Dubbel Nougat

parent co.: Marabou/Kraft

net wt.: 50g

quantity: 1 bar

country: sweden

description: hazelnut and almond nougat in two layers

that's a bad photo but i don't feel like taking another one. this bar threw me off, big time! it's really not nougat, the hazelnut layer is basically gianduja (although technically not since it's only 23% hazelnut paste) and the almond layer is like a chocolate-almond paste. there's nothing very nougat-y about it since i expect my nougat to be chewy in some fashion and this is really creamy, but it is so delicious! i took one bite and immediately ate the entire thing. definitely my favorite one so far, the hazelnut flavor pops out and pretty much takes over so you don't even really taste the almond. i would be interested to taste the two layers separately but i somehow doubt that the taste difference would be all that noticeable since the almond layer only has 9% almond in it. such a small amount compared to the hazelnut, no wonder it tastes so hazelnut-y. the common usage of hazelnuts (and crispies) in candy over here is one of the many things i love about sweden so far, since i clearly love hazelnut (check out that sidebar over there). other things include sheep, stray cats, weird birds and fungi, tube foods and ikea.

rating: 9

ingredients (translated from swedish): sugar, hazelnuts, vegetable fat, almonds, cocoa mass, whey powder, cocoa butter, skimmed milk powder, butterfat, emulsifier (soy lecithin), flavoring.

allergen information: contains milk, almond, hazelnut, soy. may contain traces of peanuts, egg and wheat.

Pigall

parent co.: Marabou/Kraft

net wt.: 20g

quantity: 2-10g bars

country: sweden

description: milk chocolate filled with hazelnut truffle

another Marabou bar (there was a sale at the ICA next to my place so there will be a few of them), this one is interesting - i can't really think of anything in the states to compare it to but the crispies are definitely good (i like how much they use them over here, rice is cheap perhaps?). i actually didn't place the hazelnut flavor until i read it in the ingredients, i kind of just thought it was a milky-chocolatey fluff filling. it's not a nougat really, it's reminiscent of a hazelnut version of the filling in the Starbar which is a tad bit more crumbly than traditional nougat but certainly not in a bad way. overall, a decent bar although i do like Starbar better. i'm always a fan of bars that come in twos so you can save one for later (yeah right).

rating: 6

ingredients (translated from swedish): sugar, vegetable fat, milk powder, cocoa butter, rice crisps [rice flour, glucose syrup, salt, malt extract from corn], cocoa mass, hazelnuts, reduced-fat cocoa, emulsifier (soy lecithin), butterfat, skimmed milk powder, whey powder, whey product, salt, flavor.

allergen information: contains milk, hazelnut, soy, gluten.

Lindt Chocolate Carrots

parent co.: Lindt

net wt.: 1.8 oz.

qty.: 4

country: switzerland

description: solid milk chocolate blended with hazelnut

yes, it is indeed another easter candy. these little carrots caught my eye firstly because they are little carrots, and secondly because they are gianduja (that's chocolate with hazelnut paste, for you laypersons), a personal favorite. Lindt is a generally pretty tasty when it comes to milk chocolate, definitely one of my preferred brands in that department. their chocolate has a smooth, creamy texture and a nice milky taste without tasting chalky or sour. these carrots are no exception: the hazelnut paste adds a delicate, nutty flavor and because it's a paste it doesn't affect the creaminess of the chocolate. the carrots are a pretty decent size, a good chunk of chocolate but not so much that you feel like a big fat fatty eating one of them. there's no detail on the chocolate so out of the wrapper they look more like little chocolate umbrellas, which is cute also and the little handle makes them great for sucking on. (more photos)

rating: 9

ingredients: sugar, cocoa butter, milk, chocolate, hazelnut paste, skim milk, soya lecithin (emulsifier), butterfat

allergen information: may contain traces of peanuts/tree nuts

South Korea Candy Part 1

thanks to my good friend ptwnbrwn i've had the pleasure of sampling a slew of candies from south korea. i've been slacking lately on photographing but i finally got caught up, so i'm going to cover it all in two or three posts.

Delfi Top

at the risk of starting this post off on the wrong foot, this was my least favorite by far. the package says it has milk chocolate, caramel, rice crispies, wafer, and cream. based on that list and the way it looks i was expecting something like a Star Crunch cookie mixed with a wafer. really it's more like a flavorless Rice Krispie treat covered in greasy, bland chocolate. it's so bland. i can't stop thinking about it. the texture is rather disappointing as well, not crunchy enough, kind of mushy. like when you let wafers sit out for too long and they get kind of sponge-y. the crispies add a tiny bit of crunch, but not enough to appease me. there's some sticky goo on top, which i assume to be the caramel, but i really can't taste it. as for the "milk chocolate," i'm a bit skeptical that it's really chocolate. again, no flavor. the more i try it, the less gross it is, but it's just so bland that i have a hard time recommending it to anyone. Delfi also has a strawberry version, but i'm not sure it would be any better.

rating: 2

Chocotec Hazelnuts

first of all, let me say that i already like these without even tasting them, because they look like boobs. yes, boobs. breasts. that is hilarious. i'm not actually sure about the brand on this chocolate; the package only says Hazelnuts. there is a website on the back for Chocotec, but the site is in korean, so i can only assume that they are the distributors of this candy. although this one was a step up from the Top, it seems like several of the candies i received might have been a little old, or maybe that's just the way the chocolate is in korea. at any rate it was kind of greasy, a little chalky, and pretty crumbly. the flavor wasn't bad but when i bit into the first half i was disappointed that there were no actual hazelnuts. my piece doesn't look much like theirs on the package:

luckily when i ate the other half i crunched into a hazelnut. and it was good. i do think there should have been more hazelnut in it, but as a whole the candy wasn't bad. also i feel i should point out the packaging, it says "I send you this as my appreciation to your kindness. From the bottom of my heart." sweet. keep an eye out for a review of the Chocotec Strawberry, coming soon.

rating: 4

Arcor Bon O Bon Chocolate

this was interesting. i was excited about it, since it is wafers and chocolate cream, but what was interesting is that from the second that i opened it, it smelled like peanut butter. Arcor does makes a peanut butter Bon O Bon, but this is supposed to be the chocolate version. there's no mention of peanut butter anywhere on the packaging. the outer chocolate coating here is sort of waxy, but the wafer is pretty good - thin, light and flaky. the chocolate cream filling is where it really gets crazy. that's definitely where the peanut butter is coming into play. i can't say for sure because, again, the package is all in korean, but i'd bet my legos that there are some peanuts in here. the cream itself is very thick and pasty; it almost has a peanut buttery consistency. so far this is my favorite of the wafer-esque candies in this batch. while scouring the internets for info on Bon O Bons i came across a cute commercial from argentina:

rating: 6

Lotte ChocoWafer

more greasy chocolate, the same coating that Lotte puts on the ChocoPies, which i will snack on once in awhile. yet again i'm wondering whether we're dealing with mockolate here. i do love the packages from asia, but sometimes it gets frustrating when you can't read the ingredients. this wafer is rather bland and lifeless. i wish i could say something nice about it, because generally i enjoy all wafers, no matter what. so, in that respect i do enjoy this, but really it's just kind of boring. the wafers are crunchy, not chewy as in the Top, but that's probably the ChocoWafer's only saving grace. i'm glad i got to try it, but i probably won't go looking for more.

rating: 3

Crown KicKer

obviously my initial thought is that this is just like a KitKat. in fact, i thought that it was a KitKat, but that maybe in korea they call it KicKer. then i saw the Crown logo (not to be confused with the american Crown Candy), so i knew it wasn't the real thing. as far as taste it's pretty spot on. the chocolate coating is smooth, not the greasy stuff mentioned previously, the wafers are crunchy and flaky. overall it's an excellent wafer. i don't think it has as many layers as a KitKat, there are only two wafers whereas KitKat generally has four. i've got a review of the Crown MyChew coming up as well.

rating: 6

whew, that was a mouthful. it might seem like i was a bit harsh with some of these, but i just wanted them to be better i suppose. the next batch was much more satisfying so i'll be a lot kinder.

Lindt Fioretto

i figured that since these said new on the bag, and i had never seen them, that they must be a new product from Lindt, but apparently they've been around for awhile and just the package is new. anyways, they're new to me. and they're pretty good. i'm a fan of Lindt Lindor Truffles, so i was pretty excited to try these. there are three flavors available: cappuccino, caramel and hazelnut nougat. i went for the assorted bag because i want it all, and why shouldn't i get it? the distribution of flavors was pretty even - three each of cappuccino and hazelnut, four caramel.

Cappuccino

i can taste the cappuccino flavor immediately, kind of coffeeish, kind of milky. the center is firmer than i expected, i guess i was thinking it would be creamy like a Lindor Truffle. the crispies on the outside are the best, i'm glad they included them in all three kinds. this is actually my least favorite, but i would still eat it again.

rating: 5

Caramel

i assume this is the most popular, which is why they give you an extra one (unless it's arbitrary and i just got lucky). it's tying for my favorite right now with the hazelnut. the caramel is perfect, literally. it's gooey but not messy, rich and very buttery and so smooth. it's like a 100 grand if 100 grand was good. the crispies are the perfect juxtaposition to the creamy caramel and the chocolate is smooth and quite tasty.

rating: 9

Hazelnut Praline Nougat

this one threw me off at first. on the package it's just called "Nougat," but the actual candy specifies that it's Hazelnut Praline. naturally i thought this would be like Ferrero Rocher, and while it is reminiscent, it has its distinctions. the main difference would be the lack of actual hazelnuts in the filling. there's a strong hazelnut flavor, but no crunchiness. the filling is much creamier than the Cappuccino version and i definitely prefer it. i also don't notice the praline here, possibly because of the crispies, maybe they're distracting me or maybe it's just not a prevalent flavor. i'm also not sure about the nougat label, i don't see where that comes into play, unless there is some other thing called nougat that i don't know of. i'd say these remind me more of the Trader Joe's Hazelnut Delights, which is a good thing.

rating: 9

Manner Wafers: Dark Chocolate Covered Hazelnut

oh baby, these are good. the perfect blend of chocolate (the dark variety), hazelnut and wafer. these wafers are great - they're delicate and flaky, sandwiched between layers of hazelnut creme. i also like the creme here, although it's a little pastier than some, it has a pretty good hazelnut flavor without being too sugary sweet or milky (there are real hazelnuts in here too, that's nice). even better than the regular wafers, these are smothered in dark chocolate which is quite good; it's slick and smooth. i love these wafers mostly because they are fun to pull apart and eat in layers.

rating: 8

Kinder Happy Hippo Biscuit

this is so cute. not only is it shaped like a little hippo, it's delicious to boot. this is pretty similar to the Bueno, sans the chocolate. the same flaky wafer is used on the outside while inside there's a layer of hazelnut creme, but here there's also a layer of white creme, which i guess is the "milk" part of the "hazelnut and milk." both cremes are very smooth and not at all pasty or chunky. the other difference here is the little white sugar balls on the outside - i like the little crunch they add. i will buy these every day, i just wish they came in other animals.

rating: 9

Kinder Bueno

this has to be one of my favorite types of candy: chocolate, hazelnut and wafer. delicious! i'm especially fond of the cream used here. it's very smooth and has a nice milky taste intermingling with the hazelnut flavor. i love that the cream is in little compartments in the wafers, it's very nice to bite into. the wafer itself isn't very thick, and it's rather flaky and delicate. put all together this creates a very satisfying candy.

rating: 9

La Mancha Ranch & Orchard Dark Chocolate Roasted Hazelnuts

these dark chocolate roasted hazelnuts are from a local farm here in oregon (more precisely, sweet home, OR), and while the cost might be a bit steep, they really are delicious. each hazelnut is perfectly toasted, never burnt or bitter. the dark chocolate is quite tasty and complements the hazelnuts wonderfully. the hazelnuts are organic, but the chocolate doesn't appear to be. it's a pretty standard chocolate: chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter and butter oil (with lecithin and pure vanilla). i'm sure this is something i could recreate in my own kitchen, but i don't mind supporting my local economy (and saving time and energy). i don't know whether these are available outside of oregon, but if you ever have the opportunity, you should definitely pick up a bag or two (also available in milk chocolate, i just prefer dark).

rating: 10

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Delights

thank god for these little bits of hazelnut heaven. after the disappointing hazelnut Dagoba bar, this is just what i needed. these are really similar to Ferrero Rocher. there's a hazelnut in the middle, surrounded by some kind of hazelnut-chocolate paste, and then on top of that is a wafery coating (i guess that is the praline) dipped in chocolate and then more chopped hazelnuts. it is delicious. the only real difference here is that the outer shell on these seems to be a bit less fragile than the shell of the Ferrero Rocher, and also i think that the cream/paste inside is pastier than the Ferrero. theirs is more creamy like nutella. but these are so good, i've been waiting for them for awhile; it was worth it.

rating: 9

Dagoba Organic Chocolates: lavender blueberry, chai, hazelnut

we carry these Dagoba Organic Chocolate bars at work. they come in a lot of interesting flavors that i just noticed the other day, so i thought, "why not start my magnificent candy reviewing career off right? $2.69 organic chocolate bars it is." then after i bought them i thought, "wow, i wish i still had $8." but when i got home and tried them i thought, "these are great! but i still could use $8." i picked the three that seemed most appealing to me:

lavender blueberry dark chocolate (purple) - this one is really good. i'm a big fan of lavender in chocolate and other sweets (cupcakes!) and this was the right amount - not too overwhelming. the blueberry is a great companion flavor, plus there are actual dried blueberries in the chocolate, which makes for a great texture.

rating: 7

chai milk chocolate (blue) - the front lists this bar as containing crystallized ginger and chai essence. i definitely taste the ginger, which i was worried about because normally i hate ginger, but i've come to realize that i can tolerate it when it's combined with chocolate. i might even go so far as to say that i enjoy it in chocolate. there's also a hint of clove in here, i assume that comes from the chai, and the chocolate has a little grittiness to it, which i think comes from the cloves. i like it.

rating: 8

hazelnut milk chocolate (yellow) - i was slightly disappointed with this one, mainly because i expected it to be my favorite. i love hazelnuts, and these hazelnuts are toasted, which is even better. plus there are rice crisps in here. it should be delicious, but there were definitely not enough rice crisps, as i didn't even really experience a crunch. i feel that if there are rice crisps involved the crunch factor should be at least a 6, not to mention nuts which should bump it up to 7. this bar weighed in at a lowly 2 on the crunch factor scale. i think the chai might have had more crunch. also, there really isn't much of a hazelnut taste at all, very subtle compared to the flavors in the other two. i don't know, maybe i'm too picky but i have yet to find a hazelnut chocolate that really excites me. and still i get my hopes up every time. sigh.

rating: 3

so, that's what i have to say about that. although i thought they were a little spendy, when i think about it, it's a pretty big bar and it's organic, and it's really good, so i think it's worth it as a treat. also it's named after that planet in star wars (i am aware that the planet is spelled with an "h" at the end, and i am also aware that it's not named after that planet, but i still like to think of it as such) i'm definitely going to get more of these, and when i do you'll be the first to know.