don't mess with our chocolate!

Apparently, some lobbyists are attempting to "change the definition" of chocolate by allowing inferior non-dairy product to pass off as the real thing. Read the post, then click on the link above to help do your part to save our chocolate. Thanks!

The rules currently state (basically) that chocolate must contain cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Other things can be in there, like milk fat and milk solids to make milk chocolate and a small amount of milk fat can be added to dark chocolate as well. The new proposal would allow products that contain NO COCOA BUTTER to be call chocolate.

Here's a passage directly from the "Don't Mess with Our Chocolate" website...

We love it just the way it is; made with 100% cocoa butter and real milk, rather than some concocted blend of fats and other substitutes. The following lists the primary reasons why we oppose their petition and why this is not in the best interest of the consumer:
1). Without proper labeling, consumers will find it difficult and confusing to differentiate the current gold standard of real chocolate vs. this new concoction, which has substitute ingredients. This will amount to economic fraud to the consumer as the product will become cheaper with inferior ingredients.
2). None of what is being proposed benefits the consumer, nor was any consumer research submitted to support such changes.
3). Their proposed formula will contain large quantities of bad Trans fats, which are not good for your health.
4). They are meddling with everything that we love about chocolate.
5). Cocoa butter is unique; vegetable fats can only masquerade as cocoa butter.
6). The eating properties, flavor and mouth feel will all be different.
7). All manufacturers, even those who do not want to support this, will be forced to convert to the new concoction due to the economic advantages associated with the new formula and their wanting to remain effectively competitive within the category. The net effect will be a total downgrade in the eating enjoyment and quality for chocolate.

ferrero duplo (Puerto Rico)

See? Even Buddy Christ thinks you would enjoy the Ferrero Duplo. But in all honesty, what makes this hazelnut treat any better than any of the other Ferrero offerings? Nothing really. This is another twist on the chocolate/hazelnut/wafer combination. Hey, if it works for them, why screw with it?

Anyways, this one looked like a giant Lego block, with three bumps protruding from a rectangular base. There were strips of chocolate on top of the entire bar. The packaging was simply white with red lettering and bore a picture of the contained goodies.

I broke off a piece and enjoyed such goodness. The hazelnut cream was about as creamy and delicious as possible. The pieces of hazelnut that were swimming in the filling were tiny and soft and provided a perfect compliment. The wafers were extremely light and the chocolate was super-milky. This was almost a perfect score, though I personally don't like nuts in my chocolate. Nice job Ferrero.

Ferrero Duplo (Puerto Rico)
Size: 26g Calories: 150 Fat: 10g Carbohydrates: 13g

nestle lion (England)

Here's another one from the foreign section of the supermarket. I've actually had this bar before while I was on a cruise several years ago. I remember it being quite tasty, but not so much that I was inclined to search for an online retailer. Naw mean?

The packaging is just okay from a graphic artist's point of view. I've definitely seen better from Nestle. It actually looks quite dated and lacks the flare of new packages. The bar itself was quite good, and was made with a mixture of caramel, filled wafers, crisp cereal and milk chocolate. It taste like a conglomeration of Milky Ways, Nestle Crunches and Kit Kats. One would think this would be heaven. However, there's just too much going on here and while there are a lot of good flavors, but none of them is distinct.

Nestle Lion (England)
Size: 55g Calories: 269 Fat: 12g Carbohydrates: 35g

olza prince polo (Poland)

Here's a new one. I'll give you a little background info on this bar from its wiki...

Prince Polo is a Polish chocolate bar. It is sold in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary under the name Siesta, and is popular in Iceland (as Prins Póló), where for many years it was one of the few chocolate bars available. It has long been Poland's top-selling candy brand, but in recent years the similar Princessa brand (manufactured by Nestle) has achieved similar popularity.

Prince Polo was introduced in the early 1950s, during the early years of the Polish People's Republic, by Olza SA in Cieszyn. It is a chocolate-covered wafer, with four layers of wafer joined by three layers of chocolate-flavored filling; it was easily identifiable by its metallic gold-colored wrapper.

I found this bar in the foreign foods section of our local supermarket. The picture on the metallic green wrapper made me wonder if this is a monogatari (see previous post) mint flavored chocolate. The bar felt very light in weight and I was quite eager to rip into it.

As I took my first bite, I realized that I couldn't really place the flavor, but enjoyed the treat nevertheless. It definitely wasn't mint, but reminded of a peanut-like flavor. The wafer was very thin, light and crispy and the chocolate was fresh and left a slightly bitter aftertaste. Apparently this is the most popular chocolate bar in Poland and I can understand why. Though this one might be a bit harder to get your hands on, I would recommend you to try it if possible. It's not my nearly my favorite, but it's not too shabby either.

Olza Prince Polo (Poland)
Size: 38g Calories: 200 Fat: ? Carbohydrate: ?