Thorntons Special Toffee is a high end, luxury toffee produced by the Thorntons company (Thorntons is the biggest independent confectionary manufacturer in the UK today). First produced in 1925, Original special toffee has now been joined by brazil nut, treacle, fruit and nut, banana, mint and chocolate covered, among others. It is available in various sizes - expect to pay around £1 for 125 grams or £5 for 625 grams.

Thorntons original special toffee is easy to recognise - the easy to open bag is a light tan colour, with a colour picture of chunks of toffee at the top, 'original special toffee' printed in white on an orange background, and the tag 'tempting toffee lovers since 1925'. The toffee should be stored in cool, dry conditions and, unopened, will last for several months. The bag should also be tapped against a hard surface before opening to break up the pieces.

Per 20 gram portion (be warned, that isn't very much) thorntons original toffee contains 102 calories, 11.7 grams of sugar and 5.9 grams of fat (of which 4.3 grams is saturated). This is definitely not a product that is going to help you eat healthily. That said, it is such good quality that as a treat it's second to none. The toffee is also suitable for vegetarians and those with a gluten intolerance.

I love special toffee - it comes in various sized pieces, emphasising that it is made in small, individual batches. The taste is amazing - very rich, buttery, and with more than a hint of condensed milk. Just one warning - watch out for any loose fillings - the toffee is very, very sticky once it's being chewed and will pull them out in a moment.