I’m stone cold addicted to Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate.
Sweet enough, without being sweet. Bitter, but not TOO bitter. The edgy, tormented loner of the candy bar kingdom, you can tell it’s been treated rough in it’s life. Thoughtlessly cast aside by calloused trick-or-treaters unable to appreciate it’s uniqueness. It’s the Hershey’s equivalent of a goth chick.
So why are these wonderful things only available in bags of assorted miniatures? It sits, brooding in it’s tasteful black and gold foil while under-achieving brothers and sisters over compensate with baubles like peanuts and almonds.
Oh Inky, you have to try the dark chocolate oranges. (You know the ones that you slam on the table to break it into little slices.) That’s almost better than sex.
ALMOST!!!
When we were kids my dad would always take all of the Special Dark bars from our trick or treat bags because they were “bad for children”. Now that I have a son of my own, I’d like to continue the tradition but people just don’t seem to give out the Hershey’s minatures anymore (at least round these parts they don’t). This past year all he got was one lousy Krackle. Krackles suck!
I know I could just walk to the grocery store around the corner, which has an awesome selection of European chocolates, but it’s the priniciple of the thing. I could even buy my own bag of miniatures, but then I’d be stuck with all the other lousy Hershey flavors. Special Dark bars were supposed to be my reward for growing up, damn it!
Ooh! I love Dark Specials too. They are available in regular size bars, and in the giant-sized ones too (:::drool:::), or at least they are in my area, but they are hard to find. You’re right, there’s something unique about them. Dove Dark Chocolate is good, Godiva’s and Ghiradeli’s are too, but they’re no Dark Specials.
Special Dark went through some kind of recipe change a few years ago. The SD’s we had when I was a kid weren’t that good, a little chalky, but the new version is great. You don’t have to buy the miniatures to get them, they have full bags of SD nuggets, at least, some stores carry them. I’ve noticed they’re hard to find in grocery stores for some reason, you have to go to either candy or drug stores.
Man! Now I feel guilty for having fallen into the it’s-too-rich-for-my-tastes trap. Never before has a bite-sized candy been moody or dangerous. You’re a very convincing advocate. You’ve given ‘dark’ a whole new meaning for me…as far as candy goes. I mean, now I begin to wonder if I’m bad enough for dark chocolate. If this is the James Dean of chocolate…I don’t think I’m worthy.
(Hey Inky, I dig that sig. My personal favorite was, “Cute. But not too bright.”)
Yep, SD’s are available in regular size bars here, too. (San Antonio). Not everywhere, but usually in places with a large selection. Just one of those things that only the discerning tastes demand, not the top-seller.
Here’s a tip–get a bag of the semi-sweet chocolate chips and munch on that. To me, it’s pretty much the same.
Damn you Saucy Potato!! Damn you and your unambitious palate! It’s because of cullinary dullards like yourself that I have a miserable half-empty bag of minitures here, stripped of the six or seven Special Darks and filled with flaccid Mr Goodbars and obnoxious Krackles!!!
I too thought I was alone in loving SD candy bars. I have found the mega bars around here (Houston, TX), but have to restrain myself from getting them. If I buy one, I WILL eat it within the day. Isn’t it wonderful loving the SD bars? While everyone else is fighting over those little red bars that have weak chocolate and rice in them, you get the SD cast-asides.
Special Dark Syrup?! Wow, I’m not sure I’m ready for the hard stuff.
Do I have the moody intensity needed to fully appreciate Special Dark Syrup? I think I’d better listen to some Coletrain and read some Jack Kerauc before I dare try.
On one of my College Bowl trips to Texas, I discovered that absolutely everybody on my team (except me) hated Special Darks. So they’d buy the packs of miniatures and snatch all the Krackels and Milk Chocolates, but I got all the Special Darks. Enjoyable trip.
I keep a dish of candy on my desk at work. (With a nick like “AuntiePam”, you’d expect it, wouldn’t you?)
Costs about $10 a week to keep it filled up, and the most frequent nibblers have started reciprocating.
The most popular choice by far is the Hershey Miniatures, and the Special Darks go first. Next up are the mini Snickers, Reese’s, Rolos, and the new “bites” – Almond Joy, York Peppermint Patties, etc. – people love those.
But ya wanna know the best kept secret in all of Candyland? It’s Werther’s Chocolates. A thin layer of chocolate covering a toffee candy that crunches just right – not so crunchy as a Heath Bar (you’ll break your teeth if those aren’t absolutely fresh) – more like the fresh Butterfinger crunch. Awesome.
