More International Fixtures

Perhaps fittingly, I've had two international contenders gifted to me in the previous weeks, which just all ties in with the Euro 2012 spirit (go Deutschland!). I thought I'd review them, in the spirit of updating the ever-shifting international league table. 


A few weeks ago, Carol most generously brought me back a mint crisp from Dublin, after my past disaster tasting. (Apparently I got the cheap rip-off rather than the true Cadbury's bar?) Ok, it would be more accurate to say Carol generously brought me back HALF of a Cadbury's Mint Crisp (a small price, I'm sure, for getting one hand delivered, what with the restrictions on airline luggage nowadays). 

So, after being given another opportunity to try this bar...I have to say I still don't really like it. (Sorry, Carol, I am truly an ingrate.) The bar (which I actually forgot to take a photo of, so this one is from the internet), is Cadbury's milk chocolate with oddly yellow-green bits of mint crispiness inside. Although I am a loyal proponent of the mint/chocolate combination, I'm not quite sure this works with milk chocolate. Maybe milk chocolate is just a little too sickly for the combo? I also am pretty sure a pre-requisite for liking this bar is actually liking Cadbury’s chocolate – which I still find pretty difficult, even if it is the more superior Irish Cadbury's (read the comment at the very end of the page). Sorry, Cadbury's lovers, I just didn't grow up with it! 

So I'm a little sorry to report this bar gets a measly one bar in the ratings. I was a little worried this would bring down Ireland in the league standings, but fear not, the sheer quantity of deliciousness I reviewed last time outweighs this poor score easily. Better luck next time, Cadbury's?

Second bar comes from Sally, who brought me back a Ciocori from her recent holiday to Italy. Apart from being nearly impossible to pronounce (Cho-coree? Chio-coree?), it seemed to be a marked improvement on the last Italian disappointment. (It's ok, Italy, you disappoint me in so few things.) The wrapper was a bit incomprehensible (why is that chipmunk carrying an American football?) but the promise of CROCCANTE was tantalizing.

And CROCCANTE it was! The Ciocori is a lot like an Italian version of an American Crunch bar, one of my favorites (especially in its pleasantly petite 'fun size'). The bar had bits of crispy rice (or...riso croccante) in a pleasingly sweet milk chocolate layer. The bar was a little disappointingly thin - some of the riso was protruding from the other side and I think I would have preferred something a little more substantial, as this bar disappeared in no time at all. Also, strangely (but not unpleasantly), the chocolate had a slight tinge of Nutella-like hazelnut flavor, but that might just be me remembering pretty much all the rest of the chocolate from Italy. All in all, quite tasty.


Che buono! A solid 3 bars. This is MILES above the Tronky and brings Italy up to a more respectable score of 2 in the rankings. 


So, a combined two bars from this week's selection, and just in case you were interested, the revised rankings below. Enjoy the football (I know, it's really called soccer), everyone!

Sweden: 3.5

Denmark: 2

Germany: 3.5

France: 3.5

England: too lazy to average them all, will go with 3 to be safe.

Ireland: 4

Italy:2

Switzerland: 3

Latvia:4

Poland: 2 (combined score)

Bar-o-Meter