Sugar, Spice, Everything Nice With Hershey’s Californian Almond

Always find yourself digging for desserts post-heavy meals? Looking to ‘spice’ up those healthy fats? This review may interest you. After it’s chocolate-coated berries, Hershey’s brought chocolate-coated nuts. In this Hershey’s Exotic Dark Californian Almond review, we discuss the flavors, the texture, it’s price, and everything you’d need to know.

Add to cart or stick to mum’s honey-soaked almonds?

Quick details about this product are explained in the table below.

What were we looking for in Hershey Exotic Dark Californian Almond?

The flavor pairings, how in sync they were, the freshness of nuts, their crunch, the overall texture and quality were our parameters.

1. Taste

Chocolate and chilli, as we know, is a combination of two contrasting flavours which make for a delectable sensory treat. Guava is a tropical fruit typically relished with chilli or kala namak in India. When put together, do the two work well? What about freshness? Sweet and spicy, are they balanced? 

How has the guava flavor been added?

2. Texture

Is the almond to chocolate coating proportionate? Or is it too much of one ingredient? Do the almonds retain a crunchy bite or a soft one? What about chocolate? Is it grainy or smooth?

3. Other Parameters 

The shelf life, ingredients, price, and packaging were considered.

Price + Packaging

A 30-gram pack is priced at Rs 60/- This is packed in a brown pouch and has a one year shelf life. There are 10 coated almonds in 1 pack.

Main Ingredients 

Sugar, Roasted almonds (26%), Cocoa solids (20%), Cocoa butter, Milk solids, Edible common salt, Stabilisers (414, 415, 1400), Anticaking agent 551, Red chili (0.3%), Liquid glucose, Emulsifier (322 (i)), Flavors (nature identical and artificial flavoring substance (vanilla)), Guava fruit powder (0.15%), Acidity regulator (330, cumin, synthetic food color (102,122,133) and glazing agent (904).

Aroma + Appearance 

These were almost identical looking, in terms of shape and size. The chocolate coated almonds had a deep brown, glossy appearance. There was a sweet, cocoa aroma observed.

Taste + Texture

Roasted almonds have been used, we could tell by the crunch and the toasty brown color. The chocolate coating is smooth, and the ratio of the two components is balanced.

The flavor profiles of guava, chocolate and chilli worked well together. The sweetness, spiciness, and the fruity flavor of guava pair quite well. They tasted fresh and there was no stale, peculiar aftertaste which can be the case with most nut-based snacks.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Hershey Exotic Dark Californian almonds.

Make eating almonds a little more exciting and relishing chocolate healthier. How? With Hershey’s Californian Almond that combines the best of both worlds. The flavors and textures are truly something unique which you must not miss out on.

What’s your preferred ‘bizarre’ combination?