Chocolate! Is It Just Me

[Caribeing]

Chocolate. is it just me or does chocolate not taste like it used to! I do prefer savoury snacks and haven't eaten chocolate for quite some time today tempted by a mini crunchie it tasted powdery and not like I remembered couldn't finish it.

[Ann]

* anybodys?

[trepolpen]

My theory is that it's because we've all slowly become used to the taste of real chocolate (i.e. anything but the sugary, dairy-fat and grease based concoctions which the confectionary conglomerates - many since bought out by US interests - weaned us on in the post-war years), and no longer find this ghastly stuff so appetising. Why else does every dessert producer, fancy chef and supermarket chain in the country try to tempt us with the delights of "Belgian chocolate"-based puddings etc.? Look in the baking aisles of your local Waitrose or Tesco and you'll see a vast array of 'real chocolate' at 70% or more cocoa levels. The real irony is that many of these products (along with the vast majority of chocolate bars, ice-creams etc. even if marketed across the EU) are still specially produced for the UK market with less cocoa butter (i.e. the paste made from cocoa beans, and no 'butter' whatsoever) along with the addition of large amounts of dairy fats, and significantly more sugar than the same brands made for sale in France, Belgium, Italy or elsewhere, where they've only ever tasted real chocolate, and find what is still passed off as chocolate in the UK really rather nasty.

[boxtops]

M&S Dutch shortcake dipped in chocolate - drool

[hunkyhonky]

Anything bearing the Cadbury's name certainly doesn't since it was taken over by the US megamonster that shall not be named.

[johnwisbeach]

No, it's not just you, it's definitely different ... in taste as well as quantity.

[candysherbet]

I've noticed with a lot of items that are classed as 'milk chocolate....' taste more like plain chocolate and more bitter.What has happened to the great milk chocolate on bars,biscuits we use to get.We pay enough for them!