When whispers of a new Twix flavor circulated on social media a few weeks ago, junk food fans reveled in the anticipation. Would this new flavor be a crowd-pleasing birthday cake, a seasonal pumpkin spice, or something completely unexpected, like purple ube with a mango twist? (Let the record show that was my idea first, Twix!) Would the long sought-after Sugar Cookie Twix finally hit shelves? Would we chocolate fiends soon be granted a Middle Twix?
Enter Salted Caramel Twix for the big reveal. Sea salt joins the beloved combination of caramel, shortbread, and milk chocolate in this new bar, packaged in a shiny teal wrapper.
With this news, the part of me that loves odd and novel flavors experienced the emotional equivalent of a sad trumpet sound effect, but the part of me that remains slightly obsessed with salted caramel was thrilled. I would rather enjoy a familiar flavor executed perfectly than novelty for novelty’s sake.
Although Salted Caramel Twix is also available in King Size, I opted for the standard size. The petite twin sticks look like the original Twix — although a little smaller — inside and out. I was expecting a visual hint of salt, either embedded in the caramel or sprinkled on top of the chocolate coating, but there was nary a grain in sight. Note that if you are vehemently anti-salted caramel, someone could use this Twix to play a trick on you.
With each bite of the Salted Caramel Twix, I experienced the same trajectory of flavor. For the first several chews, the bar tastes largely like an original Twix: creamy milk chocolate, sweet chewy caramel, and crunchy cookie. Then, a punchy salt flavor comes through and lasts for three or four seconds before the taste mellows back into original territory. The saltiness isn’t intense enough to produce a strong mingling of sweet and salty, but it was intense enough to make me incredibly thirsty after eating one stick.
Tasting one element at a time, I believe the salt is baked into the shortbread cookie, not the caramel. The separation of salt from caramel might contribute to the fleeting saltiness of the bar as a whole. When located in the least sweet element, the salt needs some help being introduced to the sweet.
The thought of salt being separated from caramel until reunited by someone’s mandibles is somewhat tragic. If the salt is not inside the caramel, is it truly salted caramel? Begin the philosophical discussion in the comments below.
Rating the Salted Caramel Twix is tough, because we all know that caramel, shortbread, and chocolate combine to make magic. Yet, the bar’s muted salty/sweet contrast underwhelms. It neither capitalizes on the power of a simple flavor nor deviates strongly enough from the original Twix to feel exciting. Salted caramel fans may enjoy this twist on the original, but it won’t make them forget about the countless other like-flavored products available to satisfy their sweet (and salty) tooth.
Purchased Price: 88 cents Size: 1.41 oz bar (40 g) Purchased at: Walmart Rating: 6 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
Takis Fuego has found its way onto wavy chips, frozen cheese rolls, popcorn, sunflower seeds, nuts, puffy cheese snacks, and of course, rolled tortilla chips. Now it’s on Pringles-like crisps. I look forward to Takis Fuego Rice Cakes or Takis Fuego Meat Sticks. Oh wait, I’m being told the meat sticks are already a thing. Well, how about Takis Fuego Breakfast Cereal? (Spotted by Brad at CVS.)
Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.
Hershey’s new Oat Made line is the company’s first venture into plant-based chocolate. Made with oat milk instead of dairy, Oat Made bars are vegan, non-GMO, and made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
Two varieties are available: Classic Dark and Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt.
How are they?
When I first heard about Hershey’s Oat Made line, I was fascinated by its credentials. As an aspiring candy historian, I want my finger on the pulse of everything new in the world of chocolate. Also, I enjoy experimenting with milk alternatives not out of personal dietary need, but simply curiosity and awareness of friends and family who do have these needs. The presence of oat milk – a favorite dairy alternative – in chocolate seemed too interesting to ignore.
First, the Classic Dark bar is a convincing duplicate of its dairy-infused cousin. The flavor perfectly balances bitter and sweet. Breaking the bar into squares yields a satisfying snap – often a sign of higher quantities of cocoa butter – but this firm bite easily transitions into a smooth texture without the chalkiness dark chocolate can sometimes have. The bar is definitely on par with comparable products from higher-priced brands like Lindt or Ghiradelli.
The Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt bar is meant to mimic milk chocolate, and while it doesn’t taste much like the classic Hershey’s milk chocolate, I mean this in the best possible way. The bar smells and tastes of cocoa powder, resulting in a richer and more authentic chocolate flavor without the mild tang characteristic of classic Hershey’s.
“Extra Creamy” is a bit of a misnomer, because as the bar melts, a gritty texture emerges. The bar contains a generous amount of almond pieces, which provide a hint of salt and a satisfying crunch that distracts from the grittiness.
Anything else you need to know?
Both bars are part of a limited test release from now through June 2022. They will be available in select stores across the United States. I haven’t seen them in the wild, but as of this writing you can order them from Target.com.
Conclusion:
Whether you are searching to satisfy a dietary need or just trying to expand your confectionary horizons, Hershey’s Oat Made chocolate bars are satisfying options with the potential for additional innovation. Especially for the price point, either variety’s rich flavor would contribute nicely to a s’more.
Purchased Price: $1.99 each Size: 1.55 oz (43 g) Purchased at: Target.com Rating: 8 out of 10 (Classic Dark), 7 out of 10 (Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt) Nutrition Facts:Classic Dark – 210 calories, 16 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein. Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt – 230 calories, 16 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.
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