Is chocolate getting sweeter?

[Rainbow]

I don't know if it's my taste buds or what it might be, but I think chocolate is sweeter now than it used to be.

I think I used to be able to taste more chocolate than sugar, but now I have to fight my way through a lot of sugary sweetness to get to the chocolate taste.

Anyone else have this experience and/or any ideas what it might be?

[oldspice]

I agree. With some chocolate companies, it's an obvious move towards cheaper ingredients. For example, The Nestle overtake of Rowntree/Mackintosh  resulted in some of our favourite bars, such as Toffee Crisp, being reduced to sweet, gooey mush. I have also noticed it with KitKats, especially the chunky versions. Sometimes the sweetness is so overpowering, it kind of burns the back of my throat. Chocolate box selections have gone the same way. Milk Tray, Dairy Box and Black Magic used to be so exciting to receive and eat - full of interesting fillings with creamy (or slightly bitter dark) chocolate coatings. Now, I don't even bother with them. They are fatty, greasy, super-sweet horrors! Rant over!

[goldencup]

I think you're right.  I had the misfortune to eat a Milky Way recently (thankfully only a tiny one) and it was disgusting - overpoweringly sweet with virtually no flavour.  Now don't get me on what Milky Way used to be like (Flyte bars etc etc) but I've had one a few years ago and I'm sure it wasn't nearly as bad as they are now.

[Rainbow]

I hadn't thought about it being a move towards cheaper ingredients, but of course now you mention it oldspice it is obvious isn't it?

Here's a good question then.... If they are using cheaper ingredients and making each bar costs them less than it used to, how come the price to us went up, or, in order for the price to remain the same, the chocolate bar shrunk considerably in size? Seems oddly like being swindled to me. 

[chocadmin]

Price is going up/size going down because of inflation and (to a certain extent) because of the high price of cocoa, I agree though some products are getting way too sweet (and I have a really sweet tooth). Conversely there are also more bitter products on the market to capitalise on 'posh' chocolate.

[Rainbow]

I've read a few articles like this since your post chocadmin.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10362944/Price-of-chocolate-to-triple.html

I knew that the price of cocoa butter had risen, but I had no idea it was by as much as 70%. That's incredible.

[oldspice]

One chocolate bar I really hope doesn't change is Cadbury Flake. It really is the best chocolate ever. I love the dry, crumbly texture and the way it tastes creamy but not too sweet. I really would give up on chocolate if Flake ever changed.

What else could I crumble on top of my legendary Mandarin and Chocolate Trifle on Christmas morning??

[smurfboy]

Yeah, sadly I think it's a simple case of sugar being cheaper than cocoa. I still enjoy chocolate but it doesn't feel like the treat it once did.

[Sazgalag]

Totally agree about the flake oldspice! However, I think it's the texture that is the main treat with a flake, rather than the right level of creaminess/sweetness. Haven't milky ways always been disgustingly too sweet as well??? Just a thought

[oldspice]

Totally agree about the flake oldspice! However, I think it's the texture that is the main treat with a flake, rather than the right level of creaminess/sweetness. Haven't milky ways always been disgustingly too sweet as well??? Just a thought

Agree totally, it's mostly the texture I love.

[wjp666]

Is Leon getting la-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-rger?!