Overview:

Of all the candied bars you find sitting around your local convenience or grocery store, Dove has always seemed to be one of the snottiest. One always got the impression that if it could emote, Dove would likely scoff at the idea of being stored amongst the Skor’s and Nutrageous’ of the world.  This is why I found it so odd to see a new Dove bar containing peanut butter. This is not a shot at peanut butter, as I eat it often. I would not, however, call it as a “classy” food. So is this mash-up worth your money?

Review:

I very much like the regular Dove Milk Chocolate bar. It has a richness not found in most off-the-shelf candy bars which really sets it apart. That’s why I don’t think the formula needed to be altered, as the rich chocolate didn’t seem to gel when stuffed with peanut butter. It’s not like a Reese’s bar, where the strong taste really comes from the molding of the chocolate and peanut butter together. That’s not to say the bar tastes bad, per say, it just doesn’t taste like a genuinely good flavor combo. It tastes more like an experiment.

What it reminded me of were peanut butter Easter eggs distributed by my grandma’s church, which she annually hands out to her grand kids every time the season rolls around. A big flaw of those bars is that while they taste ok, you can never finish them because they are so bloated that half-way through you get a stomach ache so vicious it feels like you’ve had dozens of bricks forcibly shoved down your throat. I actually had to take a break while eating this bar because it gave me that ol’ familiar feeling. This won’t, however, be a problem for most people.

But while we’re on the topic, I don’t think it’s really a glowing comparison when a bar made by a renowned candy manufacturer tastes almost identical to something turned out by the Apostolic Church of Remington, Indiana. If a lawsuit is ever to occur on the church’s behalf, I fully expect a portion of the winnings for bringing this situation to the forefront.

In terms of value it’s like the taste, not horrible, but not great either. At the store I purchased it from, the bar carried the same $.85 price tag as the rest of the candy I saw scattered about. And while it’s not a rip-off,  there are better bars to spend your money on, as it’s neither the best peanut butter or Dove candy bar on the shelves.

Final Words:

I realize I didn’t have anything specifically positive to say about the bar, but that isn’t to say it’s a horridly disgusting creation. It isn’t a bad concoction, it just seemed like an unnecessary one. I credit Dove for experimenting, as I realize the importance of expanding your product. That said, I can’t foresee myself buying this item again.

Though it isn’t pricier than most candy, there’s always a certain upper-class feeling someone like me (poor) gets when biting into a Dove bar. Most months I have to scratch and claw for every cent I earn just to pay my minimum living expenses, including food. This leads to a lot of cheap meals like peanut butter sandwiches. If I am somehow able to clear my rent check without overdrawing my bank account, I take pleasure in purchasing a Dove bar, sitting back, eating it and feeling like a king for a few minutes. If you bring in the taste of peanut butter, my primary source of nutrients throughout all my monetary struggles, into this celebratory moment, it would serve as a reality check I simply would not be in the mood for.

Pros

• Tastes ok
• Nothing offensive

Cons

• Nothing to get excited about
• Not memorable
• Peanut butter ruins ones delusions of self-worth
• Better candy bars out there

Score: 6.0/10

Taste: 6/10
Value: 7/10
Attempt at something different: 7/10
Specific Necessity: 4/10