Chocolate

[KARL]

Years ago Terry's made a small mint flavoured bar called Bitz and under their own brand Sainsburys had a proper sized one that was the very same stuff. Then both disappeared at about the same time and I was told some E-number content had been found potentially carcinogenic. For a while thereafter Sainsburys sold a bar that was in excess of 50% dark chocolate and more than 35% mint flavoured "fondant" - not a patch on Bitz but not that bad either. In time that too disappeared. Now, all the mint chocolate I am aware of being available is either in very expensive individually wrapped tiny lumps of "designer" sort of stuff (pretty good chocolate though) or overrated mint "wafers" of 30-40% chocolate at best and the rest the sugary cream. I don't even count Aero which is perhaps 15% chocolate and the rest solid froth.

Does anyone know of a good bar of mint chocolate, preferably dark, solid and not premium priced, anywhere worldwide still on sale ? In the good old Bitz days my local Woolworths could probably map my departure dates by when I bought a box or two of the stuff for taking away on assignment.

Yes, I am a chocolate afficionado and Bitz, if still available, would only be part of my chocolate intake. There are still lots of good chocolates around but nothing in the mint sector that I know of and am happy with buying. If The Force decided to go for a "New and improved formula" of physics whereby alcohol no longer existed then I would not go for any other stimulant nor would I miss it at all. But, any prospect of doing away with cocoa would be really upsetting although it would probably be going too far to say it would bring my world to a crisis.

This post does not belong in "Food and drink" because to me food is an altogether different intake - chocolate (along with much else that passes the lips) is an indulgence which you can easily survive without whereas you really need food.

[dannyk13]

I've always found Green & Blacks chocolate excellent:-
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/297385325

[KARL]

Dannyk, yes, a bar indeed, but at £2.17 per 100g hugely expensive is it not ?

[Eleena]

I don't rate g&be. I remember bitz. I can't answer your question personally, but a link ..
https://www.google.com/search?q=beest+mint+chocolate%3F&oq=beest+mint+chocolate%3F&aqs=heirloom-srp..

[jennyjoan]

I know this isn't your answer but my cousin and I remember the most beautiful bar of chocolate that held 8 squares of Milk Tray in the one bar.

I just lived for that on Friday when I would get paid. A whole box of chocolate in the one bar. It was delicious.

[jennyjoan]

Karl - the chocolate in Lidl is supposed to be really nice and it gives you the cocoa percent - loads of different bars to choose from and cheap.

[dannyk13]

Karl, for that price you are getting 70% cocoa solids.

[Eleena]

Yes,a milk tray bar jenny.

[KARL]

Thanks Eleena, obviously a USA list I would think, it strongly reflects American tastes. I am thinking strictly in terms of chocolate. That disqualifies everything in the top 8 except the hugely expensive Lindt and then After Eights which are both expensive and well under 40% chocolate. I am hoping for mint flavoured chocolate (more than 50% as a base line), not chocolate flavoured minty sugar.

[pastafreak]

Lindt does a dark with mint.

https://www.lindt.co.uk/shop/catalog/product/view/id/118/category/6/

I've not tried it, as I live on the 90%.

[pastafreak]

I think you're going to have to dig a bit deeper in your pockets if you want decent chocolate.

[237SJ]

Aldi sell mint chocolate

[KARL]

Dannyk, I once practically fell to my knees in reverence: I was in Nigeria and on a walk had stumbled onto a fruiting cocoa tree. I have always loved seeing/feeling/understanding the well of all sorts of things and here I had what makes chocolate possible. I, however, had no interest in eating a 100% cocoa bean - I could have it for free (and still have that very fruit) but paying a premium for a high cocoa content chocolate does not interest me (I have nothing against others choosing to).

Jennyjoan, I go through substantial amounts of Aldi's Dark (200g sold as Dark and Creamy in different languages on the Continent) which is phenomenal value for very good chocolate (according to my taste) - yes, Lidl's equivalent at exactly the same price is also good but to me Aldi's is better.

I recall the Milk Tray bar, which I too used to enjoy from time to time, but I would not choose it over some others. As with so many, I will eat practically anything containing chocolate or just cocoa offered to me but, if I am paying I choose.

[ladybirder]

Too expensive?
https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/dark-mint-chocolate.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5KKlntCi4wIVB7DtCh1fswTLEAQYAyABEgKCivD_BwE

[Eleena]

Hotel Chocolat is a British company ..https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/engaged-ethics/our-people/Our-Story.html

[Eleena]

I haven't sampled their mint range.

[KARL]

Ladybirder, is practically £4 for 100g too expensive - you bet it is. I realise that I could, if I was that determined, have a bespoke copy of Bitz recreated but without enquiring I have no doubt it would be absurdly expensive. I am not looking for anything "exclusive" or with any trace of "kudos"/"superior" value attached (it's the taste, not the image that matters, oh and the price is certainly not irrelevant), just a relatively mass market and (to me) palatable bar of mint chocolate (dark with certainly under 50% "fondant", preferably none).

[THECORBYLOON]

Could you not just buy plain dark chocolate, melt it and add mint flavour to it?

[237SJ]

https://www.aldi.co.uk/luxury-mint-chocolate/p/066367007058400

[237SJ]

https://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Morrisons-The-Best-52-Cocoa-Chocolate-With-Mint-Oil/325988011?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIquOwtNei4wIVqLftCh2v_Q6MEAQYAyABEgIKbfD_BwE&;gclsrc=aw.ds

[KARL]

237SJ, Thanks, I might give those a try at some stage but, although comparing well with some other suggestions, they would never be more than an occasional indulgence among "staples".