The Peter Paul Mounds bar is a classic. It’s a simple moist coconut center covered in dark chocolate. The bar was introduced in 1920 by Peter Paul in New Haven, Connecticut and quickly became one of their best sellers. Though Peter Paul made other bars over the years, the only two that remain are Mounds and the sister milk chocolate and nut bar, Almond Joy. In 1978 Peter Paul merged with Cadbury and then in 1988 Cadbury sold it off to Hershey’s, who continues the production today keeping the Peter Paul name on the product.
The candy is rather like a long version of a chocolate you’d find in a mixed box instead of a candy bar. The format of two pieces in a single package goes back to the 40s and remains today even though the wrappers have changed over the years. It’s one of the few bars that still has the little paperboard tray, and I must say that I appreciate it when it comes to getting the candy out and the fact that mine nearly always look pristine.
The dark chocolate coating is simple, with some slight ripples on the top. The pieces are rounded and have a great feel to them - easy to get out of the package, easy to bite and with two pieces it’s easy to share.
The dark chocolate can’t contain the coconut aroma. It’s a fresh and clean smell. The bite of the chocolate is good, it’s thick enough to hold the coconut and there are never any little leaky spots. But it doesn’t flake off or make a mess. The coconut is soft and chewy, moist and rather sweet at first. The dark chocolate keeps that sweetness from feeling too sticky and adds a woodsy and dark cherry note to the whole thing. The coconut has a long chew and usually tastes very fresh, though often not much more than that (no grassy fresh notes).
It’s a great combination and it endures because of its simplicity as far as I’m concerned. It’s one of the few candy bars that I still pick up on top of all the other candy eating that I do. I wish the ingredients were a little “purer” as there are things like hydrolyzed milk protein and PGPR in there that I can’t recall eating as a child.
And of course no discussion of the Mounds bar would be complete without a mention (and inclusion) of the classic jingle “Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut, Sometimes You Don’t.”
... my favorite, when I was younger. “sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you feel like having your bar of shelf-stable, compressed tropical fruit without the token addition of healthy polyunsaturates”.
...and still absolutely worth it. If only they would do an ice-cream version, like the Brits do with Bounty.
Dark Bounty has two bars, and it looks like it is the same snack / sweet as Mounds is. But never have I seen a Mounds bar in any shops where sweets are sold in my area.
You generally get things in other names or brands, but it is still just the same product.
OMG, I remember a few years ago either Mounds or Almond Joy had a pina coloda version out. That candy was amazing!!! I still look for it every summer just in case they decide to take pity on me and re-issue it.
we were told at the grocery store on May 31 that mounds was a seasonal product
Comment by
Marganne Lammar on 5/31/16 at 7:31 pm #
It seems lately that I cannot find Mounds bars anywhere at least not down here in South Texas and I was wondering if it had been discontinued or something heinous like that. Just thought I’d inquire.
Now to your Mounds Blog… as you were describing the opening of the package and sliding it out and taking your bod and how it tasted it all in great detail I swear it was making my mouth water! To use the vernacular of my cool former hippie Aunt, your description was the most bitchinest, outtasite gig man!
Thanks for posting that was most righteous!
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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I agree. It’s a really good candy bar. I didn’t use to like coconut, and this is a part of why I changed my mind.
... my favorite, when I was younger. “sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you feel like having your bar of shelf-stable, compressed tropical fruit without the token addition of healthy polyunsaturates”.
...and still absolutely worth it. If only they would do an ice-cream version, like the Brits do with Bounty.
Dark Bounty has two bars, and it looks like it is the same snack / sweet as Mounds is. But never have I seen a Mounds bar in any shops where sweets are sold in my area.
You generally get things in other names or brands, but it is still just the same product.
Your blog is sweet!
OMG, I remember a few years ago either Mounds or Almond Joy had a pina coloda version out. That candy was amazing!!! I still look for it every summer just in case they decide to take pity on me and re-issue it.
I love chocolate! And, I loved reading your blog!!
Best, Bruce Mackh
I am a big fan of Mounds, and I must say the Mounds dark is really good.
I read your blog while searching for Mound’s Island Orange. Would you have any leads as to where one could purchase this candy bar?
Al
i would like to see more of this ice cream bar,s in more store around the Seymour ind and North Vernon ind at all the wal-mart,s and other one,s two
Why does your candy wrappers smell like chemicals?
Dark Bounty was what came to my mind as well. I’ve never seen this bar in Scotland, though.
we were told at the grocery store on May 31 that mounds was a seasonal product
It seems lately that I cannot find Mounds bars anywhere at least not down here in South Texas and I was wondering if it had been discontinued or something heinous like that. Just thought I’d inquire.
Now to your Mounds Blog… as you were describing the opening of the package and sliding it out and taking your bod and how it tasted it all in great detail I swear it was making my mouth water! To use the vernacular of my cool former hippie Aunt, your description was the most bitchinest, outtasite gig man!
Thanks for posting that was most righteous!
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