NEW! Kinder Bueno Coconut (Superdrug)

Do you buy Kinder Bueno's regularly? I don't. In fact I don't tend to buy any of the wafer style chocolate bars often. There's no particular reason why I don't, it's just that there's normally a different bar that appeals more. Indeed that was the case when this new coconut Bueno came out a couple of weeks ago. But then I started seeing great feedback about the bar on instagram, and then I couldn't find it, and BAM, suddenly I was desperate to try it. Why are we programmed to want the things we can't have? 

Eventually I found it in Superdrug. They weren't even out yet but I asked the baffled looking assistant and he found them on a stock trolley for me. 75p. 75p? For a single Kinder chocolate bar that I'm not normally fussed on? Oh, ok then. 

"White chocolate with coconut milk covered wafer with smooth and ,milky hazelnut filling."

Once again I found myself frustrated that the nutritional info is so misleading. One bar is one serving. One bar, to me, is one pack. To Nestle it is one finger - half the pack. It's absurd. Anyway, the wafers were coated on their bottom side and down the edges with desiccated coconut, but looked otherwise indifferent to the normal white bueno. 

With my first bite I experienced the veritable melange of textures and flavours. There was the crunchy wafer and smooth filling with an added bobble from the coconut pieces. There was the cardboard-like wafer flavour, milky hazelnut and white chocolate with a smidgen more than a hint of coconut. In fairness, the flavours and textures worked well together, it's just that I've been spoiled of late. Compared to The Grown Up Chocolate Company's or Côte D'Or's praline, the filling is less creamy and rich. That doesn't mean it wasn't tasty (because it was) it's just nowhere near as decadent.

I've read reports that the new coconut bar is 'so good that even people who don't like coconut will like it', and although I can see where they're coming from, I'm inclined to disagree. You see, the coconut flavour is fairly mild, and so I would say that if you like both Nice biscuits and Kinder Buenos, then it's likely that you'll be a fan of this new addition to the range. 

7/10

E.Wedel Bajeczny Peanut & Wafer Chocolate Bar (Polski Sklep)

Finally, I found it in yet another Deli! I think my E.Wedel journey is more or less complete now thanks to my search for the Bajeczny bar, which was originally recommended to me in the comments section of my first review of the Eastern European chocolate brand. As with most of E.Wedel's bars, the Bajeczny is a concoction unlike any of the bars that we currently have on the market. I mean, that's one of the big problems that faces British chocolate I think -the lack of creativity and ingenuity that other foreign brands brave- as well as the decreasing quality and size of mainstream brands' products.

"Peanut bar with wafers."

The closest chocolate bars I could think to draw comparisons with are the Reese's sticks and Peanut Butter Kitkat; both of which of course are primarily wafers with layer(s) of peanut butter and wrapped in chocolate.

The Bajeczny bar presented itself as somewhat of a surprise therefore when I sliced it in two and discovered the truffle-esque filling that lay within the outer milk chocolate coating, and It became instantly obvious that the bar would be completely unlike the Reese's wafers or KitKat. The centre was studded with pieces of chopped peanut too, which was another revelation considering I was expecting either a layer of peanut butter and/or peanut flavoured filling.

The wafer was fused into the internal mixture of the bar, offering a crunchiness in every bite that reminded me of feuilletine. Additional texture came from the peanuts too, which were chopped fairly finely and embedded the entire mixture.The trouble was, when I buy a peanut bar I (rightly or wrongly) want and expect it to taste of peanut butter, and this just wasn't the case with the Bajeczny. The primary flavour was chocolate, and although it was of decent enough quality, it just didn't tick all of my boxes.

I'm glad I've tried the Bajeczny bar, but I personally found it to be nowhere near as special as E.Wedel's KarmelLove range.

7/10

White Chocolate Praline Wonder Bar (WHSmith)

The Grown Up Chocolate Company: a British chocolatier whose products I've been wanting to try for ages. The trouble is, living in rural Hereford presents a few issues when acquiring quality chocolate. There's not even a Hotel Chocolat. The closest we have is Thorntons, and I'm so unimpressed with their chocolate that I even gave away my Thorntons advent calendar last December. So, needless to say that when I spotted the White Chocolate Praline Wonder bar (reduced too might I add) in WHSmith, I quickly nabbed a couple of bars.

"Caramelised wafer enticingly slathered in sumptuous praline with a sprinkle of biscuit pearls encased in white chocolate. A true wonder bar."

For those of you who aren't au fait with The Grown Up Chocolate Company, they specialise in "the bars we ate as children, but reimagined for Grown Ups only." I'm not sure how grown up I am (seeing as yesterday saw the boobie bun review) neither do I remember consuming chocolate as a child that sounded even remotely as decadent as the White Chocolate Praline Bar. What I do know however, is that white chocolate, praline, and biscuits are a trio who live right up there amongst my favourite treats.

The White Chocolate Praline Wonderful actually comprised of two separate complete bars (total weight 65g). They looked rather sweet too with their biscuity topping, and the chocolate appeared adequately thick too (much needed after the appalling coating on the banana Jaffa cakes).

Slicing one bar in two revealed just how generous The Grown Up Chocolate Company had been with the white chocolate. The praline interior was the colour of milk chocolate, and I could spot a couple of biscuit 'pearls' poking out too... I couldn't wait to tuck in.

Crikey. I'd forgotten just how fantastic white chocolate could be. It was creamy, sweet, and melted in the mouth with an incredibly comforting flavour. Seriously yummy. The praline interior was also delicious, providing a juxtaposition against the velvety coating thanks to the crunchiness that came from the wafers embedded within. The biscuit pearls added an extra textural element, although they were less obvious due to the abundance of components within the bar. Although there was a lot going on, every element complimented each other perfectly, to provide a bar that really is quite wonderful.

I totally agree: the White Chocolate Praline Wonderful is definitely for Grown Ups only, and it's not for sharing either. Seriously scrumptious. I only wish I could buy more -the WHSmith is unsurprisingly out of stock again now! 

10/10

'The Crunchy One' Chocolate Bar (M&S)

I really think M&S have upped their chocolate game; at the end of last year they released a whole host of new chocolate bars including plain bars such as 'The White One' that I reviewed last month, and the exciting sounding 'Crazy One' that Lucy reviewed in October. This week I picked up the 'Crunchy One':

'Milk chocolate bar with a soft chocolate centre containing honeycomb, cornflakes, caramelised hazelnut pieces and wafer.'

The bar had a rippled appearance complete with a dark chocolate coloured drizzle on top. It was easy to slice, baring it's soft chocolate & crunchy filling. The chocolate covering had a very mild cocoa flavour, with the emphasis clearly leaning towards the milkier end of the spectrum. 

The filling was very creamy with a whipped, almost mousse like, texture that reminded me of chocolate flavoured buttercream. The honeycomb pieces were evident throughout, providing a hit of both sweetness and crunch, without the overwhelming sugariness that I often experience when eating a Cadbury's Crunchie bar. I could also detect the cornflakes which offered a nostalgic memory of eating Easter nests as a child (perfectly timed to the season of course!). The bar seemed to be lacking the hazelnuts and wafer elements (unsurprising really given that they only make up 3% of the bar each) but there was more than enough going on already, so I'll happily admit that I didn't feel hard done by.

Once again M&S, I have to applaud you for creating a delicious and innovative product, 'The Crunchy One' makes a lovely change!

8/10

Reese's Sticks (Tesco)

As you may recall, last week I received a package of peanut buttery goodies from the lovely 1Treat. The parcel included a pack of Reese's Sticks, which I thought might be the Stateside equivalent of peanut butter KitKat Chunkys as both the bars comprise of milk chocolate, wafer and peanut butter.

I was pleased to discover that (unlike their Nestle cousin) the Reese's Sticks came in duo finger form -only because I prefer to savour my chocolate, and eek out every moment of pleasure! The wafers were only lightly covered with the milk chocolate flavoured coating, which barely concealed the wafer within. 

The wafers were very crisp and light, reminding me of an ice cream cone. The peanut butter was sandwiched twice in between the three wafer layers, providing a satisfying sweet-salty flavour that was quite rightly the star of the show. The chocolatey coating was typically sweet in true Hershey's form, although it provided a rich contrast against both the wafer and peanut butter filling. The bars felt very light to eat, and despite my efforts to lengthen the enjoyment process, they were gone before I knew it!

There are in fact clear differences between the Reese's Sticks and KitKat Chunky:-

 Reese's Sticks vs KitKat

The Sticks had a far better peanut butter ratio thanks to its second nutty layer and more salty flavour, whilst their wafer was far thinner and therefore lighter than the almost biscuity Nestle version. The KitKat Chunky had a much thicker chocolate case however, which actually tasted of real chocolate!

So, I recommend that if you're craving chocolate with a peanut butter hit then you may be better off with the KitKat, however if you're a peanut butter fanatic -like me- then try the Reese's Sticks!

Thanks Mrs 1T!

8/10