Twix Hazelnut Fingers (Tesco) By @Cinabar

I spotted a big box of these new Twix Hazelnut multipacks by the counter in Tesco and, naturally, popped one straight into my basket. The bright green packaging is a change from the usual gold, so it really stands out. I love chocolate and nuts, and flavoured Twix bars are pretty rare in the UK, so this felt like an easy buy.

Once home, I took a closer look at the packaging. These are labelled as hazelnut flavour rather than containing actual nuts, which is fine by me. I could not see hazelnuts listed in the ingredients, and it only mentioned that they may contain traces of nuts, so it does seem to be flavouring rather than the real thing. Definitely worth double checking if that matters to you.

There are nine individual Twix bars in the pack. I opened one and broke it in half for a closer look. Visually, it is just like a regular Twix, but the hazelnut aroma is immediately noticeable and quite strong. On tasting, the nutty flavour is still prominent, though a bit more balanced with the chocolate. I enjoyed it, as I am a fan of chocolate and nut combinations, but it is not subtle and the caramel gets a bit lost.

Overall, these are still a solid twist on the original. I can see these individual Twix Hazelnut bars ending up in my lunch box as an easy chocolate fix when I need a quick sugary boost during the working day.

Cadbury & More Nutty Praline Crisp Review (Tesco) By @Cinabar

We popped into Tesco today and the first thing I noticed was how quickly the Easter chocolate had disappeared. We were there on Good Friday and the shelves were packed, but now it has all gone. The only trace left was a few reduced Cadbury Creme Eggs, which we picked up anyway. What the Easter clear-out has done, though, is make space for new releases. I spotted three new bars in the Cadbury & More range, and as a big fan of nutty chocolate, I went straight for the Nutty Praline Crisp.

The packaging is eye-catching. The wrapper is mostly blue, with the wording in classic Cadbury purple, so it really stands out on the shelf in Tesco. It is also a large sharing bar, with nicely chunky pieces that feel a bit more premium than your standard bar.

Taste-wise, this is a proper treat. The Cadbury milk chocolate is smooth and sweet, and the praline brings a rich, nutty flavour that works really well. If you enjoy praline chocolate, this will be right up your street. There is also a crispy wafer layer running through the bar, adding a light crunch that balances the softness of the praline. I always like a mix of textures in chocolate, and this delivers without being too heavy or overly sweet. It feels indulgent, but still easy to eat a few squares at a time.

Overall, the Cadbury & More Nutty Praline Crisp is a strong addition to the range. If you are looking for a new Cadbury chocolate bar to try from Tesco, especially one with nuts and praline, this is well worth picking up. I am already looking forward to trying the other new Cadbury & More bars.

Doritos "That's Nuts!" Flamin' Hot [@NLi10]

I reviewed the store-brand version of these on Sunday - and here are the luxury version from Doritos!  Well - I mean - KP Nutster's did it first (and best) but those always felt way too expensive. Maybe they still exist?

Doritos put these on the end of the row, and I obliged.  I used to love the Lime Doritos when they first launched in the UK and ate as many bags as I could afford as a 6th Former.  Luckily I grew out of it.

160g is a decent amount of snack.  They think 30g is a serving, so this is 5 servings and some to share.

Oddly there were 4 other flavours that the store didn't have - and a couple of them would be more my taste.  You see Flamin' Hot is one of the most odd trends in snacks - it's copyrightable but it's not that good for fans of hot spice, and it's not that good for fans of interesting spice.  It just exists.

And it gets on your fingers like the original Cheetos Flamin' Hot.  But as a bowl of peanuts, evenly coated in pringle and spice it ensures that every bite is the same.

so if you want to eat a bowl of peanuts that are slightly crunchier and that have the Flamin' Hot flavour -- and not really notice that you've done so - then these are for you.

If you want variety, or a kick, or just a change of pace occasionally then there are much better options out there.

This said - I'm getting a bag of the Salt & Vinegar ones and eating the lot.

Fiesta EATZ - Chilli & Lime Nuts & Hoops [@NLi10]

 Aldi had a mexican week a little while ago so I picked up some odd minty corn chips which I wasn't a fan of - but also these Chilli & Lime nuts & hoops from the same Eatz. range that I've loved.

Originally supposed to go alongside my Cineworld Unlimited pass I just left them on my desk and ate them while working.

As usual they are air-packed to enable the hoops to survive the journey.

Inside it's 41% peanuts, 23% Cashew, 14% almonds which means the remaining 32% is crunchy corn hoops and coating which is an excellent ratio.

The flavours are stronger than the Doritos nuts I'm reviewing on Thursday, and have a much more interesting lime too.  The variety of nuts is pretty unexciting on paper, but they work incredibly well and these will not last much longer at all - I've had to ration them.  The fact that each pour has a variety of textures and tastes really works well and I'm sad that unless I'm quick I won't get a 2nd bag.

Reese’s Dipped Peanuts (Tesco) By @Cinabar

These are a new product from Reese’s, made specifically for the UK market. A lot of Reese’s goodies are usually imports, but these have the price printed with a British pound sign right on the bag. That in itself is nice, it feels good to find a proper new UK Reese’s product. Admittedly, they are just dipped peanuts, which doesn’t sound all that exciting. Half of the bag has peanuts coated in milk chocolate, the other half has peanuts coated in, wait for it, peanut butter. Everyone knows peanuts are already pretty peanutty, but I was happy to roll with the extra flavour and give them a try.

On opening the bag, I found a real mix of sizes, some were just bits of peanut, some were whole, and a few were even doubles. First up, I tried a milk chocolate one. It was exactly as expected: sweet milk chocolate with that lovely nutty crunch, balancing sweet and savoury. A classic combo, but done well. Next, I tried a peanut butter one, and I really liked it, the salty edge boosted the flavour and made the peanuts feel even more indulgent.

These snacks aren’t revolutionary, but they are tasty. More importantly, it’s just nice to see a genuinely new British Reese’s product on the shelves.

VIELE Angel Hair Strawberry Flavour Chocolate (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

The Morrisons website now features a label on some items that reads ‘As Seen On Social’, and that’s exactly what caught my eye with this: VIELE Angel Hair Strawberry Flavour Chocolate. Pistachio is having a moment right now and has become a major trend, largely thanks to the popularity of Dubai chocolate on social media. We’ve tried the odd product, but honestly, much of it is so expensive that it can be off-putting. Even this small bar of VIELE Angel Hair cost £5, which is more than some high-end bars.

When it arrived, I took a proper look at the packaging and ingredients. Inside is a pistachio cream, candy floss (aka cotton candy), and a Milky Cocolin coating. I had to look that last one up, it’s a type of chocolate made with other fats instead of or with cocoa butter. Odd, and not something I’ve come across before.

The bar was packaged in a cardboard pull-out tray and wrapped, though not sealed, in gold foil. It smelled strongly of strawberry and was thick and chunky, with a hint of green showing through. Although the pieces were marked out, it looked tricky to break, so I gave in and used a knife. The bar is hairy inside, with visible strands of candy floss poking out.

I gave it a try, and I genuinely don’t know how to describe what I tasted. There was strawberry, then a strange aftertaste, presumably pistachio, with salt, but also something woody, slightly sweet, and almost menthol-like. It reminded me a bit of pine. Apart from making it difficult to cut, the candy floss was too soft to affect the texture. I’m sorry, but I just didn’t get it. The only reason I went back for another bite was to try and figure out why it tasted so weird.

Green on Toast? I Siciliani Pistachio Crunchy Cream [@NLi10]

 My sister got me some Pistachio themed birthday presents - including this green spread!

As it's a variation on nut butter (I have almond and others at home to go with peanut butter) I figured I'd pop it on some muffins

The fact they are calling it a nut cream instead of butter should have been a give away! This is for spreading on cakes and deserts.

It does look interesting... but the smell is fantastic - this would be great on baklava

And yeah - this would be perfect on a chocolate muffin, but a bread muffin is the wrong place to put it.

It worked though - a bit fragrant, and a strange texture when warmed, but really tasty and certainly a novel experience.

 

FOREVA Dubai Style Pistachio Chocolate [@NLi10]

 Dubai style chocolate is all the rage.  Which is unusual, as it's essentially chocolate coated Baklava 

And it's not usually made in DubVegas but imported - this one from Turkey.

Having the German on the pack inspires confidence - they are selling chocolate to the experts so clearly it's the good stuff

So far - so luxurious.  Clearly designed to survive travel and heat.

And like Dubai itself it's not actually as green as you'd expect.  This is surely just a normal chocolate bar!

All the green is on the inside!  

This is crispy 'bombay mix' style noodles - infused with pistachio and covered in remarkable Lindt-like chocolate.

And it works really well.  It's far too sweet, which I think is the intention, and we shared this one cube on a 30 degree day and were satisfied.

I've put the rest in the fridge to see if that makes the flavours pop a little more, but as it stands it's a very nice luxurious treat.

I'd probably still rather walk to my fresh Baklava shop, but if you don't have access to those on your high-street then this works too. 

Dubai Chocolate (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

There’s a massive social media buzz around Dubai Chocolate at the moment. I’ve been tempted to jump on the hype for a while now, but whenever I looked, it was either sold out or going for £12 a bar, and I couldn’t bring myself to pay that, no matter how much I love nuts and chocolate.

Then I spotted this smaller version in Morrisons for just £1.50, so it felt like the perfect chance to finally try it. For anyone wondering, Dubai Chocolate is a milk chocolate bar packed with pistachio and kadayif, which is a kind of shredded filo pastry. It looks a bit odd inside, with its bright green centre and all those fine strands running through it, but that just made me more curious.

And I have to say, it was worth the wait. The pistachio flavour is subtle and nutty, with a touch of salt that pairs perfectly with the creamy milk chocolate. The real magic is in the texture, the kadayif adds a lovely light crunch, giving every bite a bit of interest.

Overall, I’m glad I tried it and would definitely pick one up again for a treat, so long as it doesn’t shoot back up to silly prices.

Kit Kat Hazelnut (WHSmith) – By @Cinabar

I picked up this Kit Kat Hazelnut bar from a WHSmith at a motorway service station. Since then, I’ve heard that WHSmith is struggling and closing many high street branches. I’m not sure what that means for the ones on the motorway, but I always enjoy a browse and picking out some chocolate on a long journey.

Anyway, back to the Kit Kat Hazelnut. I love nuts and chocolate, so I was naturally excited to try this. British Kit Kats tend to play it safe with flavours, we don’t get many bold or unusual varieties, and hazelnut certainly isn’t new. However, this is the first hazelnut sharing bar I’ve seen, and it’s a good-looking one, with attractive marbled chocolate.

Once opened, I saw the bar was laid out in strips, each with a break point in the middle. Though, really, who offers just half a strip?

I tried a full one, and really liked the taste. There was plenty of chocolate, and the hazelnut flavour was smooth, nutty and well balanced. It’s not a game-changer, but it’s solid. The marbling looks nice but doesn’t do much for the flavour. Still, I’m a fan, and I’d happily buy it again.

Kit Kat Hazelnut Cream Duo (Morrisons) by @Cinabar

Nuts and chocolate are one of my favourite combinations, and Kit Kat does a great job with these flavours. I absolutely adore the Kit Kat Peanut Butter, and this bar is essentially that, only with hazelnut spread. I couldn’t wait to relive this great bar! I say "relive" because, as with many nut or caramel editions of Kit Kat, it has been available before, though not for several years.

This bar is a Duo, meaning there are two smaller bars in the pack, perfect for sharing or saving one for later. Of course, you could just eat both at once, I’m not here to judge!

I opened up the pack and tried the first bar of the Kit Kat Hazelnut Cream Duo. I loved what I found: the classic layers of wafer and chocolate combined with a rich, creamy hazelnut flavour that hit the spot perfectly. It was chocolatey, nutty, and a delight. While I still favour the peanut butter version, this is a gorgeous bar I’ll definitely buy again, who knows how long it will be around?

Taiwanese Peanut & Sesame Candy [@NLi10]

My partner does some voluntary work working in local woodlands, and a lady whose house looks out over it came out and gave this bag of sweets to reward the workers - so nice! 

Very mysterious, so tasty.

Ingredients - peanuts, sesame - stuff to stick them together

And it's whole nuts too! If you like sweet nutty seedy treats then these are great.  In English they'd be coated in chocolate too, but as it stands this was a really nice surprise and a great treat to be given.

Swiss Nutty Clouds (M&S) By @Cinabar

They had me when they said nuts and chocolate. I spotted this in our M&S Foodhall, and I haven’t seen it before. It doesn’t say ‘new’ on it, but I love nuts and chocolate, so I would have bought them before if they had been in our local branch. I’m loving the name Swiss Nutty Clouds too; it makes them sound fun.

Inside the bag are plaques of chocolate filled with nuts and looking bobbly. They are all different, a little like clouds, I guess, but still keeping up that fun but rustic feel. 

I gave one a try, and they are good. I know I’m biassed with nuts and chocolate, but these are yum. The first thing you notice is the thick chocolate is fab. It is rich and creamy and not too sweet; the cocoa flavour is spot on; the nuts are crunchy and full-flavoured and add to the mix of textures I really like. This is simple chocolate with nuts, but it is done very well and in a lovely sharing bag. These Swiss Nutty Clouds are a perfect treat and definitely something I’ll be purchasing again. 

Lindt - Les Grandes - Dark & Nutty [@NLi10]

Lindt make great chocolate, but apart from the little balls I think they struggle to get a hold in the 'bar with stuff' market.  In the UK it's all Cadbury and on the mainland it's all Ritter Sport (for me anyway).  I got given this one so thought I'd give it a try.

It's dark choc (but not too dark) and big nuts.

Do Cadbury even do whole nut anymore?  I used to be given that one a lot as a child as my sister hated nuts so I must trade my plain ones for hers.  Luckily I enjoyed them.  This has the typical care and attention of a Lindt bar.

And the super sexy (and recyclable) foil.

And the nuts are so big that you don't feel that you've been given the leftovers

But it's still firmly Lindt.

For me the balance is a little too sweet, so two squares at a time only for me.  That said - it's pretty nice.  The choc flavours are light, but the nuts are deep and interesting.

Not one I'd ordinarily choose (I'd much rather have the savoury nut snacks now) but a nice change and a great reminiscence about a nutty chocky childhood.

Tesco Spicy Coated Peanuts - Sweet Chilli [@NLi10]

 It's football season still!  I'm not watching today as I have both teams in the sweepstake so either way I'm through.  What is more interesting is that I've failed to procure more of teh Budweiser nuts so have had to resort to the store brand ones.

Ordinarily I'm fine with that - they are probably made in the same factory etc - but here they aren't quite up to scratch.

I mean - I'm still going to eat them all - but I'm not guarding them like Gollum and contemplating where my next hit is coming from.

The problems are two-fold.  Firstly these are sweet chilli instead of buffalo sauce flavour.  This means there is less of a spicy hit and more of a family friendly tingle.

The coatings as well just don't have the rough battered texture of the others.

So in summary, I think I have to trek to Asda tomorrow whether the local football men score sufficiently or not.  Hopefully if they do get knocked out the Women's team will let them have a selfie with their trophy.

Budweiser -Buffalo Chicken Wings Crispy Coated Peanuts [@NLi10]

 It's football time! This means that the majority of the country buy bigger TVs and watch the standard definition broadcast version of the match anyway, meanwhile I look for new snack options.

This one isn't specifically football themed but seems to have been added to the section for people actually planning to watch.  I took them to work because Buffalo sauce is one of my favourite things to add a tiny bit of to food - It's basically spicy vinegar and is great.

Lots of guff about the inferior beer (even Budweiser make a better beer than Budweiser - Budvar!) and a brief mention of these nuts.

Peanuts contain lots of energy so a bag is 5 servings.  That's not too unrealistic really as spicy snacks at work are a multi-day proposition.  I'd say that two days snacking dealt with half a bag.

Willpower was required as these are pretty good.

I reckon these are the KP nutsters/Nobby's Nuts mix but with the new flavour dust added - and it's a doosy.  Like Spice & vinegar instead of salt & vinegar this is a great way to chug back peanuts (from a glass if you want your keyboard to stay clean) and I kind of regret not getting a 2nd bag to sit and eat at home.  I'd have to share them then though!

I wonder if they do bigger bags.  Happy Euro's to those that celebrate and I hope your chosen team does marginally better than expected.