Kellogg’s White Chocolate Coco Pops

July 2, 2019, 9:47 am

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Recently Kellogg's announced a new product launch that got everyone rather excited indeed - they've gone and made a white chocolate version of Coco Pops! Yes, these have been flying off the shelves in Asda as everyone's so excited to try them. I'm pleased that white chocolate is so popular - it kind of flies against the companies saying that white chocolate limited editions aren't  popular in the UK doesn't it?

These are made with 30% less sugar and cost around £2.50 depending on where you get them from. They're currently in Tesco and Asda and presumably other stores too.

A lot of people have been saying on Instagram that these are just rice krispies, which luckily isn't true - they have a white chocolate flavoured coating to give the white chocolatey flavour. Although "white chocolate flavour rice krispies" might have been a more accurate description of them I guess.

They taste pretty good! There's a nice comforting white chocolate taste from the coating, which somewhat reminded me of white hot chocolate powder, for some reason. It contains real white chocolate which is quite obvious in the taste. I think they could be improved upon with some actual white chocolate pieces mixed in, but I guess that goes against the idea of Coco Pops since they don't usually have additions. You can of course add some white chocolate chips or buttons of your own!

Overall, I can see why some may be disappointed with these but personally I enjoyed the sweet milky white chocolate flavour. It may not be super strong but it's probably the best you can get without actually coating them with real white chocolate. Definitely worth a try if you're a white chocolate fan!

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Asda Raspberry Flavour Unicorn Spread

July 3, 2019, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: Poundland Twin Peaks Caramel Crunch Review

≪ Previous: Kellogg’s White Chocolate Coco Pops

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As annoying as the Unicorn trend is becoming (let it rest, it’s had it’s day!) I did get quite excited when I found out Asda have a new raspberry flavour “Unicorn” spread out. Simply because it’s such a novelty, and contains popping candy! I had totally forgotten however that I reviewed a product like this back in 2015 which was Winsenia Raspberry Spread that was available in Aldi at the time.

Costing £1.50, and simply described as “raspberry flavour Unicorn spread with popping candy pieces” this is indeed very similar to the spread I tried from Aldi back in 2015. It doesn’t contain white chocolate, and only the popping candy contains cocoa butter in the ingredients. It consists of a mixture of sugar, oil, milk powder, buttermilk powder etc.

  
It’s nice and gloopy with the popping candy pieces just visible in the pink mixture. Just the right texture to spread...which I did on rice cakes (I know, boring, but I like them ok!)

The spread has a strong raspberry smell, and definitely isn’t skimping on it! 

I took a bite, and was met with a super sweet, milky taste with a good strong tart raspberry flavour. The popping candy crackles gently in your mouth - kind of fun I guess, although I’m not the biggest fan of it. The sweet raspberry flavour is the main attraction. 

Overall, I have to say I think this is a fun product, it’s a bit different in terms of spreads and it’s about time we got something new in the UK. The popping candy is a bit gimmicky but hey, it’s s kids product so I’m sure they’ll love it! Also if you have a sweet tooth and like pink and/or unicorn things this is one for you too!

*Not suitable for nut allergy sufferers
*Doesn't state if vegetarian suitable

Poundland Twin Peaks Caramel Crunch Review

July 13, 2019, 12:53 am

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Despite being a knock-off of Toblerone, Poundland's Twin Peaks bar has now racked up quite a number of varieties...there's everything from Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Fruit and Nut...and there was even a Honeycomb flavour. It seems however that Honeycomb has made way for this new variety - Caramel Crunch (at least, they didn't have Honeycomb in Poundland when I spotted this). It sounds a bit like Daim crossed with Toblerone, doesn't it?

The description certainly made it sound as such: "Milk chocolate with caramel, almond and honey nougat pieces". It comes in a vibrant, eye-catching red wrapper which is the only reason I noticed it nestled amongst all the other Twin Peaks bars in Poundland.

The block design is a bit different from Toblerone - probably to protect it from infringing copyright - and honestly doesn't look as cool. It's supposedly inspired by the Wrekin and Ercall hills which are based in Shropshire. But we all know what it's really "inspired" by...don't worry, we won't tell anyone Poundland! ;)

The chocolate is pretty standard cheap milk chocolate, nothing to write home about and certainly not as good as the quality Swiss Toblerone milk chocolate. The addition of the crunchy caramel is nice though and certainly makes this a lot more moreish than it otherwise would be, with the nougat and almonds complimenting it. It's a pretty good mash up of crunchy, sweet, savoury and chewy tastes. I do wish it had been real Toblerone and Daim, though...now that's just an epic mash up waiting to happen, and I'm surprised Mondelez haven't yet done it?! (spoiler: they probably will).

Overall, for cheap chocolate this is a decent mash up of flavours and you can't grumble for £1. I wonder what flavour they will go for next...my prediction is something Gingerbread based just in time for Christmas. You heard it here first folks! ;)

Asda Tinned Banana Blossom Review

July 14, 2019, 7:06 am

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Recently, I spotted a totally new vegetable/fruit (not sure which it actually is!) in Asda called Banana Blossom in a tin. It was next to the tins of Jackfruit which is a well known vegan meat alternative. I assumed it was a similar thing so happily bought some to try - it’s £1.50 a tin. The image on the wrapper looked innocent enough - battered fish pieces, only vegan! Surely this stuff must be good?

Turns out that packaging was very misleading because nothing could prepare me for the horror that was lurking inside...when I opened the tin it was like opening something from a horror film, discovering the mouldy body of an ancient alien creature or other such evil. It looked hideous!!

“Surely this is not meant for human consumption?!”, I thought. Heck it’s not even suitable for bird consumption....I think flies would even turn their nose up at this thing, which looked like rotten infested seaweed.

When I posted this on my Instagram page the responses were predictably hilarious: “I’m calling the Men In Black”, “looks like an STD...” “looks like something from the film Independence Day ” etc...plus tons of vomit emojis. Gotta love British humour even if our politics are awful!

Now I’ve always been open minded about food - I’ve tried most diets around as well as the many varieties of food substitutes, but this is probably one of the weirdest looking I’ve come across. But I soldiered on and did my duty, cooking it up in curry sauce as it was one of the suggestions on the tin (it’s supposed to be better battered and fried, but I didn’t have the right ingredients)

And it still looked pretty bad - like a mushy mass of weeds. The texture is meant to mimic flaky fish, so does it live up to that comparison?

Well kind of....it is definitely a bit flaky and breaks apart easily whilst still having a meaty kind of texture. It doesn’t taste of a lot...I don’t think I can even describe it to be honest. It’s mostly the flaky texture that is the selling point. I enjoyed my curry but I felt like I was just eating a flavourless mass of fibre and vegetables. I don’t know the nutritional content of banana blossom but I’m guessing there’s not much in there. Compared to Jack Fruit, I much prefer that because even though it’s a bit bland in taste it does have a nice firm texture that mimics chicken, which is good for those days you want to go without meat and maybe just want a vegetable based curry. And if you’re vegan, obviously!

Sorry if this review sounds negative...it’s all meant in jest really, if you need a meat substitute then this stuff is probably excellent! I’m definitely not against meat free or dairy free alternatives (as most of my readers should know by now) but compared to the many other fantastic options this one seems a little pointless. Maybe it’s only meant to be battered and fried.

If you’ve tried this and made something more palatable with it, please let me know in the comments! And also - if you haven’t already, would you try this?

Coconuts Organic Choc Orange Swirl Non Dairy Ice Cream

July 16, 2019, 2:02 am

≫ Next: Dr Pepper Gummy Soda Bottles Review

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If you're into dairy free or vegan ice cream, good news, there's a new plant based alternative on the block: Coconuts Organic! Formerly called Coconuts Naturally they have rebranded and are now available in selected Tesco stores - do check out their website to see if they're available near you. You can find them in the Free From frozen food section for £5 a tub.

This Choc Orange Swirl variety is described as "Organic, non-dairy chocolate orange ice cream, made with coconut cream, unrefined coconut sugar and laced with an indulgent chocolate sauce swirl". It contains no dairy, nuts or gluten and is free from major allergens. It's soil association certified organic and also approved by the vegan society.

I couldn't wait to get this home to eat so cheekily ate some whilst in a Costa store right after buying it. There's a lovely orangey chocolate aroma on removing the lid. And the consistency is creamy, not too solid and was just beginning to get melty when I ate it.

I've tried a couple of vegan chocolate ice creams now, all of them with varying results, but this is definitely the best I've had. It has a nice creamy texture, no ice crystals or "sorbet" like consistency that some dairy free ice creams have, all complimented with a nice chocolatey orangey tang. I think the sauce swirl must have blended into the melted parts of the ice cream because I didn't particularly notice it, but overall the ice cream was a chocolatey orange delight! It felt like regular dairy ice cream in taste and consistency, with plenty of rich cocoa flavour, and without the sickliness that some dairy based ice creams sometimes have, but that said it was definitely very rich in its own right.

Overall, if you're vegan, avoiding dairy, nuts, gluten or refined sugar then this is one for you! It's not one I would go for over the Double Caramel variety - that one is divine - but I would buy it to go "alongside" it as variation. Yes, these are a little pricey at £5, but I think that it's worth the price when they tick so many boxes whilst still being indulgent.

Dr Pepper Gummy Soda Bottles Review

July 17, 2019, 11:23 am

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Amongst some of the sweets I got from A Taste of The States recently were these Dr Pepper Gummy Bottles - a rather unique take on the classic soda bottle sweet! To get a 20% discount off these or any other products on A Taste Of The States you can use the code KEV20.

I've never been the biggest Dr Pepper fan I will admit, but I've always appreciated it now and then and I did used to enjoy it mixed with bourbon whisky in particular. The taste is hard to describe but everyone who's tried it knows it well - it reminds me of a marzipan almond type flavour, but super sweet. So how does this work in gummy bottle form?

Opening the bag these certainly had a strong aroma of Dr Pepper - there was no mistaking it!

The taste is interesting. I wouldn't say I loved it but nor did I hate it. It has a strong Dr Pepper flavour, but it's actually a lot sweeter than the drink itself in this gummy form - I don't know how they've managed that. A few sweets are nice, but more than that becomes too sickly. I think these would make a nice Pick and Mix paired with other sweets, maybe as a Gummy Bottle Mix Up? Now there's an idea!

Overall, these are one for the hardcore Dr Pepper fans or those with a passing curiosity. Check out A Taste Of The States for more like this, and be sure to use code KEV20 for a discount!

Salted Caramel M&M’s Review

July 22, 2019, 1:37 pm

≫ Next: Cadbury Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar Review

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For once, it seems that Mars UK are giving British consumers a new M&M's variety we actually want (since they're denying us lovely treats such as White Chocolate M&M's, Peanut Butter Snickers, White Chocolate Galaxy and more - boo!)

They've gone and replaced last years Crunchy Caramel M&M's with a Salted Caramel variety, which is very wise and does beg the question: why didn't they do this, like, 5 years ago when the salted caramel trend was at its peak? I guess things move slowly in the confectionery labs! (coming in three years time - Unicorn M&M's!)

They've taken the smart step of using a chewy caramel in these, much like the Caramel M&M's available in the US, but with a salty twist. And they're honestly delicious! Better than the US variety, which although were good were not exactly what they'd been hyped up to be.

The shells are classic colourful M&M's, with the chocolate being a little richer than most cheap milk chocolates but not particularly creamy. The caramel filling is somewhere between chewy and firm, not too soft and not so tough that it's like toffee. In other words it's the best of both worlds and really shines with the caramel flavour - it's just salty enough to be salted caramel but doesn't over do it. And they're rather moreish! Sweet, chocolatey, caramell-y...and there's a nice mix of textures going on too from chewy to crunchy to soft. My main gripe is that there didn't seem to be enough in the bag.

Overall, these M&M's are a very welcome addition to the UK snacks world and I do hope they stick around! Going by Instagram at least, initial responses seem to have been quite positive. Now Mars, about releasing a white chocolate M&M limited edition...

You can find these available in WH Smiths currently and they're supposed to be in Tesco stores soon too.

Cadbury Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar Review

July 24, 2019, 7:15 am

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So in the midst of this heatwave what did I do? Buy chocolate! Only because it’s new and only in the name of research, you understand ;)

This new Cadbury Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar is available from Sainsbury’s and costs £1.00 for an 85g bar. Obviously with this hot weather, it went squishy in my bag so I waited until I got home and popped it in the fridge to firm up again...

 Hence the slightly melted appearance! But chocolate is chocolate so I just got stuck right in...

The pieces are a little thinner than a regular bar of Dairy Milk, more akin to Milka bars. The aroma is an interesting sweet almost milkshake like smell. Intriguing! 

The taste is interesting and actually surprised me to be honest. The ingredients list soluble maize fibre which is presumably how they’ve reduced the sugar content. So it also has extra fibre in compared to a regular Dairy Milk bar. Taste wise it's definitely lighter than a regular Dairy Milk, a bit less sweet but it still has that distinctive Dairy Milk “creaminess” as well as smooth texture. There's an aftertaste I can't quite put my finger on which I think is the maize fibre.

Overall, I was surprised that this has managed to retain the distinct Dairy Milk flavour and live up to its promise. It’s not quite a real Dairy Milk, and I wasn’t expecting it to be, it’s just a good low sugar option. I will be sticking to the real thing personally, but if you are looking to reduce your sugar intake this is definitely worth a go!

Nutrition Info per 100g: 503 calories, 31g fat, 42g carbohydrates, 37g sugars, 18g fibre, 5.8g protein.

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White Chocolate Galaxy Bar Review

August 8, 2019, 2:18 pm

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For some inexplicable reason, other countries get a lot of delightful snacks we seem unable to get ahold of here in the UK. Things like White M&Ms, Cadbury Caramilk Bars...and White Chocolate Galaxy! Yes this mythical creature actually exists and it’s thankfully now available to UK folks thanks to GB Gifts. They’re offering my readers a 10% discount off their site with code Kevs10 so be sure to use it if you want to try some! Check out the site here: https://www.gbgifts.co.uk/

I was half expecting this chocolate to be a letdown if I’m honest, despite being so excited to try it. Surely it would just be a gimmick? Thankfully not! This chocolate is actually just as good as if not even BETTER than brands like Cadbury Dream and Milkybar! Yes, I did just say that!

The bars come in the nice sleek-shaped block format that UK Galaxy also now comes in. The chocolate has a very milky and creamy aroma with a hint of vanilla.

The taste is super creamy, very "full on" and with its own distinct taste. It has that creamy smoothness that only Galaxy is known for (how do they do it?), with a somewhat vanilla or even custard like taste in the background. It’s so creamy it’s hard to describe but it’s an absolute joy to eat!

If you’ve ever been curious about what a white chocolate Galaxy might taste like, now is your time to give it a whirl! Check out GB Gifts for more, and be sure to use the code Kevs10 for 10% discount. Be quick as they do sell out pretty fast! Also stay tuned for my review of White Chocolate Galaxy Flutes!

Galaxy Fruit & Nut Chocolate Review

August 11, 2019, 10:27 am

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I didn’t even know that Galaxy UK had stopped selling their Fruit & Nut variety until recently, when GB gifts announced they were getting some in. Apparently they haven’t been on shelves for a while now but I always just assumed they were still around. However I do have strong memories of trying them as a kid, in fact I had relatives who would buy the big blocks of them, back in the days when chocolate bars were still BIG.

Whilst I came to love Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut over the years, I did remember enjoying the Galaxy version for its creamy chocolate paired with fruit and nuts - a sweeter experience than Dairy Milk, but then Galaxy chocolate always has been (I think that may have changed in recent years).

This version from GB Gifts, which is sourced from Galaxy Arabia like the Galaxy White Chocolate (why do they get all the best snacks?!) is pretty much the same as I recall although now comes in the sleek thin block design. Still it’s the silky Galaxy chocolate we all remember embedded with sultanas and hazelnuts, and is a nice nostalgia trip! This took me right back to eating this chocolate as a kid - ah the memories!

Overall, it was great to try this chocolate again and I’m thankful for the chance to try forgotten gems like this, plus new ones like Galaxy White Chocolate thanks GB Gifts! If you’d like to try these yourself do check out their site; you can use code Kevs10 for 10% off orders: https://www.gbgifts.co.uk/

Nestle Munchies Chocolate Fudge Brownie

August 19, 2019, 3:34 am

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≪ Previous: Galaxy Fruit & Nut Chocolate Review

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Recently, folks got rather excited when two new Munchies varieties were announced by Nestle: the first being today's review; Munchies Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and the other being Cookie Dough. They're possibly the first new products from Nestle in a long, long time (maybe since the Munchies Bar in the 90's?) so this was indeed quite exciting news!

The Chocolate Fudge Brownie variety had me rolling my eyes initially, because it sounded like it would just be chocolate flavoured caramel. However it turned out to be quite different - they've removed the caramel and replaced it with a chocolate fudge mixture! And in my opinion this is actually a good thing as it makes these a bit different.

The Munchies look like the regular ones, but cutting them open reveals the fudgey chocolate filling with the classic biscuit centre in the middle. 

I have to admit it does look a bit wrong without the caramel - that's what makes a Munchie a Munchie, after all! It's a shame they couldn't have added caramel in there with the fudge filling too.

Still, grumbles aside I rather enjoyed these! There's no actual brownie of course - instead it's the fudgey filling that replicates the fudgey texture of a brownie, and it's pretty spot on. It does make them more chocolatey than a regular Munchie, but it's a nice switch up from the sickly sweet caramel filled regular variety.

Overall, I rather enjoyed these and think it's great they've switched things up. I would like to have seen caramel in there too but I guess there's probably production issues involved with that. I honestly don't think these will stick around on shelves though, as most people will probably miss the caramel, but I think they're a nice novelty as a limited edition. Maybe next they could do a white chocolate variety...please, Nestle?!

M&Ms Peanut Milk Chocolate Bar

August 23, 2019, 6:57 am

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Recently, Mars UK launched their M&M's bars range as well as Salted Caramel M&M's - what a treat! They're finally giving us more interesting products than they have in previous years. And these bad boys are extremely tasty; in fact I think I liked them more than regular M&Ms for a few reasons. Today's review is for the US version I got from A Taste Of The States - which I presume is the same as the UK one.

Look at the block design - isn't it cool! The milk chocolate is smooth and has mini chocolate M&M's and peanuts embedded within, and the M logo on each block plus the M&M character smirking at you!

The bar doesn't contain actual Peanut M&M's unfortunately, as I imagine they'd be a bit too big to cram into the block and still have it look all glossy. Instead it has milk chocolate mini M&M's plus roasted peanuts.

The chocolate tastes pretty good quality, it's smooth and with a good cocoa flavour, it's not particularly distinctive but it does taste better than most standard milk chocolates from the likes of Nestle and co. It's a great base for the inner filling, which is the main point of the bar, and combined together the chocolate, nuts and crunchy M&M pieces are just lovely! It's a rather simple combination really, but one that works very well.

Overall, do these bars live up to the hype? I would say yes! If you've spotted these in Tesco or other stores recently I would highly recommend giving them a try. There's also a Milk Chocolate, Crispy and Hazelnut version too.

8.5 out of 10. 

Hunter & Gather Mayocado (Vegan Mayo) Review

November 12, 2019, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Kitkat Chocolatory Springtime in Japan Review

≪ Previous: M&Ms Peanut Milk Chocolate Bar

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Wow, it’s been a long time since I posted! Apologies to anyone who still reads my blog. I’ve somewhat migrated to Instagram and it’s taken up most of my time, although I do miss doing the more wordy food ramblings on here!

I’m returning with a bit of a different review; it’s less of a snack and is actually a condiment - Mayo! But not just any ordinary Mayo, this is “Mayocado” from Hunter & Gather, a company specialising in paleo, grain free, and generally healthier products.

They also do Extra Virgin Avocado Oil...

I was intrigued by this mayo as it’s not only vegan, it’s made with avocado oil which is supposed to be healthier than the sunflower or rapeseed oils used in most commercial mayos. To make it egg free and vegan, they’ve used pea protein, and it also contains apple cider vinegar, Himalayan pink salt, lemon juice and konjac root.

I’ll be honest, opening the lid and taking a spoon the texture looks neither super appetising nor “instagrammable” (yes that’s a thing!), but it is a condiment and it’s the taste that counts right! Also with it being egg free, I imagine it’s harder to create that “smooth” look that mayo usually has.

It tastes pretty good! There’s the classic punchy sharp flavour of vinegar and lemon, and a more wholesome taste overall thanks to the avocado oil. The pea protein does make it a little odd in texture, but it’s not too noticeable. As a condiment to go with sandwiches and meals, this does the job and if you’re into clean eating it will sit right alongside your salmon/tofu/veggies/whatever nicely. In fact it reminded me a bit of tartare sauce so I think pairing it with fish would go down well! And of course if you’re vegan I’m sure it’ll go nicely with meat alternatives too.

Overall, it might not look the prettiest but it’s “pretty” darn tasty (har har!) and for something egg free and made using a healthier oil, this is an excellent product.

If you’d like to find out more check out the Hunter & Gather website:

https://hunterandgatherfoods.com/

The mayo is also available from Ocado.com.

Kitkat Chocolatory Springtime in Japan Review

November 19, 2019, 11:46 am

≫ Next: Cadbury Dream White Christmas Review

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You may have heard in the news recently that KitKat Chocolatory has been launched in the UK - it's a service where you can create your own KitKat bar with different chocolates and fillings, or choose ready made creations. The service is available in selected John Lewis stores as well as York's Chocolate Story, but will soon be more widely available to buy online too!

I was very lucky to receive some samples recently from KitKat Chocolatory - thanks so much guys! There's some interesting flavours and varieties like Billionares Caramel, Gin and Tonic and more...but today lets start with the Springtime in Japan variety, which consists of 6 wafers coated in Ruby Chocolate, filled with an apple and cherry jam and cherry pieces. It's inspired by the beautiful springtime in Japan.

Now I'm not a huge fan of Ruby Chocolate, I've had mixed experiences of tasting it thus far so wasn't the most excited about this, however I have to admit it looks very pretty indeed! This is perhaps one of the fanciest Kitkats I've tried in quite a while, and makes me miss the gooey filled KitKat Editions they used to do many years back.

I love how nicely the KitKat is presented in the box, it feels very special indeed and adds to the whole experience. The actual bar is decorated on the back with what I think is meant to be a Japanese tree?

The taste surprised me. The ruby chocolate actually works very well with the other flavours so they've chosen this pairing very wisely! The cherry and apple compliment each other nicely with the cherry pieces adding some slight tanginess, all balanced with the sweeter Ruby chocolate. The textures are great too - creamy chocolate, crunchy wafer to gooey jam with some chewy fruit pieces. If this is what Springtime is like in Japan then sign me up haha!

Overall, I think this is a great initiative and hopefully Chocolatory will be available in more locations over time. I'll be sure to keep you all posted once they start their online service! Stay tuned for reviews of more flavours...

Cadbury Dream White Christmas Review

November 26, 2019, 1:13 am

≫ Next: Cadbury Bournville Old Jamaica is back!

≪ Previous: Kitkat Chocolatory Springtime in Japan Review

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Christmas is fast approaching, and while it might not be a White Christmas weather-wise (more like a washout-mas!) it now can be in terms of chocolate! Because you can get Cadbury Dream White Christmas bars with almonds, raspberries and rice crispies (available from Gb Gifts - Kevs10 gets you a 10% discount off all items). They've been selling out fast and I can see why!

Now I'm a big fan of Aussie Dream white chocolate, maybe it's nostalgia since they stopped making it in the UK, but it does have a distinct "Cadbury" creamy flavour that I enjoy. So I was surprised that it actually played second fiddle in this bar and you could barely taste it!

Yes, this bar is chock full of mix ins, from dried crunchy raspberries, crunchy roasted almonds and crispy rice pieces. Turning the bar over they're literally all that's visible on the bottom.

I'm not always a fan of dried raspberries in chocolate to be honest, it can be either gritty or too tart but here it combines perfectly with the other additions - the crunchy savoury almonds add a different flavour element and the rice crispies bring some crunchy texture. I do think another fruit might have been more appropriate for the festive season (cranberries, hello!) but this actually works and does seem somehow "festive". It's a combination that's a bit different and unexpected but works really well. And it certainly brought out the inner kid in me!

Overall, I'm so pleased to have been able to try this bar because it's really not something we are ever likely to get properly released in the UK. I do wish UK manufacturers would be a bit more inventive like our Aussie friends!

If this sounds like your thing do check out the GB Gifts website: https://www.gbgifts.co.uk/ (code Kevs10 will get 10% off). They sell out of items like this fast but there's always some exciting stock coming in so do keep an eye on their social media for new additions!

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Cadbury Bournville Old Jamaica is back!

January 1, 2020, 2:50 am

≫ Next: Marks & Spencer Percy Pig Dessert Sauce

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This is a bit of an oldie from Cadbury, albeit one that has come and gone in various formats over the years. With the success of their Bournville with Orange bar, and Veganuary in full swing, they've relaunched their classic Old Jamaica Rum and Raisin chocolate. I last remember seeing this around 2011 or so, when it was launched along with the Orange variety as a limited edition. Here's an old pic from chocablog:

Before that I've been told it used to be available in thinner bars, a bit like Lindt bars. I certainly don't remember that version!

I found this in Wh Smiths near the tills for £1, which is standard for a 100g bar like this. Opening the wrapper it has the newer Bournville block design - somewhat square with half of the block having grooves on. I'm not too keen on the design to be honest, it doesn't break off very cleanly. Nevermind though.

It has a strong albeit artificial rum aroma. Which is what you expect from something like this really isn't it?

It's a semi sweet dark chocolate, not truly dark chocolate since the cocoa solids are around 39% but I did enjoy it for what it is. The raisins are plentiful but slightly overpowered by the strong rum flavour. Whilst it's definitely artificial, I liked it, it gives the bar the classic nostalgic taste that you'll love if you like rum and raisins chocolates. It's an acquired taste though - I suspect older generations might be more keen on it than the young 'uns!

Overall, it's great to see a return of a classic bar like this from Cadbury! I hope they continue this tradition - it would be lovely to see bars like Mint Crisp, Three Wishes etc on shelves. Apparently this one had tons of requests to be brought back so it seems Cadbury have listened!

8/10. 

Suitable for vegans, but made in a facility with milk so it may not be suitable for those with a milk allergy. 

Marks & Spencer Percy Pig Dessert Sauce

January 14, 2020, 11:41 am

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≪ Previous: Cadbury Bournville Old Jamaica is back!

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Not content with just being a sweet, Percy Pig wants to change...into sauce! Equal rights for everyone and all that - who are we to stop Percy if this is what he dreams of?

My initial reaction to this sauce was that it sounds a little bit weird, but nevertheless I had to purchase a bottle when I spotted them for £2 at Marks and Spencer. It’s based on apple sauce with the unmistakable Percy pig sweet flavour blended in. Now when you factor that Percy Pig is predominantly a mix of various fruit anyway, it doesn’t actually seem that weird.

I had also bought some Fibre One Birthday Cake squares to review, so thought “why not combine them?!” I like to live wild like that!

The sauce is pretty syrupy and really does taste like Percy Pig, albeit with more of an apple-y tang. It’s actually not too bad once you get over the weirdness factor. It jazzed up the Fibre One square nicely as it was a little dry and dull by itself - but I’m sure it would work much better on ice cream or pancakes!

Overall, whilst this might sound a bit odd it’s most certainly worth a try for those who are adventurous! I imagine we will be seeing lots of “Instagram bakers” using it in a variety of creations before too long!

8/10.

Note: it contains butter and egg, so isn't suitable if you have those allergies.

Hershey's Cookies 'N' Creme Eggs Review

January 16, 2020, 12:08 pm

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It's only January but Easter treats are now appearing in shops in abunadance...everything from Hot Cross Buns, Crème Egg Ice Creams and a variety of new Mini eggs. One that I just had to try (a few days after Christmas Day no less!) were these Hershey Cookies & Crème Eggs. They're a new addition to Tesco Express stores for Easter alongside the popular Reese's Crème Eggs, and perhaps one of the best new addition in recent years in my opinion.

The white chocolate shell is studded with pieces of bourbon cookie (a bit like Oreo cookie) and the filling is a cream that also contains cookie pieces. It's a bit like that found in Cadbury Egg N Spoons, but creamier and a lot nicer. These are 50p per egg or you can get 3 for £1.20 mix and match with the Reese's eggs.

They taste sublime! Now I've always enjoyed Hershey's Cookies & Crème, despite not liking Hershey chocolate in general, but they're taken to the next level in this egg form. The creamy filling adds that extra layer of deliciousness that makes them almost too good. They're a little sickly, naturally, but that's to be expected. If you're a white chocolate lover who's always wished for a White Chocolate Cadbury Creme Egg...forget that, these are better than what I imagine those would be like! (although I'd still like to see them on shelves, Cadbury!).

Overall, if you're one of those who thinks its too early for Easter foods just yet...well you might be right...but I'd urge you to put that aside and try these! They're great and I predict we'll be seeing them melting on top of bowls of porridge, oozing onto pancakes...maybe turned into spreads...all on the platform of Instagram of course. (I'll probably do an update in a few months documenting this haha!).

9/10.

Cadbury Caramilk Twirl Review

January 20, 2020, 12:51 pm

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As usual, Australia get all the best new snack releases and that’s no exception with these Cadbury Caramilk Twirls, which luckily you can get from Gb Gifts website (code Kevs10 gets 10% off). I’ve tried the regular Aussie Caramilk bar already and enjoyed it but this Twirl takes it to the next level...it’s delicious!

It’s folds of swirly caramelised white chocolate, that tastes a bit like Caramac but creamier with a good coating of Cadbury milk chocolate to balance out the sweetness. It’s reminiscent of Cadbury Snowflake, if you remember those. Perhaps even better!

A delicious concoction which of course means we won’t be getting it in the U.K, but let’s hope import companies are able to keep a steady stream coming into the country! For now keep your eyes on GB Gifts for incoming stock plus lots more Aussie and European limited editions.

9/10.

Doisy & Dam Ballers and D&Ds Review

January 22, 2020, 9:50 am

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I was quite intrigued when Doisy and Dam announced some new snack products for Veganuary recently, the dairy free, gluten free vegan Ballers, D&D’s and Buttons range that you can now find in Holland and Barrett stores (99p per 30g bag, £1.99 per 75g bag). There’s also some Dark Chocolate Vegan Mini Eggs joining the trio in time for Easter.

Unfortunate names aside (Ballers? They must have seen the jokes coming with that one - I’m sure it’s not unintentional!), these are a great idea in theory as they’re meant to be like Free From versions of Maltesers and Smarties for vegans. But there’s a catch...they’re made with dark chocolate rather than a vegan “milk” alternative so are inherently a more marmite product to start with - not everyone is a fan of dark chocolate, and I imagine that doesn’t suddenly change if you’re vegan.

And that’s why these products fail. Now personally I enjoy dark chocolate, especially the more flavoursome varieties, so I assumed I would like these. But both products were pretty terrible in my opinion.

Starting with the D&Ds, I was expecting sugary sweetness from the shell perhaps giving way to a richer more adult dark chocolate flavour. But the shells tasted...I can’t describe it exactly...sort of vegetable-y? Not what you expect from coloured crunchy sugar. They give way to a bitter dark chocolate that makes the experience even more unpleasant. They were so bad - This was one of those few occasions I didn’t enjoy chocolate or want to finish it!

The Ballers tasted a little better thanks to the crunchy cereal ball fillings, but it’s SO mismatched with the bitter tasting dark chocolate coating, it just doesn’t work at all. I would rather have eaten them as uncoated cereal balls! They’re nothing like a Malteser either, just bitter coated cereal bites.

Overall then, all I can say is what a let down. I’m surprised to be honest. There’s clearly a gap in the market for a vegan version of classic chocolates (look at the success of Vegan Galaxy bars) so I don’t know why this wasn’t executed better. Using a nice creamy vegan milk chocolate would have been an excellent start - there’s plenty to choose from now. I expect we will see more products like this in the near future, so I’ll wait until something nicer comes along before venturing into vegan confectionery like this again!

2/10.