In 1979 while I was doing Russian language at uni, A group from my year embarked upon a rare visit to USSR via an exchange. This was at a time when Russia and the soviet union were closed to tourists and was like visiting another planet. Anyway, amongst other cultural activities we visited state owned chocolate and confectionery factory, number 26, in Moscow. This factory manufactured , not for the ordinary sov punters, but for the elite in their society, and is still etched in my mind today. This was a factory as you might have heard described Cadburys in the 1920's, I used to hear my gran telling me that todays version of well known bars were 'so much better' before the war, and being in this place I suddenly knew what she meant. Everything I managed to sample had a taste that I had never experienced at home. Ie they were still manufacturing to the same standard that they did in the west in the 20's & 30's, even the quality and appearance of the wrappers were like you saw in old adverts.....and the taste, to a total choccie like me.. Perfect heaven. Throughout the 80's the only eastern bloc chocs I could ever find here were Plums in Chocolate, in their lovely 1950's wrappings. Now they make them in a super modern factory and guess what, they now taste like s..t.