Marks & Spencer Italian Dark Gianduja Bar with Whole Hazelnuts

I've been itching to try this Dark Chocolate Italian Gianduja bar since it appeared in the new M&S Chocolate range recently. As much as I loved the Swiss Blond Chocolate Bar from the range, I do prefer to avoid dairy so this dairy free, vegan bar sounded right up my street. It also reminded me of the lovely (but not so fortunately named) Vego Hazelnut Bar I once tried which was LOVELY, so I had high hopes!

Described simply as a "Gianduja dark chocolate bar with whole hazelnuts" this costs £1.50 and contains 65g per pack. Although it's dairy free, don't eat it if you're super lactose sensitive as it's made in a factory that uses milk ingredients.

Like the Vego Bar, it comes in two thick chunks with an eerily identical symbol that I think is supposed to be cocoa pods? I wonder if this is made by the same company..

On the underside of the bar the whole hazelnuts looked very plentiful indeed - I do love chocolate bars that don't skimp on the nuts!

Taking a bite, it was every bit as delicious as I had anticipated - like the Vego Bar it's pretty much "Nutella in bar form"! The hazelnut paste mixed with the chocolate gives it a super smooth, melt in the mouth luxurious texture, so it feels like you're eating praline rather than chocolate. In fact it didn't taste like dark chocolate at all - the taste and texture of the nuts makes it feel like a milk chocolate bar! The whole hazelnuts add a lovely nutty crunch and taste very fresh; these are not just any nuts, but M&S nuts...(sorry - I had to go there!)

Overall, whether you're vegan, dairy free or not this is an exceptional tasting chocolate bar that I would recommend to anyone (unless of course you have a nut allergy!) The perfect treat for a cold snowy day, these would go down well with a coffee or hot chocolate.

Nutrition (per half bar): 13.3g Fat, 189 Calories, 13.2g Sugars.

Ingredients: Cane sugar, cocoa mass, hazelnuts 18%, hazelnut paste 16%, cocoa butter, emulsifier soya lecithin, vanilla extract. Cocoa solids 31% minimum. Suitable for vegetarians. 

8.5 out of 10. 

New M&S Blond Chocolate, Vegan Gianduja Bars & More! (Spotted In Shops)

Another Spotted In Shops, and today it's the turn of M&S with some of their interesting new chocolates - first up one that will no doubt excite many, it's their new Blond Swiss Chocolate! It seems that 2018 is the year of blond chocolates, what with Nestle also selling their L'Atelier Blonde Hazelnuts & Almonds bar at Sainsbury's...I wonder how long until Cadbury's follow suit? (they recently launched a blonde chocolate called Cadbury's Caramilk in New Zealand and it looks amazing!).

This M&S variety is made with caramelised sugar, cocoa butter, milk and dried whey...see the ingredients list above. Do want!

M&S are also doing some new filled bars such as this White Chocolate Cappuccino, with a creamy coffee ganache filling.

Plus there's Milk Chocolate Stracciatella, with a creamy filling and dark chocolate pieces:

And this Italian White Chocolate with Whole Pistachios...

And Italian Milk Chocolate with Whole Almonds:

And something rather special since it's dairy free and suitable for vegans - this Italian Gianduja Bar, made with dark chocolate and whole hazelnuts!

They're also doing some coated nuts, including Belgian Dark Chocolate Almonds, Milk Chocolate Almonds and Salted Caramel Covered Almonds!

Plus this Marks and Spencer Luxury Chocolate Coated Fruit and Nut Selection which is "an assortment of delicious chocolate coated almonds and blackcurrants".

There's also this new Swiss Chocolate Giandor bar, with a smooth creamy almond filling:

Plus this Swiss Chocolate Chunky Triple Nut Milk Chocolate:

And some new varieties of single origin Dark Chocolate, from this 71% Sao Tome Bar:

to this 71% Single Origin Madagascar Bar:

and also this 75% Single Estate Los Palmitos Bar:

There's also some new "added superfood" bars, including this White Chocolate, Raspberry & Matcha Bar:

Plus for a caffeine boost there's this Latte Coffee Kick Chocolate, made with coffee beans and "melts in the mouth like chocolate":

There's also a Turmeric Milk Chocolate bar in the range, plus these heatlhier filled bars...

M&S Coconut, Cashew & Pineapple bar coated in white chocolate:

Plus a Date, Walnut and Pumpkin Seed Bar coated in milk chocolate:

As well as these treats M&S are also doing their usual yearly selection of wonderful Easter Eggs, but I will share those with you all in another post!

If you have tried any of these chocolates or would like to see any reviewed - do let me know in the comments!