Can Stress Be Tackled with Nutella?
Easy peasy!
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If you've got a jar of Nutella and a spoon, just slowly and constantly ask the universe the question, and more often than not, the exit strategy will reveal itself in the chocolate patterns at the bottom of the jar.
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It's all crystal clear... like a shot of espresso.
Can Stress Be Tackled with Nutella?xa0
But, it seems like this year something's gone awry, and Nutella just didn't cut it... the jar's empty, and there's no way out.
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Attempt 2 - Ovomaltine
Ovomaltine - a Swiss method for tackling stress.
The trick: formulate your question or problem, grab the blue-labeled Ovomaltine jar with your left hand, and a long cappuccino spoon with your right...
Can Stress Be Tackled with Nutella?xa0
Crunchy Cream
Brand: Ovomaltine
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Despite being made in Switzerland, it's enjoyed worldwide.
Ovomaltine's product lineup includes everything from dry breakfast cereals to chocolate and beverages, all with the same foundation.
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Packaging
The transparent glass jar is wrapped with an orange label around the middle, urging you to crunch and boasting about the absence of palm oil.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream On the reverse of the packaging, you'll find a whole list of ingredients, calories, manufacturer, and suppliers.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream
The lid is a nice dark blue color, matching the branding name.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream Underneath the lid, there's a foil-lined membrane for protection.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream The foil comes off easily, and it doesn't leave any residue on the container (unlike some other brands I've tried).
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream The first thing that hits you is the rich, chocolatey aroma, slightly reminiscent of Nutella. There's something else in the scent, but I'm not quite sure what it is yet.
The mass looks a bit lighter than Nutella, and you can see some visible specks.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream I initially thought the specks were hazelnuts, but it wasn't until I was writing this review that I found out what they actually are.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream: the packaging
Let's get real, who doesn't love chocolate spread on toast for breakfast or as a snack? Even the little ones get a thumbs up for it!
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Crunchy Cream Chocolate Spread
I've been using this stuff like a pro - right out of the jar, leaving a nice, velvety chocolatey goodness on my tongue for what feels like ages. xa0
The chocolate spread is sweet, but not too sweet. It's got a great flavor that's reminiscent of Nutella - thick, rich, and chocolatey.
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream Chocolate Spread xa0
There are these weird little bits (haven't figured out what they are yet) that linger in my mouth after I've had the chocolate spread. They don't dissolve and have a nice crunch to them.
It's the little crunchies that add to the fun of eating each spoonful of chocolate spread.
They don't have a strong flavor, they're pretty neutral, but the sweetness comes from the chocolate spread itself. Mmm...
Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream Chocolate Spread xa0
I almost want to say that I've known this product since childhood. That its flavor hasn't changed and it's brought me back to carefree times...
It's funny, I used to make 'chocolate oil' (basically sugar and cocoa powder 'Golden Label') with my friends, or heat up condensed milk for a quick chocolate fix. Those could take me back to nostalgic times faster than a time machine.
Looking back, I realize that in the 90s, we were slowly moving towards Nutella by adding condensed milk or caramel to our homemade chocolate mix. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, they were mixing whatever they had on hand with oil - Ovomaltine, a drink from childhood.
Ovomaltine Крем-шоколад хрустящий Сrunchy СreamIngredients
33% powder from malt-based drink* Ovomaltine, condensed milk, concentrated milk serum, low-fat cocoa powder, sugar, fructose, mineral substances (magnesium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate), rapeseed oil, vitamins (A, E, C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folic acid, B12, biotin, pantothenic acid), salt, vanilla flavoring], sugar, rapeseed oil, fully hydrogenated rapeseed oil, hazelnuts, emulsifiers (sunflower lecithin, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), low-fat cocoa powder, antioxidants (ascorbil palmitate, alpha-tocopherol), vanilla flavoring.
I'm still yet to try this drink (already noted), but as soon as I'm done with Caro from Nestle - I'll be trying it.
Caro from Nestle - reviewWhat caught my attention is that the chocolate paste contains not only the drink Ovomaltine, but also vitamins! Isn't that a lovely touch? When I come across such information, I always think that many people have moved away from sugary treats, and manufacturers have decided to keep the most confident chocolate stress-fighters as having healthy additives hidden under a thick layer of sugar, but showcased on the label.
It's also packed with vitamins, calcium, and magnesium.
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Back to the crunchy bits...
As it turns out, the mini chunks in the chocolate mass are actually malt. To be precise, they're granules from the drink Ovomaltine, created by a certain Dr. Vander 150 years ago. I've never tried anything like this before and unfortunately, I've never been to Switzerland.
Ovomaltine is a fast-dissolving drink made from barley malt, dried milk, cocoa, dried skimmed milk, glucose syrup, eggs, yeast, and honey. The product was invented over 100 years ago by a Swiss pharmacist and was initially marketed as a toning product for small children and sick people.
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I love how the dried, super-thin malt granules are airy and crunchy. I reckon many kids used to crunch on them as kids without turning them into a drink. For them, Ovomaltine's Crunchy Cream is a taste of childhood.
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Each spoonful of chocolate cream melts in your mouth, while the barley malt flakes crunch pleasingly...
Imagine stretching out the pleasure... spreading it on a cookie, toast, or cracker, and with thin crepes... you'd get a crunchy, tasty treat!
Too bad I've already devoured the whole jar... highly recommend!
Ovomaltine Crunchy Creamxa0
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