Candy Bar Lab

Aero bars have actually been around since the 30’s. Though as an American, they’re new to me. The name comes from the air bubbles that are pumped into the chocolate right before it solidifies, leaving a honeycomb-like structure.

I’m a huge fan of the packaging. Maybe I’m a little biased because the green and the bubbles remind me of the Candy Bar Lab logo, but the graphics made me want to eat this bar. Also, chocolate paired with mint is a classic flavor combination. Needless to say, I was excited to tear open the green foil and bite in.

Structure
The center is mint-flavored white chocolate tinted green and filled with bubbles of air. This is covered with mint-flavored dark chocolate - molded into a seven-segment bar.

Texture
The air pockets make this bar very light and easy to bite through. It crumbles a bit, which helps the chocolate melt on your tongue. Without the air pockets, this would just be a flavored chocolate bar. The bubbly center elevates it to something special.

Taste
No surprises here - it tastes like an Andes mint. I really like that the mint flavor is found in both the inside and the outside. You can’t miss it. As a side note, Mint Aero smells wonderful as soon as you open the packaging; easily the best smelling confection I’ve reviewed thus far. Then again… anyone surprised that mint smells good?

Verdict
I definitely recommend Mint Aero. It is tasty and refreshing. Most importantly, the texture is unique. The only problem is they’re a little hard to come by. But if you ever see one in the store, don’t miss the opportunity give it a try.

Just about everyone I work with has a blog. Most focus on web development and design. When I recently began telling them that I’m writing a blog devoted solely to candy bars, most were intrigued. One of my co-workers was even awesome enough to buy me a candy bar, which I of course promised to properly review on this blog. So here it is, the Nestle Crunch Crisp.

Structure
The center consists of alternating wafer and chocolate creme layers, which aretopped with a layer of milk chocolate and crispies. The entire bar is enrobed with a thin shell of milk chocolate.

Texture
The wafers are very crisp and the chocolate cream is soft - exactly how it should be. I expected a powdery texture like those cheap sugar wafers I was once addicted to, so I was pleasantly surprised. The top crispies don’t stand out. They have to be there for branding reasons, but I wouldn’t have missed them. Most importantly, Nestlé made this bar the perfect thickness. I panned Kit Kat Caramel for being too thick. Crunch Crisp didn’t make that mistake.

Taste
Nestlé chocolate has a unique flavor. When I was a kid, I loved it. Now, I find it to be a little too sweet and it has a distinct burnt caramel aftertaste. I probably should have eaten this in two sittings because the off flavors became unpleasant by the end.

Verdict
I really liked the texture of the wafers and chocolate creme; more than I disliked the chocolate flavor. If given the choice between this bar and a regular Nestlé Crunch, I would choose this. Therefore, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Nestlé candy bars.

Following up on my earlier review of the Reese’s Crispy Crunchy bar, I’m breaking down another Reese’s product; Whipps. This product bills itself as “lighter than air, but a whole lot tastier”. We’ll see about that.

Structure
The inner core is peanut flavored nougat, which is surrounded first by a thin layer of peanut butter and second by a coating of milk chocolate.

Texture
The soft, thin chocolate coating is barely perceptible upon biting in and the next layer of peanut butter below is a little dry. The inner nougat mass accounts for most of the bar’s texture. The nougat is soft and airy. It becomes chewy for a split second before dissolving. Whipps feel very similar to a 3 Musketeers.

Taste
The favor profile is very straight-forward; peanut butter and vanilla (the chocolate never showed up). The peanut butter flavor is much lighter than other Reese’s products, which isn’t a necessarily bad thing. Ultimately, what makes the bar work for me is that its not too sugary. Even though it delivers only a mild hint of peanut butter, it still manages to come through.

Verdict
This bar is simple in both texture and taste. I will acknowledge that it is a whole lot tastier than air, but I won’t go much further. With that said, I enjoyed Whipps and recommend them if you like 3 Musketeers and peanut butter. I’ve seen some very negative reviews of this bar, so I might be in the minority, but I wanted more when I was done. Ultimately, that’s the only thing that should matter when evaluating candy.