"Bam Bam" Dark chocolate with crunchy peppermint

It's been a battle of wills today! Should I eat the delicious handmade cupcake and should I eat the delicious crème caramel with cream? Well, I failed the battle of the bulge big time today. I caved in and ate the lot I should be out running this evening instead of writing this post. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your outlook chocolate has the better of me. At the moment, passion for chocolate is overriding passion for running. Plus, it is Shrove Tuesday which means I'll have to eat the pancakes which I'm making later.


'Bam Bam'! What a strange name for a bar of chocolate but it can't be any different to the Whoopee bar I reviewed a few days ago. The word 'Bam' is used to describe the sound of a collision or impact like something you would see in comics. Apparently dynamite comes in small sticks according to the blurb on the back of the bar. It might help if I read the information first. This range of small bar was created following feedback from customers who wanted something to snack on between snacks according to co-founder, Simon Pattinson.

The Chocolate: This chocolate has 60% cocoa solids with peppermint oil added to provide the flavour. The sugar content is low. There is a strong fruity and tobacco aroma coming from the bar as you take off the wrapper. There is no hint of the peppermint within which sparkles when you break off a chunk. This is a robust, chunky piece of chocolate and as you bite on the chocolate the peppermint oil is released. For once I do not feel as though I'm eating chocolate toothpaste! The peppermint does not overpower the chocolate which has a fairly dry chalky texture.

I think Montezuma have found the right balance with this bar of chocolate and I'd be happy to buy this again. Overall I think a score of 7/10 is well deserved for both flavour and presentation and at £1.39 for a 45g bar of chocolate it is not too pricey. I'm not sure that it lives up to its name but it is enjoyable. 
Buy now! Just visit the Montezuma website, click here.

Green and Blacks Organic Dark Chocolate Mint 70%

This is the second bar from the Green & Black's range that I've reviewed for this site and I'm keeping an open mind on the outcome. If you missed the previous review the name Green & Black's was chosen to illustrate their blend of ethics and intense taste. Green represents their sustainable and organic principles which they employ whilst making their chocolate. Black represents the colour of their original Dark 70% chocolate bar and the intense taste of all their chocolate.


The Packaging: As you would expect the packaging is stylish and exudes quality. Their website provides little information on packaging however they state that the company tries to minimize the amount of packaging it uses. They are aiming to reduce the amount of packaging but at the same time they want to ensure your chocolate bar is protected and reaches you the consumer in perfect condition. Due to the way this particular chocolate bar has been made a simple card strengthener has been used. Recycled paper wrappers and boards are used and vegetable based inks provide the colour .

The Chocolate: This is an organic dark chocolate with a 70% cocoa content. The bar is divided up into 15 small capsule like sections that ensure the peppermint fondant remains inside until the right moment.

The chocolate has a good cocoa smell with a whiff of peppermint fondant in the background. As the chocolate melts the fondant seeps through and you are met with a mild minty fresh taste which is all a bit odd to me. Unfortunately, the  bar reminds me of After Eight Mints that my grandparents used to put out at Christmas. In those days I used to be an expert at removing the mints without the grown ups noticing. I'm sure many of you remember doing exactly the same thing. Back then I could eat 100's of them but my taste buds have moved on and I'm not so keen on that mint flavour. Personally this is a waste of good chocolate overpowered by mint but I'm sure it has a following somewhere.

Overall I give this bar 6/10 for presentation, price and packaging. I purchased this bar from the Adnams Cellar & Kitchen, Southwold. At £2.09 for a 100g bar this is good value for money as long as you like peppermint fondant!