Dove Extra Dark Chocolate

My first love, growing up deep in the Midwest 30 years ago, floated in on the wings of a Dove. Surrounded by Hershey's milk chocolate, milk chocolate with almonds, Mr. Goodbar, and Hershey's Special Dark, I was overwhelmed when Dove chocolate came into the market in the 80's or 90's. I'd never tasted anything so creamy and delicious. OK, sure, we're just talking about my first chocolate-love, not people-love. This is a PG-rated site, fer cryin' out loud.

When I reached the US this summer, I needed a chocolate for my road trip. This Dove Extra Dark called out to me from Target's candy shelves. It was a disappointment until today. I ate a bit of the chocolate during my road trip, but found it not very good. It did at least travel well, in spite of the record-breaking temperatures throughout the South that week.

As I write this review, I'm giving it one more chance, and it's much better than it was during my trip. I can actually taste that famous Dove creaminess, and while the chocolate isn't really a good chocolate, like I know now, it does remind me of those days back in 1990 when I was so happy and in love with Dove.

Reviewed: Dove Extra Dark Chocolate 71% cacao
Personality: The Dove I once knew, but a little cold and unyielding
How to enjoy: If you must, then eat it alone in small bites

Rating:
1: Better than sex
2: Little bites of heaven
3: Share with your best friend
4: Will do in a pinch
5: Halloween candy

Where to buy:
Germany: you can get Dove in some places, I'm not sure about this bar
USA: any major store, grocery or department
UK and other places sold as Galaxy chocolate

Dove Liaison Caramel

Today I was just a firecracker! Even though it's Saturday, I got up early so I could enjoy the cool air before it became too humid. The local bakery, Baeckerei Bauer, opens at 6:30 a.m. so I decided to start there. First thing I noticed were the cakes. They make some nice roll cakes, but I had to focus.

No cake today. I was there for the week's bread. Mmm, I bought a nice rye sourdough, some cheese rolls, soft pretzel sticks, and a whole grain baguette.
Then off to the car wash to give ol' Nelly a lick and a promise. That was annoying as all get-out, because only one of the bays had a machine for the prepaid card I'd bought. Then the spray got out of control due to the very high pressure (Germans are very serious about their car washing, especially here in Mercedes-land).

Next the grocery store, to be followed by the recycling station. All of this done by 9:30, with the rest of the day to enjoy as I please. As I stood at the checkout, I noticed a new chocolate bar: Dove Liaison Caramel.

That's a nice combination: Dove, a brand I trust, Liaison, one of my favorite words, and Caramel, one of my favorite flavors.

It didn't disappoint. A nice mass-market chocolate, definitely up to Dove's usual standards, is molded into a 25 gram bar, conveniently divided into 3 segments. Each segment is filled with a very soft caramel, which will flow if left unattended. If you bite exactly between two segments, it can't flow very much. The caramel taste itself is just ok. For a real caramelly taste, I'd rather eat Werther's.

Reviewed: Dove Liaison Caramel
Personality: A true "liaison" of chocolate and caramel.
How to enjoy: Keep these in the fridge and enjoy them as an everyday treat. They make a great little dessert for a packed lunch.

Rating:
1: Better than sex
2: Little bites of heaven
3: Share with your best friend
4: Will do in a pinch
5: Halloween candy

Where to buy:

Germany: In the grocery checkout lane

USA: Try the Dove Miniatures Caramel

UK: Galaxy Caramel