After Eight Mini Eggs (Iceland) By @Cinabar

After Eights have an association with Christmas for me; they are a regular stocking filler at that time of year. In terms of chocolate sales, Easter is a big business, so here we have a special edition of them called After Eight Mini Eggs. They need to get in on the Easter chocolate celebrations and gifting.

These mini eggs are in a bag, not a box, and there are no cute paper envelopes; instead, there are foil wrappers. I hate foil wrappers. I tried to get into my first egg, and I was scratching it with my nail, then it broke into tiny pieces, which was super annoying. This is supposed to be a treat; I want something that just opens.

Once I had shredded my way into the little chocolate eggs, I rather liked them. The ratio of chocolate to filling is rather different; the chocolate here is much thicker than the thin shell on a traditional After Eight. There is still a decent amount of minty filling, and they taste lovely. Purely based on the packaging, I’d much rather buy a box of regular After Eights for a chocolate mint treat.

After Eight - Cherry and Mint (Iceland) By @Cinabar

It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of buying an After Eight flavoured with something else with mint was weird, but in recent times they have added all sorts of things to the formula, from gin&tonic to mango with pineapple. This After Eight Cherry and Mint is the latest one I’ve seen.

The box has a little more red on it, but the After Eights themselves are in the usual sleeves, with the usual white filling. I gave one a try and could easily pick up on the flavours. It was like someone had dipped a glacier cherry in sweet peppermint. From that point of view, it did exactly what it said on the tin. They are fruity and minty chocolate. I think the problem was I’m not sure how I felt about them, they are tasty enough and easy to eat, but I found myself thinking that the flavours didn’t quite go together. People don’t normally mix cherry and mint and although it resulted in a pleasant flavour, I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t have enjoyed a box of the original more.

After Eight Mini Eggs (Tesco) By @Cinabar

I hope it isn’t too soon for the first Easter product write up of the year. I noticed that our little local branch of Tesco has a new stocked seasonal shelf full of Easter goodies, and in amongst the new goodies I spotted this bag of After Eight Mini Eggs, this is my kind of new product. I’m a big fan of peppermint, and couldn’t wait to try these. Literally there was no way I was waiting until Easter!

Inside the bag of After Eight Mini Eggs are small chocolate eggs covered in foil, I unwrapped one and found a dark looking egg. I gave it a try and found the egg to be fairly tough to bite into, it had been made in two half shells and there was chocolate in the middle. The peppermint fondant is the same as you would expect in regular After Eights, a strong sweet blast of minty yumminess. These are like the regular product in flavour but there is one main different there is more chocolate to peppermint in this After Eight Mini Eggs version. This is a down to a personal taste preference but for me the original thin dark chocolate that lightly cracks when you bite wins for me, the peppermint is king in the original in this version the chocolate is stronger and the minty fondant although very much still present is just a little bit more subdued.

After Eight Mojito & Mint Edition (Tesco) By @cinabar

This years latest After Eight edition sounds like a fun twist on the original, here we have After Eight Mojito and Mint variety. This is quite an adventurous choice for a flavour but one that does sound like it should go well with peppermint. The box is a fab lime green colour and looked bright and fun. Inside there was a cute message about it being time for happy hour which was quite sweet.

In appearance the chocolates and the sleeves they are in look identical to regular After Eights, the filling is white, the chocolate dark and the envelopes had the usual logo on them. The flavour is very fresh and works a treat, it was different but rather like a mojito. There is still plenty of peppermint but there is also a taste of herby fresh garden mint and a bit of acidic lime that makes these seem very grown and clever. They are a complex flavour but they are well balanced and work well with the dark chocolate. If they keep just one of the many flavours we’ve tried as a permanent side line I’d pick these After Eight Mojito & Mint Edition (so far).

After Eight - Strawberry & Mint (GB Gifts) By @Cinabar

Not that long ago I would have said that the idea of combining mint and fruit flavours was crazy, After Eight have changed my opinion on that. They have successfully combined mint with orange previously and even other ingredients like Mango and Pineapple. There was a Gin and Tonic edition at one point too, the flavours are quite mad sometimes. For Summer this year they have mixed mint with a classic summer fruit and here we have After Eight Strawberry & Mint, I couldn’t wait to try it.

The box is bright and red on the outside and the box is quite posh on the inside too. The After Eights look like the normal ones with the usually paper enveloped and the dark chocolate with the white filling. The flavour is very different, the mint is at half strength and the berry flavour for the other half. There aren’t many occasions where you can describe the flavour as a refreshing strawberry but that is what these are. The have a nice sweet strawberry fruit flavour that mellows to a cool mild mint. They work well, like many of the limited edition After Eights they shouldn’t but they do. These are a lovely treat and I heartily recommend popping them in the fridge for an extra bit of cool.

Nestle After Eight Orange & Mint (GB Gifts) By @Cinabar

I think if I had heard that there was an After Eight style product out that was orange flavoured I would have liked the idea of a pure orange cream filling. I like orange creams but this is a slightly weirder combination as they have kept their mint flavour and combined it with orange. I was keen to buy a box because of their curious nature but I have to admit the flavour combination did mean that it wasn’t the first thing I opened after my order arrived. Here we are though, Nestle After Eight Orange & Mint.

The chocolates look just like regular After Eights except for being in a orange coloured box, they are in the usual sleeves and the filling is the usual white colour. So the taste test, well these shouldn’t work but it turns out they do. The mint is the predominant flavour but you would expect this as it is was the brand is all about, the orange citrus zing works remarkably well as a secondary taste. The zesty flavour and mint working lime in a mojito, softer because it is orange not lime but just as nice. I hope people brave this flavour and give a try, also they are a perfect stocking filler.

After Eight: Gin Tonic & Mint (Co-Op) By @Cinabar

This year has been a trial, the area where I live is on the edge of a second lockdown as cases of the dreaded Covid rise. Somehow we have managed to keep blogging, every day we have written about something new or interesting which is quite impressive particularly when you think back to the early days when people were struggling to buy toilet rolls! Anyway this is something quite exciting, not quite enough to forget about the dangers out there but at least enough to bring a smile to my face whilst gaming and snacking on a Friday night. We have a new Limited Edition flavour of After Eight, is there anything posher sounding than After Eight: Gin Tonic & Mint edition. I’m not sure there could be a more middle class chocolate snack if they tried.

The box is beautiful too, it is nicely decorated and even enticing on the inside. The After Eight chocolates are lovely, they are mostly mint and not that different to a regular After Eight, but they do have a gorgeous aftertaste. The flavour is a little bitter, a little citrus sour and a little floral at the end, just so you know you have the different edition. These are nice easy to eat, and true to the original minty goodness. Yum. I think it is important to enjoy the little treats too at times like these. Here is hoping these After Eight: Gin Tonic & Mint edition chocs fuel me through gaming this evening, I have a Call Of Duty Warzone night planned, and may they bring us luck (we need it).

Limited Edition After Eight Mint & Mango-Pineapple (B&M) By @Cinabar

I think it is fair to say if you had asked me what flavour I predicted After Eight would launch in the run up to Christmas I would have guessed orange. With Orange Twirls and Terry’s Chocolate Orange Muffins at Costa orange is turning out to be the flavour of the season. Just to clarify by orange I mean just orange, as fruit and mint would be odd wouldn’t it. I was wrong, by quite a long way, they have launched After Eight Mint & Mango-Pineapple Limited Edition. It is a brave choice, and to be fair it sounds like quite an exciting new variety to try, let’s just hope it works.

The inside of the packet is the usual layout, with chocolate thins in dark envelopes decorated with a gold clock design. They look just like regular After Eights and don’t have a strong aroma. The texture too is identical to the normal chocolates but the flavour is far from the usual. The first taste is mint and it is quite strong, but close behind are the mango and pineapple and in there sweet juicy tones. I took a moment to allow my taste buds to adjust and found myself wanting a second chocolate. Mint and fruit both in strong proportions but the combination was fab.
Nowhere in my head did I think these After Eight Mint & Mango-Pineapple thins could possibly work but against all the odds they do. They are actually fantastic, with a new flavour combination that seems to mix tropical fruit and mint in a way that makes you think of an exotic fruit cocktail with a load of mint leaves stuffed into the glass. Refreshing fruity and I’m going back for a second box.

New After Eight Mousse (Waitrose) [By @Cinabar]

After eights are normally purchased as a bit of a Christmas tradition here at Foodstuff Finds. They are nice and minty and have a good refreshing flavour, they are remarkably moreish and there is nothing more disappointing than looking through the box to find it is just filled with empty wrapper sleeves other people have left!
Anyway the brand has diversified and released these new desserts based of the famous chocolates and I couldn’t wait to given them a try. Oddly enough the chocolate layers in them isn’t a sauce but a solid. It breaks easily, but it did remind me of Viennetta in that respect. The picture on the front of the packaging shows neat balanced layers of dark chocolate, in reality it was a bit more haphazard and uneven than that. The mousse is minty flavoured, but it is far too mild. It doesn’t have a kick of peppermint just a slight refreshing hint and nice bit of sweetness. Now the chocolate sounded like a nice idea, but in reality it started to bug me. All the chocolate layers were stuck to the sides of the pot, making it actually very difficult to get all the contents out. I found heavy scraping essential, and a bit disappointing. The chocolate too didn’t have much flavour, it looked dark but didn’t deliver a strong cocoa hit, just a mild chocolate flavour.
There is nothing offensive about the After Eight Mousses, but in terms of delivery there just isn’t anything magical there either. They are ok, but I’d rather have a box of After Eights if truth be told!

By Cinabar

New After Eight Desserts (Tesco) [By @cinabar]

Last month Brian Sollit died. It’s a name you may not immediately recognise, but you will have sampled his work. He spent the majority of his working life as head confectioner at Rowntree’s, and during his career he developed Matchmakers, Drifters, Yorkie bars and amongst the other goodies; After Eight chocolate mints. It seems fitting then to spare a thought for how he influenced the British chocolate market with his confectionary skills, while we try the latest After Eight delight.
The new dessert, based on the famous chocolates, is dual layer, with a minty base with a dark chocolate topping. The packaging keeps the After Eight themeing, with its dark green card and gold clock logo and actually looks rather posh.
I do like mint, and to be honest it isn’t the easiest flavour to find when it comes to puddings, so I was really keen to give these new ones a try. The minty base has lots of peppermint flavour, and is sweet but refreshing and clean tasting. The mint balance is right, it’s strong and zingy, but is soothed by the chocolaty coating. The topping has the richer darker chocolate taste, and it does bring balance to the dessert. Both layers are very smooth and creamy, and easy to eat. I found myself scraping the last bits out of the pot, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I love that this great British traditional chocolate has been bought to us in a new format, it’s a decadent way to finish a meal. Do I think Brian Sollit would be impressed? Oh yes, and long may his legacy live on.

By Cinabar

Nestle After Eight Bar [By Spectre] [Canada] (CyberCandy)

I haven't met many people in my time that don't like After Eights. They go down very well after a good meal with friends or relatives. I've seen whole boxes of After Eights empty within minutes. There's something about the little paper sleeves they come in. The square slabs of milk chocolate surrounding the gooey runny white peppermint centre that makes me shiver with anticipation when I see a box brought out and opened. The mere mention of the brand name; After Eight, makes my mouth water and yearn to fight over the last one in the box. You can imagine my excitement when I found out they'd released an After Eight bar. On opening the packet I was taken back at how thick the chocolate bar was. Marked in six small thick slabs with After Eight embossed on each one, I started to envisage just how much gooey runny white peppermint Nestle could fit inside each piece. Slightly worried for my shirt and tie by the amount of peppermint I'd imagined, I took my first bite. The peppermint filling the bar was depressingly solid. There was no gooeyness here, no runny stuff, just solid white peppermint. Okay, so it tasted of After Eights, the milk chocolate, the peppermint, but there was something missing. It wasn't the box, the paper sleeves or the squareness of the slabs, but come on Nestle if you're going to make a product traditionally, classically gooey and runny, then please make the bar do the same thing!

By Spectre