M&S Swiss Chocolate Extra Fine Dark
Last time I reviewed a Marks & Spencer chocolate, it looked like they were trying to copy a well-known brand, only their version came out not-quite-as-good-but-more-expensive.
This time around, the product being copied isn’t as obvious from the packaging, but I’m quite sure the name will have come up at the M&S product meetings where they discussed this bar.
In terms of looks and taste, this bar is quite obviously meant to ride on the back of the success of Green & Black’s - and in particular, their Dark 70% bar.
I happened to have some G&B’s 70% and was able to compare. The formats of the bars are slightly different, but the average person would not be able to tell them apart on taste alone.
Now in theory, third parties making good quality dark chocolate is a good thing. But as with the M&S version of Toblerone, this bar was more expensive than the original. But more seriously, there’s absolutely no information on country of origin or indication that any of the ingredients used are organic or fair trade - and that’s a major reason why many people buy Green & Black’s products.
So while this is a perfectly decent bar of chocolate, once again I find myself recommending you go for “the original” instead.
Posted by Dom on 29 Apr 2008 at 09:04 AM
| Leave a comment
Filed in Reviews under dark, marks and spencer, swiss, UK
April 29, 2008 : 1:33pm
Hmmm - I kind of get more of a Lindt vibe from just looking at it (not tried it yet). How does it compare to the Lindt 70% Excellence bar? (one of my favourite dark’s).
April 29, 2008 : 7:07pm
Yes, from the shape does look more like one of the Lindt offerings, but the flavour isn’t as “complex” as a Lindt Excellence (although I don’t have any on hand to compare it directly).
April 30, 2008 : 4:48am
I agree, it does seem to look more like a Lindt bar. I’m a huge fan of Lindt, sort of a fall back chocolate when I don’t have anything else - not because it’s lesser, just because it’s easier to get. Odd how a company would charge more for their copy than the original, especially with no origin listed. I’m surprised people buy it…but hey, you did!
- The Peanut Butter Boy