Your favorite chocolate

[John Connor]

Eventually I got my chance to try the elusive chocolate the Ads had convinced me was awesome, only to be disappointed. This experience amongst other similar ones really made me cynical to advertising at a young age.

Ever try a Wonka bar? They do make 'em.

 

[sandorski]

It is true. At the age of 12, during class break I used to run down to the local pharmacy a block away and buy a Cadbury bar. It was delightful. I never enjoyed Hershey bars that way and I can't stand them now. Are Cadbury still good? A poster in this thread said that they are made by Hershey now and no longer good.

They still exist, but are thicker now. Haven't really had any in years though. Usually get Coffee Crisp now or Lindt bars which go on sale quite regularly.

 

[sandorski]

Ever try a Wonka bar? They do make 'em.

Had to Google, so no.

 

[John Connor]

Had to Google, so no.

I bought one at a 99 cent store in Layton, Utah. LOL

 

[sandorski]

I bought one at a 99 cent store in Layton, Utah. LOL

Watched a YT review of it, dude seemed unimpressed. He said it kinda tasted like XMas chocolate, which isn't too bad.

 

[John Connor]

Watched a YT review of it, dude seemed unimpressed. He said it kinda tasted like XMas chocolate, which isn't too bad.

I'd say that, yeah.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

You can order the Cadbury Dairy Milk bars on Amazon, and they're directly imported from Europe. Much better than the domestic version IMO.

 

[Muse]

This.
I don't think I have ever tasted anything "chocolately" in the US that even tasted remotely like chocolate. Very sad.

Try Leonidas.
https://www.google.nl/search?newwin...X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2Yj6_rXPAhXEvRoKHUK2BXEQhyYIIA

Never heard of them, but it's tempting. However, some at Amazon have posted that what they got wasn't what they'd hoped for, the real deal they got in Belgium.

I counter: Try See's, try Dove Promises, if you're never tasted delicious American chocolate. You have to dig deep, but it's there, if rare.

 

[Muse]

Ever try a Wonka bar? They do make 'em.

I watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory a few weeks ago, soon after Gene Wilder's death. Watched extras on the DVD (which I've owned quite a few years). The movie was financed by Quaker Oats, who came out with the Wonka bar and were convinced to finance the movie (for a couple million dollars) which came out at the same time as the candy bar in hopes that sales of the candy would take off. The movie was pretty much a flop and so was the candy, which tended to unexpectedly melt. They had to pull them from the stores. So it said in the on-DVD documentary. The movie has become a cult classic over the years, but AFAIK, not the candy bar. I've never seen one. I didn't know it still existed.

 

[Gryz]

... that what they got wasn't what they'd hoped for, the real deal they got in Belgium.

I'm not sure what that sentence means.

Indeed, Leonidas is a Belgian brand. They have their own shops in Belgium. Sometimes more than a dozen shops per city. They also have shops in every major city in my country (the Netherlands, next door). There seem to be 10 Leonidas shops in the US.
http://www.leonidas.be/

My Belgian colleagues insist that Leonidas is the only type of proper chocolate.

To be precise, we're talking pralines here, not just chocolate. According to the english wiki page, pralines need to contain nuts ? Weird, I have never heard of that. Pralines as I know them are most often just chocolate with chocolate filling inside. Lots and lots of different types and flavors.

I counter: Try See's, try Dove Promises, if you're never tasted delicious American chocolate. You have to dig deep, but it's there, if rare.

Dove sells chocolate in my country. Not sure which types of chocolates I've eaten in the past. I remember that it's OK, but nothing special. I'll try again.

 

[Craig234]

This.
I don't think I have ever tasted anything "chocolately" in the US that even tasted remotely like chocolate. Very sad.

Try Leonidas.
https://www.google.nl/search?newwin...X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2Yj6_rXPAhXEvRoKHUK2BXEQhyYIIA

The US has all kinds of great chocolates.

 

[lxskllr]

The US has all kinds of great chocolates.

Unfortunately, you can't get them at the average convenience store. You pretty much have Hershey and Nestlé, and neither of those are fantastic.

 

[Muse]

Try Leonidas.
https://www.google.nl/search?newwin...X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2Yj6_rXPAhXEvRoKHUK2BXEQhyYIIA

The reviews of Leonidas chocolate boxes I see on Amazon suggest that a lot of them have fruity fillings. I am not saying I won't really like them, but in the past I have not much enjoyed such chocolates. My experience with Leonidas might differ, I'd have to try to know. I could see if I can find a store in my vicinity or I could order online, presumably through Amazon. Amazon has several offerings. 1, 1.5, and 2 lb boxes of general assortments and boxes of praline filled and others. What would you recommend?

Edit: Ah, I was staying with my cousin in Manhattan a month ago and there's a store that sells Leonidas a few blocks from his apartment. I've not located anything on the west coast so far. Maybe mail order is my only option currently.

 

[Craig234]

I tried to check on Leonidas for you in San Francisco, and they apparently only sell through their own stores and the one in SF closed.

But, there's a Teuscher Chocolate... good stuff.

 

[DigDog]

some of the world's most prestigious (and expensive) chocolate.

i pay 70p (about a buck) for a 100g bar of your PRESTIGIOUS chocolate.
i would review your meter of judgement before you embarass yourself any further.

 

[quikah]

This.
I don't think I have ever tasted anything "chocolately" in the US that even tasted remotely like chocolate. Very sad.

Try Leonidas.
https://www.google.nl/search?newwin...X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2Yj6_rXPAhXEvRoKHUK2BXEQhyYIIA

The founder started in NYC!

Sharffen Berger is decent, though they sold out to Hershey.

Guittard is very good, they are still family owned.

Ghirardelli is OK, sold out to Lindt.

Not really up on gourmet chocolate, just know those since they are (or were) local to SF Bay area.

 

[John Connor]

I watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory a few weeks ago, soon after Gene Wilder's death. Watched extras on the DVD (which I've owned quite a few years). The movie was financed by Quaker Oats, who came out with the Wonka bar and were convinced to finance the movie (for a couple million dollars) which came out at the same time as the candy bar in hopes that sales of the candy would take off. The movie was pretty much a flop and so was the candy, which tended to unexpectedly melt. They had to pull them from the stores. So it said in the on-DVD documentary. The movie has become a cult classic over the years, but AFAIK, not the candy bar. I've never seen one. I didn't know it still existed.

They are made by the Wonka candy company. The same company that makes these.

 

[Crono]

They are made by the Wonka candy company. The same company that makes these.

Owned by Nestlé. It's unfortunate that the real life Willy Wonka company produces crappy candy (though I admit to having consumed plenty of nerds, gobstoppers, and runts as a kid... still kinda like the banana flavor runt ) and chocolate. It would be truly fantastic if it they had chocolate bars and candy as exquisitely made as in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and they had golden ticket promos to a true-to-book(s) chocolate factory of Dahlian (or Wonkian) proportions and design.

The real Willy Wonka must be spinning in his grave because a huge, transnational corporation like Nestlé is using his name to sell low quality candy.

 

[Billb2]

Why not? I have bought several giant blocks of Guittard Gourmet Bitter Sweet, I have a lot on hand right now. It's very good indeed. But I don't like it nearly as much as Lindt Truffles or Dove Promise. I have bought other bulk chocolate, but it's not as good as that Guittard, which BTW isn't expensive at all.

That's not the "bulk" I didn't want to go to.

But anyway, a place I worked at did some HVAC work for a chocolate factory (don't remember which) and they gave us a "brick" that was 2 feet x 3 feet x 4 inches. We put it on a table in the break room and it lasted a week!

My wife an I once ate a 10 lb bag of Ghirardelli chocolate in 5 weeks.

 

[MongGrel]

I love chocolate enough we don't buy it that often.

Even if the wife gets chips for cookies I'll snack on them. She picks up some cheap stuff now and then if on sale for me like the Doves.

These are one of my personal favorites.

http://www.ferrerorocherusa.com/

 

[Concerned Citizen]

Milk.The End

 

[Muse]

i pay 70p (about a buck) for a 100g bar of your PRESTIGIOUS chocolate.
i would review your meter of judgement before you embarass yourself any further.

Huh? Color me incredulous. You may be embarrassed for me but I assure you I am not. Amedei is not PRESTIGIOUS? I have done my homework. BTW, you misspelled embarrass. Who should be embarrassed? Just what do you get for your buck? You did not say, I cannot guess.

 

[Muse]

The founder started in NYC!

Sharffen Berger is decent, though they sold out to Hershey.

Guittard is very good, they are still family owned.

Ghirardelli is OK, sold out to Lindt.

Not really up on gourmet chocolate, just know those since they are (or were) local to SF Bay area.

Yes. As I said, I have bought 10 lb. blocks on more than one occasion of Guittard Gourmet Bittersweet Chocolate and have quite a bit on hand. It is good, but honestly I prefer Lindt Truffles and Dove Promises. Ghirardelli, I have never really liked. Maybe I just didn't get the right stuff. I drove out to Mountain View to get my Guittard. There's a store there where they have it in bulk:

Milk Pail Market
2585 California St, Mountain View, CA 94040, US
$30.55 for 10# (10 years ago, I think it's gone up some since then)

 

[Muse]

I tried to check on Leonidas for you in San Francisco, and they apparently only sell through their own stores and the one in SF closed.

But, there's a Teuscher Chocolate... good stuff.

I have to look into that. I'm going to San Francisco tomorrow and next day too (Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival).

 

[Muse]

Milk.The End

As a kid, I certainly preferred milk to dark chocolate. However, I have decided that I like the dark and very dark Lindt Truffles as much as the milk chocolate ones. So, maybe it depends on the quality. I'm not a sugar nut by any means. I always keep in mind what I heard: Americans food tends to be much sweeter than that of Europeans. I've yet to set foot in Europe, but I regard Europeans (well, many of them) as very probably the most civilized folks on earth (not certain what that means, but I'm convinced that a lot of the greatest humans on the planet are and have been Europeans!).

All that said, I must say that I've never eaten a very dark chocolate that lacked much sweetness that I much liked. And yes, I've tasted more than a few of those.