December 23, 2009

Confession: Hershey's Kisses

Chocolate lovers fall into two groups: the chocoholics who will eat anything vaguely chocolate, and the connoisseurs, who won't eat supermarket chocolate, or only Swiss, or Ghiradelli.

For baking, I'm in the snootier camp. I've drunk hot cocoa made with many brands and cocoa, and the Valrhona really did knock my socks off, but I can't afford to buy it very often, even if I can find it.

For eating, I've loved Milka and Ritter Sport since childhood. Kakawa Chocolate House was the foodie highlight of our Sante Fe vacation. Again, I'm on the snooty side, maintaining my standards of acceptable chocolate.

Until Hershey's releases their Christmas-themed Kisses. Mom bought them back when they were the only candy with a special version for Christmas. Aged ten, I ate half a candy jar (about three ounces) in one sitting. I ate them very deliberately, licking them from the point downward to make them last longer.

I can't resist them to this day. Every Christmas I buy at least one bag, and eat them in groups of three, one each of the silver, green and red wrappers. There are better chocolates, even in the big box stores, but nothing tastes as good as tradition.