The dark trend continues. If it can be made dark, it will be made dark. So it is written in the marketing analysis ... so it is done.
Hershey’s brought out the Kissables with a huge marketing blitz in 2005. They’re tasty little hybrids of Hershey’s Kisses and M&Ms. There’s no way they’re ever going to shove a peanut in the center there, but they can easily make them with Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate so they have. For a while they were showing off Hershey’s Special Dark Kissables in large bags, they’ve finally made it to the single serve bags, so I thought it was time to give them a try.
The wrapper is a pleasing brick-maroon color that evokes the feel of rich chocolate. The little candies come in four colors: lavender, maroon, dark purple and brown. Not quite as sassy feeling as the Kissables ... not even as many colors. They feel morose, a little depressed.
They have the nice light crunch of the Kissables and a good creamy dark chocolate center. They’re a little chalky tasting, only a slight bitter hint towards the end, but generally very sweet.
I decided I was obligated to compare them to the Dark Chocolate M&Ms.
M&Ms come in more colors but the dark chocolate inside is just as sweet, but a little mellower overall. The Special Dark Kissables seem a bit crunchier, a bit more chocolatey. Neither wows me with their complex chocolate taste. They remind me of Sno-Caps, but with less mess and more color (not that it would matter in a dark theater).
Both dark chocolates contain milkfat and lactose, so are not appropriate for those who shun dairy. The M&Ms give you 1.69 ounces per package, Kissables only 1.5. The Kissables bag is plasticized, the M&Ms are only a glossy paper.
After sitting here with both in front of me, I found myself reaching for the Kissables more often. They just felt creamier, less chalky and a little richer, so they get one point higher than the Dark Chocolate M&Ms did.
I agree about the colors. They’re terrible, especially the lavendar. I realize it doesn’t change the taste, but it somehow makes them a bit unappealing.
Hi—-:
I was wondering if you know of any candy blogs out there for vegetarians? let me know. i took a look at your blogroll, and didn’t noitce any.
I’ve had a bag of these (single serving)sitting in my candy box for weeks, but couldn’t get inspired enought to write anything, other than my typical rant about why they get to call chocolate with milk in it “dark chocolate.”
The colors remind me of those chocolate “pebbles”.
They are oddly matte colored. I can’t imagine little kids taking to these so well.
Joanna, my kids don’t care about the color of the candy, they just care about the taste! Or were you saying they wouldn’t take to the dark chocolate? My kids also claim that they don’t like dark chocolate, but they’ll eat it in most settings except as a big chunk of “straight” chocolate.
I got some special dark kissables on clearance after some holidays, and I remember not completely liking them. I can’t remember why, though. (I also had standard kissables at the time, so i would mix them together to improve the overall effect.)
Finally you review the dark kissables which in my opinion is the best ‘grocery store’ cheap candy out there—I eat them constantly and will never go back to M&M’s. I love the colors personally as they are different. I got a bunch of the family serve bags after valentines day for $1.50 each (75% off) and they weren’t even valentines day packed (and good till July) but apparently they do appear a bit “valentine-y”. I love them love them love them….
Aw, I love the colors! Not everyone needs primary colors to keep them awake.
I think the point is that dark chocolate is supposed to be for a more mature consumer, so that’s where the more mellow tones came from. I think they’re lovely.
The dark kissables are good for baking too! They hold their shape, don’t melt and are the perfect size for a “candy cookie”.
I love the dark Kissables. I like to mix them with some nuts and raisins for my own trail mix. Yum!
Missy - there are a few vegetarian blogs that review candy from time to time (vegancore.blogspot.com/) but I don’t know of any exclusively devoted to vegetarian candies. I try to tag or note any candies that are not suitable for vegetarians as I review them.
Joanna, Tristyn & Lesley - yeah, I didn’t think they were trying to appeal to kids. I don’t mind muted colors, but these seemed a bit dirty or muddly looking to me instead of rich, which is what I think they were going for. However, I was a huge purple fan as a kid, so maybe these would have become my favorite.
Rachel - I hadn’t thought about the baking aspect. It would be nice to have the chip shape with the crunchy shell. Though maybe they’d look a little burnt in baked goods.
Nicole - I bet they’d be good with almonds and cashews ... maybe some big flakes of coconut too.
Does anyone know where I might buy the Hershey’s Kissables Special Dark? I am getting married in a few weeks and thought they would be the perfect color and product for my favors. I cannot seem to locate them in any stores or online, only the milk chocolate which are much to bright and obnoxious colors. Thanks!
I’ve seen them at Target.
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