The great chocolate exchange: The Verdict

[MrsPeacefrog]

Well, the package from Alyson arrived yesterday. We did a chocolate exchange, I sent her some Aussie chocolate products and she sent me some American products. I finally got to try these Reese's peanut butter cups that I see all of you rave about in other threads whenever the topic of sweets came up.

The verdict: Too sweeeeet. The first little bite was yummy, and I thought, yeah these are pretty nice, but then I took another bite and I started to change my mind. It was just a little bit full on for me :crazy: I think if they were the size of my first bite, then it would have been nice, but by the time both Tony and I finished ours we were shuddering :giggle: I love chocolate, but there is something different about this chocolate, it's definately sweeter. I am a peanut butter fan, but maybe not as much as I thought becasue these weren't what I expected at all.

Alyson also sent me butterfingers, they were yummy, they were sweet too, but manageable, they were in fun size form so a perfect size. She also sent me Almond Hersheys bar, we had that when we were in America and really liked them so it was great to have another try of it, it's been 8 years since we were there :crazy: There was also kitkats in the package, we have them here too, but I haven't tasted one yet to see the difference, I might have to do that now. It's all for the greater good, I MUST eat it for scientific purpose to compare our chocolate products. :hehe:

[milliez]

We American's definitely like our sweets really sweet. I never even thought about it either. I just figured that everyone's chocolates were like that.:dunno: Interesting. I can't wait to hear Alyson's verdict on the Aussie stuff!!

~ Melissa

[bloom]

What an awesome idea to have an exchange!! So now I'm curious, is milk chocolate as popular there as in the US? Sure we know dark is better for you but most is milk...

[Melissa]

OOOhhhhh..... What a great idea! I'm sorry you didn't like the Reece's :drool: Did you get a York Peppermint pattie?

[kika]

Reece's are sweet. But I love them! I love Butterfinger's too.

I actually prefer dark chocolate though...

Alyson, did you get your package yet?

[Karly]

They do have mini Resse's Cups that would be the perfect bite for you, Deb! There is nothing better than chocolate and PB. :lick:

[Michele]

I was just going to say you should try the mini-Reese's cups - I prefer them!

[Alyson]

We got our package last week. And yes, we're definetly enjoying it!! I'd asked Deb for Jaffa's because I'd had them before and LOVED them! So we got some Jaffas (little chocolate balls with a candy shell, they're somewhat orange flavored), some Caramello Koala's and CurlyWurly's.
DH doesn't like the Jaffa's which I knew before hand and worked out great because I got them all to myself!!;) Brookelyn did like them, but only had a few. We all liked the caramello Koala's. They tasted better than our 'caramello's' that we have here in the US (the chocolate wasn't sooo sweet, go figure ha?). Matt LOVES the Curly Wurly's (a long strip of caramel covered in chocolate). I wouldn't say that I 'dislike' them, but I am just not a fan of caramel.

So yeah, overall we liked what we got from Deb!! I was telling her that I always prefer 'non US' chocolate, much less sweet!! You girls are right also, Deb would probably like the bite size pb cups. We've talked about doing this again, so we'll see what we can come up with to exchange. I didn't even think of York Peppermint Patties....

[stass]

mmmm I want chocolate!:lick:

I predict that the Reese's will come back to haunt Deb and she'll crave some more. :lol: I love me some Canadian candy bars.(which Scott calls Chocolate Bars) I get them when we visit. MMM Coffee Crisp, Crispy Crunch and Cherry Bomb. :drool:

[MrsPeacefrog]

Oh yeah, the mini reese's definately sound like a goer :aok:


So now I'm curious, is milk chocolate as popular there as in the US? Sure we know dark is better for you but most is milk...



I would have to say milk chocolate is the dominant chocolate here too, but being it's Easter I am noticing even more these days that there is just as many white and dark chocolate bunnies out there, not just milk chocolate, so I am guessing it's becoming more popular.

In general chocolate is sweet :crazy:, but there is something extra sweet about your chocolate, I would love to know the difference in the sugar content.

As for the kitkats, I tried the US version and they pretty much taste exactly the same although the chocolate around it looked a little darker than ours though :dunno:

[MrsPeacefrog]

mmmm I want chocolate!:lick:

I predict that the Reese's will come back to haunt Deb and she'll crave some more. :lol: I love me some Canadian candy bars.(which Scott calls Chocolate Bars) I get them when we visit. MMM Coffee Crisp, Crispy Crunch and Cherry Bomb. :drool:


:lol: you are probably right!

I am also laughing at the chocolate bar reference cause that's what we call them here, we call all our sweets "lollies" and our bars "chocolate bars" the only thing we call candy are those small hard pressed sugar type things, that is candy. We don't even call Candy Apples, Candy apples, we call them Toffee Apples. :lol:

[stass]

This is a Caramel apple
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dailytri.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/caramel_apple.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dailytri.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/embracing-the-caramel-appleness-of-life/&h=240&w=250&sz=36&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=8H9fzTvbhrsT0M:&tbnh=107&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcaramel%2Bapple%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DNhttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:8H9fzTvbhrsT0M:http://dailytri.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/caramel_apple.jpg
This is a Candy apple
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:AYDXBfAIDVgq1M:http://www.mariniscandies.com/images/products/detail/cinn_3_pack_med.gif

I can't say how interesting I find these little differences between cultures. I don't know why but I am really into it. :nod:

[MrsPeacefrog]

Well we do call the caramel apples that :aok: But that is definately a toffee apple over here :lol:

I love all the differences too, I never get bored of it.

[stass]

It is the high fructose corn syrup. :nod:

[Becca]

What a great thread...all about chocolate! :lick:

Stass - How about Smarties??? They're my all time fave :)

[stass]

I could eat me some Smarties.:nod: But American smarties are thesehttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:csa-AwQ9pfRsDM:http://www.shopatmoxie.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/smarties350.jpg

[Becca]

Aaaahh!! Rockets!! When I was in elementary school my friends & I would crush them up with our rulers so that they were just powder & sniff it. Yes. We were stupid.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/SmartiesUSvsCANADA.jpg/180px-SmartiesUSvsCANADA.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SmartiesUSvsCANADA.jpg) <----"Rockets"

This is the link to the Nestle Smarties web page (couldn't get the pic to work)
http://www.nestle.ca/NR/rdonlyres/461A977F-A2B1-4FF4-8707-4F25B512CBC1/0/Smrt50g_May07.jpg (http://http//www.nestle.ca/NR/rdonlyres/461A977F-A2B1-4FF4-8707-4F25B512CBC1/0/Smrt50g_May07.jpg)

[Karri]

What a neat idea!!
You definately need some good dark chocolate :nod: Our milk choco can be sickningly sweet :dead:

[MrsPeacefrog]

:nod: Karri, I am now wondering if our dark chocolate tastes different to your dark chocolate considering the difference of our milk chocolate, hmmmmm.

Our smarties are the same as the 2nd picture (the nestle one)

[Lyoshka]

Neat thread!! How did this idea come about? We should do another exchange!!

Coming from a Russian point of view, I definitely definitely definitely agree American chocolate is too sweet and ... i don't know, it's like grainy or smth? Hershey's bar? it's like you taste the powder. I don't know how to describe it, but I don't like it. I always get the European chocolate.

When I go home, I bring a lot of dark chocolate back, since that's our cultural specialty.

Everything here in US is so sweet-the cakes? Don't get me started on the icing. Now, buttercream is the way to go, baby!!!

[MrsPeacefrog]

Lena: Lyndee started a thread asking the Aussies if we knew the name of a candy she ate from here as she had forgotten it. Alyson made a comment about Jaffas in that thread and I struck a deal with her, I would send her Jaffas if she would send me Reeses, and it went from there :crazy:

[Lyoshka]

Ah! I see... Well, we should keep the tradition alive! How about a Russian-Aussie exchange? or smth... :lol:

[MrsPeacefrog]

:lol: I never say no to chocolate :awink:

[Bev]

I remember the Carmello Koalas that Deb sent us almost 3 years ago! :woa: They are like Caramilk bars. Yummers.

I don't like Hershey bars either Lena.

Stacey! Sex-eh new photo! :aok: You coming over on Easter? I'm on afternoon shift all weekend.

[kika]

Lena, buttercream? :dead: That isn't too sweet to you?

I am not a cake person I guess. I prefer pie. I am not big on chocolate either. I prefer Smarties or Nerds.

What about Australian coffee Deb? Do you drink coffee? Do you guys drink it very strong, or what? Lena has been promising me some Russian coffee for months...BTW, I may be in Chicago for 4 days in 3 weeks.

I dated a Swedish guy for a while and never tired of the differences in food, sweets, and coffee.

[Lyoshka]

Lena, buttercream? :dead: That isn't too sweet to you?
No, not at all... it's so smooth and yummy, i can eat it all day :lol:

Lena has been promising me some Russian coffee for months...BTW, I may be in Chicago for 4 days in 3 weeks.

Well, dude, if you actually come to Chicago, like you have been promising for months, I'll make you some yummy coffee!!! it's not Russian, but I make it on the stove, Turkish-style, you will like it.

[Mandi]

What you need to offset all that sweet stuff is some good authentic mexican salsa and tortilla chips. :lick: :drool: I'd bet that your stuff is crap. :scan: :lol:

[Michal]

What you need to offset all that sweet stuff is some good authentic mexican salsa and tortilla chips. :lick: :drool:

Mmm, yum. This is one thing that we do not do well in Canada, is good mexican food. If I have a craving for it I have to go down across the border for it. I can imagine it is so much better where you are Mandi, being closer to Mexico.

[debstar]

Interesting thread. I also found everything (& I mean everything too sweet in the US). Bread & baked beans even, I could noticably taste the added sugar. Our normal bread is more like your sourdough.

In saying that I liked peanut butter cups, even though I'm not the biggest chocolate fan around. I guess I really like good dark chocolate best.

And yes good Mexican food Mandi, is something we lack here. Since my time in the US (97,98 & 99) when I was introduced to authentic Mexican, I have been searching for some decent stuff here. Sadly I am always dissapointed, but keep searching.

ETA: I think our coffee is fairly similar. A lot of people drink instant (which I hate). But we also have starbucks and similar chains, plus I think Melbourne is renowned for our 'cafe' lifestyle.

[stass]

Stacey! Sex-eh new photo! :aok: You coming over on Easter? I'm on afternoon shift all weekend.
Thanks :brow:
No we aren't coming over this weekend sorry you have to work. :(

[MrsPeacefrog]

I definately do not drink instant coffee, ask Clare, we don't even own a kettle. :lol: We make all our coffee with a proper coffee machine, and use ground beans. Our coffee here is the same as you guys, we have Gloria Jeans, Starbucks etc like you guys and the coffee is made how ever you want it. It's all imported though, no home grown coffee, I don't think. The best place for coffee IMHO is Italy, that stuff is to die for!

There is a pretty damn good Mexican restuarant here in Sydney called Montezeumas, they actually have a few restuarants around Sydney, the one we normally go to is at Bondi. I have to say that it's pretty authentic, I have had Mexican in the USA and I have been to Tijuana too so I do have something to compare it too, and it's the closest I have found. Granted it's rare to find, but it's definately possible to get a good Mexican feed here.

Buttercream is the only kind of Icing I use, what else is there? (other than fondue or marzipan)

[Shel]

Screw you all. The sweeter the chocolate the better


:lol:

[bunybomb]

I got it!!! A wine and chocolate exchange! I'm sure wine is better in Australia even if I buy Austrailian wine. :lol:

[Alyson]

[QUOTE=MrsPeacefrog]The best place for coffee IMHO is Italy, that stuff is to die for!

[QUOTE]

Deb, I couldn't agree more!!! I could go for flying to Italy just for a cappucino ;) ...if only I could afford that lifestyle!! haha

[Karly]

Buttercream is the only kind of Icing I use, what else is there? (other than fondue or marzipan)

The other option (and the one I always get) is mock whipped frosting. It's sort of liked whipped cream, but a bit thicker. It's not nearly as sweet as buttercream.

And Mandi! I'm with you on the chips & salsa thing! I'm eating some right now. Delish! :lick:

[Karri]

Everything here in US is so sweet-the cakes? Don't get me started on the icing. Now, buttercream is the way to go, baby!!!

I hate. hate. commercial icing and cake. Blech. I think the icing tastes like gritty sugar and I can't stand it. A lot of stores call it buttercream, but I make buttercream and what they're horking ain't no buttercream :nono: I am guessing its a vegetable shortning based icing w/ some butter flavoring in it, no butter at all.

Anyway... yes, I agree, Mandi. Mexican :lick:

[Hannabanana]

mmmm I want chocolate!:lick:

I predict that the Reese's will come back to haunt Deb and she'll crave some more. :lol: I love me some Canadian candy bars.(which Scott calls Chocolate Bars) I get them when we visit. MMM Coffee Crisp, Crispy Crunch and Cherry Bomb. :drool:

MmMMMMM just ate a Crispy crunch yesterday!

I send my uncle in New Zealand a box of coffee crisp at Halloween time when they come out in the tiny bite size portion.

[sunnyflower]

Reese's peanut butter cups are even better frozen. That's how I like them!

[LISA]

I agree that PBC are way too sweet..I notice they don't taste as good as they used to back in the day..I'll have to try them frozen and bite sized :lick: I love to get British Cadbury choc's..there is a store ( Bulk Barn) that carries some, it's a premium cost but soooooo worth it :lick:

[Jillian]

How fun, We did a whole candy of other countries tasting night about 7 years ago with a group of friends, we had a lot of fun with it! Kit kats are much yummier if you buy the imported british ones...I can't quite explain the difference, but there definitely is one.

[Girlo]

Hmmmm....I was thinking that if Haydee or Jolie wanted to do a candy exchange, I'd be up for that!! :aok: If either of you check this thread, let me know!! :yippee:

[Lyoshka]

Buttercream is the only kind of Icing I use, what else is there? (other than fondue or marzipan)Well, here in US, they have icing...hmm YUCK. (no offense to any of you who like it)

[Lyoshka]

I hate. hate. commercial icing and cake. Blech. I think the icing tastes like gritty sugar and I can't stand it. A lot of stores call it buttercream, but I make buttercream and what they're horking ain't no buttercream :nono: I am guessing its a vegetable shortning based icing w/ some butter flavoring in it, no butter at all.

I totally agree, Karri. The buttercream i make is smooth as silk and incredibly velvety and buttery. The commercial icing is just that-gritty sugar, you nailed it! N.A.S.T.Y.!!! DH won't eat anything but that, so can you understand my suffering in the kitchen? i have to make an awesome from scratch cake with buttercream and pretty decorations....AND the out of the box cake with icing ...shudder.

[MrsPeacefrog]

Yuck on the whipped icing, I am not a fan of whipped cream, so that stuff sounds icky. I don't buy canned icing either, I have done it once before (sara lee brand) to do cupcakes for Aiden's school when I was in a rush, and it wasn't too bad, it didn't taste grainy or anything, but I definately know what you are saying :nod:

Jolie is busy moving from cook islands to the seychelles and haydee just had a baby :lol: You might be waiting a little while, Shannon :giggle:


You know, I think there is something about the sweetness that makes the difference, I can't put it into words properly, but it's not that it was "too sweet" so to speak, but maybe that it was "fake sweet" I think when something gets to the point of too sweet it starts to taste overdone. Like let's say the crack (TM) brownies, they are extremely decadent, and were incredibly sweet, but in a good way cause it was "REAL" ingredients, the chocolates that I am saying are too sweet, don't taste real to me at all. Make sense?

[kika]

Okay, this thread is making this pg woman hungry. My stomach actually growled when I read about the chips and salsa.

Lena, I have only had buttercream icing from scratch once (that I can remember). It was on my wedding cake almost ten years ago. Our cake was made by a cafe/bakery in the Lake View neighborhood (on the north side of Chicago) called Bittersweet. It was a white chocolate buttercream with fresh raspberries. It wasn't bad.

Most commercial buttercreams and other icings are icky to me. I can tolerate whipped cream if there are fresh strawberries involved...And cream cheese frosting on carrot cake. I hate all other frosting...which is why cake is not my thing.

I will have to try one of your cakes one day Lena.

And would you believe I still haven't tried any coffee yet (since about 6 weeks pg)? The thought (and the smell) makes me ill. :dead:

[Girlo]

Jolie is busy moving from cook islands to the seychelles and haydee just had a baby :lol: You might be waiting a little while, Shannon :giggle:

Yeah, I know. :lol: They're just the only other 2 people who live somewhere else besides North America....and the trade already covered Australia. :awink: It's okay....I'm patient.

Of course, as I'm typing this I'm remembering that Israel isn't anywhere near North America!! Nadine? How do you feel about a candy/snack exchange? Of course, Nadine just took a trip to the U.S. within the past year, so she's probably tried it all anyway. :giggle:

[Kara]

What a great thread...all about chocolate! :lick:

Stass - How about Smarties??? They're my all time fave :)

I LOVE Canadian smarties!!!!!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

[Joan]

:nod:

Jolie is busy moving from cook islands to the seychelles and haydee just had a baby :lol: You might be waiting a little while, Shannon :giggle:




OT, but WOW what a move! What kind of work does she/husband do?

[LISA]

I LOVE Canadian smarties!!!!!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

So do I but I havn't seen any Easterish smarties out there, have you? dang it..I would have bought some for the kids baskets :duh:

[Michal]

My inlaws came over last night and brought FIL's sister and her husband from New Zealand. They brought us a big bag full of NZ chocolates and candies, Pinapple lumps, peanut slabs and some flavoured toffies (and some Vegemite for Ben). MIL is heading to Australia next week for a visit and Ben has requested her to bring back some Jaffas.

[Alyson]

ooh yummy! I'm ready for more already!;) ..must.wait. haha!

[MrsPeacefrog]

We actually just finished the last one off the other night, we gave some to our friends last weekend to try and they all liked the peanutbutter cups, although they were all pretty drunk so their judgement could have been skewed :lol:

I am up for another exchange if you are, just tell me when you are ready :aok:

[Alyson]

Are you trying to make me fatter?! lol;)

Maybe in a few weeks Deb. I know DH has been asking about Curly Wurlys! haha.