Pump Up Your College Kid With Some Sweet Treats

The holiday season is stressful on college kids.  Some are approaching midterms, others are thinking about finals, while at the same time arrangements need to be made for visiting with family.  I think we’re going to visit some of the family for a big holiday gathering without my daughter because she’ll be in school. She only has a long weekend off, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for extensive travelling.  Some students live too far away and don’t visit with family at all. When I was in college there were some holidays I stayed on campus because I lived over 500 miles away so I really know what it’s like to miss out.  Fortunately, you can send your favorite collegiate special treats to help them through these busy stress filled days. These snacks would also make great stocking stuffers, especially if you want to send your college kid back to school well stocked.

I was given the opportunity to do some taste testing for you. While I like that part of my job, I also enjoy having the opportunity to  introduce a product that may be new to you.  In no particular order, here are our suggestions:

 Aequare Fine Chocolates -  Aequare Chocolates are artisan chocolates that are handcrafted in Ecuador.  

Founded by native Californian, classically trained chef and now Ecuadorian resident, Jeff Stern, Aequare creates origin-specific chocolate confections made from ingredients and raw materials sourced virtually entirely within Ecuador, from raw ingredients all the way to packaging.  The chocolate bon-bons come in traditional and exotic flavors including plain dark chocolate, vanilla, passion fruit, ishpingo, lemongrass, saffron, blackberry and others.

My husband and I tasted the handcrafted chocolates in a gift box, and also the Dark Chocolate Cocoa Beans.  The 6 piece gift box was very nice.  The small bonbons looked pretty fantastic, they were good, better than some, but still they needs a little something more. I think that they looked better than they tasted.  They are very pretty – so a little extra credit for the look, but the taste is what I really grade. We give them a C+.

On the other hand, we loved the dark chocolate cocoa beans. The dark chocolate on the outside was good, and then there’s a surprising crunch when the bean collapses in your mouth with more flavor.  The Dark Chocolate Cocoa Beans get an A-.

 

  Chipn’etzel  – This is probably the one your college kid would have the most fun with.  Chipn’etzel is by Sara Snackers – a milk and cookie company.  Really this was a cool treat to eat.  It contains both potato chips and pretzels, but not in an overwhelming way and these are chocolate dipped cookies.  They reminded me of cookies my grandmother bought when I was growing up. Funny thing, we all love dark chocolate better than white chocolate, but for this treat somehow the white chocolate had an overwhelming show of hands. I suggest extra because these will go fast.  The white chocolate gets an A-, the dark chocolate B+ just because we love the white chocolate better.

 

Mama’s Goodies Nut Brittles – Hold on to your teeth, we’ve got another really good one. These nut brittles have such a buttery flavor with honey and maple syrup along with some great nuts. 

Mama’s Goodies, all-natural nut butter brittles produced by Kathy Khodi and her mother Rohy Khorshidian, mother-daughter Iranian immigrants. They created the candies from an old-world family recipe to remind them of home as they settled in the U.S.   Mama’s Goodies produces artisan nut butter brittles in unique flavors including sesame, which is traditional in Iran, and almond, another Iranian flavor, as well as cashew, pecan and macadamia – coconut.  Kathy and Rohy strive for a true homemade taste, using only the finest all-natural and Kosher ingredients including pure honey, 100% maple syrup and real butter.  These are truly melt-in-your-mouth brittles with a very smooth (not sticky) texture, and they’re loaded with nuts! 

I agree with the taste part, but I would be lying if I said they weren’t sticky, they will stick to your teeth.  They are really great tasting butter nut brittles though and worth brushing your teeth for. Our Grade A-.

 

Disclosure:  These products were all given to me for review.  These opinions are my honest assessment.

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