Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Minty MallowsTrader Joe’s always has wonderful seasonal sweets, some return year after year; but a sharp eye yields new finds. This year’s newest addition is Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows.

The box says they’re Light and Fluffy Peppermint Marshmallows Drenched in Smooth, Dark Chocolate. They’re made in France and the box holds about 9 marshmallows (though the nutrition label says there are 10 in the package).

Which Chocolate Covered Peppermint Marshmallow will Win?

Last week I reviewed the new Peeps Chocolate Covered Peppermint Marshmallows and several people mentioned that I should try the new Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows. Believe me, I was right there with them. The first set of Peeps I bought, which was before Thanksgiving, were $1 each (1 ounce), so when I saw the price for the Trader Joe’s version was $2.99 (for 7 ounces), it made these a great value in comparison. I’ve since purchased additional Peeps at only 50 cents each, that’s still more expensive per ounce than Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows

Inside the trapezoidal box is a silver mylar pouch. The dark chocolate covered marshmallows are just tossed in there. So you can imagine that on their voyage from France they’ve gotten quite scuffed and tumbled. Some were cracked but all were intact and there was surprisingly little chocolate dust at the bottom of the bag.

Each piece is about 1.5 inches square (they’re really more rectangular, so maybe a smidge more than 1.5 on one side than the other) and about an inch high. They feel a bit heavier than I would have expected for a chocolate covered marshmallow.

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows

It’s not that the photo above is lacking detail for the marshmallow. They’re not light and foamy like Peeps. They’re dense and quite moist, more like a cross between aerated gelatin and a gummi bear.

The texture, though not as meringue-like as I’d expected is still quite smooth. It’s like memory foam latex, chewy and lightly minty.

The chocolate outside is smooth and maybe little chalky but has enough dark chocolate punch to stand up to the strong mint. At 55% cocoa solids (and no milkfat) its strongest flavor component is woodsy and though not as creamy as I would have hoped, it still has a very smooth melt that complements the marshmallow. The chocolate also adheres nicely to the marshmallow, so even though it cracks a bit when biting, it sticks to the marshmallow to prevent messes and deliver every possible morsel of chocolate with the marshmallow.

For the most part I found these odd. One is rather rib-stickingly satisfying, so a box of 9 or 10 of these goes a long way. I didn’t try melting them for S’mores or in Hot Chocolate. I don’t know if I’ll buy them again, but I found them far superior in ingredients, satisfaction and even presentation from the Just Born Peeps. I can see these being a fun product in the future with alternate versions with different flavored marshmallows (orange, strawberry, cinnamon, licorice). I might like to see them packaged in trays, in little fluted cups or something that keeps them from tumbling around, because I bet they’re stunning right off the confectionery line.

Related Candies

  1. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Mints
  2. Russell Stover Giant S’mores Bar & Mint Dream
  3. Trader Joe’s Gummy Tummies
  4. Trader Joe’s French Truffles
  5. Bubu Lubu
  6. Upscale Hollow Chocolate: Michel Cluizel & Hotel Chocolat
  7. Trader Joe’s Peppermint Marshmallows
  8. Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel Caramels


Name: Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows
    RATING:
  • SUPERB
  • YUMMY
  • TASTY
  • WORTH IT
  • TEMPTING
  • PLEASANT
  • BENIGN
  • UNAPPEALING
  • APPALLING
  • INEDIBLE
Brand: Trader Joe’s
Place Purchased: Trader Joe's (Silver Lake)
Price: $2.99
Size: 7 ounces
Calories per ounce: 120
Categories: Candy, Christmas, Trader Joe's, Chocolate, Marshmallow, Mints, 7-Worth It, France

POSTED BY Cybele AT 12:44 pm Tracker Pixel for Entry     All NaturalCandyChristmasTrader Joe'sChocolateMarshmallowMints7-Worth ItFrance

Comments
  1. I’ve put them into hot chocolate, and they really are good for that.  I also like that the mint flavor isn’t overwhelming; too much holiday candy really hits you with the peppermint.

    Comment by Stephanie on 12/08/10 at 10:39 am #
  2. I ate two on the way home from Trader Joe’s and really liked them.

    The next day, I intended to eat a couple more ... and to my surprise devoured the rest of the package. (When I reached in the package to find it empty, I couldn’t believe it.)

    Comment by Jim/The Velvet Blog on 12/08/10 at 10:48 am #
  3. It sounds to me that the marshmallow has the sort of density that you get when you melt your average Jet-Puffed marshmallow while making s’mores.

    Comment by Johnny Carruthers on 12/08/10 at 12:23 pm #
  4. AH! i was just at a trader joe’s while on vacation and did not see these! who knows the next time i’ll be at another trader joe’s?!

    but i DID get their “s’mashing s’mores”, which were quite possibly the greatest thing i’ve ever eaten. so at least i’ve got that going for me.

    Comment by Tampa Bay Food Monster on 12/08/10 at 12:56 pm #
  5. I was bummed that they were wheat-based! I bought them and then couldn’t eat them.

    Comment by viva_hater on 12/08/10 at 6:10 pm #
  6. These Minty Mallows were so fantastic! Marshmallows are just the way the French make them. On 12/8, I go to TJ’s to stock up on few boxes, but to my horror, am told that they are gone for the season! The warehouse is OUT!!! Obviously, they didn’t anticipate the popularity. I will need to wait till next winter. Very sad.

    Comment by FaithHopeLovePeace on 12/13/10 at 5:37 pm #
  7. I LOVE Minty Mallows!!  My new favorite thing! I opened my first box and they were gone in two days!
    I stopped by today to pick up another box but they are out of them at Trader Joes..soooo sad!  : (

    I did go by Rite Aid and just had to look for a dark chocolate covered marshmallow and I did find the Peeps..they are good but not as minty?  but they will have to do!  : )

    Until next year….

    Comment by gigi on 12/26/10 at 5:58 pm #
  8. I bought a box of these and they were devoured in one day by my family.
    I was in TJ’s today an they were up at the front by the cash for .99 cents!. Can’t beat that!

    Comment by Claudine on 12/26/11 at 7:34 pm #
  9. my mother in laws loved your candy and she wants to know if you can mail her your catolog and keep her on your your xmas list please. please let me know and i will give u her address and name. thanks! valerie wickwire

    Comment by valerie wickwire on 12/30/11 at 3:01 pm #
  10. We got these as a gift and really enjoyed them. It satisfies everything I want from a peppermint patty,  only with fluffy goodness added in.  We like the texture of the marshmallow and appreciate that they aren’t too sweet.  Can’t wait for them next year.

    Saw a recipe for homemade marshmallows once and thought a project like that was only for crazy people, until these got me thinking.

    Comment by spudchick on 1/04/12 at 4:08 pm #
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