To wonder why a box of Thorntons choc is considered the worst (choc) gift

[Siw2020]

Received one and didn't realise it's supposedly an insult until everyone else's reaction

I got some from my son. I wasn't jumping for joy inside but I know I'll be going straight for the viennese and the alpine.

I really love chocolate, but Thornton's oversweet and has horrible flavours. Luckily I was bought Lindt for Christmas.

I prefer Thornton’s Continental and Milk Tray to Hotel Chocolat (though I love the velvetiser for hot choc!) and am eating Viennese truffles in the bath RIGHT NOW. Please avert your eyes

I wanted a box of chocolates for ken Christmas and don’t much like Hotel Chocolate so asked for Thornton’s instead. What brands (aside from HC) are supposed to be “better” than Thornton’s? Or are they supposed to be handmade truffles individually selected from a counter?

Give me a liquorice allsort over chocolate any day

Now you're talking.

Anybody think galaxy doesn't even taste like chocolate?

I think chocolates in general are a very generic gift - very appropriate if you don’t know someone well but not a great birthday or Christmas gift for someone you do know well.

On the subject of Thorntons, I think they used to be reasonably good quality but last time I had them they just tasted of sugar and cheap fat. They are no doubt using cheap ingredients to keep costs down.

Hotel Chocolat are covered in gluten warnings which I ignored to my peril one year. Thornton’s have always been fine for me. So I often suggest Thornton’s because I can actually eat them myself. The people who know I’m coeliac but still think Thornton’s are beneath them to give and insist on a “posher” chocolate are often actually not giving me a gift at all as I have to give them to someone else to eat.

Hotel chocolat is over-priced gimmicky shit. I do agree that Milk Tray are a bit shit, and Roses/Celebrations/Heroes/Quality Street etc are a bit too childish to give to an adult as a main present (though I will happily put some in the trolley/take some into work for general scoffing). Lindt bars are lovely, but Lindor are really sickly. As are Guylian. Both perfectly acceptable stocking fillers though.

Thornton’s are fine. They aren’t my favourites, but they taste nice and are nicely packaged. If I was going for full luxury or trying to impress somebody, I’d go with Godiva or Leonidas. For family (ie happy to spend a bit but not trying to show off), I’d go with Montezuma, or Green and Blacks.

My friends know me very well and always give me thoughtful gifts they know I will love. They give me lots of chocolate!

I used to get everyone Thornton's when we had a store in the town centre. It's gone now, so it's back to Foxes biscuits and Celebrations...

I personally don't like Thornton's chocolate much (I actually love the Cadbury's chocolate! Though Milk Trays aren't my fave...) but I don’t think it's a bad present by any means.

I love Thornton's Continental. Definitely wouldn't feel insulted. I'd rather that than some of the presents I got for Christmas.

I've been given a hotel chocolat box this year, never had it before and it's awful - sickly sweet and an odd flavour. I find Thorntons can be a bit 'stale' but those viennese truffles are great, everyone loves those surely?

It’s snobbery at it’s worse, just like those who slate bayliss and Harding, Lynx and everything else

I love any toiletry sets and any alcohol , so I feel very low maintenance whenever I read secret santa threads. However I still have a box of Thorntons unopened from my birthday back in October so I'm not as unfussy as I think I am.

I think Thornton's were of their time, when they had shops in every town and people did buy them as a luxury chocolate. Now they have shut over 100 of their shops and punted their boxed chocs onto supermarket shelves, so they are seen as no different to any other box they sell in the supermarket.

Where are you getting this info?

I love a box of Thornton's. Nothing wrong with them.

Hotel Chocolat isn't top quality chocolate. I like the slabs to nibble on, but the boxed chocolates, truffles etc are too sweet and the chocolate isn't crisp enough. Try Jacques Genin in Paris if you want to try the best. His ganache are sublime.

DH is French and a foodie. He'll tolerate Charbonnel and Walker champagne truffles, but again finds them too sweet. When we can't get Jacque Genin care packages to support him in his English exile, he will force down Booja Booja champagne truffles. They're the only non-artisanal English chocolate that comes anywhere near 'proper' French chocolate. Probably because they're dark and not too sweet - English choices just taste sickly.

@Chloemol

It’s snobbery at it’s worse, just like those who slate bayliss and Harding, Lynx and everything else

The issue with Lynx is the fact it stinks, to the point where you can smell a teenage boy ten minutes before they come into a room. Especially when said teenage boy has sprayed on half a can to cover up their BO instead of showering, as many teenage boys do.

Angel and Poison perfumes both had similar issues. It isn’t snobbery, it is a dislike of overpowering smells.

@cushioncovers

Any chocolate is a lame gift for an adult that can afford to buy their own imo, if I want chocolate I would just buy some.

Totally agree. I hate getting chocolate as a present. I don't have a sweet tooth and on the rare occasion I do fancy a bit of chocolate I'll buy some.

I definitely wouldn’t feel insulted receiving a box of Thornton’s chocolates but I wouldn’t eat them just because I think they taste awful (oily) 20+ years ago their chocolates tasted lovely, but they must have added or taken something away in the ingredients as there is a noticeable difference.

Thornton's toffee yes! Thornton's chocolate no

@Pollaidh

Hotel Chocolat isn't top quality chocolate. I like the slabs to nibble on, but the boxed chocolates, truffles etc are too sweet and the chocolate isn't crisp enough. Try Jacques Genin in Paris if you want to try the best. His ganache are sublime.

DH is French and a foodie. He'll tolerate Charbonnel and Walker champagne truffles, but again finds them too sweet. When we can't get Jacque Genin care packages to support him in his English exile, he will force down Booja Booja champagne truffles. They're the only non-artisanal English chocolate that comes anywhere near 'proper' French chocolate. Probably because they're dark and not too sweet - English choices just taste sickly.

I can't work out if you're taking the piss or not.

The Thorntons were opened before the hotel chocolate here. I prefer consumable presents myself.

@Chloemol

It’s snobbery at it’s worse, just like those who slate bayliss and Harding, Lynx and everything else

I think I've only seen Bayliss and Harding in the loos of posh pubs, seems pleasant enough.

Lynx, however, has been a joke and known it's a joke in its ads for decades, hasn't it?

Lot of snobbery going on tbh.

Personally I like them.

Plus if it's got cocoa and sugar in is there really that much difference? I know someone will bring up some little known brand, but really ask yourself is there really that much difference?