Taste Testings: Consumer Product Reviews

Hershey Canada Inc.’s Hershey’s Drops are bite-size versions of two of the company’s most popular candy bars, Hershey’s Creamy Milk Chocolate and Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Crème. The chocolate drops have no candy shell, just smooth chocolate, and are made from recipes developed specifically for the Canadian market. Both varieties are sold in resealable 200-g pouches, retailing for a suggested price of $4.19. The Cookies ‘n’ Crème variety will also be available in 120-g bags, with a suggested retail price of $2.99.

Male, 40-something, sales director
Cookies ‘n’ Crème. “The form factor of the ‘drops’ are quite appealing. Plump little disks make you feel you are eating more than you actually are. There is a shiny confectioners glaze that holds it all together, which is a bit off-putting for a chocolate snack, but it quickly dissolves. The crunchy cookie bits in the white chocolate are nice and not overbearing. It is however, very sweet and I could not imagine eating more than a handful in one go. All in all it’s a nice combination of sweetness and crunch and these would be great to lock away at your desk. You could have two or three and it would nicely satisfy any sweet cravings you might have. They should consider individually wrapping these like a Hershey’s Kiss.”

Female, 30-something, computer specialist
Cookies ‘n’ Crème. “I loved these – the size of each drop, the texture, the creamy smooth white chocolate, the cookie bits. A few drops of chocolate at a time are really all you need as they’re actually pretty filling. The package is easy to open and reseal, and is just the right size for sharing or saving to eat later. I’m definitely going to look for these when I’m craving a chocolate treat.”

Male, 31, tradeshow organizer
Creamy Milk Chocolate. “I’m not sure what there is to say. It’s Hershey’s chocolate in a new shape. Any way you slice it, the key factor is Hershey’s chocolate – and man, oh man, is it delicious. My only negative, is that the drops come in a new stand-up re-closable flexible pouch, but honestly, what’s the point? You’re going to eat them all in one sitting anyways. They’re just that good.”

Female, 30-something, teacher
Cookies ‘n’ Crème. “Not bad. I’m not a fan of white chocolate, but these were tasty. It didn’t taste as if they skimped at all with these either. And I do like the cookie bits mixed in – they add a great crunchy texture.”

Female, 48, legal assistant
Cookies ‘n’ Crème. “The newly designed shape of Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Crème chocolate is simply decadent. I said I was just going to eat two but it’s so good I had to go back to the bag four more times. Regardless, it made me very happy.”

Male, 4
Cookies ‘n’ Crème. “These smell like milk chocolate (currently his favourite drink).”

Male, 40-something, editor
Creamy Milk Chocolate. “Not generally a big fan of milk chocolate, but Hershey’s drops have a compelling little dark note when they melt in your mouth. The non-candy shell coating keeps them neat from the heat during handling but gives way quickly in your mouth, dispersing the drop’s creamy chocolate goodness. It takes about 15 of them to tally 220 calories, which is about the same as a 43-g Hershey bar. The trick is to stop popping them past that point. Finish the contents of the convenient re-sealable package in an afternoon and you’ve polished off the equivalent of four and a half Hershey bars. Bottom line, being Dropped is better than Kisses.”

Male, 48, sales manager
Creamy Milk Chocolate. “I don’t often buy chocolate bars, but if I do I like them without candy or nuts. These are perfect. Love the smooth flavour and bite. The re-closable package is a good idea too, since they’re too sweet to eat more than a couple at a time. That’s a pretty steep price to pay though.”

Female, 30-something, teacher
Creamy Milk Chocolate “First off, I opened the package and the smell was intoxicating. I think just smelling these sent my endorphins running. Even my son, who’s four, thought it ‘smelled really good.’ My first thought was that without the candy coating these would melt in your hands and be really messy. But they’re not. They’ve got a rubbery texture that just makes you want to pop one in your mouth. And the taste is as good as the scent. Rich, real milky chocolate yumminess. It’s as if they spared no expense. I’d say they’re better than some really expensive chocolate truffles I’ve had. I’d buy these.”

Male, 4
Creamy Milk Chocolate. “Mmmm these are good. These are my favourite. This is my best treat.”

Male, 20-something, student
Cookies ‘n’ Crème. “#@*&!! these are good. I ate the whole bag myself. Can you buy them at the movies?”