Review: Oppo Colombian Chocolate and Hazelnut

Oppo like to market themselves as providers of 'healthy ice cream.' As someone who tends who eat their ice cream BY THE TUB (because let's face it life's too short not to) I was intrigued by their newest flavour addition. Having already tried and approved of Salted Caramel and Mint Chocolate Chip, I have to admit I was sceptical about this one. How could a chocolate and hazelnut ice cream with only 43 calories a scoop possibly taste good? But I was willing to give it a go nonetheless.

Upon opening the tub, I saw to my pleasant surprise that there were already quite a few chopped hazelnut pieces visible. The chocolate smelled rich and promising, and I was itching to take my first bite.

Texture: though not of the standards of Haagen Dazs or Ben and Jerrys, the texture of Oppo is certainly the creamiest I've tasted among lower calorie/healthier brands. It melted quite easily and much quicker than other ice creams I've tried, meaning that the softness was on point, especially when scraped up from the sides. The hazelnuts add a depth and exciting change to the texture. They are abundant within this pint which I am very impressed by. My only complaint is that their size meant that they got stuck in my back teeth a lot- but that's hardly Oppo's fault!

Taste: now that chocolate... I wasn't sure what to expect. Would it focus more on the sweetness? Or the creaminess, perhaps, not unlike their salted caramel? But the first thing that grabbed me when I tasted the ice cream was the divine richness. It actually blew me away for a short while, as I could hardly believe that such a deep cocoa flavoured ice cream could possibly be 'healthy'. It's not as sweet as Nutella, but there is something of the nutty chocolate flavour to it that is remarkably similar.

Overall: Divinely rich, just sweet enough, and abundant in hazelnuts to satisfy the senses. What more could one ask for? Though hard to call, this may be my new favourite flavour of Oppo's. Certainly worth a pick up if you are on the lookout for healthier alternatives to your usual chocolaty treats.

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Haagen Dazs Pralines and Cream

So continuing with my verdict on the big brand names, another line close to my heart has to be Haagen Dazs. With their intriguing name and alluring pictures on the tubs, who wouldn't be charmed by the popular chain?

On their website, Haagen Dazs describe this flavour as...

A delicious combination of smooth vanilla ice cream, crunchy praline pecan pieces, and sweet caramel swirls.

Texture: When it comes to texture I do think this flavour has the whole package. Creamy soft ice cream- such a luxurious texture- but also gooey swirls of caramel and crunchy praline pieces throughout. Now I don't know about you but I generally find that Haagen Dazs are very generous with the amount of caramel swirl in their tubs, meaning every single mouthful of this beauty is a treat for the senses.

Taste: There's a degree of creaminess in Haagen Dazs tubs that, quite frankly, cannot be matched by any other brand. I don't know how they do it, but the intense depth of creaminess within this vanilla is enough to make me want to clear out my snack cupboards and eat nothing but ice cream for the rest of my life. The caramelised pecans provide a sweet crunchy burst of divine nuttiness which, combined with the sweet vanilla, really ups the excitement of the tub.

Overall: every single component of this tub, though different, compliments each other in the best possible way to make an intensely moreish treat. The only thing holding this baby back from a full 10 is that I generally like my chunks to be bigger, plus the fact that I personally prefer the taste of Haagen Dazs's caramel ice cream to their vanilla.

Rating: So so close to a top score at 9.5/10 !!

Review: Ben and Jerry's Half Baked

Now, I'm sure most of you have had the delights of trying this classic flavour of Ben and Jerrys. If however you are unfortunate enough to have missed out... mayhaps you would be interested to know that it is their BEST SELLING flavour! So, does the taste live up to the reputation?

Ben and Jerry's description of this flavour goes as follows:

Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Fudge Brownies

So in other words its a delightful mesh of the two popular flavours: cookie dough and chocolate fudge brownie. Here's my verdict on the flavour:

Texture: as always with ben and jerrys, once you allow it to soften for a bit, the texture is soft, creamy, and has all the makings of quality ice cream! What is special about this flavour in particular though is the many add-ins that make this tub an adventure of different sensations for your mouth and tongue. The abundant brownie pieces are large soft and easy to bite into (as brownies should be!) and the cookie dough pieces, though a little harder and generally a little smaller, prove just as satisfying to dig your teeth into.

Taste: Oh where do I start? The balance in this tub is phenomenal, with the sweet creamy vanilla ice cream being counterbalanced perfectly by the rich chocolate, meaning that your tastebuds never get tired once you've dug in. The brownies are strong, moist, and rich in flavour, and the cookie dough provides yet another pleasant addition of sweetness.

Overall: Trust me when I say this is a fan favourite for a reason! Definitely worth a pick up when you go to your local stores, and always a winner for people who are rather fussy about their ice cream flavours. The only problem is that your may end up getting to the bottom of that tub sooner than you would have liked, because your spoon will always be routing around for one last buried brownie!

Rating: 9/10