I’ll go for them too. They’re owned by the Swiss Lindt & Sprüngli, though, who also make good stuff. They taste a little different and sometimes it’s an acquired taste - I think they use a different process. I would also select them for repping home - I used to live by their factory. Chocolate production sadly does not smell good, however. They also haven’t been based out of Ghirardelli Square or even SF for decades.
ETA: Off the list, probably Mars, because they make Twix, right? Although I’ll dock them a few points for Three Musketeers, which is like a crappier version of Milky Way.
oooh, I forgot about the Toblerone. I had my first one last year and damn, that’s good.
I think I may have sub-consciously blocked it out so I wouldn’t gain 70 pounds.
Central Pennsylvania girl here, grew up 12 miles away from Hershey, old enough to have been on an actual factory tour as a youngling.
Other companies’ milk chocolate just ain’t right. I like it OK if it’s adulterated, e.g. M&Ms, Snickers bars, Nestle Crunch bars.
Now, Hershey’s excuse for dark chocolate is an abomination and is best used for, I dunno, building brick walls (the brick part, not the mortar). Though they bought Scharffen Berger (which you can now purchase at Chocolate World) and haven’t ruined that yet.
I also draw a distinction between Chocolate and Chocolate Candy.
For Chocolate Candy, I like Burdick’s Chocolate up here in the Northeast. It’s not big, but that’s probably why they are so good.
I also like Garrison Chocolates in Providence RI. Hubby bought me a chocolate bar from there with fruit and nuts in it that was sooo good. I want more. Again, not big at all.