I've written a series of blogs comparing various spreads to Nutella. I use Nutella as a comparison because I feel like many people have sampled the stuff. I'll also be very honest here, I believe Nutella is one of the best dessert like spreads in the world. There are a few better, but Nutella is pretty amazing considering it's so mass produced. Today however, I think Nutella may have met it's match... literally.
I've recently come across the same Nutella two different ways. One is in a giant jar (from Costco) while the other is in a tiny single serving blister pack. One is meant to be one serving, the other is really small (I joke). From what I know both of these Nutella samples were manufactured in the same place (Canada). They're also both about equally fresh. So in theory they should be exactly the same, only in different sizes.
Here's the strange thing, the minute I started to smear on the Nutella, I got the sense that the one in the smaller package was a little bit darker. It's very subtle, and may not even really show up in a photo, but I felt like it was just a tiny bit darker than the stuff in the big jar. Could they be cheating out on cocoa for the stuff they sell in bulk?
Flavour wise they seemed pretty similar, although my mind may have been playing with me a little. I thought the smaller package of Nutella tasted a little more cocoa full. If we take this possibly hypothetical difference out, there are a few other things worth noting about the two. First of all the small one gives you less Nutella. Take that any way you like. If you're trying to cut back on Nutella usage, it might be a good tool. If you want more Nutella in your life, it's not great.
The smaller container was also a little harder to get the Nutella out. I've always said that a near empty jar of Nutella is a bit of a challenge, and this small container was like a near empty jar virtually instantly. One of the good features of the small package is the portability. If you need Nutella on the go, this is really the better way.
It's really hard to decide which is better. Since economics plays a role in this for me, I think I'll stick with the bulk jars. Even if there is slightly less cocoa, they're good enough and the difference is ever so slight (if any at all). I like to get little packages of Nutella when I'm eating out, only because an open jar of Nutella at a restaurant or breakfast buffet is always tragic. People need some serious Nutella etiquette.
CC
