with a high percentage of cacao, but a low appeal based on their flavor and expense.

For other chocolate reviews, please check out:
Lindt Red Velvet Lindor Truffles
Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares
Green & Black's Pure Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao chocolate bars

4/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark Is Fun!

The Good: Good flavor, Decent ingredients
The Bad: Not exactly nutritious.
The Basics: Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark is a flavorful limited edition chocolate square worth trying and makes the consumer wish it was around year round!


I am not, honestly, a huge fan of chocolate and fruit flavors. That said, every now and then I pick something up that is fruit-flavored and chocolate and it turns out to be wonderful and I love it. Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares are one of those products!

Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark is pretty delicious and is a limited edition flavor of Ghirardelli chocolate that Ghirardelli released for Valentine's Day.

Basics

Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares are one and a half inch squares of chocolate that are about three-eighths inches thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a white and pink foil wrapper with hearts on it. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a chocolate patty which has milk chocolate on the bottom and white chocolate with Strawberry flakes in it on the upper half of the confection. In this form, the 5.4 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has thirteen squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with only thirteen squares, tends to run in the $6.00 range, before the end-of-the-season sales.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares.

Taste

The Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark smells powerfully of strawberry. The scent is strong and inviting. There is no hint of chocolate in the bouquet of these chocolate squares.

The Strawberry Bark tastes sweet and chocolatey. The fruit flavor actually dominates the chocolate squares. The strawberry flavor is delicious and plays off the chocolate better than something like chocolate covered strawberries; there is no sourness to these chocolates, like can happen with real strawberries. The white chocolate portion of the Strawberry Bark is incredibly mild. The strawberry flavor holds its own with the milk chocolate in these chocolate squares and these taste delightful as a result.

The Strawberry Bark has a slight, very sweet, aftertaste to it that does not endure in the mouth very long after the last of these are consumed.

Nutrition

These are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Ghirardelli chocolate squares are surprisingly good, though, which is probably why they are more expensive than many mass-produced chocolates. The primary ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter and whole milk powder. Still, there is nothing unpronounceable in these candies.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares is one square. From a single square, one takes in 70 calories, with 4.5 grams of fat. There is no cholesterol and subtle amounts of sodium, Potassium and Iron. Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they are produced on the same equipment that peanuts pass over. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. The package I bought on clearance after Valentine's Day would not have expired until Halloween, had I not eaten them first. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. Given that they are individually wrapped in a very sealed package, it is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark is a pleasant combination of chocolate and strawberry flavoring that manages to land . . . even with someone like me, who is much more of a fan of dark chocolate and mint flavors.

For other Ghirardelli products, please check out my reviews of:
Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee Chocolate Squares
Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Squares
Intense Dark Cabernet Matinee

7/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my Food Review Index Page!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee Chocolate Squares Delight!

The Good: Good flavor, Good ingredients
The Bad: Not exactly nutritious, I wouldn't pay full price for them . . .
The Basics: The new, limited edition, Valentine's Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are flavorful and worthwhile!


I love Valentine's Day . . . for the after-holiday sales. I'm not a huge fan of the Hallmark style holiday (I have an anniversary to glorify my love for my wife!); so getting the treats from the holiday afterwords for half price is a much bigger deal to me than the actual Valentine's Day. This year, I stopped at Target after the holiday and I picked up a bunch of Valentine's Day candies. One of the most exciting candies I picked up this year was a bag of Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares.

Basics

Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are one and 13/16” squares of chocolate that are 1/4” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a light pink foil wrapper with gold hearts. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a white chocolate patty with tiny flecks of additives that are reminiscent of cookie pieces with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 4.8 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has fourteen squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with only fourteen squares, tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is not at all prohibitively priced.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the plastic wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee Ghirardelli squares smell incredibly like white chocolate. The white chocolate aroma is strong and aromatic. There is a hint of cinnamon in the scent of the Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares.

In the mouth, Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares taste potently of white chocolate. The cinnamon and caramel flavor comes out in the Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares as the white chocolate melts away. The Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares feature a crunchy additive that bears the flavor of the creme brulee; the white chocolate is smooth and creamy opposite the caramel and cinnamon crunchy pieces.

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares have a slight, sweet, milky aftertaste.

Nutrition

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are candy, so they are not intended to fill in nutritional gaps one might have. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter, and whole milk powder. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable, in the White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares.

A serving of the Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares is a single square. From a square, one takes in 60 calories. There is no cholesterol and 20 mg of Calcium. There is only a negligible amount of Sodium (10 mg) and no other vitamins or minerals are truly represented!

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee squares are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they may contain trace amounts of tree nuts. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing. The bag I purchased on clearance following Valentine's Day had an expiration date of November 30, 2018.

As for cleanup, just throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places and you're done! Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are surprisingly good, even for those who like dark chocolate, as a flavorful alternative to the norm!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares
Cinnamon Crunch
Sublime White Vanilla Dream White Chocolate With Vanilla Beans

7.5/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Intriguing, But Not Indispensible, Lindt Red Velvet White Chocolate Lindor Truffles Are Fun!

The Good: Good white chocolate flavor, Generally decent ingredients
The Bad: Not the most distinct flavor, Limited edition nature makes them hard to find/potentially expensive
The Basics: The Lindt Red Velvet White Chocolate Lindor truffles are an interesting Valentine's Day exclusive truffle that shake things up for those who love white chocolate.


"Red Velvet" seems to rapidly be becoming one of those trendy flavors that products are produced with the coloring and name in mind, as opposed to the actual flavor. Red velvet cakes seem to have a wide variety of recipes, but the most consistent seem to be cakes that have a high cinnamon content and I most frequently find them with cream cheese style frostings. In that fashion, Lindt Red Velvet White Chocolate Lindor Truffles manage to live up on more than just the coloring front. But next to an actual red velvet cake, these truffles are comparatively mild.

Basics

Lindt Lindor Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles are one of the newest chocolate truffles from the Swiss chocolatiers Lindt & Sprungli and their U.S.-based subsidiary. Each truffle is a one inch sphere of white chocolate with a shell about an eighth of an inch thick. This shell covers a thick red-brown chocolate and cinnamon flavored ganache ball inside. Each of the truffles comes individually wrapped in a dark maroon foil wrapper, which is very easy to distinguish from other Lindt Lindor truffles. While I usually rail against the environmental impact of individually-wrapped candies, it is hard to imagine Lindt Lindor truffles not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each Lindor Truffle is a sphere with a seam at the hemisphere that is essentially a white chocolate globe sealing in a soft creamy ball inside. Currently sold individually (at approximately $.75/ea), by the pound or in various-sized limited edition packs outside the Lindt retail stores, Red Velvet White Chocolate Lindor truffles are a seasonally-available truffle.

Ease of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as unwrapping the foil wrapper around the actual chocolate truffles. There is no special way to unwrap or eat Lindt Lindor Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles; it's not like baking a red velvet cake from scratch!

Taste

Opening the wrapper from the Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles, the strong, creamy scent of white chocolate bursts forth from the wrapper. The aroma of white chocolate is very inviting for anyone who loves that style of chocolate. The bouquet of the Red Velvet White Chocolate does not hint at anything more than white chocolate.

The white chocolate coating of the Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles is thick, sweet and creamy without being at all waxy. The strength of the white chocolate overwhelms even the hint at any other flavor hiding inside. As the white chocolate melts away, there is a flavor much like cream cheese that comes to the forefront. As that flavor transitions, the Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles take on a more cinnamon flavor. The cinnamon and mild chocolate flavor finish the truffle well, but the white chocolate definitely dominates the flavor of these truffles.

The Red Velvet White Chocolate lindor truffles leaves a creamy aftertaste in the mouth, which endures for several minutes after the last truffle is consumed.

Nutrition

The Red Velvet White Chocolate Lindt Lindor truffles are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Lindt Lindor truffles are made of good ingredients, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are white chocolate, vegetable oil and sugar. There is nothing unpronounceable in these candies, which is something I have come to expect from Lindt.

A serving of the Lindt Lindor Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles is three truffles. From a single serving, one consumes 220 calories, 17 grams of fat. There are twenty-five milligrams of Sodium and 5 mg cholesterol in these truffles. This flavor is devoid of any vitamins. There are two grams of protein, 65 mg Calcium (6% RDA), 85 mg Potassium (2% RDA) in each serving.

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they are produced on the same equipment that peanuts (and tree nuts) pass over. They are marked as kosher (dairy), but not gluten-free.

Storage/Clean-up

The Lindt Lindor Red Velvet White Chocolate truffles remain fresh for quite some time. However, they ought to be kept in a cool environment between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Kept in such an environment, the truffles we bought a couple of days ago would have lasted until August 31, 2018.

As for cleanup, throw the wrappers in the garbage and that is all of the cleanup needed! Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these truffles melt into most fabrics, they will stain. For that style of clean-up, be sure to consult a fabric guide for whatever you stained.

Overall

The Lindt Red Velvet White Chocolate Lindor Truffles are flavorful and interesting, though it is hardly a flavor I'd hunt down as vigorously as some of the other Lindt seasonal truffles!

For other Lindt treats, please check out my reviews of:
Extra Dark Peppermint Lindor Truffles
Intense Orange Dark Chocolate Squares
70% Cocoa Almond Brittle Chocolate Bars

5/10

For other food reviews, please check out my Food Review Index Page!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Satisfying Dark Chocolate, Could Use A Little More Mint: Lindt Extra Dark Peppermint Lindor Truffles!

The Good: Excellent dark chocolate flavor, Decent bulking, Generally good peppermint flavor.
The Bad: A little less minty than I would like!
The Basics: The Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Peppermint truffles are very close to a perfect treat for those who love dark chocolate and mint candies!


I am a huge fan of chocolate mint. In fact, I am such a big fan of dark chocolate mint products that I lament that in recent years several candy makers use that flavor as a limited edition, seasonal flavor. A few years ago, Lindt released a limited edition Dark Mint truffle (reviewed here!). Last year, I pleasantly discovered that Lindt had stepped up their game with their Extra Dark Peppermint Truffles! And while the Extra Dark Peppermint truffles are a step up from the lighter Dark Mint truffle, the extremely dark nature of the chocolate overwhelms the mint additive.

Basics

Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Peppermint truffles are a limited edition chocolate from the Swiss chocolatiers Lindt & Sprungli and their U.S.-based subsidiary! Each truffle is a one inch sphere of chocolate with a shell about an eighth of an inch thick. This shell covers a thick chocolate mint ball inside. Each of the truffles comes individually wrapped in a very dark green and white and red striped foil wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Lindt Lindor truffles not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each Lindor Truffle is a sphere with a seam at the hemisphere that is essentially a chocolate globe sealing in a near-solid chocolate ball inside. The individually-wrapped truffles are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag or a box of one hundred.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag or box and then opening one of the plastic wrappers around the actual chocolate truffles one wishes to eat. There is no surprise way to unwrap or eat Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Peppermint truffles, though I certainly recommend unwrapping the truffles before eating them.

Taste

The Extra Dark Peppermint Lindt Lindor Truffles smell satisfyingly of peppermint. The aroma is present, but slightly muted, which makes sense given the high cocoa content of these truffles. They are not simply peppermint and do not smell like they are.

The Lindt Extra Dark Peppermint Lindor Truffles are powerfully chocolate-flavored. The dryness of the chocolate is strong and inviting. There is not even a hint of waxiness in the dark chocolate coating of these truffles. As the dry, dark shell melts away, the peppermint hits inside. The peppermint is infused with a sweetness that is broken up by the dark chocolate medium in the center. That keeps the peppermint from fully manifesting its distinctive cold, minty properties. The dark chocolate flavor dominates; the mint flavor supplements in this candy.

The Extra Dark Peppermint truffles leave a fairly dry cocoa aftertaste in the mouth when the last of it is consumed. The dry flavor endures for about five minutes after the last of the candy is gone.

Nutrition

These are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Lindt Lindor truffles are surprisingly good, though, which is probably why they are more expensive than mass-produced chocolates. The primary ingredients are sugar, vegetable oil and cocoa butter. Still, there is (I was quite surprised) nothing unpronounceable in these candies.

A serving of the Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Peppermint truffles is considered three balls. From three truffles, one consumes 230 calories, 170 of those calories being from fat. There is less than five milligrams of cholesterol, a minimal amount of sodium (20 mg), but no vitamins in these truffles. There is, however, 2% of one's daily iron and 4% of one's daily calcium in three spheres, so they have some nutritional merit.

These are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition is out of luck. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they are produced on the same equipment that peanuts (and tree nuts) pass over. They are marked as kosher, but not gluten-free.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Peppermint truffles remain fresh for quite some time. However, even the bag notes they ought to be kept in a cool environment between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Kept in such an environment, these would have remained fresh until May 31, 2018, had I not eaten them up by the end of January! Given that they are individually wrapped in a very sealed package, it is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, throw the wrappers in the garbage and you've done 95% of the clean-up! Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these truffles melt into most fabrics, they will stain. For that style of clean-up, be sure to consult a fabric guide for whatever you stained.

Overall

The Extra Dark Peppermint Lindt Lindor Truffles are quite good, but just shy of perfection because they lack a peppermint flavor equal to the dark chocolate flavor!

For other Lindt Lindor Truffles, please check out my reviews of:
Fudge Swirl
Sea Salt
Lindt Spring Lindor Truffles

9/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page for a full listing of all I have currently reviewed!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Utterly Average: Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels Candy Bars.

The Good: Does not taste bad, All right ingredients, Affordable
The Bad: Not particularly flavorful, Not superlative in any way
The Basics: Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate bars are worth trying once, but hard to want to stock up on or try a second time.


Late last year, it made the news that Hershey's was releasing its first new candy bar in more than two decades. So, as the new year begins, I figured it was about time to try it. Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bars are the first new candy bar since, it appears, I graduated from high school. And given that amount of time, I would have figured Hershey's would have made a candy bar that felt indispensable. Sadly, the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels is not that candy bar. The Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bars are all right, but not exceptional in any way.

Basics

Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate candies are a full-sized candy that is made up of nine connected segments. A full candy bar is five and three-eighths inches long, two and one-eighth inches wide and one-quarter inches thick. Each of the bars comes individually wrapped in a tan plastic wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine these Hershey's chocolate candies not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

The 1.4 oz. Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bar tends to run in the $1.00 range. These are an average-priced candy bar!

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the wrapper. There is no grand secret to eating Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate candy. The bar has nine segments and they easily snap apart.

Taste

Each Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bar smells like peanut butter. There is no real aroma of chocolate in the bouquet of the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bars.

The Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candies taste sweet, like creamy caramel to begin with. The light caramel chocolate melts away to reveal the saltier, crispy flavor from the pretzels. The broken up peanuts in the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels bar manifests more as a texture than a flavor, adding a little more salt and solidity to the soft, creamy bar. The flavors of caramel and salt dominate the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bars.

The Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candies leave a slightly sweet, mostly salty, aftertaste in the mouth after the last of the bar is consumed. The salty and sweet aftertaste lasts for several minutes after the bar is consumed, but it is not at all unpleasant.

Nutrition

The Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate bars are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being overly nutritious. The primary ingredients in the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bars are sugar, vegetable oil and skim milk. There is nothing unpronounceable in these candies, save in - ironically - the enriched bleached flour!

A serving of the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate candy is considered an entire 39 gram candy bar. From a full bar, one takes in 220 calories, with 14 grams of fat. There is virtually no cholesterol (5 mg in a full serving), surprisingly little sodium (85 mg of Sodium - 4% RDA), and there are no vitamins in these chocolate candy. There is, surprisingly enough, 3 grams of protein and 2% RDA of Potassium in a serving.

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they have peanuts in them. These are not marked as kosher and they are not (apparently) gluten-free.

Storage/Clean-up

The bars of Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate candy remain fresh for quite some time. The bars of Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolates we picked up a few weeks ago had an expiration date of September 2018, so they have a pretty decent shelf life. Given that these are chocolate and pretzels, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. Because they are individually wrapped in a very sealed package, it is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, one need only throw out the plastic wrapper in the garbage to clean up after the Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels chocolate bars. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these candies melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt is fairly easy, though.

Overall

Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels candy bars are nothing special, but they are not bad, either.

For other Hershey's candy reviews, please check out my reviews of:
Reese's White Peanut Butter Cups
Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Stuffed With Pieces
Cadbury Caramel Egg

5/10

For other chocolate reviews, please visit my Chocolate Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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End Middle: Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bars Are About Average!

The Good: Interesting flavor, Wonderful quality, Does not melt easily, Good company!
The Bad: Comparatively expensive, Melts fairly easily, Comparatively expensive
The Basics: The Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bars do not effectively bring out the banana flavor, but the quality of the chocolate and eventual peanut butter flavor keep it from being a total loss!


All good things come to an end . . . and for me, the stockpile of Wild Ophelia chocolates my wife gave me is now at an end. My collection of chocolates is completed with a bar of Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana. And, in some ways, it is sad for me to end on . . . not so much a downbeat as it is an unfulfilled promise. The Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bar is made of predictably wonderful chocolate - all Wild Ophelia products I've had have a high-quality of chocolate - and the peanut butter flavor does manifest, but the bananas in this chocolate bar are thoroughly underwhelming and the peanut butter is more of an aftertaste than a primary flavor.

Basics

The Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bar is a solid dark chocolate bar from Wild Ophelia. Each 2 oz. chocolate bar is wrapped in a cardboard wrapper. Inside the cardboard case is a thick metallic plastic wrapper (with a seam resembling a Pop Tart more than a chocolate bar). The actual chocolate bar is 4 1/2” long by 2 13/16” wide by 1/4” thick. The Bar has no identifying marks or logos on it, but it is segmented to make four 1 1/8” wide by 2 13/16” long bars. The top features ribbing that give the bar a very Art Deco look that is distinctive.

The chocolate is firm, dark and not at all waxy; this is a high-quality chocolate bar. Individually, the bars are found in the $5.99 range. Given the lack of banana flavoring in them, that makes these bars seems just a little expensive for their price.

Ease Of Preparation

Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bars are chocolate; preparing them is as easy as unwrapping the candy bar. Because the chocolate is a premium chocolate product, I recommend eating this a little at a time, not just biting right into the bar.

Taste

The Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bars smell like peanut butter and and, more mildly, of chocolate. The aroma from this candy bar is fairly strong and the peanut butter scent is definitely the dominant scent from this bar.

In the mouth, the Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bar tastes sweet. The sugary flavor in the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bar develops into a milky, chocolate flavor that is creamy and more deep than a simple candy bar. The peanut butter in the chocolate bars is comparatively mild and the chocolate overwhelms that flavor in most bites. The banana in the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bar manifests more readily as a texture than a flavor, but it adds a sweetness to the bites that possess the banana. While some of the bites of the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bar have the flavoring of the peanut butter in them, none in my bar tasted distinctly of banana. The chocolate bar is very sweet and the chocolate is distinct and good, but the two promised flavors within the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bar are nowhere near as distinct.

The Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bar has a peanut butter aftertaste to it, which is interesting given how mild the peanut butter flavor is within the bar itself.

Nutrition

Wild Ophelia makes their fine chocolates with quality ingredients, which is arguably why the range in price in the real world and online is a bit more than other chocolate bars! With the primary ingredients being milk chocolate, peanut butter, and dried bananas, the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bars are a candy bar, not a legitimate source of nutrition needed to survive. That said, Wild Ophelia uses natural ingredients and organic ingredients where possible; none of the ingredients are unpronounceable. In a full 56 gram serving (2 ounce), there are 300 calories, 180 of which are from fat. This represents 32% of one's RDA of fat (53% of the RDA of saturated fat). Each bar has 70 mg of Sodium (which is low considering there is peanut butter and sea salt in these candy bars) and 5 grams of protein. There is a smattering of Vitamin A and Calcium (2% and 8% RDA, each) and a decent amount of Iron (20% RDA), but no other vitamins and minerals. In other words, this is not a snack to try to survive on.

While the candy bars are all natural with no artificial ingredients and have no preservatives, they do contain soy. As well, there is an allergy warning for milk, soy and peanuts, which might make them inappropriate for those who observe a Vegan diet.

Storage/Clean-Up

Because the chocolate is generally hard, though as a milk chocolate this bar is a little easier to melt than some of the others, the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bars will stain if they melt into fabrics. Despite their meltability in most environments the Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bars remain solid, these should be kept cool in order to not melt, but I have not had any problems with mine. As long as they are kept cool and dry, these bars will last at least six months (the ones my wife gave me two months ago would have lasted until February 22, 2018, had I not eaten it up first).

Clean-up is easy, so long as the chocolate does not melt. The Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate bars have wrappers that ought to be properly disposed of, but otherwise, the chocolate washes off skin and non-porous surfaces. It the chocolate melts onto fabric, consult a fabric guide.

Overall

Wild Ophelia Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Bars are interesting, but do not live up to the potential of their promised flavor or the quality of their ingredients.

For other Wild Ophelia candy reviews, please check out my reviews of:
Caramelized Banana Peanut Butter Cups
Beef Jerky & Smoked Salt Chocolate Bar
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Smoked Chipotle Chili And Milk Chocolate Bar

4.5/10

For more chocolate reviews, please check out my Chocolate Review Index Page!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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About What One Expects: Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano Is Bitter But Good!

The Good: Wonderful ingredients, Good flavor, Quality justifies the price!
The Bad: A little bitter and simple on the flavor front
The Basics: Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is good, but a very simply, very dark chocolate that is accurate to its promised flavor, but not entirely enjoyable.


I have finally, for now, reached the end of my stash of Taza chocolates! The final chocolate from Taza that I am getting around to reviewing is the Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano. And Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is good, but it is much more like a baking chocolate than a chocolate one wants to consume for a snack, dessert, or enjoyment.

Basics

Taza is an premium chocolatier from Massachusetts that is making Mexican-style stone ground chocolate. The Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is a high-quality chocolate that I was lucky enough to find inexpensively at my local discount store.

The Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano comes as two discs (2.7 oz. total) that are paper-wrapped together and packaged inside a cardboard wrapper. The whole disc is presented as a 3” in diameter by 5/16” thick slightly segmented chocolate disc. The segments do not snap apart evenly. This makes the Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano generally easy to portion out to have less than a full serving, which is nice for those who might be watching their waistline!

Ease Of Preparation

Eating Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is not a real challenge. After removing the cardboard and the paper wrappers, simply pull out the disc or break a segment off and stick it in your mouth. There is no particularly complicated equation to eating these chocolates. This is an entirely ready-to-eat food . . . unless one wants to make it into a hot cocoa!

The hot chocolate version of the Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate requires milk and uses both discs in a package. One needs to grind up both discs of the chocolate and stir it into the simmering milk. Honestly, I've yet to make up some of this flavor as a cocoa.

Taste

Unwrapping the dark chocolate disc, the smell of dark chocolate is powerful and very distinct. The Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano smells potently of the cacao in them; this is a very pure chocolate-scented confection.

The Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate is very hard dark chocolate. The Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is chocolate is bitter and cacao-flavored. The Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is not very complicated on the flavor front; it is rich, dry, and cacao flavored with a fairly dry finishing flavor.

There is a strong, bitter dark chocolate aftertaste in the mouth left by the Dark Chocolate Mexicano after the last of it is consumed.

Nutrition

Taza chocolates are intended as a dessert product, so anyone attempting to live off them is proceeding under a ridiculous premise! Each 38 gram disc of Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano represent a single serving of the chocolate. Made entirely of organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar, there are no unpronounceable ingredients in this chocolate. They were produced on equipment that forces them to add a disclaimer about almonds, coconuts, pecans, and hazelnuts. The Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano are marked as both gluten free and Vegan-compliant, as well as Soy Free.

Taza's Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano have 210 calories in a one-disc serving, 110 of which are from fat. A full serving represents 35% of one's RDA of saturated fat, but they are cholesterol-free. There is a minimal amount of sodium in these Dark Chocolate Mexicano Cacao Puro chocolates and there are 3 grams of protein. These are not a significant source of any vitamins or minerals, though they do have 1% of one’s daily calcium and 4% of the RDA of Iron.

Storage/Cleanup

As a chocolate, Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano are fine as long as they are stored below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The package I picked up last month had an expiration date of March 26, 2018. Given that mine are gone already, I cannot comment on how well they endure as they get closer to the expiration date.

If, however, they melt, they will stain. Consult your fabric guide if they melt as dark chocolate can be a bear to clean up when melted into light fabrics. Otherwise, cleanup is simply throwing the paper wrapper away when you are done with the chocolate disc.

Overall

Taza Cacao Puro Dark Chocolate Mexicano is all right, but it is not a particularly enjoyable dark chocolate.

For other dark chocolates, please check out my reviews of:
Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Chocolate Squares
Green & Black's Pure Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao chocolate bars
Wild Ophelia Cold Brew Jet Black Chocolate Coffee Bites

8.5/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my Food And Drink Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano Does What It Promises, But It's Still Not Good!

The Good: Wonderful ingredients, Accurate flavoring
The Bad: A little expensive, Utterly unpleasant and enduring aftertaste
The Basics: For those who love hot foods, Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano might satisfy, but for a general audience, these are just awful and painful to consume!


There's a whole niche market surrounding hot foods these days and the truth is, that's not my thing. I tend to like subtle flavors that have layers and complexity; hot foods tend to be overwhelmingly spicy with little in the way of subtlety. That fad is not my thing. Despite that, as my immersion in Taza chocolates, I picked up a pack of Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano.

Alas, though, Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano lived down to my expectations of what a spicy chocolate would be when the emphasis on the chilis in it was simply "hot!"

Basics

Taza is an premium chocolatier in Massachusetts that makes stone-ground Mexican chocolates. Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is a high-quality chocolate that I was lucky enough to find inexpensively at my local discount store, because why would I want to pay full price for such an unpleasant culinary experience?!

The Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano comes as two discs (2.7 oz. total) that are paper-wrapped together and packaged inside a cardboard wrapper. The whole disc is presented as a 3” in diameter by 5/16” thick slightly segmented chocolate disc. The segments do not snap apart evenly. Despite that, the Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano are generally easy to portion out to have less than a full serving; this type seemed to fracture a lot more than the other Taa Chocolate Mexicanos.

Ease Of Preparation

Eating Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is not a real challenge. After removing the chocolate from the cardboard and the paper wrapper, simply pull out the disc or break a segment off and stick it in your mouth. There is no particularly complicated method to eating these chocolates. This is an entirely ready-to-eat food . . . unless one wants to make it into a hot cocoa!

The hot chocolate version of the Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate requires milk and uses both discs in a package. One needs to grind up both discs of the chocolate and stir it into the simmering milk. Honestly, I've yet to make up some of this flavor as a cocoa.

Taste

Unwrapping the paper around the Guajillo Chili dark chocolate disc, the smell of dark chocolate is potent and recognizable. Interestingly, the scent finishes with a physical sensation more than an actual aroma. The nasal canal opens, as if there is a vapor; the chocolate does not smell like chilis at all, but the scent of the chocolate finishes with the effect of smelling chilis.

In the mouth, the Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate is appropriately dry and dark, like the rest of Taza's chocolate Mexicano line. The moment one begins to masticate the Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano, the dry, slightly sweet, chocolate, the chili flavor explodes in the mouth. The Guajillo Chili is fiery and real. There is little subtlety in the flavor; this chocolate is generically spicy hot opposite the dry, dark chocolate flavor and the burning chili flavor continues in the mouth long after any chocolate flavor has dissipated.

There is a hot, peppery flavor that continues in the mouth for several minutes after the last of the Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is consumed. The hot, chili flavor of the Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is unpleasant, making it an enduringly miserable experience to consume these chocolates.

Nutrition

Taza chocolates are intended as a dessert product, not a health food! Each 38 gram disc of Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano represent a single serving of the chocolate. Made primarily of organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar and organic chili powder, there are no unpronounceable ingredients in this chocolate. They were produced on equipment that forces them to add a disclaimer about almonds, coconuts, pecans and hazelnuts. The Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano are marked as both gluten free and Vegan-compliant, as well as Soy Free.

Taza's Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano have 210 calories in a one-disc serving, 110 of which are from fat. A full serving represents 35% of one's RDA of saturated fat, but they are cholesterol-free. There is a minimal amount of sodium in these Dark Chocolate Mexicano Guajillo Chili chocolates and there are 3 grams of protein. These are not a significant source of any vitamins or minerals, though they do have 1% of one’s daily calcium and 4% of the RDA of Iron.

Storage/Cleanup

As a chocolate, Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano are fine as long as they are stored below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The package I picked up three weeks ago had an expiration date of April 10, 2018. Given that mine are almost all gone already, I cannot comment on how well they endure as they come closer to the expiration date.

If, however, they melt, they will stain. Consult your fabric guide if they melt as dark chocolate can be a bear to clean up when melted into light fabrics. Otherwise, cleanup is simply throwing the paper wrapper away when you are done with the chocolate disc.

Overall

Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano might be accurate for what it promises, but it is an unpleasant chocolate to consume.

For other Taza chocolates, please check out my reviews of:
Almond Dark Chocolate Mexicano
Vanilla Dark Chocolate Mexicano
Coffee Dark Chocolate Mexicano

5/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Food And Drink Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The Good: Wonderful ingredients, Accurate flavoring
The Bad: A little expensive, Utterly unpleasant and enduring aftertaste
The Basics: For those who love hot foods, Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano might satisfy, but for a general audience, these are just awful and painful to consume!


There's a whole niche market surrounding hot foods these days and the truth is, that's not my thing. I tend to like subtle flavors that have layers and complexity; hot foods tend to be overwhelmingly spicy with little in the way of subtlety. That fad is not my thing. Despite that, as my immersion in Taza chocolates, I picked up a pack of Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano.

Alas, though, Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano lived down to my expectations of what a spicy chocolate would be when the emphasis on the chilis in it was simply "hot!"

Basics

Taza is an premium chocolatier in Massachussetts that makes stone-ground Mexican chocolates. Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is a high-quality chocolate that I was lucky enough to find inexpensively at my local discount store, because why would I want to pay full price for such an unpleasant culinary experience?!

The Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano comes as two discs (2.7 oz. total) that are paper-wrapped together and packaged inside a cardboard wrapper. The whole disc is presented as a 3” in diameter by 5/16” thick slightly segmented chocolate disc. The segments do not snap apart evenly. Despite that, the Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano are generally easy to portion out to have less than a full serving; this type seemed to fracture a lot more than the other Taa Chocolate Mexicanos.

Ease Of Preparation

Eating Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is not a real challenge. After removing the chocolate from the cardboard and the paper wrapper, simply pull out the disc or break a segment off and stick it in your mouth. There is no particularly complicated method to eating these chocolates. This is an entirely ready-to-eat food . . . unless one wants to make it into a hot cocoa!

The hot chocolate version of the Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate requires milk and uses both discs in a package. One needs to grind up both discs of the chocolate and stir it into the simmering milk. Honestly, I've yet to make up some of this flavor as a cocoa.

Taste

Unwrapping the paper around the Guajillo Chili dark chocolate disc, the smell of dark chocolate is potent and recognizable. Interestingly, the scent finishes with a physical sensation more than an actual aroma. The nasal canal opens, as if there is a vapor; the chocolate does not smell like chilis at all, but the scent of the chocolate finishes with the effect of smelling chilis.

In the mouth, the Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate is appropriately dry and dark, like the rest of Taza's chocolate Mexicano line. The moment one begins to masticate the Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano, the dry, slightly sweet, chocolate, the chili flavor explodes in the mouth. The Guajillo Chili is fiery and real. There is little subtlety in the flavor; this chocolate is generically spicy hot opposite the dry, dark chocolate flavor and the burning chili flavor continues in the mouth long after any chocolate flavor has dissipated.

There is a hot, peppery flavor that continues in the mouth for several minutes after the last of the Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is consumed. The hot, chili flavor of the Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano is unpleasant, making it an enduringly miserable experience to consume these chocolates.

Nutrition

Taza chocolates are intended as a dessert product, not a health food! Each 38 gram disc of Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano represent a single serving of the chocolate. Made primarily of organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar and organic chili powder, there are no unpronounceable ingredients in this chocolate. They were produced on equipment that forces them to add a disclaimer about almonds, coconuts, pecans and hazelnuts. The Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano are marked as both gluten free and Vegan-compliant, as well as Soy Free.

Taza's Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano have 210 calories in a one-disc serving, 110 of which are from fat. A full serving represents 35% of one's RDA of saturated fat, but they are cholesterol-free. There is a minimal amount of sodium in these Dark Chocolate Mexicano Guajillo Chili chocolates and there are 3 grams of protein. These are not a significant source of any vitamins or minerals, though they do have 1% of one’s daily calcium and 4% of the RDA of Iron.

Storage/Cleanup

As a chocolate, Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano are fine as long as they are stored below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The package I picked up three weeks ago had an expiration date of April 10, 2018. Given that mine are almost all gone already, I cannot comment on how well they endure as they come closer to the expiration date.

If, however, they melt, they will stain. Consult your fabric guide if they melt as dark chocolate can be a bear to clean up when melted into light fabrics. Otherwise, cleanup is simply throwing the paper wrapper away when you are done with the chocolate disc.

Overall

Taza Guajillo Chili Dark Chocolate Mexicano might be accurate for what it promises, but it is an unpleasant chocolate to consyume.

For other Taza chocolates, please check out my reviews of:
Almond Dark Chocolate Mexicano
Vanilla Dark Chocolate Mexicano
Coffee Dark Chocolate Mexicano

5/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Food And Drink Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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A VERY Sweet Treat, Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bars Are Good!

The Good:A good embodiment of all the promised flavors, Decent quality, Does not melt easily, Good company/corporate ethics!
The Bad: Comparatively expensive, Somewhat generically sweet as it stays in the mouth.
The Basics: The Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bars are good as long as one wants something that is exceptionally sweet!


I tend to like sophisticated flavors; flavors of foods that have depth and multiple layers to them. Sometimes, I encounter something that lives up to its promised flavors, but lacks a lot of flavor depth. The Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bars are definitely one such chocolate. The Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bar lives up to all of its promised flavors, but the net result is a somewhat generically sweet candy bar, which for the price is a little problematic.

Basics

The Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bar is a solid milk chocolate bar from Wild Ophelia. Each 2 oz. chocolate bar is wrapped in a cardboard wrapper. Inside the cardboard case is a thick metallic plastic wrapper (with a seam resembling a Pop Tart more than a chocolate bar). The actual chocolate bar is 4 1/2” long by 2 13/16” wide by 1/4” thick. The Bar has no identifying marks or logos on it, but it is segmented to make four 1 1/8” wide by 2 13/16” long bars. The top features ribbing that give the bar a very Art Deco look that is distinctive.

The chocolate is firm, despite being milk chocolate and usually more susceptible to melting and not at all waxy; it’s a quality chocolate bar. Individually, the bars are found in the $5.99 range. Given the quality of these bars, it is tough to call them too expensive.

Ease Of Preparation

Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bars are chocolate; preparing them is as easy as unwrapping the candy bar. Because the chocolate is a premium chocolate product, I recommend eating this a little at a time, not just biting right into the bar.

Taste

The Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bar smells sweet and creamy, the scent of milk chocolate dominating the candy's scent. There is, surprisingly enough, a slight buttery scent to the aroma, which insinuates caramel in the candy bar!

On the tongue, the Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bar tastes overwhelmingly sweet. The crispy rice is reminiscent of a chocolate-covered Rice Krispies treat . . . but even sweeter! This is an incredibly sweet chocolate bar with the added sweet, buttery caramel flavor that effectively coats the crispy rice in the Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bar making the milk chocolate even sweeter.

The Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bar has a strongly sweet aftertaste to it that endures in the mouth for only a few moments after the last of the bar is consumed!

Nutrition

Wild Ophelia makes their fine chocolates with quality ingredients, which is arguably why the range in price in the real world and online is a bit more than other chocolate bars! With the primary ingredients being milk chocolate (41% cacao), caramelized puffed rice, and sea salt, the Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bars are a candy bar, not a legitimate source of nutrition needed to survive. That said, Wild Ophelia uses natural ingredients and organic ingredients where possible; none of the ingredients are unpronounceable. In a full 56 gram serving (2 ounce), there are 290 calories, 160 of which are from fat. This represents 29% of one's RDA of fat (54% of the RDA of saturated fat). Each bar has 105 mg of Sodium (which is low considering the sea salt in these candy bars) and 4 grams of protein. There is a smattering of Calcium (8% RDA) and a decent amount of Iron (20% RDA), but no other vitamins and minerals. In other words, this is not a snack to try to survive on.

While the bars are all natural with no artificial ingredients and have no preservatives, they do contain soy. As well, there is an allergy warning for milk, tree nuts and peanuts, which rules them out for those who observe a Vegan diet.

Storage/Clean-Up

Because the chocolate is generally hard, though milk chocolate melts easier than dark, the Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bars are comparatively hard to melt. Despite that, these should be kept cool in order to not melt. As long as they are kept cool and dry, these bars will last at least six months (the ones my wife gave me last month would have lasted until October 5, 2018, had I not eaten it up first).

Clean-up is easy, so long as the chocolate does not melt. The Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate bars have wrappers that ought to be properly disposed of, but otherwise, the chocolate washes off skin and non-porous surfaces. It the chocolate melts onto fabric, consult a fabric guide.

Overall

Wild Ophelia Caramelized Crispy Rice Chocolate Bars are good, but not particularly complicated for the flavors they promise, making it a slightly tougher sell than some of Wild Ophelia's other bars.

For other Wild Ophelia candy reviews, please check out my reviews of:
Wild Ophelia Cold Brew Mexican Vanilla Chocolate Coffee Bites
Almond Sea Salt Chocolate Bars
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Smoked Chipotle Chili And Milk Chocolate Bar

6.5/10

For more food reviews, please check out my Food Review Index Page!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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