[wcape]

not exactly a burning issue or anything, but can the uk expats tell me if the chocolate in nz is better or worse than the UK? i was in the uk for 3 years, and felt like i went to chocolate heaven - the chocs are much better than the south african varieties. if there's any ex sa people around, maybe you can also tell me how it compares...

i really like new experiences (especially food related ones :laugh ) so maybe you guys can tell me if there's anything you discovered in nz that you just love?

[bobbyj]

Well...I know you will think this is strange but I think the Kiwi chocolate tastes like ash! hahah My girlfriend's Mum sent her a bar of NZ Cadbury's Flake and I had a cheeky piece but nearly spat it out. She immediately got all defensive over it (telling me how great Kiwi chocolate is) but I made her buy a UK flake and now she totally agrees. I don't know what it is about the stuff but its just not right. :laugh

[holland]

Well...I know you will think this is strange but I think the Kiwi chocolate tastes like ash!


Thats fantastic...hopefully i'll loose few pounds!!!

[gil]

In my experience, when moving to a new country, expect everything to be different. There was a thread a while back on here about NZ vs UK chocolate and we came with words similar to bobbyj's ringing in our ears....

We recently went to the English food shop near here and the kids begged and begged for a UK Galaxy. We got them and as they started munching, far from the ecstatic moans I was expecting, they ALL said (all three) hmm, this isn't as nice as NZ chocolate and, even more amazing, they DIDN'T FINISH their bars!!!
We love the choccie here, especially Whittakers and the gorgeous big Cadbury bars. Some tasty exploring to be done....

As I said, just expect things to be different (note, not necessarily better OR worse) and you'll be fine.

Gil

[victoria]

Whittackers chocolate .... made in Nz since 18something or other. Uses real coca butter & lots of varieties. There are also a lot of fair trade choccies about & if you want to pay the price, they too are of excellent quality. Sorry to offend but how can anyone use Cadbury & chocolate in the same sentence.

[leighhunt]

Have to agree - after years of being a Cadbury's devotee in the UK, I cannot stand the stuff they have over here (too sweet, and maybe not enough cocoa?)

I finally gave in yesterday after 6 weeks of trying the NZ Cadbury's and went to the Cool Britania shop in Welly and bought some Marmite and a big UK Dairy Milk bar.

But Whittakers - now you're talking! And it's made only 6km from where I live. :-)

[Joanne100]

Different cows, different milk, yep the NZ choc tastes different but u get used to it, until u go to "little Britain" then u know wot ur missing as u stick ur chops around a double decker!!! YUM!

[jackie m]

Stop you are ruining my diet:laugh . Whittakers white chocolate & macadamia nuts my favourite but must stop talking now as my mouth is watering. I do miss Galaxy just a little:wah
Jackie

[Smiler]

If you are in Welly or wandering through Greytown, pop into the Shoc choccie shop.

Oh yum! Many unusual and even odd flavours, sea salt chocolate, chilli chocolate etc.

They have little wooden drawers that the staff pass you to pick a taster from and they don't moan however many you try! :D It's expensive, so not for every day pigging but it makes a lovely gift.

The shop in Greytown is really cute and you can see the staff making it out the back.

*is dribbling now* :D

[zardell]

Sorry, but I think the NZ chocolate is just fine.

Can't really tell the difference between the UK Cadbury and the NZ Cadbury to be truthful.

Have to agree about the Whittakers though - it really is yummy !!

Saw some Belgian chocolates the other day too, but resisited temptation.

Julie

xx

[jubjub]

Not really a choccy person to a large degree, but I do like the Nestle Heaven bars, specially the one with caramel in it...

I got introduced to scorched almonds the other week..... that was a BIG mistake ate the whole packet...... :o :uhoh

I hear that Whittakers white choc and macadamia is even better than scorched almonds, I am steering clear of it! :laugh

Also the same friend introduced me to the chocolate covered coffee beans... yummy

Maybe I shouldnt hang out with her any more :D my waistline is already too large.

[Jameelka]

We all (in our house) definately think NZ chocolate is not as nice as the UK.
Cadburys is so much nicer in the UK, and when my parents came across earlier in the yr they brought big blocks of UK choc for us all, it did n't last long!
Like everything it's what u get used to, and if u don't know any different then that's ok, problem is we do!

[DMcG]

There's a chocolate shop down the road from the office in Takapuna. He sell a huge variety including quite a lot of Swiss and Belgian chocolate. I've spent so much money in there on presents, I now get a free (giant) liqueur chocolate every time I go in :D

Dougie

[swissmissdesigner]

The best is the Swiss chocolate!
I just got a few for my birthday which is tomorrow.:clap

[benandclare]

The best is the Swiss chocolate!
I just got a few for my birthday which is tomorrow.:clap


Go with you on that one, especially Tallens in Crans Montana :raebanana

From a NZ perspective, grated Whittakers ( any variety) onto Hokey Pokey ice cream is heaven on earth :raebanana :raebanana

Ben

[wcape]

okay, so what i'm hoping for at the moment is that even if the chocolate is worse than uk, maybe it will still be better than sa :) although i can stand to eat a bit less anyway! i'm looking forward to trying whittakers & scorced almonds...
now in terms of food & crisps, is there anything that you've really tried in nz that you really liked?

[marcia]

I brought a huge stash of Uk cadbury dairy milk, and when friends came over in jan they brough me loads more too! I'm down to my last two kilo bars though, however I have been sampling the NZ cadburys to prepare my taste buds, the normal dairy milk i just can't eat its like cheap advent calender chocolate yuck!!! But I have to say i really like some of the cadbury desserts bars, the lemon cheesecake, and I think the other is bosenbury, are really nice!

I suppose I just have to re-educate my taste buds, but after 40 years of Uk cadburys, it takes a bit of time, still I'll just have to keep sampling differnt bars each week to see which i like!! :laugh

[Moorf]

After three years I honestly couldn't tell you - I just get on and eat what's available locally and, after all this time, it's .. well.. it's chocolate!! :D

[Sam B]

I haven't really eaten much choc here, but I have noticed a predilection amongst Kiwis for what appear to be the most horrid sweets (lollies, lollies!) such as pineapple lumps (yuk), endless jelly sweets (double yuk) and marshmallows galore. All bland and chewy if you ask me.

[Carol]

now in terms of food & crisps, is there anything that you've really tried in nz that you really liked?

Veggie crisps! yuum
Most cheese here is lovely but the stuff made up at Kapiti is FAB as is their ice cream. (I only eat the vanilla bean one - but MAN is it good!)
Vogel's bread - couldnt live without it!
Hubbards Cereals are lovely.
And the meat ......fantastic quality (mostly) and very cheap


STILL miss my quorn though..... :-(

[Smiler]

I really like a glass of Old Coach Road Nelson chardonnay, a lump of Emmental, a seat on the verandah and to share it with my mate! :nice1

Oh and food of the moment is Scroggin! Its yummy :raebanana

[zardell]

What the heck is Scroggin ????

Julie

xx

[Smiler]

What the heck is Scroggin ????

Julie

xx

It's a cereal by Vogel's. Link won't work so;

VOGEL'S Scroggin & Flakes

Scrogginis a quirky, deliciously-healthy and energy packed part of our Kiwi heritage.

Traditionally home-made from the ingredients that spell its name, (Sultanas, Chocolate, Raisins, Orange Peel, Ginger, Glucose, Imagination and Nuts), Scroggin is the snack of choice for those with a healthy appetite for hiking and biking, playing sport or simply needing a tasty energy treat to help them stay on the go.

In the fine tradition of the original Scroggin, Vogel's Scroggin & Flakes is a breakfast bursting with taste, health and endless energy.

We've packed our own blend of energy-filled ingredients including oats, apricot, currants, golden syrup, peanuts and coconut into crunchy Scroggin clusters. These clusters are blended to a mouthwatering mix of multi-grain flakes and high-fibre sticks, with the taste of maple syrup.

The result is a tasty, light, crunchy cereal that's not only a quantum leap on the original Scroggin - it'll have you bounding out the door to head to work ... or head for the hills.

http://www.vogels.co.nz/Img/UsersImg/arrow.gif Ingredients and Nutrition Information (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:%20popWin%28450,%20400,%20%27Ingredients%27,% 20%27scrogginandflakes.aspx%27%29;)

It's a 'top shelf' cereal. ;)

[Carol]

What the heck is Scroggin ????

Julie

xx


I think it's got something to do with chickens Julie....

;-)

[jubjub]

thats it, I need to get some scroggin, seen it loads of times, never tried it though..

[Smiler]

I think it's got something to do with chickens Julie....

;-)

:laugh :laugh :laugh

Oih you!

[zardell]

I was really quite tempted until I read this bit..........


Scroggin is the snack of choice for those with a healthy appetite for hiking and biking, playing sport


Doesn't sound like me at all...:laugh :laugh :laugh

Julie

xx

[zardell]

I think it's got something to do with chickens Julie....

;-)



Ok - I daren't ask............:D

Julie

xx

[Smiler]

I only read this far "Scroggin is a quirky,"

That does sounds like me!

[Carol]

I only read this far "Scroggin is a quirky,"

That does sounds like me!


And that rooster.....scroggin away every morning!
lol

[Smiler]

And that rooster.....scroggin away every morning!
lol


He's scroggin away right now! :D

[Familyofmonkeys]

Also the same friend introduced me to the chocolate covered coffee beans... yummy

Maybe I shouldnt hang out with her any more :D my waistline is already too large.

Used to get these in Whittards in UK.....was pleasantly surprised to find that you can get them by the scoop in Countdown. Had a few too many though....now trying to be good. Well, I was until my mum came to stay with nearly 2 kg of expensive organic UK & German chocolates. Nearly fainted when she told me how much she spend....in Harrods and Harvey Nichols :roll. Needless to say....there is only one small bar left now :D

Was told by a well traveled friend that NZ choc tastes different from UK choc because it has more of one of the additives that stops it melting. Apparently this is necessary for cheaper choc with less cocoa (i.e. cadburys/Nestle etc, not Whittakers type stuff) as climate here is more humid. Otherwise it would have a very short shelf life.

[jubjub]

Just munching apricot and nut scroggin clusters, yummy.... no wine with them though, its a school day! Maybe tonight....

[Familyofmonkeys]

Just munching apricot and nut scroggin clusters, yummy.... no wine with them though, its a school day! Maybe tonight....

I feel like munching through last bar of choc. Wonder if OH would notice if it was gone :D

[wcape]

i'm looking forward to trying the scroggin - i like a quirky start to my day :) i guess it's too much too hope that there's cinnamon graham's in nz?

[jubjub]

i guess it's too much too hope that there's cinnamon graham's in nz?

You can probably get them, you can get pretty much anything if you are willing to either travel a distance or pay a premium price....

We have a couple of shops locally around howick that sell South African stuff, maybe they would have it?

[newkiwis2]

I had my frist Morro bar and spat it out as it was yuk..However, I love jaffas and sniffters but NZ choc is just not good. ALL the Areo's Rolo's are from the UK so if you really need some UK choc your are 100% safe with an areo.

[Jewels]

The chocolate in both NZ and Australia has a much higher content of Cocoa Butter and a LOT less milk than UK brands.

Obviously its made to a different standard to the UK to enable it to withstand much higher temperatures and hence not melt!

Even the chocolate made by Cadburys PTY over there is very different from that made here in the UK.

Whilst UK chocolate tastes fab..... there is still nothing like French or Belgian. Cote D'Or of France say Cadburys is not worthy of being called Chocolate! After tatsing Cote D'Or......I agree!

Jewels

[Lupin]

9 months and a lot of chocolate later and I have found that with sheer determination I am perfectly enamoured to NZ chocolate and cannot even remember the UK version. Therefore, I suggest anyone who is struggling to adapt put best foot forward and drastically increase consumption :p

[incredible hulse]

The chocolate in both NZ and Australia has a much higher content of Cocoa Butter and a LOT less milk than UK brands.

Obviously its made to a different standard to the UK to enable it to withstand much higher temperatures and hence not melt!

Jewels I take it NZ get Aussie chocolate then and not one for their own market ? :exit

[alan999]

must say over the past few years I've lost the taste for UK Cadbury's, it just doesn't taste the same to me as it used to. Coming down here I find Cadbury's tastes between UK current and how I remember it. Quite nice really, and the big Black Forest bars are perhaps the best I've tasted anywhere. I agree about the temperature thing, but could never eat the Greek version of Cadbury's.

[alan999]

To further the above, let's not forget there are two main categories of chocolate eater. The eat it crunchy from a fridge type, and the slurp it semi molten type. I fall into the latter. I think frozen the NZ chocolate goes very hard and is hard to get any taste out of it, so this may be why some people find it hard to adjust.

[jubjub]

I just tried a new choccy bar today...

A Fling, its pretty much like a kinder bueno, but with just one crispy layer! Yum, lasted all of about 30 seconds!

[Smiler]

I just tried a new choccy bar today...

A Fling, its pretty much like a kinder bueno, but with just one crispy layer! Yum, lasted all of about 30 seconds!


Off to have a Fling then! :exit



;)

[jubjub]

Off to have a Fling then! :exit



;)

its the chocolate with no strings attached..... :p (so it says on the wrapper!)

[Smiler]

its the chocolate with no strings attached..... :p (so it says on the wrapper!)


Brilliant! :laugh :laugh :laugh

[kanatakiwi]

must say over the past few years I've lost the taste for UK Cadbury's, it just doesn't taste the same to me as it used to. Coming down here I find Cadbury's tastes between UK current and how I remember it. Quite nice really, and the big Black Forest bars are perhaps the best I've tasted anywhere. I agree about the temperature thing, but could never eat the Greek version of Cadbury's.

could never eat the Greek version of ANY chocolate..... having just been there and searched endlessly for something that would satiate my chocolate craving. never did find anything. :no lotsof wonderful things about Greece, but chocolate is not one of them

[Clare & Dunc]

Never was a big fan of Cadbury's, more of a Thorntons, Lindt and Green and Blacks(now owned by Cadbury).
I have only tried Whittikers over here and it is divine, the dark choc and caramel lasted a couple of evenings max!!!
Haven't had scroggin since we visted 5 years ago, got some from a supermarket in Queenstown, Yummy!! Did the eating of it but none of the walking!!!
Have to agree on the Lollies, I am not a big fan of jelly sweets, being a sort of vegetarian. But Pineapple Lumps, no comment, erghhhh. Our Kiwi friend in the UK is always asking us to send them.
All the crisps and snacks we have tried have been nice, nothing really nice or nasty.
I do crave for cheese and onion pasties, Tescos own or a nice greasy Greggs.
Quorn is another thing I miss but Santitarium do mince in a can which can be jazzed up with chilli beans.
There isnt really anything I can't live without, the produce here is fantastic: fruit and veg that taste of fruit and veg, a wonderful selection of sea food, good quality meat.
All this talk has made me hungry, lunch time!!!!

Clare

[jubjub]

Another new one....

Anyone had a Cadbury Magical Elves yet? Not normal elves, but have to be the magical ones?

They have got tiny bits of space dust in them and it all pops as you are chewing it! Should have seen AJ's face, it was sooo funny (he got it from Santa and got one for me too!)

[Joanne100]

Yeah there cool arent they, might have to pinch one now;)

[marcia]

Yeah ours love them (and me! :raebanana ) - you can buy bigger hollow ones in the warehouse (got some yesterday as stocking fillers!)

They had some Wonka bars in the uk that were the same, with the fizzy bits in.