I am betwixt Heaven and Hell, but closer to Heaven (Twix)

Member Name: Virtuoso

Product:	Twix
Date:	09/02/09 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tastes nice, shiny wrapper, classic

Disadvantages: Maybe a little more choccy goodness?

The Twix is a classic, I do not think many would argue that. It seems to have endured throughout my lifetime as a favourite, as others such as Wispas come and go, and others fall out of favour. Why is it a classic? I think there are several reasons, namely:

Two Bars: Along with that other classic the Kit-Kat, a twix employs the clever tactic of making itself seem like good value for money because it is split down the middle. Whenever I am in a penny-pinching mood I always feel a slight warm glow for having got good value from a twix. Regardless of the actual substance of the thing. The reality is that a Mars bar weighs more (63g for Mars versus 58g for a Twix). The other issue that is connected to this is the fact that because of the two bars it takes longer to eat, the pleasure is prolonged! A Twix is something to savour for me, not to gobble. This leads me on to the next aspect of the mighty Twix.

How to eat it: Because the twix has two bars, and because it has multiple layers (chocolate, caramel, biscuit) a whole world of choice is opened up when it comes to eating the thing. The Cadbury's Creme Egg has made an entire marketing campaign out of the idea of multiple ways to eat it, but the Twix has the same features, it just doesn't shout about it. I have seen people eat both bars at once, which in my humble opinion is sheer madness. You can nibble off the chocolate then gobble it. I have even seen people nibble off the other layers and dunk the biscuit in their tea! There is a world of possibilities.

The Wrapper: In my opinion the shiny gold wrapper of the Twix is a huge part of why this bar is a classic. I think the colour and shine brings out the child in all of us, it is very 'Willy Wonka'. Not only this but amongst a sea of choice on the Newsagent shelves it certainly catches the eye. The red logo is bright and clear and again stands out against the Gold. I am now aware that the font and style of the logo has ever been changed, so again this adds to the nostalgia effect for the older consumers among us.

The Taste: What can you say? Chocolate is good, caramel is good, biscuit is good, what could possibly go wrong when you combine the three? The chocolate is a relatively thin layer so perhaps does not stand out as much in the mix as I would like it to, but this is a very minor quibble. The caramel and biscuit inside are used in equal proportions and are both tasty. I am of the humble opinion that texture is a very important but overlooked aspect of food. The way the crunchy biscuit contrasts with the smooth caramel is a large part of the reason why I love this bar.

What is the damage to the waistline?: My 58g bar breaks down like this

Kcal: 282
Protein: 2.8g
Carbohydrate: 38g
Fat: 13.8g

Cheekily on the wrapper they give you the information for 'one piece' ie half the bar. I feel that representing it this way is done to fool people who are just having a glance, and is a little underhand. These figures are not terrible for a chocolate bar, but obviously they are much worse than lettuce, so stick to the lettuce if you are trying to reach size zero.
Looking at other aspects of the nutrition there is only one E number (E500) and emblazoned on the front of the wrapper is "No artificial colours, artificial flavours (or) preservatives" so at least there is some attempt at catering for the health conscious. As a warning, it DOES contain traces of nuts, so do not kill yourself with a Twix if you are allergic.

I paid 50p for my Twix today from a vending machine, I think this is a fairly typical price. Obviously if you are a Twix-addict you get savings from purchasing multipacks.

I sincerely hope that the Twix remains a favourite of the nation and is not altered or 'jazzed-up', it does not need it!

Summary: Buy it, you won't regret it