Monday, February 11, 2013

Hershey’s Kisses with Macadamia Nuts

Hershey's Kisses Macadamia NutsI went to Hawaii. I brought back some candy and chocolate while I was there.Yes, they grow chocolate in Hawaii, even a little on the garden isle of Kauai. But today I’ll review something that’s a little more mainstream, Hershey’s Kisses with Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts.

The special Hershey’s Kisses are studded with Mauna Loa macadamia nuts. They’re sold only in Hawaii (and a few other spots, I believe I saw them at Hershey’s Chocolate World) alongside other “local flavor” items like Coconut M&Ms.

The bags are small, only 8 ounces, and Island Expensive as they’re imported. The bag was $4.49 at the grocery store called Big Save. They also sold them at Hilo Hattie.

Hershey's Kisses Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are indigenous to Australia, but like most crops grown in the Hawaiian Islands, they were brought by settlers and established on plantations. Mauna Loa, now owned by Hershey’s, did much to create the current varieties of macadamias grown in Hawaii and is based on the big island of Hawaii in Hilo. Hawaii harvests about 50-55 million pounds of macadamias a year, making it second only to the entire country of Australia as a top nut producer.

Macadamia nuts have the most monounsaturated fats of all nuts and are low in protein. They’re also extremely high in calories, coming in at 210-215 calories per ounce. (Almonds are about 165 calories per ounce and walnuts are about 185 calories per ounce, for comparison.) Though they were once very expensive, macadamia nuts are more widely grown and more affordable. They’ve found their way into American diets as a nut inclusion for baked goods, a cooking oil and in island inspired cuisine (like macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi).

Hershey's Kisses Macadamia Nuts

They’re a molded Kiss, like the Almond Kisses. The chocolate is smooth and though the package said that January 2013 was their best buy date, they were in great shape. Smooth, glossy and creamy. There were a lot of macadamia pieces in most. In some it seemed like the center was all nuts and others seemed to only have a few chips.

On the whole, macadamias aren’t my favorite nut. They’re a bit on the coconut side and don’t fill me up in the same way, could be that the protein is missing or that they veer a little too close to Brazil Nut flavor territory. I liked their crispness and fatty chew, and I have to say that they go really well with Hershey’s chocolate. Sometimes I really love the stuff, I know it’s not good chocolate, it’s just candy, but I enjoy it. So I no trouble eating much of this bag by myself.

When it comes to a little taste of the tropics... the macadamia inclusions really do it for me. Of course the jet lag has worn off and I miss the warm ocean breeze instead of this walking the dog thing at sunrise in 48 degree weather ... so it could just be the vacation glow.

Related Candies

  1. Hershey’s Kisses Air Delight
  2. Hawaiian Host MacNut Crunch
  3. Hawaiian Host Dark Chocolate Macadamias
  4. Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses
  5. Malie Kai: Waialua Estate Chocolate
  6. Kisses Coconut Creme
  7. Big Island Chocolates
  8. Mauna Loa Macadamia Kona Coffee Bar


Name: Kisses with Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts
    RATING:
  • SUPERB
  • YUMMY
  • TASTY
  • WORTH IT
  • TEMPTING
  • PLEASANT
  • BENIGN
  • UNAPPEALING
  • APPALLING
  • INEDIBLE
Brand: Hershey’s
Place Purchased: Big Save (Kauai, Hawaii)
Price: $4.49
Size: 8 ounces
Calories per ounce: 156
Categories: Candy, Hershey's, Chocolate, Kosher, Nuts, 8-Tasty, United States

POSTED BY Cybele AT 2:22 pm Tracker Pixel for Entry     CandyReviewHershey'sChocolateKosherNutsUnited States

Comments
  1. Hershey has given these wider distribution once or twice.  I remember getting a few bags when they were available here in Louisville.

    Comment by Johnny Carruthers on 2/12/13 at 11:44 am #
  2. I love the combination of the nuts and chockolate!

    Comment by macadamia nuts on 6/17/13 at 2:38 am #
  3. I bought a pack today and was very unhappy because most of the chocolate kisses hardly had any macadamia nut. Some had no nuts at all. Chocolate is much creamier though. Highway robbery because no macadamia nuts.. This is why I bought it in the first place.

    Comment by Gisela Baron on 3/12/15 at 5:11 am #
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