Well, it's been almost two weeks since my last journal so I figured it's time for an update.

First, I want to apologize for the lack of art thus far this year. My drawing skills have apparently degraded somewhat from what I remember being able to accomplish. Nevertheless, I do hope to have something completed soon so that I can share with my FA pals. Likewise, I really haven't gotten any of my desired writing done - bad kitty! Fortunately, with invaluable assistance from Tacki and Gus I have been making some progress on my ideas for a babyfur-themed tabletop RPG. Obviously, we still have a long way to go, but I think we've got a very solid core to work from and very much look forward to tinkering with the mechanics in the coming months.

Also, I may be a bit quieter than usual the next week or so as I'm going to be trying to get those drawinmgs finished as well as complete a few non-babyfur related projects that I've been procrastinating on finished. With any luck, however, I should be all set to be cute and fuzzy again really soon. And with that, I hereby present 'Kaffre Talks Candy #5!

Name: Andes Mints
Manufacturer: Tootsie
Size: 71 gram bag
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Andes Mints consist of small chocolate mints a with a white substance sandwiched between two layers of milk chocolate (similar to After Eight, the centre layer has a consistency similar to the chocolate). The pieces come individually wrapped in green foil packets and are sold by the bag. Upon close examination, I was able to discern that the chocolate itself, as well as the 'white stuff' is mint-flavoured to at least some extent.
Opinion: I'm sure I've eaten this product before, but I'm not really sure when and I had only the dimmest memories of the candy's taste. In any event, the mints were quite tasty and provided an excellent blending of mint and chocolate flavours. While I can't say this is my favourite mint-flavoured chocolate, I feel confident in saying that these are a snack I'll almost certainly be purchasing again even if they probably won't become a regular item on my shopping list.

Name: Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Size: 31 gram bag
Where Purchased: Bulk Barn
Description: Cadbury Buttons consist of small disc-shaped pieces of chocolate similar to, but smaller than, the melting wafers sold in confectionery shops and, I believe, the white chocolate buttons described below.
Opinion: Another product I'd never tried before, but frequent seen on the shelves, I recently bought a package to review. As with the white chocolate buttons, the chocolate itself was of excellent quality, but, perhaps due to the small amounts in each 'button' seemed to lack a certain depth of flavour.that one gets from the actual bar. Overall, they're quite tasty, but I doubt I'll be buying them again as I personally prefer a more substantial snack.

Name: Cadbury White Chocolate Buttons
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Size: 32.4 gram bag
Where Purchased: Bulk Barn
Description: Cadbury Buttons consist of small disc-shaped pieces of white chocolate similar to, but smaller than, the melting wafers sold in confectionery shops.
Opinion: Not a product I'd never tried before, but have often found interesting. The quality of the white chocolate is very high, being sweet and lacking the unpleasant aftertaste that often accompanies white chocolate. Despite their tastiness, I'm not sure I'll ever buy these again as they seem a bit insubstantial. That said, the same trait would seem to make them an ideal snack for children or those trying to limit their consumption of candy by providing a lot of flavour in a relatively small package.

Name: Dairy Milk (UK version)
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Size: 45 gram bar
Where Purchased: Bulk Barn
Description: The UK version of Dairy Milk looks similar to the Canadian version, except that it's slightly shorter and wider, and the segments have rounded tops rather than flat ones.
Opinion: This bar is quite tasty, but also very similar to the domestic version. The main difference I've noted is that the UK bar had a creamier taste and wasn't as sweet as the Canadian one. Ultimately, I thought this product was quite tasty, but the combination of a slight 'uncanny alley' effect in relation to the Canadian bar and the greater availability of domestic Dairy Milk bars means I probably won't buy this bar again despite thinking it quite good in its own right.

Name: Fry's Turkish Delight
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Size: 51 gram block
Where Purchased: Bulk Barn
Description: Fry's Turkish Delight consists of a slim squarish slab of turkish delight, enrobed in chocolate.
Opinion: A product I was initially somewhat wary of, but decided to try anyway. Even as someone not familiar with the stuff, I could tell immediately that the Turkish Delight used in this bar was of much higher quality that that in Nestle's Big Turk - it has a richer, more complex, flavour and the texture is less reminiscent of gummy. Unfortunately, this was my biggest problem with this product. Overall, I'm very unlikely to buy this product again, but think that someone with a stronger affinity for Turkish Delight might have a better reaction - I'm afraid this product just isn't for me.

Name: Galaxy Minstrels
Manufacturer: Mars
Size: 42 gram bag
Where Purchased: Bulk Barn
Description: Minstrels consist of convex shaped pieces of candy-coated chocolate. Their proportions are similar to those of Nestle smarties, but are about thee times larger.
Opinion: In addition to having a similar appearance to smarties also taste somewhat similar. The candy shell seems proportionally thinner, however, and the chocolate used seems to be of better quality, having the sweetness and milky flavour of a Galaxy bar. Overall, a solid product in its own right, but not one I think I'm likely to purchase again soon.

Name: Jersey Milk
Manufacturer: Mondelez
Size: 45 gram bar
Where Purchased: N/A, Christmas Present
Description: Jersey Milk consists of a slim, but wide bar of milk chocolate designed so that it can be broken up into 10 portions (2 columns of 5).
Opinion: Originally produced by Neilson, this bar is now produced by Cadbury. Jersey Milk is a bar I've tried before, but it was so long ago that I remember it only as a rather plain-tasting product. As it happens, however, is quite good with a taste similar to Dairy Milk, but less sweet and with a slightly waxy texture (though it was slightly melted from resting in my stocking overnight). Unfortunately, despite being very good in its own right, I think Dairy Milk will probably remain my go-to choice for plain chocolate in the near future, I will, however, be more likely to pounce when Jersey Milks go on sale now.

Name: M&Ms
Manufacturer: Mars
Size: 48 gram bag
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: M&Ms are a brand of candy-coated chocolate pieces resembling thick discs or flattened spheres. They come in a variety of colours, but all taste the same. They are identifiable by a white 'M' emblazoned onto the surface of the candy coating.
Opinion: A treat I've had before, but hadn't enjoyed in a while, M&Ms are about as good as I remember. The chocolate is tasty and the coating provides a nice amount of crunch. Overall, a good product and one I'll probably buy again, but ultimately I think I like 'Smarties' better though this may be nostalgia-induced rather than an accurate reflection of the differences between the two products, but unfortunately I never thought to try a blind test.

Name: Moritz Icy Squares
Manufacturer: Regal Confections
Size: 75 gram bag.
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Icy Squares consist of square blocks of chocolate that are slightly wider at the bottom than they are at the top. The chocolate used is made from hydrogenated coconut oil so it has a very low melting-point so it melts almost instantly in your mouth, or less delightfully, in your hand, when eating them. Each piece comes individually wrapped in coloured foil (green, red, or violet, and gold) and are sold in transparent plastic cylinders, or in plastic bags.
Opinion: Imported from Germany, Icy Squares have been a favourite holiday snack since I was very little. Buying a smallish pack for this review, Icy Squares tasted pretty much how I remembered being very sweet and creamy, but messy with an unusual aftertaste which, judging by the ingredient list, probably comes from the hazelnut paste. In addition, the heat transfer that occurs when eating these candies causes a 'cool' sensation in one's mouth. Overall, Icy Squares are a yummy, if rather rich, holiday treat and one I will continue to buy around the holidays, but will remain a very occasional snack at other times of year due to their propensity to melt.

Name: Zero Dark
Manufacturer: Regal Confections
Size: 50 gram bar
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Zero consists of four blocky-looking segments connected end to end with indentations to allow the individual segments to be broken off. Each segment consists of a hard dark chocolate shell filled with a creamier chocolate made from coconut oil, lending the bar a 'cool' taste similar to that of an "Icy Square".
Opinion: I've had this bar before, but as with the milk chocolate version, it had been a long time and I didn't really remember what it tasted like. Unlike with the regular Zero, I followed the serving instructions on the wrapper and refrigerated the bar before serving, but I'm not sure it really made much difference. In any case, while not a bad bar by any measure, one's attitude toward this product is likely to be determined, by one's feelings regarding dark chocolate. For me, this means I enjoyed the bar and might buy it again, but am more likely to pass it up in favour of the milk chocolate version. (Note: I was unable to discern if the bar's centre was also dark chocolate).