I really like chocolate. I mean, I REALLY like chocolate. My girlfriend Julie would call me a "chocoholic" if she didn't already have several other names she calls me regularly.
I eat chocolate almost daily and love all forms of the lovely confection. I'll eat bars, nuggets, truffles, frosting, cream, or whatever. If it's chocolate, I will consume it.
In the past, I have taste-tested items from the magnificent Dollar Tree store against name-brand items from Jewel or other popular grocery stores.
This time, I just grabbed some similar items off the shelf at my local Walgreens. They are almost identical in ingredients and description, and, unlike Taste Offs of the past, they are priced exactly the same at $2.99 per bar.
This time, I am taste-testing two chocolate bars: Ghirardelli's Sea Salt Caramel Milk Chocolate bar and Lindt's Caramel with Sea Salt Milk Chocolate bar.
Ghirardelli and Lindt are excellent chocolatiers, have fabulous reputations, and make fine chocolate products. I knew it would be fun to taste their items back-to-back to see what happens. Also, their chocolate rules, so I knew this would be a very pleasant experience.
First, the unfun stuff...the nutritional content:
Taking into account the serving size per container and the ingredients of each item, you can see that the Nutrition Facts listed on both bars are very, very similar. A slight edge is given to Lindt simply because it is a solid bar and does not contain a creamy center.
First, let's try the Lindt bar. It is a solid bar marked for separation into small, bite-size rectangular pieces that fit perfectly in the mouth.
The chocolate is creamy, rich, milky, delicate, and delicious. As you chew, crunchy bits of salted caramel are also present throughout the bite, which adds a lovely texture.
I expected the caramel component to be creamy rather than crunchy, which surprised me. I was hoping for a liquid filling that wasn't there. That's not Lindt's fault; that's my own because of preconceived notions I already had.
Overall, it's a delicious bite of chocolate with a fantastic salty, crunchy taste that makes the caramel stand out beautifully. The salt/chocolate/caramel blend is delicious, and I could eat this ALL DAY LONG! Bravo Lindt Chocolate.
Next, let's try the Ghirardelli bar. This bar is marked for separation in more oversized square shapes that take at least two bites to finish. Two pieces of this bar are the equivalent of roughly four pieces of the Lindt bar.
You can feel the salted caramel filling and chocolate mixing in your mouth as you bite into a square. It is spectacular. Once again, the fantastic mix of sweet and savory explodes on the palate. Combined with the gooey caramel filling and the solid yet creamy texture, it is absolutely delicious.
This is also a bar of chocolate that I could eat ALL DAY LONG! Bravo Ghirardelli Chocolate.
It isn't easy to pick a favorite here because they are both completely satisfying and delicious for slightly different reasons.
But since I have to choose, the Sea Salt Caramel Milk Chocolate bar from Ghirardelli is the WINNER!
I'm the real winner in this situation, and you will be too if you eat either of these delightful confections.
What are your favorite chocolate items? Let me know by leaving a message at (773) 417-6948 or emailing me at nick@nickdigilio.com. Also, let me know if you have suggestions for future Taste Offs. Happy Holidays!
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