Holland & Barret mincemeat Flapjack

Wow, day fifteen already. I can’t quite believe it if I’m honest, only ten days left now until the big nights finally upon us. All this build up and excitement leading to a single day. Problem is once you pass that day all you have left are the remnants. Quite literally on Boxing Day, the day we now observe basically for the purposes of eating leftovers and not feeling lazy. At one time Boxing day was a time to leave a festive tip for your post or milk man. Now who even has a milkman? And the postman’s always late anyway.

Still another day brings another festive item in line with my advent challenge. I’m doing well so far and despite a rather hectic schedule (that doesn’t mean I have a social life, believe me) I have posted each and every day. Today of course is no different and I have two traditional treats for you today, well not amazingly traditional. Not at all really apart from the fact that contain festive iconology (fancy word right?), really I just like the phrase traditional treats.

Why would he need a wand, he has teeth

First up we have something that doesn’t exactly pop into one’s mind when I think yuletide and that’s a jelly lolly pop. These things are great for seasonal holidays however as you can pretty much put any form of icing on top and deem it appropriate. This time in light of the holiday they have chosen a stocking and Polar bear motif. Polar bear seems to be an odd choice, odder still is he seems to have a fairy wand. Truly this embodies the spirit of the season perfectly, No I’m not buying it either.

It has a nice solid jelly texture to it with a nice dusting of sugar; the icing is rock solid royal icing and definitely has teeth shattering potential. The jelly tastes really nice actually, which is a nice change from the usual quality of the bargain jelly pops you get near the counters. Even more surprising is when you consider there is no sign of a company name on the product. It has a nice sweet strawberry taste to it that tastes rather fruity. The icing of course just tastes of sugar but really its only purpose is to differentiate the product from the Easter version that comes out next week. Possibly a Triceratops with some kind of diving rod, if this one’s decoration is anything to go by.

Doesn't look it but it is nice

 Next up we have a festive flapjack from Holland and Barret. Again flapjack isn’t really what I picture this time of year. But like the jelly pop you can pretty much add anything to a flapjack to make it current.  Quite a good unintentional pun was made there when you consider this bar has currents in it. Basically it is a normal oaty flapjack with some mincemeat added for Xmas measures.
That isn’t to say it’s not nice, it is and indeed since finding these I’ve taken advantage of the stores two for one mix and match policy while these are around. The flapjack has a soft and crumbly texture to it. Maybe a bit too sticky but that’s thanks to the syrup. Which is needed as it makes it taste beautiful, honestly these melt in your mouth first with the taste of a mince pie and then with a syrupy aftertaste. There is a nice dusting of icing sugar on top too, invoking a sense of snow… or dandruff.  

Overall both of these products whilst not exactly quintessential for Christmas are a nice little passing attraction.

Score
Polar bear jelly pop - 7 out of 11
Mincemeat Flapjack - 9 out of 11

Found
Polar bear pop came from Superdrug and the Mincemeat Flapjack can be found in Holland and Barrets

Final Thoughts
Why were the company too ashamed to put the name on it?

Foxes Cherry Cheesecake and Honeycomb-crunch Fingers

Guess what guys! Today's review is back to biscuits, okay wait before you flip your table in uproar at least hear me out. I do have a reason for going back on my statements from yesterdays review. Basically these two items are either on sale right now or limited edition. (coincidental tumbleweed of uncaring happens)

Fine! I know it is a feeble excuse for going back on my word, but you know what? I don't care, I love biscuits. Hell, I bet you love biscuits and anyway they aren't ginger biscuits again so at least there is some variety here.

 

Vinnie looks mighty proud of his "bisquits" (Advert reference)

The two items in question are completely different in their use too. One is aimed at snacking, pretty much to be shared in a group type function like an ambassador ball (or more likely film night). The other is more along the line of my usual biscuit binge, as an accompaniment to my caffeinated beverage at lunch.

I'll start with he biscuit that was on offer, mainly because it's not new just on offer so I get a sweet treat at a discount price. Win, win in my eyes. These are a sharing bag of Cadbury's mini fingers and not just any mini fingers but HONEYCOMB CRUNCH fingers. I know your excited now right. So without further ado or cup in hand I chomp down on these bizarre biscuit. They are definitely crunchy too, a great taste too when bitten into. The milk chocolate is sweet but not too sweet that the subtle honey flavour underneath can't get through. It has a nice toffee taste to it and is similar to the chocolate coated cinder toffee I tried before.

If left to melt you can fully enjoy the great Cabury's milk chocolate but with an added biscuit tinge. It's not quite as sweet as usual but this is as I've said good as it allows the honeycomb to step in. The biscuit beneath doesn't really do much on the tongue and isn't absorbent in any useful way for it to be dunked. Still a really nice biscuit great for sharing, especially with the re-seal able bag aspect. Although I doubt you will need it!

Next up with have one of Foxes new American orientated biscuits. Four limited edition flavours that Vinnie the Panda (Don't ask) hopes will invoke a taste of the Atlantic in our mouths. This is the flavour that most appealed to me and is Cherry cheesecake Jammy Dodgers. Which is odd as Jammy Dodgers are one of my least favorite biscuit around. Too much biscuit not enough filling. However, the idea of cherry cheesecake definitely appeals to me.

 

Amazingly exercised cross section display here... perfect separation

Am I glad it did catch my eye? You be I am! These taste great and I hope that they keep the range gong for a while or even add to them. The cream filling doesn't really taste cheesy, more like a vanilla butter-cream flavour. A bit too sweet on it's own. The jam has a very powerful and nicely tart cherry taste that compliments the creams sweetness. The digestive biscuit doesn't really have flavour of it's own but that's not a bad thing considering the mix already on offer.

Overall both of these biscuits are great. I would definitely recommend the American range whilst it is available. As for the fingers if you have a party coming up then these are bound to be favorites and enough to go around too.

Score 

Finger's 5 out of 11

Cherry Pie 8 out of 11

Found

Sainsbury's

Final Thoughts

Why does a Panda have an American gangster character type? Also why is a Panda the mascot for Foxe's bisquits?

Edo Bears Thankfully Not A Typo

Yes, I am basically a geeky man child! I’m sure anyone who has taken the time to read my other posts can quite easily attest to this. Therefore it should not come as much of a surprise to anyone that I bought these pretty much because of their name.  I couldn't help it, after all these beauties are one letter away from being that famous internet meme that you wouldn't want anywhere near your mouth. Also the fact that the bears look rather grumpy (to be fair it’s justifiable with that name, for a start I bet the postman misbelievers some of HIS post to them) makes me giggle whenever I look at my packs.

I did also buy these for a sensible-ish reason and that’s their similarities to Hello Panda biscuits. I love Hello Panda; it was after all one of the products that kick-started my obsession with seeking out new foods. So proud was I of my first box that I still keep a photo of it on my phone. A bit extreme possibly, but you wouldn't judge someone for having a picture of their kid would you? (Ok a bad comparison there perhaps.)

Don't you judge me!

Whilst I knew that these wouldn't be as good as their panda cousins I bought them anyway. They do have one advantage over said panda’s in that they are sold in snack pack multi-bags. This means they keep fresher for longer (although not a problem I often have once I’ve opened a pack) but more importantly can be stuck in my bag for my many expeditions. I know you can get snack bags of Hello pandas too, but these are rather hard to stumble upon and don’t come in multi-bags. Usually I can only find the cardboard tube varieties.

Now I’m not sure what type of bears these are supposed to be. In all honesty I’m just glad they aren’t That aforementioned bear. If I had to guess I would say they are some kind of Koala, specifically of the harassed variety. Even on the biscuit themselves the printed pictures seem a bit peeved to be there. Then again they are a bit faded so perhaps their annoyance lies with the makers who used a lower quality ink than Meiji use. Each picture is slightly different however so they get points back for that, after all variety is the spice of life (especially when dealing with bears, right?).

This is my biscuit back off! We've all been there.

I wasn't sure what country these came from and so did some research, I’m good like that. Worryingly the first site had their country of origin listed as “No”. After consulting my GCSE in Geography (where we learnt mostly about clouds.) and more accurately an atlas I found no country with such a name. Just when I almost began to question these biscuits very existence I found a vague reference to them being a Korean snack and my mind was put slightly at ease and so I opened them up. I was met with a pleasant surprise. Whilst they look like a small bag that will contain a stingy serving they instead contain about twelve or so bears. Perhaps overcrowding is the source of their anguish.

So what are they like? Well I was expecting them to taste like a sub-par panda but once again they surprised me. They aren't as nice but not cheap tasting like I was preparing myself for. More hollow than I had hoped but what chocolate it did contain was a nice, creamy and good quality chocolate. The biscuit is light and crunchy, although not quite as sweet as they should be perhaps. It has been a fair few months since I’d bought these and was worried that they may have gone a bit stale. Yet they had stayed fresh longer than many other biscuits would, especially when you remember that they would have been imported as well.

This ones annoyed at my frankly lacking photography skills.

Overall these are rather nice and very handy being sold in small grab bags making them easy to take out and about with you. I think the biscuit could be a bit sweeter; however this may not have contrasted as well with the chocolate and brought out its flavour. Now they won’t be toppling my beloved pandas off their pillars anytime soon but they have made a valiant effort. Hee-Hee Edo bear.

Score

7 out of 11

Found

Local Chinese market

Final thought

As i write this the Tv is showing a 

programme called "Do Pets Deserve Funerals?", just what?