I think one of the best comfort confections out there has to be a fresh Pecan Turtle, especially if it’s made with dark chocolate. But when I saw this box of Demet’s Hazelnut Turtles at the 99 Cent Store on Friday I was willing to entertain the notion that hazelnuts would be equally delicious.
I have to say, I’m surprised that I haven’t seen hazelnut turtles before. I’m even more surprised to see them from DeMets, especially since their website makes no mention of their existence at all. The other weird thing about the package is that it doesn’t say “made with Nestle chocolate” on the front. Not that this is a bad thing, I don’t really care much for the chocolate on DeMet’s turtles, so the lack of it brought the possibility that it was better.
The box is huge but clearly says that there are 6 pieces and they weigh 3.5 ounces. Since I purchased them at the 99 Cent Only Store they were only a buck, which I think is a great deal for a real hazelnut and real chocolate confection. The box was shrink-wrapped, so they were definitely fresh though I couldn’t find a freshness date on them. Each little turtle is about 1.5” inches around but sits in a larger slot in the box. They’re just plain over-packaged.
They smell sweet and a little like caramel and fresh oatmeal. Biting into them it was clear that these were mostly caramels and not that studded with nuts at all. The caramel had a nice chew, a good stringy pull and light salty note. The hazelnuts are chopped pretty small but still have a good crunch and grassy/roasted flavor. The chocolate is fair; it’s very sweet and has a strong dairy flavor but not much cocoa really.
I would have loved a good quality, hazelnut rich chew here, but I shouldn’t have expected so much for a buck. Still, it’s better than many candy bars and hazelnuts are pretty hard to find in mainstream confections.
Related Candies
- DeMet’s Turtles: Pecan & Cashew
- Fannie May Pixie
- Walkers Nonsuch Roasted Hazelnut Toffee
- Robitaille’s Presidential Inaugural Mints & Turtles
- Storck Toffifay
Hello, I am from Japan.
I thought the turtle was like Sam the Olympic Eagle, the mascot of 1984 Olympics.
Those chocolates look gorgeous.
I love a hazelnut flavoured chocolate, but I am sorry that such a chocolate is hardly found in my neighbourhood.
I once lived in Seoul Korea for more than one year wnere I was very happy to enjoy wafer shells filled with soft hazelnut flavoured chocolate by Crown.
I think they are available,still.
Seeing your great review, I wanted to enjoy
the Korean wafer chocolates,again.
Lindt Hazelnut Bars—the big ones, with whole hazelnuts. Perfect.
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