Chocolate (or lack therof)

[StarsFireFly]

I am seriously considering moving to England. Not because the weather is nice, or they have a great dentistry program I want to attend, but simply because of the quality of their chocolate. I am a Cadbury's worshipper. There- I've said it.
But why the hell can't Americans make chocolate as good as any European? It just isn't fair! Why should I have to go 15 miles out of the way just to buy a Crunchie or a Fry's Turkish Delight? And then, when I do, it's so bloody expensive that I can only buy a couple bars. It makes me mad.
And then there's the whole bit with Kindereggs. Ever tried those? They're really good. But, they're illegal here. Not just rare, but illegal !!
I have to go all the way to the Appalachian mountains (I live in Atlanta) to get them. In Israel and Europe, you can buy them on any street corner. My grandmother mailed them to me once. They melted.
All in all, I think that Americans should stop making silly Atkins bars and Slimfast shakes and get down to the science of chocolate.
And that's all I have to say.

[Reg Barkley]

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[dickieC]

This is truly astonishing. I have never ever heard anyone admiring British chocolate from abroad. If ask any European (and I mean anyone except the Irish) they will tell you British chocolate is merely milk solids with a dash of cocoa.

There has been a long-running dispute about this in the European Court of Justice (I'm not making this up; it started in 1973 when we joined the EEC). Other European countries insisted that British chocolate, when exported, should be labelled differently because of its lower cocoa content. It has only just been resolved this week, in Cadbury's favour you will be pleased to hear. Oh, and Nestle owns a good chunk (geddit?!) of the British confectionary industry anyway. The best chocolates are Belgian or Swiss, with over 75% cocoa solids in them. As much caffeine as drinking a cup of coffee.

Whatever. I'm with you on the Crunchie. There's probably high tariffs on imports of European chocolate into the USA, so that's why you don't see it over there.

[Frieda]

kindereggs? illegal?? :confused:

[AllegroNg]

I went to Europe for the first time last year, and was simply intrigued by the types of chocolate they had there.
I even picked up a cola flavored candy bar. I shared it with my orchestra. They got mad at me. It was gross.

Why would chocolate ever = illeagal?? :sniff:

[chuckie egg]

A couple of years back I visited 'Cadburys World' in Coventry.

You get to take a tour of the factory and see how the chocolate is made, and also I got to taste freshly made chocolate (before it had set)... truly the most beautiful thing ever! orgh!!! :D

[Frieda]

wow i didn't know about the Surprise eggs.. still, that chocolate isn't the best at all.. i love the little easter eggs by Lindt, the best chocolate ever! :)

[zefrank]

the germans gots the chocolat-ay.

damn. work it. uh uh.

[Red Princess]

I like See's chocolate. they make these things with maple in the centers that are my favorites. I have a friend from Switzerland and his mother sends him chocolate from there every christmas because he says american chocolate is a waste

[Frieda]

to everyone here: i am willing to send you guys some real chocolate.. no idea what it'll cost though..

[StarsFireFly]

The only thing that is worth anything here is Lindt chocolate. Me and my sister buy each other a Lindt truffle usually twice a month. Man, that stuff is divine. Annd the salesman always gives me free samples = D

[lapietra]

Another reason I'm still in L. A. -

They sell just about every kind of chocolate possible in the *grocery stores* here. No running around to specialty stores... well, unless you want, like, Godiva (faintworthy) or Joseph Schmidt truffles... (actually, one store near me carries Joseph Schmidt truffles now) They sell Lindt, Droste & Tobler bars and truffles, all different kinds of imported candies... Ghirardelli and Scharfenberger are offered both as cooking and eating chocolates, and not just one variety - the whole line of chocolate is there to be had.
Also, some movie theatres now carry Lindt bars, and Toblerone...
Pretty decadent.
BUT. The most wonderful chocolate I've ever had was shared with me by a past acquaintance from Germany... she had recently visited her grandma there & had brought back some of the most wonderful stuff... I've never seen it before or since, and can't remember the brand for the life of me - if anyone can help me I'd be so grateful.
It was in a long, flat box, and the chocolate was in small, flat, colorfully individually wrapped bars - almost like small, flat cigars - filled with a variety of truffle/praline flavors - coffee, hazelnut, orange, raspberry, chocolate, brandy. Absolutely divine.

[noxxville]

ready for some real sadness? I love the taste of chocolate, but it makes me sick. Too rich for me I guess. Every once and a while, I'll say to hell with it and just take the pain. My favorite? Ritter Sport.

[beckstra]

I live a five minute drive from a lovely little shop called British Specialties. I get all the Crunchie I need, whenever I want. Although, I will admit I'm partial to HobNobs.

[female]

I used to live in Germany (and even there we traveled all over Europe) so we always had some sort of yummy chocolate in the house. However, I was only three so I'll be damned if I remember it much.

But the trend never left my dad, so he still buys stuff like Rittersport (mmm, nugat is groovy) and loads of other spectacular European chocolates. I've noticed the Commissary has a lot of imported stuff in the candy department.

Now, maybe we (Americans) have some rip offs like russell stover (it's okay, but there is better), but Reese's peanut butter cups are damn good.

[lapietra]

Now, maybe we (Americans) have some rip offs like russell stover (it's okay, but there is better), but Reese's peanut butter cups are damn good.

Hear, hear. :)