# Of the Big Four American chocolate candy companies, which is your favorite? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2011, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523 "2011-10-23T10:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/21 "2011-10-23T17:09:31Z")
Mars uses the best quality chocolate in their bars. Hershey is good, despite the sour milk overtones of their chocolate…I love Mounds, Almond Joy, and Heath. Nestlé is a disgrace–what used to be a respectable Swiss chocolate maker now peddling that awful vegetable oil-based fake chocolate in their bars. Shout out to the lesser known Annabelle, still not gobbled up by one of the big corporations. They make three of my favorite bars: Look, Big Hunk, and Uno. (They’re also the maker of Rocky Road and Abba Zaba.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/22 "2011-10-23T17:18:32Z")
Mars for Milky Way Midnight and Snickers with Almonds. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/23 "2011-10-23T18:08:09Z")
I would just like to say that Cadbury chocolate made by Hershey is NOT Cadbury chocolate and is in fact a sin against humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/24 "2011-10-23T18:26:06Z")
Ha HA - due to the OP’s errors, I was able to vote! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/25 "2011-10-23T18:44:05Z")
I have mentioned this before, but a couple years ago we sent a small package of goodies to an elderly woman in Berlin. She got the package and said “I really liked those W and W’s.” It took us a minute to figure out she was looking at the M and M’s a bit differently than we looked at them. I used to like Hershey’s chocolate. Then I lived in Germany and traveled through Europe for many years. Needless to say, after a decade of German and Swiss chocolates, Hershey’s didn’t really cut it for me when I returned to the States. One last bit of trivia - when working at a boarding school in Switzerland, the kids would always congregate by Burger King in the city center. I was amazed to find out it was “illegal” to sell chocolate shakes there! They had Vanilla, Strawberry and Mocca. When I asked a Swiss teacher, he told me that Switzerland had stringent laws as to what can be considered “chocolate” and that Burger King’s so-called chocolate shakes didn’t come close to fitting those guidelines. End of chocolate stories. I voted for Mar’s - love those Snickers and W and W’s. Plus, they manufacture W and W’s here in Las Vegas, so be sure to visit their little museum on The Strip and get them in wild colors not normally seen. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/26 "2011-10-23T18:50:53Z")
> [@Sea\_Creature\_Turner](#): > > Oh, yeah. And forget Dove as a company. In fact, fuck them!😃 No! Dove is the best sugar-free chocolate made! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/27 "2011-10-23T18:52:30Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > I would just like to say that Cadbury chocolate made by Hershey is NOT Cadbury chocolate and is in fact a sin against humanity. Indeed. It is possible to get imported Cadbury at World Market and places like that, and it is completely different. ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Creature\_Turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Sea\_Creature\_Turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Creature_Turner)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/28 "2011-10-23T19:05:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Ha HA - due to the OP’s errors, I was able to vote! How _dare_ you, sir or madame, focus upon my shortcomings! ::monocle drops from eye:: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/29 "2011-10-23T19:06:35Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > \ > One last bit of trivia - when working at a boarding school in Switzerland, the kids would always congregate by Burger King in the city center. I was amazed to find out it was “illegal” to sell chocolate shakes there! They had Vanilla, Strawberry and Mocca. When I asked a Swiss teacher, he told me that Switzerland had stringent laws as to what can be considered “chocolate” and that Burger King’s so-called chocolate shakes didn’t come close to fitting those guidelines.\ Those are laws I can get behind - no “chocolate,” no “chocolate-flavoured,” no “chocolate-esque.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/30 "2011-10-23T19:07:56Z")
> [@Sea\_Creature\_Turner](#): > > How _dare_ you, sir or madame, focus upon my shortcomings! ::monocle drops from eye:: Hey, I refrained from saying what I think about US American chocolate! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/31 "2011-10-23T21:46:05Z")
Why has nobody mentioned [Ghirardelli](http://www.ghirardelli.com/) yet? If you’ve never tried it you don’t know what you’re missing. Go out and get some. Right now! (I’ll wait.) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/32 "2011-10-23T22:16:35Z")
I usually buy Butterfinger or Baby Ruth bars. Both made by Nestle. I use Toll House chocolate chips for my cookies. Easy poll choice for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/33 "2011-10-23T22:55:39Z")
Most of the great candy bars seem to be made by Mars-- Snickers, Milky Way, Three Musketeers, etc. Nestle has Kit-Kat, which is to their credit, but it’s about balanced out by Twix in the crunchy candy bar category. Plus, of course, M&Ms. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/34 "2011-10-23T23:58:50Z")
Mars is my favorite, too. Hershey’s has two big things in their favor, though: the aforementioned peanut butter cups (which are freakin’ amazing), and Symphony bars with toffee chips, which are my favorite way to eat milk chocolate. That said, Ghirardelli is really good, too. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/35 "2011-10-24T00:46:43Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > The Mars Confectionery was founded in America, and remains American; perhaps you’re thinking of their Mars Bar, which indeed was introduced first in England? Well I’ll be damned. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/36 "2011-10-24T03:47:52Z")
Hershey also bought Scharffenberger, who still makes good dark chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/37 "2011-10-24T03:54:33Z")
The OP should have included Russell Stover, which is the third largest chocolate company in America. In addition to their name brand goods they also make Whitmans and Pangburns. Plus they invented the Eskimo Pie. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/38 "2011-10-24T03:58:55Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > Hershey’s tastes rancid to me. There is a reason for that. Hershey’s (at least the milk chocolate products) has soured milk in it. I never really noticed the flavor until a few months ago when I had a Hershey’s and said “hey, this has a slight bile, vomit-like flavor to it.” So I googled those search terms. Turns out, lots of people taste the vomit-undertones in Hershey’s, and it wasn’t an off-batch or just me, just the first time I noticed it. I don’t mind it, but there is that acidity and rancidness to a Hershey’s bar, and the soured milk is the reason. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/39 "2011-10-24T04:06:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There is a reason for that. Hershey’s (at least the milk chocolate products) has soured milk in it. I never really noticed the flavor until a few months ago when I had a Hershey’s and said “hey, this has a slight bile, vomit-like flavor to it.” So I googled those search terms. Turns out, lots of people taste the vomit-undertones in Hershey’s, and it wasn’t an off-batch or just me, just the first time I noticed it. I don’t mind it, but there is that acidity and rancidness to a Hershey’s bar, and the soured milk is the reason. That’s exactly it! That’s what I meant by ‘balloon rubber’. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523/40 "2011-10-24T05:16:06Z")
Nestlé, because of their chocolate turtles. My favorite candy bar is probably Toblerone – which has been made by Kraft for some time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-the-big-four-american-chocolate-candy-companies-which-is-your-favorite/600523.md?page=3)