I was recently contacted by a reader who asked whether I could review this Turner's Chocolate Assortment, which is available in discount stores such as Poundland, 99p Stores and also Iceland. Funnily enough I had tried these chocolates earlier in the year but I hadn't taken any decent photos to be able to review them. If you've never seen these before, they're an interesting concept, promising an "assortment of high quality branded mis-shape chocolates".
From memory my first purchase of these had not actually been that successful. I remember lots of solid chocolates that were too hard to eat - almost as if the filling had been missed out and replaced by the outer chocolate, which is never the best quality. The bag I tried this week, however, was completely different.
There are lots of chocolates in the bag, which all have that bashed together look that is often the case with these types of bagged chocolates. There were only three different chocolates in my bag; a barrel shaped chocolate (pictured twice above ooops!), squares with an orange design, and larger curved segments.
From their appearance I suspect these are the types of chocolates that usually come in big tins and gift boxes. Since I don't buy tinned chocolates (such as Quality Street, Roses etc.) much anymore, I'll need my readers help to identify what these three are! The first large segment chocolate is filled with a soft caramel centre and a large hazelnut. I would guess that it's the Purple One from Quality Street but I don't remember it having this type of pattern on top (see photo above). Perhaps that's why it's in this bag? The flavour however, is perfectly fine - thick sweet chocolate with an even sweeter caramel centre and slightly soft nut.
The squared chocolate has an orange design etched into the top (hard to photograph due to the damage to the chocolates) and is unsurprisingly filled with an orange cream. I would guess this is from a Cadbury Roses type selection as it is covered with milk chocolate. I actually enjoyed this one too (although I did only eat half of one chocolate), and even though it's VERY sweet it has a pleasant enough orange flavour.
Then there are lots of caramel filled barrels - which I'm thinking are also from Cadbury Roses? They certainly taste like Cadbury caramels - very nice and my favourite of the bunch.
It's difficult to give these a rating because I can imagine each bag will have a different selection and could be a bit hit or miss. My bag had a good selection that were all to my tastes so I would say, on this occasion, it was reasonable value for £1. However, I think your enjoyment of these would depend on whether the knocked about appareance would bother you, and also the particualar selection in question. In terms of flavour there was nothing really to complain about with this bag, especially for those that are already fans of chocolate selection boxes.
I'd love to hear from anyone who's tried this Turners Chocolate Assortment, especially to find out which chocolates you had in the bag!
Grocery Gems Verdict: Turners Chocolate Assortment
RATING: 6 out of 10
Buy them again?: Possibly.
Purchased: Poundland.
I've tried these before and they're good for the price...sometimes they do Thorntons chocolates if you're lucky! You guessed right with the nut and caramel ones - all from Cadbury Roses.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kev! Seems like it's worth picking up a pack every now and then :)
DeleteI opened a bag and got s gag full of chocolate coated teddy bear gums they were tots rubbish
DeleteI've seen these about but my prejudice has meant I've never bought them. I never even read the front of the pack which says they're branded mis-shapes... Oh how awful I am for basing my decision purely on "Turner's". I'll probably buy these now whenever I'm looking for a cheap option for more well known chocs to give as presents!
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing! The only reason I tried this pack earlier in the year was a family member had bought it. I'd just never paid attention to them before.
DeleteI wouldn't have given these a second look in the £ shop normaly but I saw a lady pick up a few bags, can't be that bad I thought, and they weren't, we had roses in our bag and it was a nice suprise.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them! Its always interesting to see what other people are picking up instore, it can lead to a few new discoveries!
DeleteI've tried lots of these, they are sometimes a bit hit and miss, I always hope for Cadbury's. Sometimes you get all the same one, but I think they are worth it overall.
ReplyDeleteI bought one of these assortments in my local 99p Store yesterday and it had a somewhat disappointing selection - just milk and dark chocolate-coated toffees and thick Cadbury's chocolates (that look like those Nuts About Caramel Chocolates you used to get in Cadbury Heroes) that were mostly solid; however one of them had a coffee flavoured filling. Maybe a better bet would be buying one in Poundland...
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame, sounds like a very poor selection! The first pack of these I had was like that, full of solid chocolates or toffees. This second batch was much nicer, but it's a bit too hit and miss for my liking.
DeleteI've been buying these weekly in Iceland for well over a year. They mostly consist of solid milk chocolate, soft caramel barrel and hard toffee in plain chocolate. Very occasionally there is something else and you can often read Cadbury on top. I like them and now Icelands stopped selling them. Why. They're great value at 95p
ReplyDeleteWhere else can one buy 250 grams of chocolates for £1 or less? I buy 5 bags at a time and although there are a lot of solid chocolate I get some assortment. Good value
DeleteI bought a bag in poundland yesterday. The whole bag was Cadbury coffee truffles except three thin small caramels which I don't recognise as being Cadbury or quality street. I really don't like coffee flavoured things so a bit of a disappointment !
ReplyDeleteFIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THESE REALLY NICE AND GREAT PRICE.
ReplyDeleteDissatisfied....3 different chocolates, caramel tasted yuck. And just milk fudge and dark toffee.....wont be buying again��
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect for £1 A gold fucking nugget.
Deletelol nice answer
DeleteJust opened a bag of these, and ended up with 20 chocolate covered Turkish Delight. Not sure how that is classed as an assortment when they are all the same chocolate. Hate the stuff, so straight in the bin without finishing even 1 chocolate. Very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Anon, that's a terrible bag! These bags are very hit and miss :(
DeleteThe last 2 bags we bought were just solid, sickly chocolate. Don't know how they can describe that as an assortment. Wish they would put them in clear bags so we could check the contents before buying.
ReplyDeletefor a pound they are great. Don't matter what's in there!!
ReplyDeleteI've been buying these for a couple of years now and, as said earlier, they can be hit and miss depending upon where you buy them. Mostly they're fine but they usually have a couple of bashed up pieces and some soft centres that may not appeal to you. For £1 they're fine.
ReplyDeleteI normally look on the back of the packets at the batch number. When purchasing a few bags at a time, if you can get different batch numbered bags, you can often get a better assortment overall.
ReplyDeleteGREAT TIP!! Thank you :)
DeleteReally good idea - wish I had thought of it before!
DeleteI have had these before but the last two packets were both full of some sort of chocolate turkish delight and three chocolate fudge pieces not rearly an assortment ?
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed as my bag contained just 3 different types, a round coffee flavoured solid chocolate, a barrel shaped solid - mild coffee, and a third, solid milk chocolate. The bag clearly displays 'an assortment' and also milk, dark and white types of chocolate. 3 different just isn't an assortment. That aside the chocolate quality and flavour was good.
ReplyDeleteJust discussing these delightful treats with my mother and it's true what she says that Life is like a bag of Turners assortment of high quality chocolates... You never know what you're gonna get.
ReplyDeleteF. GUMP.
I buy these regularly and am seldom disappointed. They are normally soft centres or caramels but once I did have a bag that was entirely hazelnut caramels which didn't please me as I don't eat nuts! Apart from that, no complaints.
ReplyDeleteIt's good quality chocolate and not knowing what you're getting surely is part of the fun? If you're in any way disappointed then try another bag....you may be pleasantly surprised!
ReplyDeleteI bought a bag today they had round dark chocolate in them very delicious
ReplyDeleteI bought a bag today they had round dark chocolate in them very delicious
ReplyDeleteI have had a few bags now without realising that they were mis shapes from various companies. Seems like a brilliant idea someone has com up with. I looked online for"Turners Chocolares" as it wasnt a brand" I had heard of". I have never checked the contents or analysed them , I just eat them. I did have one bag I wasnt so keen on but have always had some kind of assortment. My current bag is being enjoyed.I have not had the misfortune to have only one or two different sorts in a bag but will try to choose carefully in future. I am totally shocked by someone putting them straight in the bin. People seem to be far to keen to do this. Why not ask a friend or neighbour if they would like to try them!
ReplyDeleteI bought 2 bags from Iceland's recently and they only had only 2 flavours one caramel and one caramel with a hazel nut in and one just chocolate. I didn't enjoy them I would of expected more I got bored with them and won't bother buying them again
ReplyDeleteThere gr8 for a pound.we loved them ,ate em all ,now rushing out to get some more .
ReplyDelete60 and bonkers but knows good value.
There gr8 for a pound.we loved them ,ate em all ,now rushing out to get some more .
ReplyDelete60 and bonkers but knows good value.
Been buying these for over a year and always get a couple of bags when passing poundworld. Love these chocolates and the fact it's a luck of the draw as to what you get. My favourite is the solid chocolate pieces.amazing value if you're not precious about the appearance of your chocolate
ReplyDeleteDon't seem to be much of an assortment any longer.All caramel in most bags now -never tasted any orange in any ever
ReplyDeleteWe bought five bags today only to find every bag contained the same chocolate the long chocolate covered toffee. It states on the bag assorted chocolates how can the company get away with it. Also printed on the bag at present the words customers services, there is not a telephone number or address to be found, I have hunted everywhere on line for a contact to officially complain. If anyone out there has such a contact I would be grateful if you could pass it on. Feeling extremely annoyed at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI purchased 2 bags of chocolates, full of jelly bears covered in a thin layer of chocolate. Not chocolates at all !! Like you I wanted to complain but cannot find a way of contacting the company. I will probably make a complaint to trading standards for false advertising.
DeleteI've sent Turners a letter of complaint as when I opened the bag recently bought from Poundland in Burton on Trent I saw a chocolate which had been partially eaten. The teeth marks could be plainly seen through the solid cream-coconut type filling. The whole family felt sick and wondered what germs may have been lingering in the package and contaminating the remainder of the chocolates. I've not heard from the company and I think that this is just adding insult to injury. It is my intention to not let this company get away with this and I'm beginning to wonder what other horrors may be happening to the chocolates that they are handling!! Uuuuugh!!
ReplyDeleteI purchased 2 bags yesterday, both contained exactly the same sweets. Jelly bears, covered in a thin coat of chocolate. No assortment. I would like to complain but cannot find a contact number or email address. They describe the contents as a mixture of filled and whole milk,white and dark chocolates. this is false advertising!Could anyone provide me with a contact? thank you
ReplyDeleteThey have been pretty much just those jelly bears in every packet (more than a dozen) we have bought since Christmas from 3 different shops. Will not be buying again as the chocolate content is now very minimal.
ReplyDeleteNo chocolate only gummy bears.do not get caught like l did.do not buy.
ReplyDeleteI too fell for the jelly bears pack having bought 2 bags at
ReplyDeletethe end of February. I returned one of the bags to the address on the packet. Guess what? No reply. I too feel this is flaunting the trades description if chocolate assortment is stated on the bag.
17th June 2018. I bought a pkt of these "chocolates" what a disappointment!! Disgusting gummy bears in a thin layer of chocolatey grunge. I tried to return the product (after spitting out the gungy muck, and was told I had to complain to the manufacturer
ReplyDeleteI got a bag a month ago in which every 1 was jelly teddy bears.half of them had chocolate on them half of them not.i sent them back to explain why it says chocolate assortment when half of them didnt have chocolate on top of the fact it wasnt an assortment.Still no reply from the customer service department
ReplyDeleteI bought these all the time, but for the last 6 months all I have had is 90% creamed filled dark chocolates, no sign of Cadburys or Thornton's, it's got to the stage now where I buy a pack every month to see if they've gone back to the way they were, but still awful tasteless chocolates, I think the words world famous chocolates should be removed as it's false advertising
ReplyDeleteBought 3 packs now and only those weird bears!!! Anyone know why this is and if they’ve changed it they need to change the packaging as they are not world famous branded chocolates. Gutted!
ReplyDeleteThese are my favourite chocolates of all time. You never know what you are going to receive but,whatever it is, they are good tasty chocolates. However, during the past few months, they have disappeared from the shelves. Why...I don't know. I just hope that they return soon.
ReplyDeleteMy latest bag this week was all hard toffees and weird pink fudge. Not a fan - have had good results in the past though!
ReplyDeleteBeen buying these for a number of years,up untill package changed and not getting extra free, quality gone down to.Used to have good selection in bag but now two possible three only now.Still able to purchase but not as many stores.Bought last bag today awful.Come on Turner's let's get back to quality!
ReplyDeleteI purchased a packet of these 'assorted' chocolates from a Iceland store. There is no assortment, they're all the same solid toffee. And as for being able to actually eat them they're so solid I'll be lucky if I can consume them fully by the best before date - that's if my jaws and teeth last, it may be if they're still ok I'll end up sucking them to death. Buy them again, don't think so.
ReplyDelete