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

Nothing wrong with Thorntons! Although on MN they seem to be the chocolate equivalent of Bayliss and Harding.

I find Thornton's far too sweet

@maddiemookins16mum

There are far, far worse. Ferrero Rocher for instance.

Ferrero bought Thorntons in 2015, that's why the recipes have changed

@Littlemilkjug

I was trying to explain to my foreign husband the brand thing, and how some items have come to mean "couldn't be arsed to think about what you might actually like, so bought these, coz they were neither the cheapest nor the most expensive box of chocolates in the shop"... I think that's the category I'd put thorntons in. Along with those Belgian sea shells.

This reminded me of my first birthday after immigrating: my soon-to-be in-laws bought me Guylian seashell chocolates and I thought they were so fancy. I'd never seen anything like them . It was years before I knew different.

In my defense, as an American teenager used to American chocolates, it probably was very fancy by those standards

I hadn't heard the Thornton's put into the same category before this month on here. To me, it would probably depend - there are the little boxes you can get in poundland thar I could see being in the 'couldn't be arsed', but there are also other things that are only their shops or online that could take some consideration. I've bought some as gifts before, I always tried to something people liked.

I had a time for being very partial to their fudge and then spent a good few years of people giving me pretty much any kind of fudge they came across. I wasn't sure whether it was 'glad you're an easy buy' or 'couldn't be arsed' with some of them.

I would be happy with this tbh, though I think some find it a little impersonal. Especially if its a spouse giving them.

Oh no. I have my ex his and and his wife a big box of Thornton’s from me and dh when the kids went over Xmas day. I thought it was nice and neutral?

I don't like Thorntons but l don't like Quality Street or Rose's or Topics or..so many. I'm fussy when it comes to chocolate. But you like them. I don't get the snobbery around some brands 🤷‍♀️ really daft. I quite like B&H hand wash. I refuse to spend a tenner on Molton Brown soap to wash my hands. Shame they have the same initials as a packet of fags though 😂

@Changechangychange

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.

I didn't know Godiva were full luxury. You get them in Home Bargains.

In my defense, as an American teenager used to American chocolates, it probably was very fancy by those standards

You had the bar set not so much low as subterranean, I fear.
When I lived in the US I was once given a bucket of Halloween 'candy'. Anyone complaining about Thornton's doesn't know they're born.

The reason I find them insulting is, A) I hate them and B) whenever I’ve had them it’s been an off the shelf already wrapped box. So the person bought a box, not knowing what’s in there and hasn’t even had to take time with wrap it. It is pretty thoughtless.

They're ok, I worked in a Thornton's when I was a student and the chocolates now are not as nice, much sweeter, lower cocoa content, but lots of people like that, I preferred when they had the servery and you could select just a few chocolates, the premium collection was mainly very good pralines and you couldn't eat more than a few.
I definitely wouldn't be offended though and think it's a perfectly acceptable gift, especially for someone you don't know well, a colleague, teacher etc as even if they are not keen someone in the household is likely to eat them or they can be easily regifted.

Thornton's have done their brand no favours by limiting the range, cheapening the ingredients, selling cheaply in supermarkets and removing lots of customer service elements that set them apart eg wedding favours, hand made boxes, more niche items. When I worked there we had to have so much knowledge about the origins of each ingredient and know all the prices and allergens, they didn't even have barcodes. They ended up with senior management from supermarkets and a few years ago were bought out by Ferrerro. They actually have very few stores left and have closed more recently. (A good friend i made while working there, 20 odd years ago still does!) I wouldn't be surprised if they become a supermarket only brand at some point.

It's news to me. They are lovely chocs.

@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.

Bet there's loads of French people who love a Galaxy Ripple.

A lot of Hotel Chocolat stuff is horrible, so overrated and basically just as generic shopping mall staple. I would rather have a box of Thornton’s classics any day.

Imo, it didn't used to be shit chocolate. But since most of the high street Thorntons disappeared, they became cheap boxes in supermarkets and taste the equivalent of Milk Tray, IE waxy and all the same with the luxury removed they are now as a pp perfectly said, the chocolate equivalent of Bayliss and Harding yes. I was offended when my DP kept buying me them for every occasion. It's lazy and crap if it's the supermarket ones unless you know the recipient genuinely likes them. Do the Viennese ones even still exist? They were my favourite, and I used to love the bars of them you could get in the Thornton's shops, but I haven't seen those bars in years and I've not had that truffle in any of the boxes I've been given over the last several years either.

I've never heard of them being considered bad? I love Thorntons. Happy to receive! Way better than a lot of others (hôtel chocolat I'm looking at you)

@triceratops12

Better than a milk tray IMO

Ooh no I love milk tray!! Even more so now they've taken the Turkish delight one out 🤢 got a box for Xmas, mightily pleased it has a double tray inside it. The apple pie one is bloody lovely.

@DressingGownofDoom they are £47 a box, so fairly luxurious I would have said!

www.godivachocolates.co.uk/christmas-ballotin-500g

I like Thorntons chocolate. I didn't know it was considered a bad gift.

I suppose if you know someone quite well and they don't like Thornton's chocolate then it is a shit gift because you should know what they like. I can't think of any other reason why it would be considered an insult?

I love any chocolate as a gift

@Zhx3

I had a lovely bf when I was a teenager, who bought me the Continental basket - the one where the basket is made of nougat and you can eat it too. Still one of my favourite gifts ever.

Not RTFT... Do these still exist? I loved them when I was younger.

Ghiradelli chocolate is by far the nicest chocolate I've had. There's a shop in Downtown Disney that hand out free samples. We used to go in 3-4 times for a sample and to buy bags to bring home and for presents. Only down side is a 9 hour Flight is a tad too far to go for some and it costs a fortune on amazon.

I don't eat chocolate, I can't stand the stuff (I'm not being smug here, I eat plenty of other crap, just don't like chocolate), so I have no point of reference. But I've bought Thorntons for people I actually liked on many occasions. I thought they were meant to be naice, not the Bayliss & Harding equivalent.

What should I be buying then if I want to buy chocolate for a friend or relative who likes chocolate?

My husband likes Lindor chocolates, do people turn their nose up at those as well? I have also bought them as presents for people.

Someone once bought me some Hershey's Kisses and I forced myself to eat a couple to be polite. I swear they tasted like sick.

I don't like Thorntons as much as I used to - due to recipe changes, but it's still nice to receive a box and the toffee is still great! I don't think they're as posh as they used to be but it's still nice to get them.

I usually get HC, Lindt or Godiva as presents depending on who I'm buying for. Occasionally Charbonnel et Walker or Booja booja. If I knew someone who really loved Thorntons, I'd get a box. I used to work near and now live near a branch of HC and they're very friendly and helpful. I get a lot for my dad in there because he loves marzipan dark chocs and they have some nice ones! It's that or a Lindt Petit Desserts box - my utter faves and a nice selection to give!

They always seem to go down well, I had no idea HC was so hated until this. I'm worried now. Got DPs sibs some HC each for xmas- and a bit for him as a stocking filler.

I was amazed by that. I love them, and have both given and received them at various times without anyone feeling insulted (well, I hope not.) I also don't see why some Mumsnetters consider chocolates as such as a 'thoughtless gift'. I suppose they are if you know or suspect that the recipient is allergic/ diabetic/ on a diet/ just dislikes chocolates, but most people I know welcome them.