Hershey's chocolate
Aug 24, 2020, 1:28 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,615
vosges
ive even seen Vosges at Fortnum in 2010 for a tenner - it was only $5 in USA. At that time a tenner was like $15 but now it’s $12
dandelion is amazing and isn’t cheap - like $8 for a bar. It’s really good.
I don’t eat that much chocolate and prefer dark when possible. There are so many great confectionary treats.
reese’s peanut butter cups are good and cheap compared to Justin’s, but I otherwise don’t eat Hershey. Our household overall prefers dark.
Aug 25, 2020, 7:39 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 27
So many great American chocolate options
There are also many American chocolate makers that are not quite mainstream, but still amazing: Castronovo, Charm School, Chequessett, Christopher Elbow, Donnelly, Fine & Raw, French Broad, Gotham, Harper Macaw, Manoa, Map, Michael Dunn, Philip Marks, Piety and Desire, S.K. Frey, Solstice, Somerville, Stone Grindz, Xocolatl. And those are just the ones I’ve tried that were fantastic. There’s an even longer list of American makers that are really good, but not, to me, amazing.
I’ve tasted my way through many European chocolates. There are many great ones, but also some pretty bad ones. Neither continent has a monopoly on good or bad chocolate.
Last edited by vonmoishe; Aug 25, 2020 at 7:48 am
Aug 25, 2020, 9:24 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 23,307
You’d have to define mainstream. For argument’s sake, let’s assume it’s something you can find in more than one supermarket chain. Here are a few: Theo, Raaka, Guittard, Scharffen Berger.
There are also many American chocolate makers that are not quite mainstream, but still amazing: Castronovo, Charm School, Chequessett, Christopher Elbow, Donnelly, Fine & Raw, French Broad, Gotham, Harper Macaw, Manoa, Map, Michael Dunn, Philip Marks, Piety and Desire, S.K. Frey, Solstice, Somerville, Stone Grindz, Xocolatl. And those are just the ones I’ve tried that were fantastic. There’s an even longer list of American makers that are really good, but not, to me, amazing.
I’ve tasted my way through many European chocolates. There are many great ones, but also some pretty bad ones. Neither continent has a monopoly on good or bad chocolate.
There are also many American chocolate makers that are not quite mainstream, but still amazing: Castronovo, Charm School, Chequessett, Christopher Elbow, Donnelly, Fine & Raw, French Broad, Gotham, Harper Macaw, Manoa, Map, Michael Dunn, Philip Marks, Piety and Desire, S.K. Frey, Solstice, Somerville, Stone Grindz, Xocolatl. And those are just the ones I’ve tried that were fantastic. There’s an even longer list of American makers that are really good, but not, to me, amazing.
I’ve tasted my way through many European chocolates. There are many great ones, but also some pretty bad ones. Neither continent has a monopoly on good or bad chocolate.
Aug 25, 2020, 9:45 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,638
Hershey is gross. Many of the other brands aren't just available at any market, or you'll find them only regionally. Scharffenberger is now Hershey-owned but as far as I know, they've not yet ruined the quality. You may find that some mass-produced chocolate-ish products in the USA no longer have cocoa butter, which has been replaced with various oils. It has been this way for about a decade-plus.
Aug 25, 2020, 10:01 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Redondo Beach, Ca
Posts: 30,768
You’d have to define mainstream. For argument’s sake, let’s assume it’s something you can find in more than one supermarket chain. Here are a few: Theo, Raaka, Guittard, Scharffen Berger.
There are also many American chocolate makers that are not quite mainstream, but still amazing: Castronovo, Charm School, Chequessett, Christopher Elbow, Donnelly, Fine & Raw, French Broad, Gotham, Harper Macaw, Manoa, Map, Michael Dunn, Philip Marks, Piety and Desire, S.K. Frey, Solstice, Somerville, Stone Grindz, Xocolatl. And those are just the ones I’ve tried that were fantastic. There’s an even longer list of American makers that are really good, but not, to me, amazing.
I’ve tasted my way through many European chocolates. There are many great ones, but also some pretty bad ones. Neither continent has a monopoly on good or bad chocolate.
There are also many American chocolate makers that are not quite mainstream, but still amazing: Castronovo, Charm School, Chequessett, Christopher Elbow, Donnelly, Fine & Raw, French Broad, Gotham, Harper Macaw, Manoa, Map, Michael Dunn, Philip Marks, Piety and Desire, S.K. Frey, Solstice, Somerville, Stone Grindz, Xocolatl. And those are just the ones I’ve tried that were fantastic. There’s an even longer list of American makers that are really good, but not, to me, amazing.
I’ve tasted my way through many European chocolates. There are many great ones, but also some pretty bad ones. Neither continent has a monopoly on good or bad chocolate.
For mass produced,i know Callebaut makes some of Trader Joe chocolate and it's very good .
Aug 25, 2020, 1:09 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Boston
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 6
FDA changed standards for chocolate several years ago at the behest of Hershey's and other commodity chocolate manufacturers. Previously FDA required some amount of cocoa butter in the chocolate. The current standards are :
www registrarcorp com fda-chocolate-standard-identity/
While i never particularly liked Hershey's chocolate prior to the change, after it turned into a total waste of money and calories.
"Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is the most popular type of chocolate in the United States. To be marketed as milk chocolate, a product must contain at least 10 percent chocolate liquor, at least 3.39 percent milkfat, and at least 12 percent milk solids."
Milk chocolate is the most popular type of chocolate in the United States. To be marketed as milk chocolate, a product must contain at least 10 percent chocolate liquor, at least 3.39 percent milkfat, and at least 12 percent milk solids."
While i never particularly liked Hershey's chocolate prior to the change, after it turned into a total waste of money and calories.
Aug 25, 2020, 1:56 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta, BA, SW
Posts: 42
I don't usually comment, but since chocolate is my favorite food group, I must agree with those who don't like Hershey and prefer dark chocolate. I am partial to Lindt truffels, extra dark, myself. But when I was in Australia I found dark chocolate Kit Kats, and they were yummy. Never seen them here for some reason except one year at Halloween.
Aug 25, 2020, 3:05 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 369
I don't usually comment, but since chocolate is my favorite food group, I must agree with those who don't like Hershey and prefer dark chocolate. I am partial to Lindt truffels, extra dark, myself. But when I was in Australia I found dark chocolate Kit Kats, and they were yummy. Never seen them here for some reason except one year at Halloween.
Aug 25, 2020, 3:20 pm
#57
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,054
I've seen mint/dark chocolate Kit Kats and birthday cake Kit Kats.
Aug 25, 2020, 3:45 pm
#58
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 369
The mint/dark chocolate must have been a success since they're adding a mocha/chocolate to the Duo line.
I saw Apple Pie Kit Kat while I was sleep-surfing the net, but not for purchase.
You mentioned Wilbur Buds upthread and if you've stopped at Lititz, PA, on a drive through Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you'll recall the aroma of chocolate in the air, all over town. Missing the last time we were there, I guess due to factory closing. Hope it's returned, as i read there was something of a renaissance happening. I think the Buds pre-date Hershey Kisses, but not certain.
I saw Apple Pie Kit Kat while I was sleep-surfing the net, but not for purchase.
You mentioned Wilbur Buds upthread and if you've stopped at Lititz, PA, on a drive through Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you'll recall the aroma of chocolate in the air, all over town. Missing the last time we were there, I guess due to factory closing. Hope it's returned, as i read there was something of a renaissance happening. I think the Buds pre-date Hershey Kisses, but not certain.
Aug 25, 2020, 5:24 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,615
I love the Japanese Kit Kats and am glad to be able to get them in different sf-Area shops.
Aug 25, 2020, 6:11 pm
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,054
The mint/dark chocolate must have been a success since they're adding a mocha/chocolate to the Duo line.
I saw Apple Pie Kit Kat while I was sleep-surfing the net, but not for purchase.
You mentioned Wilbur Buds upthread and if you've stopped at Lititz, PA, on a drive through Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you'll recall the aroma of chocolate in the air, all over town. Missing the last time we were there, I guess due to factory closing. Hope it's returned, as i read there was something of a renaissance happening. I think the Buds pre-date Hershey Kisses, but not certain.
I saw Apple Pie Kit Kat while I was sleep-surfing the net, but not for purchase.
You mentioned Wilbur Buds upthread and if you've stopped at Lititz, PA, on a drive through Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you'll recall the aroma of chocolate in the air, all over town. Missing the last time we were there, I guess due to factory closing. Hope it's returned, as i read there was something of a renaissance happening. I think the Buds pre-date Hershey Kisses, but not certain.
I've driven through Lititz and there's a Dove factory in Elizabethtown.