Ben & Jerry's Hazed and Confused
Chocolate & Hazelnut Ice Creams with Fudge Chips & a Hazelnut Fudge Core
( some of you will know it as All or Nut-ting )
Ok, hazelnut base first. I take a few bites and I like it. It's almost buttery. It's sweet, smooth, and different, definitely different, and in a good way. It's not crazy strong but I don't usually want that in a nut flavor. I want sweet first, then add in the flavor notes.
The hazelnut base plus core is strange. Texturally, it's cool that the core is more thick like fudge than sauce, but I'm liking the flavor less and less as I go.
Chocolate + too much core = ummm, yeah, the core is starting to annoy me again. I swear it's getting more strange as I go down the pint. Uggg, that last fudge bite was kinda gross. Maybe I'm unrefined, or maybe, just maybe, these fudge cores just aren't that good. I feel like I'm gnawing on acorn shells or something.... ok, that was a bit harsh.
Yeah, it seems yet again that the core is my least favorite part while the mixing of the two bases together is kind of fun. The mild hazelnut base seems to be the smoother/creamier side and that makes it a neat play off the crunch filled chocolate side. You can mess around with balancing the two bases out on your spoon in different ratios to find the perfect match of flavor, sweetness, and texture.
Ok, I'm full for now. Sorry to be negative again. As always, all comments are welcome on this and the other new core flavors.
On Second Scoop Recap: Chocolate chocolate chip side is fine. Hazelnut side is mild but pleasant. Core is kind of disgusting and may be seeping in to the other flavors. Sorry. This just doesn't work for me.
Verdict? cool except for the core (again)
Buy Again? not likely
These Core products just confuse me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this one; I do really like this flavour and I would buy it but I think in all of the Ben n Jerry's core flavours the core seems to be the weakest part.
ReplyDeleteThe fudge core...its okay..but there's something 'play-doh' like about it; the hazelnut ice cream is definitely the star of the show in this one.
I don't understand the concept of these types of ice creams, probably because I didn't like Karamel Sutra. But are you supposed to eat the two ice creams separately or are you supposed to mix them? And is the purpose of the fudge core to separate the flavors? Couldn't they have put one ice cream on one side of the pint and the other on the other side without the core, as Blue Bunny did with "Split Decision" (which is half chocolate and half vanilla)? In Karamel Sutra, the core was a big disappointment for me, and the rest was just boring, so I wonder if all of these new "core" flavors will be disappointments as well
ReplyDelete@stride: you eat it in whatever way makes you happiest (but since the core is unamusing, i could just eat around it). It's definitely going for a sundae vibe while still giving you the full pint experience, it's just that a lot of us are unimpressed by the core. (but for those who do like the core, that's cool, we all have our preferences)
ReplyDeleteI was in an online focus group survey for these core flavors. The package graphics have changed somewhat, and I remember there was another Core flavor called "Blond, James Blond" that must not have made the cut.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me slightly of Ferrero Rocher chocolate if it was ice cream. The hazelnut is slight but I thought it worked. The chocolate just tasted like regular chocolate.
ReplyDeleteThe core was good in the beginning since I was taking it with scoops of each flavor, but at the end when its just a ton of the core left at the bottom, the fudge gets pretty overpowering.
I was also expecting the core to be in the center but it was really just all over the place in my pint.
I would buy it as a regular ice cream but the cores consistency texture and taste is absolutely disgusting.its like glue...YUKKK
ReplyDeleteI sit here enjoying a pint of Dazed and Confused and realize how cranky and uptight you people are. This is an amazing Ice Cream and you "reviewers" seem overly critical of anything that has chocolate in it.
ReplyDeleteHere's the SCOOP: This ice cream is amazing. The core is Nutella guys, but you weren't smart enough to figure that out. Now imagine nutella sandwhiched in between the best tasting vanilla and macadamia flavored ice cream you've ever laid a spoon on on side side, combined with chocolate ice cream drenched in chocolate chunks.
How can you not like this? Unless, you're a CHOCOLATE SNOB and absolutely hate chocolate.
To everyone who hasn't tried this yet (and if you're not a chocolate snob) buy it. You'll buy 5 more (like I did) and enjoy every second of it.
Same goes for your review of "The Tonight Dough". Guys, are you intentionally trying to be controversial and opposite reality? You're doing a great job!
But as reviewers who are to be taken seriuosly and trusted? I'll pass on your review, which I give 0 out of 10 stars.
@Anon: oh, where to begin. For your "smart" comment, you may think it's nutella, but it's not. Some may find it similar, but it's not literally nutella. B&J wouldnt use vanillin for starters, nor is there any palm oil here, but I nitpick. Secondly, I didnt pick on the chocolate base here, my complaint is with the core. Third, the hazelnut side tastes like macadamia? Now who's not paying attention. Fourth, you spelled "sandwhiched" wrong. Fifth, I have no problem with you liking The Tonight Dough, but it's doesn't have the wow factor of Late Night Snack. Sixth, if you dont like our reviews, don't read them.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day.
Anon, I give your comment a 0/10 as well. You see, this ice cream first off is called Hazed & Confused. Secondly, it is a hazelnut ice cream and not a macadamia ice cream. Third, I was the reviewer of The Tonight Dough and said I did enjoy it. It could've been so much more if they had chosen to use different bases because their chocolate is well known for drowning out the mix-ins completely. Fourth, if you're going to try to insult us, please use spellcheck beforehand and get your facts straight. Lastly, have a great day and we're glad you enjoyed this ice cream because everyone has their own taste preferences.
ReplyDelete