Jelly Belly Chocolate Dips

First of all, I feel the need to apologize to the nice people at Jelly Belly. They actually sent this box out to me just prior to Christmas, and due to snowballing events (a good majority of which included the six inches of snow that pretty much shut down Atlanta), I have not actually gotten around to doing the review until now...and really I hate being so tardy. Mea culpa.

I actually was really excited to try these beans after reading Candy Blog's review in early December, when Cybele got her hands on a box.

I have long loved Jelly Belly's beans, and oddly enough, as much as I dislike coconut, that is my favorite flavor jelly bean. I was sent the five flavor gift box. The official Jelly Belly website also offers a rather impressive selection of ways to get the dipped beans besides the gift boxes. Inside the box, in little bean-shaped wells, the dipped beans sit clearly marked so you don't have to guess which kind you're getting. The five flavors are Very Cherry, Orange, Raspberry, Coconut, and Strawberry. And since that's the way they're placed in the box, I am going to review them in that order.



As far as the chocolate coating goes, each bean is completely enrobed in a layer of glossy chocolate. But as Cybele points out in her review, the size of the bean is identical to its non-dipped siblings. This is because the chocolate replaces the normal sugary shell that would cover the bean's center. Knowing that kind of disappointed me prior to tasting, because I am one of those people who like the slightly crunchy texture that you get biting into a normal jelly bean. But hey, we have chocolate! So maybe I shouldn't be preemptively whining.



The chocolate is simply identified as Dark Chocolate, but I could not tell you the cocoa percentage. When you open the box, the aroma is vaguely chocolatey and sort of fruity. The beans, of course, are sealed by the chocolate; so I was not expecting a strong fruit smell.



Very Cherry:

This was the flavor I was least looking forward to. I am not a fan of cherry candy as a rule, but I was glad it was first, because I figured it would be all uphill from here.

The chocolate is a thin layer that dissolves quickly (if you're the kind who lets your beans melt in your mouth rather than chewing it). It tastes OK. It's not the best chocolate, but it certainly is not the worst. It is a very mild dark -- enough that in the case of the cherry, it provided some nice contrast to the sweetness of the bean. I have to say my fears about the texture were wasted. I really liked how it was basically a nice soft jelly. It reminded me of the chocolate covered jelly sticks I like.

The cherry itself is strong. They have always reminded me exactly of a Luden's cough drop. It will never be my favorite flavor but I give it points for not having a bitter aftertaste.


Orange:

Orange and dark chocolate are always a winning combination and this bean is no exception. It's a nice zesty orange. I really liked the fact that Jelly Belly didn't hold back on the flavor; this is a seriously strong orange. I think the chocolate helped sweeten it up a little, and that may help those of you who prefer your orange a little tame. I like the boldness and think this is one of the best orange-chocolate combos ever.


Raspberry:

Like the orange, this is pretty much a classic chocolate and jelly flavor combination. The raspberry has a very floral quality to it. It reminded me of a raspberry liqueur (like Chambord). I really liked the fact that it was a very grown-up, realistic raspberry flavor instead of something artificial. Again, I think for a time tested chocolate/jelly candy it is on par with the best of the best.



Strawberry:

Ok, I admit it: I was not really looking forward to this one. I love fresh strawberries, but strawberry-flavored items tend to have a nasty aftertaste for me. And unfortunately, this was no exception. Which was a bummer, because after the orange and raspberry beans being so outstanding, I'd gotten my hopes up. Sadly, this bean is just too darn sweet. It skirts the line between tasting like the actual berry, and every cheap strawberry flavored gum on the planet. I think I actually liked the Very Cherry more. And that, my friends, is saying something.

Finally, I saved the one I was most looking forward to for last. (OK, so I just messed up the order in which they're packaged. Shoot me, why doncha?) And that one would be...


Coconut:

Blame it on a young love of piña colada flavored items and the smell of certain sunscreens. Once again, while I hate actual coconut, the coconut bean has always been my favorite of the Jelly Bellys. I know that makes pretty much no sense, but that's the way it is. (OK, that and toasted marshmallow ones -- how great would that be chocolate coated?) I like the slight vanilla edge it has and the sweet tropical flavor. Incidentally, I have already announced I will not be sharing the remainder of these beans, so don't even ask -- y'all know who y'all are!


As a whole, I really liked the Chocolate Dips. I hope they expand the line to more flavors -- I am nominating the marshmallow and popcorn beans.

Since this is a gift box, I am going to give it an overall rating rather than rating the individual beans -- but remember that each bean is also available on its own. If I had rated them individually, I can tell you that the Orange, Raspberry, and Coconut would each be solid, orgasmic 11's...but the Very Cherry and the Strawberry dragged the average down. It's still a very nice gift box, though.



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

PRICE:
My box was a manufacturer's sample. It sells for $5.99 on the Jelly Belly website.

CALORIES:
150 calories per 40 beans.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Box doesn't give any allergen information.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
jellybelly.com

King Leo Choco-Orange Crisps

First, a big thank you to the good people at Quality Candy for sending out a rather ginormous box of items to review. There are some really interesting items in that box, but all it took were two words to make me decide this would be the first. And those words were: Choco-Orange.

Orange and chocolate -- much like Bert and Ernie -- should never be separated in my mind. These are large squares; each about as big as a bite-sized Kellogg's Mini Wheat. They have an outer orange flavored candy shell and an inner chocolate flavored center. Wait...what was that again? Yes, I said chocolate flavored. That was disappointing right up front. King Leo makes many chocolate products, so I am unsure why they went the mockolate route with this particular candy. OK...be not afraid...



I have to give this candy its due: it has a beautiful outer shell. It's as glossy as enamel, and the stripes are vividly colored. Flavor-wise, it's got a nice and zesty orange tang to it. In fact, it's almost a Creamsicle flavor. The shell would make a perfectly good hard candy all by itself.



Breaking through the shell to the mockolate: in terms of flavor, it actually is rather chocolate-like. There is more of a cocoa flavor (and it does in fact contain cocoa powder) than anything else. It can almost -- and the key word here is "almost" -- pass for low end chocolate. It's the texture that throws it off. It seizes up in your mouth if you let it melt rather than chew it, and it gets grainy once it seizes. But if you simply chew through, you can skip the worst of it and just get the orange/chocolate-like taste.

If this had been made with real chocolate, I would have been blown away because the outer shell is just that good. As it is, the outer shell is still great, but the inner portion is more or less a distraction that I simply muddled through just to eat the shell.

There was great potential here. Sadly, that potential goes unrealized.



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

CALORIES:
60 calories per 3 piece serving.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Made on equipment shared with peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, and wheat.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
qcandy.com

Savion Fancy Fruit Flavored Slices

I have always been indifferent to the allure of the fruit sliced jelly candies. I don't dislike them, but I certainly don't go out of my way for them. In fact this is the only box I think I have ever purchased specifically for myself.

But they always seem to be present at a Passover Seder. I understood, from an ingredients standpoint, why the candy is a popular Passover treat. It's sweet, and contains no chometz. It's not that they don't taste good enough; it's just that I just wanted to know why they were so popular.

As I sadly have no wise and all-knowing bubbe to ask, I turned to the warm, loving arms of Google.

According to several different blogs -- though no real reference site like chabad.org, etc -- the reason that jelly candies are so popular with American Jews is that they stem from the preserves and candied fruit slices traditional in their ancestral lands of Russia or Eastern Europe. Heck, it makes sense to me.



I know that the kosher foods giant Manischewitz makes what is, at the very least, the most commonly available version...and wouldn't you know it, my local store didn't have them. Not figuring that I would eventually have to make a trip to Gelson's market (which is a fantastic Jewish-oriented store for many reasons, but unfortunately not close to me), I settled for what my local store did have...

...And that would be the box in front of us. Savion may not have its own website, but it is apparently a part of the Kedem food products empire. (Kedem is another huge name in the world of kosher foods -- sort of the Pepsi to Manischewitz's Coke)

There are four flavors of fruit slices:

*Lemon
*Lime
*Orange
*Cherry

Bet you can't guess which is which.

Each slice is about two inches across at the widest point. The slices are sprinkled with coarse sugar. The colors are all bright and the jelly is clear. The outer crusts of the slices may feel dry and sandy from the sugar, but the inner jelly is moist and slightly sticky. The texture is the same on all, so we'll just talk about the flavors individually.

Lemon:



It can't help but be sweet from all the sugar, but it also has a great zesty zing. The flavor is one of the most natural lemon flavors I have ever had. It's sour, but it avoids that foul aftertaste that fake lemonades can have. It's almost as if they'd made candy from those little plastic bottles of lemon juice. You know, the ones that almost-but-not-quite taste like fresh squeezed?



Anyway, this was a great flavor and I would buy it on its own.

Lime:



Lime always seems to be the hardest citrus flavor to pull off. If done right, it's reasonably close to the real thing. If done wrong, they taste the way lime-scented household cleaners smell.



All I am going to say on this one is that I suddenly feel like mopping.

Orange:



If lime is the hardest citrus to pull off, then orange is the easiest.

Let's be fair -- even the worst orange isn't all that bad. This one is just sort of there. It's not bad, it's not good. It simply exists.



It's a little too sweet, yet also bitter in a non-natural way that somehow doesn't offset the sugar. There is some zest to it once you get all the sugar off. Again it's not bad, but there are far better version out there.

Cherry:



This was a tough one. The very first taste was good. It was a tangy cherry that reminded me of the best part of fruit punch...



...and then the unwelcome bitter aftertaste of the red dye wormed its way in. I personally couldn't get past the taste of the dye.

Bottom line: the lemon is actually pretty good, but the same can't be said of the other flavors. As stated above, I'd happily buy the lemon ones again if they were sold alone. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be an option.




PURCHASED FROM:
Vons Supermarket

PRICE:
$2.99

CALORIES:
140 calories per 3 pieces.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Kosher, parve, fat free.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
None for Savion specifically, but their parent company is at kedem.com.

Chocolate Covered Matzoh

Matzoh is arguably the most important food item when it comes to Passover, and it seemed only fitting to kick off Kosher Week with matzoh. Plain matzoh is eaten several times over the Seder dinner during the ritual portions of the meal (for a pretty good explanation on the order in which the Seder proceeds, check out this link).

Matah comes in several savory flavors -- although I am partial to "plain," which is sort of like a less salty version of a saltine cracker.

But one of the special things that make an appearance in mainstream stores at Passover time (and if it's a good store, Chanukkah as well) is chocolate covered matzoh! This is one of those items that, while it may not be part of the actual ceremonial portion of the dinner, always seems to be around as dessert or as a snack.

I got three different versions and opted to do it as one post, because there is just not enough that will really be different to warrant three separate reviews. But I will rate them and provide separate info for each.



Holiday Candies Milk Chocolate Covered Egg Matzoh:

Inside the box lay are large squares of milk chocolate covered matzoh (they are roughly 6" x 6"). The smell as you open the box is that of cheap Easter candy. Overly sweet and reeking of vanillin (which, not surprisingly,is exactly what is used). The chocolate is oily, and just on smell alone I was not looking forward to this one.



And sometimes first impressions are right on...

The chocolate is absolutely vile. Way too sweet, and yup, the fake vanilla dominates. And there is an odd, almost plastic-like aftertaste.



Worse yet, the matzoh itself was stale. The flavor was...well, I couldn't tell you, because the chocolate is so strong. Pharaoh can have these, because I don't want them!



PURCHASED FROM:
Albertsons Supermarket

PRICE:
$2.99

CALORIES:
160 calories per 1/3 piece (or 33 grams).

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Made on equipment shared with soy, tree nuts, and peanuts. Kosher, dairy.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
None.






Osem Israeli Matzah Raspberry Flavored Chocolate Coated Matzah:

These matzohs have a dark chocolate base, and come in several sheets that are longer but thinner than the Holiday Candies version (these are 7"x3.5"). Right out the box, they have a nice smell to them. They instantly reminded me of raspberry jelly roll candy.



The chocolate is quite bitter, and there is almost a floral/perfume taste to it. It smells a lot better than it tastes.

The matzoh itself is quite good. Crispy and fresh. I actually like the Osem brand plain matzoh on its own, so it's not a stretch that I'd like the base used here.



Bottom line: it's not as bad as some other chocolate covered matzoh I have reviewed, but I wouldn't call it good either.



PURCHASED FROM:
Vons Supermarket

PRICE:
$2.50

CALORIES:
201 per 1 matzah.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Dairy free, parve, made in Israel. Kosher, Kosher for Passover.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
osem.co.il






Osem Israeli Matzah Orange Flavored Chocolate Covered Matzah:



Just like its raspberry flavored sibling, this is a dark chocolate covered matzoh. And again, like the raspberry sibling, it had the wonderful smell of a jelly candy.

This is hands down the best of the three. The orange is zesty and pairs well with the bitter chocolate. Again, the matzoh is crispy and fresh.



This particular one makes an addicting little snack, Passover or no.



PURCHASED FROM:
Vons Supermarket

PRICE:
$2.50

CALORIES:
201 calories per 1 matzah.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Dairy free, parve, made in Israel. Kosher, Kosher for Passover.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
osem.co.il

Hershey's Kisses: Orange Crème

This is not a new Hershey's Kiss flavor. They were issued back in 2007 for the 100th anniversary of the Hershey's Kiss -- and I think they were also out around Halloween of 2005 as well. I am not sure if any of the previous incarnations were made with white chocolate, but I do know that this version is simply referred to as "Flavored Candy." And is it ever a good sign when a candy description is that vague? I admit that made me cautious.



The base of this Kiss is a white confection that is striped with layers of orange. If nothing else, they are pretty. I liked the scent; when you open the bag, it's like opening a can of orange soda. Yes, it's an exaggerated orange -- but it still smelled good.



The kiss is called Orange Crème, so of course it's not a shock that the flavor is meant to be like that of a Creamsicle. And the Kiss pulls off its mission pretty well. It does in fact have a flavor that is heavy on the vanilla side. Yeah, it's fake vanilla, and you won't be fooled into thinking it's real, but at least you get the general idea. When it comes to the orange, what's interesting is that you smell it more then you taste it. I think that probably is for the best, because it keeps the sweetness from the vanilla sort of in check. I actually liked the aftertaste more than eating the candy. The aftertaste is like the last sip of a really good Creamsicle soda.

The texture is cool on the tongue and it melts quickly. It's a little grainy, but it completely avoids the waxy feeling some of the special edition Kisses have had. They are extremely sweet...so sweet that by the fourth Kiss my throat was burning.



No, they're not really special. But I have to admit they weren't bad at all. Even though it's not an actual chocolate Kiss, and even though it's not exactly a natural flavor, I just liked the combination.



PURCHASED FROM:
Target

PRICE:
$2.69

CALORIES:
220 calories per 9 pieces

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Kosher. Contains dairy.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
hersheys.com

Fry's Orange Cream Bar

First, my thanks to Cinabar at Foodstuff Finds for sending me this bar to review. Be sure to check out her blog!

For the one person left in the universe who somehow may not have heard my repeated proclamations: I love the combination of orange and chocolate. I love orange and chocolate the way Bert loves Ernie. (Well, maybe not quite that way...)



Fry's Orange Cream bar is a domed bar of dark chocolate with orange fondant filling. The bar itself is stark and unadorned; basically a no-frills look. At the same time, there is something very "Danish Modern" about its appearance. (I do think it's weird that the bar is imprinted with "FRY" instead of "FRY'S.")

When you break off a segment, the chocolate snaps cleanly and the bar gives off a strong smell like orange scented sugar -- and I mean that in the best possible way. It's actually a really delicious aroma. (Let me just mention, in this context, that this is going to be a really difficult review.)



The orange fondant tastes fantastic. It's really zesty. It's as if Fry's had squeezed fresh oranges right into the fondant. I really can't think of a better tasting filling I have had recently. The texture only slightly grainy, and a little sticky. I think that's a good fondant texture.

The issue is that it is REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SWEET. I am not saying that my blood sugar actually shot up 50 points, but my throat is still burning and my teeth ache. Being the incredibly sane person that I am, I of course kept eating. As you get a little more into the bar it does seem to level out, but ow!

What I've noticed with all of the filled UK candy that I have had so far is that it always seems to be sweeter than its American counterparts -- so I have to wonder if I think this bar is overly sweet because it really is, or because it's just not what I'm used to. In any event, I really loved the fondant and wished that there were more candies with such a vibrant filling.

The chocolate is "meh." It's a dark chocolate; which is always great with orange. This chocolate is just mediocre. It's waxy in texture but it does have a nice snap. It's not complex. Beyond mentioning that it tastes deeper than equally middle-of-the-road milk chocolate, there's really not much to say about it.

Be sure to check out Jim's review here, and Cinabar also has a review on her site.



PURCHASED FROM:
Gift from Cinabar of Foodstuff Finds.

CALORIES:
210 calories per bar.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
May contain traces of nut and dairy products. Suitable for vegetarians but not vegans.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
cadbury.co.uk

Vivani Dark Chocolate with Orange

Not only is this dark chocolate with orange, but it's dark chocolate with orange and it has a fancy-schmancy wrapper with words like "art" and "organic." I feel somehow more sophisticated and spiffy just having the bar in my hand. So, before I hop into my chauffeured Rolls-Royce and start offering mustard to random strangers, let's have some chocolate.



This bar is a 70% dark chocolate and, jokes aside, it is in fact 100% organic.

It is beautifully molded into small bite-sized segments, although the chocolate itself is on the dull side. The chocolate smells spicy but I didn't get a whiff of the orange at all. Breaking into the bar, there is some fantastic snap going on. The way you can bite the chocolate cleanly into nice little bits gets addictive. (If you are the type that likes to crunch ice, this is like the chocolate version.)



You may not smell the orange, but you certainly can taste it! The wrapper says the bar contains essential orange oil, and it does remind me of candied orange rind. The orange is subtle but it is very natural. I would have liked for it to be stronger, because it's such a good flavor.

The chocolate is spicy, there are some woodsy, cinnamony notes. It has a very earthy taste. The finishing notes are coffeelike.



What I normally don't like about organic chocolate is the texture. Vivani does a nice job with this as well. It's a little on the dry side -- but again, it is a pretty dark chocolate. The melt is very smooth. It's not creamy, but it wouldn't be with a chocolate this dark. I have a feeling this bar would be good to bake with or to shave over other items.

Yes, I liked this bar. Can you tell?



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

Chocri: Gigi's Sour Cherry Spice Bar

Today is a sad day for me on many levels...

First, as you read this, I am either on a plane heading home from New York City, or at an airport trying to get home from New York. (I hate leaving the city -- anyone there want to hire me?) And second, this is the last of my Chocri stash. I loved both of the previous bars I created to an insane degree (read those reviews here and here), and while I take credit for the combinations that I put together, it is really all about the truly great chocolate and ingredients Chocri makes the bar with.



As with my other Chocri reviews, I will be rating the bar based on said ingredients rather than the overall flavor of them bar. After all, the ingredients could be great, but since I chose the combination, I couldn't fault Chocri if the mixture I picked doesn't work very well.

Sour Cherry Spice was inspired by my love of all things sour. It contains sour cherries and orange pepper, and is made with dark chocolate.



The sour cherries are great! Large, plump and tart. They're just a little salty and that is always a good thing.

The orange pepper is pretty mild. While I could taste both the citrus and the pepper, neither was assertive enough to stand up and say "Hey, I am just as lovable as the Persian Bar!"



Props again to Crocri for the dark chocolate. It's 64%, and has a great snap and a smooth melt. There's a very coffeelike finish. It's good enough that I would be happy to eat it naked...wait, that came out wrong. I meant plain.



Overall I loved the chocolate, loved the cherries. The orange pepper wasn't bad, but it didn't blow me away the way some of the other ingredients have.

I love the whole concept of Chocri, and being able to make a bar with exactly what I want in it is a lot of fun for me. I have literally thought up dozens of bars since I came up with the three I have reviewed. Maybe if I am lucky, I will get some for Valentines day!



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

Make your own by visiting Createmychocolate.com.