Hershey's chocolate
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,502
Hershey's chocolate
I was watching some documentary series "The Food that Built America" (worth a watch) and it discusses Mr Hershey and his special way of making chocolate which apparently uses soured milk.
Anyway, today I'm in the supermarket and tucked away I noticed a Hershey bar. I've never had one so I thought I'd taste this sour stuff. It tastes like eating stale vomit. How is this America's chocolate bar? It's disgusting.
Anyway, today I'm in the supermarket and tucked away I noticed a Hershey bar. I've never had one so I thought I'd taste this sour stuff. It tastes like eating stale vomit. How is this America's chocolate bar? It's disgusting.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
Agree totally. And that essence invades their manufacturing plants. When they started making Cadburys in Hershey factories for the US market, they made Cadburys taste like vomit too.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Some of us Americans agree too. I didn't know about the sour milk, but find most Hershey's products disgusting. But I also don't waste calories on milk chocolate, only dark.
It's odd though, how when you grow up with something it can taste perfectly fine, yet to people in another country it tastes like vomit. I've noticed that with some European specialties too. Some of the fermented Scandinavian foods come to my mind - even though I love herring in all forms!
It's odd though, how when you grow up with something it can taste perfectly fine, yet to people in another country it tastes like vomit. I've noticed that with some European specialties too. Some of the fermented Scandinavian foods come to my mind - even though I love herring in all forms!
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,225
I hadn't heard the sour milk ingredient before, but I've always thought Hershey chocolate didn't really taste like chocolate. I liked it when I was a kid but that was many moons ago...
I hear many Europeans feel the same way upon tasting peanut butter, which I've always loved.
Some of us Americans agree too. I didn't know about the sour milk, but find most Hershey's products disgusting. But I also don't waste calories on milk chocolate, only dark.
It's odd though, how when you grow up with something it can taste perfectly fine, yet to people in another country it tastes like vomit. I've noticed that with some European specialties too. Some of the fermented Scandinavian foods come to my mind - even though I love herring in all forms!
It's odd though, how when you grow up with something it can taste perfectly fine, yet to people in another country it tastes like vomit. I've noticed that with some European specialties too. Some of the fermented Scandinavian foods come to my mind - even though I love herring in all forms!
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,028
Hershey's chocolate is definitely not your normal chocolate. I think some of the appeal is what Milton Hershey did as a benefactor. Relatives of mine were houseparents at the Milton Hershey School, and I know others who attended the school because they could benefit from it.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,502
#8
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
But my guess has always been that it's not the peanut butter Europeans find offensive, but rather the disgusting ways we use it in America...such as peanut butter and jelly/jam on bread. Or mixed with chocolate. Or in ice cream. I hope a few of you will chime in with thoughts on whether it's the product or the way we use it in the US.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,225
But my guess has always been that it's not the peanut butter Europeans find offensive, but rather the disgusting ways we use it in America...such as peanut butter and jelly/jam on bread. Or mixed with chocolate. Or in ice cream. I hope a few of you will chime in with thoughts on whether it's the product or the way we use it in the US.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Right. That's one I always wondered about. I'm indifferent to peanut butter, and rarely eat it. But you get a very similar flavor in some Asian dishes, IMO. I love peanut sauce. And I believe some African dishes, although I'm far, far from an expert on that cuisine.
But my guess has always been that it's not the peanut butter Europeans find offensive, but rather the disgusting ways we use it in America...such as peanut butter and jelly/jam on bread. Or mixed with chocolate. Or in ice cream. I hope a few of you will chime in with thoughts on whether it's the product or the way we use it in the US.
But my guess has always been that it's not the peanut butter Europeans find offensive, but rather the disgusting ways we use it in America...such as peanut butter and jelly/jam on bread. Or mixed with chocolate. Or in ice cream. I hope a few of you will chime in with thoughts on whether it's the product or the way we use it in the US.
Nutella: How is mixing hazelnuts with chocolate that different than peanuts and chocolate?
#11
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Oh, here's another. Skrewball - the peanut butter whiskey. It sounds so bad, I'm afraid to even try it. And that combo IS blasphemy.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
Perceptive palate. The milk in Hershey's milk chocolate is treated with butyric acid, which acts as a preservative. Butyric acid has a distinctive sour smell; it is responsible for the aroma of barnyard waste, dog anal glands, and, yes, human vomit. Here is some not-appetizing background:
https://www.chemistryworld.com/podca...017662.article
https://www.chemistryworld.com/podca...017662.article
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Redondo Beach, Ca
Posts: 30,698
#15
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Madison, AL
Posts: 195
The current Hershey's chocolate has changed quite a bit since the original receipt I think. It used to not be so waxy and had a much better texture and flavor. And as someone mentioned above, the Hershey version of Cadbury chocolate is much different and awful tasting compared to the British versions.