Hello, Hello!

Hello! Have you met, um, Hello? This is the new line of chocolate from Lindt available at Target. The packaging and flavors are a whole departure from Lindt's usual conservative (although very delicious) offerings. For example, most people are familiar with their round, foil-wrapped truffles. Very rich, very proper. Now, however, we have all new forms: sticks, bars, mini-sticks and these cute little shapes:

 The first one I tried was the Caramel Brownie bar (milk chocolate with hazelnut and caramel brownie filling). It was extremely rich and sweet, although I'm not sure I got much "brownie" taste out of it. In any case, it had the traditional creaminess that one would expect from Lindt with a more aggressive sweetness. Next, I tried the box of chocolates which, in addition to Caramel Brownie, also featured Cookies & Cream and Crunchy Nougat. I'm usually not that into cookies & cream flavored things, but I really liked these. Inside the heart was white filling with little bits of crunchy cookie. What's not to love? The Crunchy Nougat reminded me of European candy bars with hazelnut filling. The last one I tried was the Berry Affair, described as white chocolate with a cherry and blackberry yogurt filling. I've got to be honest here. I hated this bar. There was just too much going on-- sweet, sour, creamy, seedy. It wasn't for me. The Sugar Baby, however, loved it, so there you go. We're a house divided.
If I had to guess, I'd say this new line of chocolates is aimed at a younger, hipper crowd. Perhaps because I'm "of a certain age," I prefer Lindt's traditional line, but I know that young whippersnappers, like the von Schokolat's and No-Nuts, would love these.