We did a blind taste test of 12 milk chocolates and Ritter Sport was the winner with 4 votes, Cadbury got 3 votes, and Hershey (the classic brown bar) and Hershey Symphony each got 2 votes.
We were kinda shocked, it wasn't at all what we expected! Personally I really liked Ghirardelli, but was totally outvoted. Sheesh, I can't believe these people call themselves Californians... It was hilarious to note that one chocolate (#3, Starbucks milk chocolate) was vehemently despised by every single person in our group, even the three-year-olds! And I particularly liked comments like "No, no, fake" from my mom when describing the Starbucks chocolate, "Tastes fruity, ok texture, color all wrong" from TubaDad when describing the Cadbury, and "Good, tastes a little bit melty" from Ro when describing the Scharffen Berger.
It was so much fun that I think you guys should do it too! Will you take our chocolate challenge? To hold your own chocolate taste test, here's what you do:
1. Purchase a whole bunch of chocolate, any kind you like. We used the milk chocolates shown below, and I got them at a Cosentino's grocery store (kind of high end, similar to Draeger's or Lunardi's) and a Long's drugstore (similar to a Walgreen's or RiteAid).
2. Chop up the chocolates and display them so you can't see the names. (Hint: put some tiny slivers in there if you're going to include kids in the tasting.) We used a muffin tin with masking tape numbers, and it worked great for a large group of people.
3. Give each person a paper and something to write with, and tell them to find their top three. After all is said and done, it's really funny to "unveil" the name of each chocolate and hear everyone's opinions on it. Especially the negative ones, those are usually really passionate.
4. Tell us about your results -- either write the results in a comment below or post the results on your blog and leave a comment with the link to your post. If you know your favorite without even having to do a test, let us know that too (although you really should take the challenge, the results will probably surprise you!). Happy chocolating!!
Posts
I am totally doing the challenge this weekend with my boyfriend. I love chocolate!
ReplyDeletePS - M3 somethng to think about my friends and I did thid with vodka...yeah, that was a good night! I am a total Belevedere Babe!
Honestly - WHAT will the Salsa family think of next? Great idea and the perfect game as Easter approaches...
ReplyDeleteToo bad my Mom is on Weight Watchers ;-) I doubt she'll participate with weigh-ins on Thursdays!
Ummm, I've done this taste testing and voting...but with vodka and tequila.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are too much fun! Putting this idea in the old noggin to pull out and use at a later date! :)
ReplyDeletemmmmm this is the best challenge EVER, we are so going to take it:)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I'd have to do it with dark chocolate though. Milk chocolate really isn't my thing.
ReplyDeleteHey I am LOVIN this idea. I'm off to the grocery store this week to stock up on chocolate!! (And if anyone asks, I'll say M3 made me do it.) :)
ReplyDeletesuch a cute idea !!!
ReplyDeleteI knew you were my friend...
ReplyDeleteRitter Sport is an a-number-one fave in our house.
When next we go to Zee Old Country, we'll have to bring you back a bar (or twelve) of their mid-milk-to-dark bar (light-green wrapper). Oh. My. God.
Excellent suggestion on the tasting, btw. We'll have to host one of those soon!
Oh, that's where I left it! I wondered where I'd left that pesky muffin tin. Don't feel the need to wash it friend, just top it up and send it off. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI must say that I'm shocked your family didn't vote for the Ghirardelli's. Wow! We're huge Ghirardelli fans here in my neck of the woods.
What a great evening of fun! Did your girlies sleep after all that chockit?
You don't know how much I would love to do a taste test of my own right now.....ours will have to wait until after easter......so for now, I will take your word for it.
ReplyDeletemy husband and I do this with winerd, but it's with wine. I will be doing this soon. This would be great after having cheese fondue. My grand kids love fondue. I am allll about the Cadbury. . . I think.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. My mom, the ultimate chocoholic is coming to town in two weeks. We may have to do this. It will be with dark chocolate. :)
ReplyDeleteMartina may or may not participate--she is adamant that chocolate be served with peanut butter these days or it is not worth eating. (And what do you know--there were NO peanut butter Hershey kisses to be had this year at Christmastime!)
I am now over the 14-15 year old girls at our church. We have weekly activities. we are adding this to our "to-do" list.
ReplyDeleteI think I will try it in July when I can eat chocolate again. I'll have to say that I am a big fan of the Cadbury chocolate.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, have you tried a chocolate beer float? It's so good!
I thought I knew every single piece of chocolate out there, but I was SO wrong. Can't wait to try these out. I'm the sole chocolate lover in my family (gasp!), but I will gladly take on this challenge for the sake of the ones I love :)
ReplyDeleteSarris. It's a local company but if you can order some online you totally should. It's delicious with a wonderful melty texture.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had a Milka bar? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milka Milka Noisette (Hazelnut) is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteWe love the Ghirardelli with caramel!
ReplyDeleteOh, that is very tempting. (I must say, though, I am a Lindt's girl through and through.)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Can't wait to try this one with everyone. My fav is Ghirardelli with caramel.
ReplyDeleteThe Titter Sport totally rocks. YUMMY idea. I might have a whole party just to do chocolate taste testing!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI am new to your blog, so can I just say, your girls are adorable! Absolutely gorgeous! :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. - That chocolate looks pretty awesome, too!
No fair posting a picture of all of that chocolate in front of a pregnant lady having a serious chocolate craving this afternoon! :-)
ReplyDeletegreat idea Salsa family!! Can't wait to try this with our family ~ any excuse for chocolate!!
ReplyDeleteYour family just has too much fun :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea.
Your family just has too much fun :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea.
M3!!!! I gave up chocolate for lent!!!!!! The agony!!! I'm only on day 2! haha!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea M3! Just curious, how did Lindt place in your test? Lindt is my absolute favorite!!
ReplyDeleteI will have to take this challenge because I have never heard of some of the brands you used. Maybe I will find a new favorite!
Stace
I just voted for your blog - FYI - you're winning with 25 % of the vote!
ReplyDeleteI just started a blog - related to work - and I was going to put you on the blog role as soon as I can figure out how LOL. If for any reason you'd prefer I didn't, just let me know - no questions asked.
www.jobsearchparty.blogspot.com. (you'll see it's REALLY new)
Maryellen
Okay, I love the chocolate idea, but what I really love is the man standing up, leaning on the table in that picture. He's gorgeous!!! Is that your brother? He looks yummier than the chocolate.
ReplyDeleteChocolate AND Uncle Bobby...You must like us blog stalkers today.
ReplyDeleteThe chocolate challenge looks like great fun, but since Pa has diabetes and I have fat, we had better just enjoy it from your blog.
ReplyDeleteLast week we got a coupon from Kroger for the Premium M&M's and it was also on sale, so who could pass up that bargain! I bought the Milk Chocolate covered almonds and have to confess for both of us that we could not keep our hands out of that bag. They were not only delicious, but they were absolutely a work of art with their their pattern of blues. Now we know to pass that coupon to somebody else.
I have loved the Ritter Sports bars since we went to Germany with TubaDad. I haven't seen the bar in the green wrapper, but it sounds really good.
Ma
Hm, I've never had a chocolate beer float, or Sarris, or Milka! Must try them all immediately. :-)
ReplyDeleteLindt didn't place very high, which was surprising to us! I think it came out as too sweet when compared to all the rest.
Ok, the anon comment about the man leaning on the table cracked me up. I actually thought "The man? What man? Oh they mean Bobby!" Just my mangy little bro. :-)
I can't believe my choice didn't win! See's is awesome! =)
ReplyDeleteI just voted for you. Hope you win!
ReplyDeleteWe need to take the chocolate challenge (since my diet is failing anyway!)
Jennifer (mom to lily and kate)
I will take you up on this challenge. I also challenge you to being the family who is chocolate's number one fan! Yes.... true Norwegians know CHOCOLATE!!! Speak of which, I do not see any representation from any NORWEGIAN chocolate there. I will remedy this soon.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Lisa
Oh. My. Gosh! We're having a family reunion in a few months and we are so doing this!! What a great idea. :-)
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the Pound Plus Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bar from Trader Joes? To Die For.
ReplyDeleteMy wife insisted that I write since I am the chocoholic in the house. We've done this too but with dark chocolate and I must say, at the risk of sounding like a chocolate snob, you're missing out on the truly great chocolates in the world. Lucky for me, with my obsession with cacao, I married a woman who decided to go to culinary school and become a pastry chef. She introduced me to the truly finer chocolates and I've never looked back. A Hershey's bar to me is like garlic to a vampire.
ReplyDeleteNext time you do this - go for the good stuff. Valhrona, Michael Cluziel (all great single-origin beans), Vosges (their exotic flavored chocolates are amazing. I recommend the goji berry w/ sea salt or the Indian Curry bar), Green & Blacks, Dagoba, Garrison Confections. So much good stuff. I go for really dark, 75% and up. And all south American or African beans or south pacific islands. The words "fine Belgian chocolate" are an oxymoron.
Well, hope the wife is satisfied that I have let my nerd out on this topic. Your girls are precious. Our second is waiting for us in China and our 2 1/2 year-old Molly is already a choco-holic!
Eric