I’ve always seen myself as being a bit of a chocolate connoisseur, I blame my dad as he enjoyed taking me to the local Italian cafe and it had a great stock of chocolate of the more luxurious type, such as Lindt and Suchard and I remember a Dutch variety similar to Aero which was much harder than Aero but still had the bubbles.
Anyway, for everyday chocolate I was happy to eat Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, so I (along with loads of other people I’m sure) was not at all happy when Kraft took over Cadbury. Although they assured everyone that they would be using the same recipe, I had my doubts. Sure enough it seems that although the actual recipe might be the same, Dairy Milk does not taste lovely and creamy as it did before. Apparently this is because they are now using American milk which is much sweeter but less creamy than UK milk. So I gave up eating Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and moved on to what had been my second favourite chocolate – Galaxy. Another favourite of mine is Terry’s Chocolate Orange and I dread the recipe for that changing. Terry’s was taken over by Kraft even earlier than Cadbury’s.
But recently I bought a big packet of fun size Fudge fingers, (do you think they are Fudge thumbs?) really I bought them just in case we had some fun size visitors at Halloween but no ‘guisers’/trick or treaters came to our door. Of course I opened the packet to eat one, well I couldn’t let them go to waste could I? I know they will go straight to my waist but such is life! Anyway, I realised immediately that the fudge fingers don’t taste anything like they did, in fact I’m not getting any creamy fudge flavour at all, just an overwhelming sweet taste they don’t even look similar inside. Too late I remembered that the fudge is made by Cadbury, so it isn’t only their chocolate which has been affected by the changes of ingredients.
Earlier today I noticed this article in the Guardian which is about Cadbury or I suppose I should say Kraft adding sultanas to the iconic Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut bar. It’s thought that they are replacing the classic ingredients with cheaper ones.
In some ways this is quite good for me as I used to really look forward to ‘Creme Egg’ season, but after they changed the ingredients in that I tried one and didn’t bother to have any more, you can read about it here. That article says that a company called Mondelez now owns what was Cadbury, I’m not sure if that is a Kraft offshoot or what.
But everyone needs a pick me up or treat every now and again and my treats of choice are disappearing. I also tried a bar of Green and Black a while ago, a type of chocolate which is supposed to be superior to others, but I only ate a small bit as it didn’t taste an awful lot different from that disgusting baking ‘chocolate’.
Cadbury was such a big part of British culture, that purple/blue wrapping copied by cheaper supermarket own brands because they knew that it would be more attractive to buyers. But the penny pinching and greed of the new owners has ruined it all for anyone who can remember the originals.
Of course over the years a lot of chocolate goodies have disappeared from the shelves. I loved Fry’s chocolate cream bars, occasionally you see the plain fondant ones, but the bar which had a variety of flavours was my favourite, the pineapple cream bit was luscious. (Jack says the bar was called a Five Centre and he thinks it was originally made by Fry’s which merged with Cadbury’s in 1919 but they still kept the Fry’s brand name for various chocolate bars.)
If you want a trip down memory lane you might like to have a look at the old Cadbury adverts from the good old days below. I must admit I don’t remember them all, although the Flake adverts are unforgettable.
We opened one of the Terry Oranges the other night and was so surprised when it was cut in the wedges and looked just like an orange! I thought it would just taste orange. We’re saving the other one for when the kids are here.
It’s very frustrating when another company buys a brand name and then changes it. Doesn’t even make sense. I always bought Landsend clothes and their size 6 fit me to a tee. Then Sears bought it and changed the sizing and nothing fits me good now so I shop somewhere else.
Peggy,
Terry’s chocolate oranges are very more-ish and a big favourite here, especially at Christmas. I should have said that you’re supposed to knock the middle of it to loosen the segments.
It seems crazy to me that companies buy up something because it’s a success and then start tinkering with it. Very annoying.
I’m so sorry to hear this. I have been a Cadbury addict myself for many years, but I don’t buy the US version of it, despite the purple wrapper, because it’s gritty and has no real taste. I occasionally buy the real thing at a British import store here in Houston. I’ve also been experimenting with chocolate, & I like the Ritter bars.
Lisa,
Someone told me that US chocolate was gritty because there was something in it to stop it melting in your high summer temperatures. Keeping it in the fridge is much easier. I suspect that you’ll notice a difference in the chocolate at the British import store, so it won’t be worth buying it again.I must try Ritter bars.
There is a similar saga about Cadburys here: the manufacture of our chocolate blocks was shifted from Dunedin to Australia and the recipe was changed to include Palm Oil = huge customer revolt here! Even though Cadburys apparently changed the recipe “back” it was never the same. A NZ company, Whittakers, has become many people’s brand of choice now.
The Cadburys tv ads were quite memorable – I recall one from the ’60s with a schoolboy nobly cleaning the family’s shoes and being awarded “The Highest Order of Chocolate” đŸ™‚
Valerie,
I don’t remember that advert from the 60s, I wonder if it was just in NZ. I read recently that the NZ/Aussie Cadbury’s chocolates were going to be much smaller, whilst they kept the price the same. They must make huge profits as it is, it’s just greed, and they don’t seem to have any pride in the product anymore.
Ditto with Hershey’s chocolate, which doesn’t taste like chocolate at all. Milton S. Hershey would be horrified by the changes and cuts the company has made. I was going to suggest Ritter chocolate, too. I used to like Sky Bars, which must be similar to the Fry’s Five Centre bars that you and Jack mention, only they have only four centers. They’re still made in New England and I swear that I remember a short period when they made them in dark chocolate, the only chocolate I eat. But chocolate just doesn’t taste like chocolate anymore.
Joan,
They are selling Hershey bars here now but I’ve never tried it because I was warned that it’s horrible, but I didn’t realise that it had been good in the past. I’m definitely going to try Ritter chocolate. I saw Sky Bars in amongst a whole load of Cadbury images but I don’t remember them, I’m not sure if they were marketed here. Fry’s Cream is a creamy fondant wrapped in plain chocolate and it is the perfect balance of sweet and bitter – as far as I’m concerned.
I have just had a finger of fudge for the first time for several years. Not again tasted more nutty and just not nice. Real shame
Teri,
I used to love their fudge but haven’t had one for years, I won’t bother trying them again. I haven’t had any Cadbury’s chocolate for ages now as it just isn’t as it used to be.
I loved Frys Chocolate Cream.. Today I bought a couple and immediately noticed the size has shrunk. Oh well, not to worry, everything is shrinking nowadays except the prices.
What a treat this evening to enjoy this wonderful chocolate bar. NOT. The fondant cream was watery, and the chocolate. Omg. A couple of bites and I was left with a nasty aftertaste in my mouth. The rest of the bar went into the garbage.
What was once a delight is no more.
Enid,
I haven’t experienced watery fondant, but nothing tastes as it used to, obviously cheaper ingredients are substituted nowadays, but that applies to just about everything we buy, as well as the shrinkage!