Lindt Swiss Dark Chocolate for all your Home Baking and Eating Needs

I was at Winner's the other day and decided to check out their chocolate section.  I had it in my head that they had a large chocolate and gourmet food section, but was surprised to see that the chocolate inventory was limited, as was the gourmet food.  Then I remembered that I had been thinking about HomeSense and their vast supply of gourmet food and chocolate.  Besides, what was I doing looking for chocolate and food at a clothing store anyway?

So, being in a city with no time left to buy chocolate before I headed back to the country,  I bought what Winner's was selling, which was Lindt Swiss Dark Chocolate bars. I bought the large 300 gram gold packaged chocolate bar and the silver 100 gram bar.  The ingredients are almost the same (see below for these details), but the gold package lists "vanilla" and the silver package lists "flavour" instead of vanilla.  It has been my experience that when a chocolate package lists just "flavour" in the ingredients list, that usually means artificial flavour.  However, there seems to be no difference in this chocolate and I do not taste artificial flavouring in either chocolate bar.

Upon tasting it, I can see that these two bars are made from the same chocolate composition and likely manufactured in the same facility (unlike the gold package, the silver package does not specify where or by whom it is manufactured, just which division of Lindt & Sprumgli imported it).  The % of cocoa solids is also not listed, but it is definitely on the sweet side, although not sickeningly sweet like some dark chocolate in that range.  However not an ideal chocolate for a tasting party, it would be excellent for desserts.  You could melt down the 100 gram bar with 1/4 cup of cream to make a beautiful dark chocolate glaze for a cake or a sauce for ice cream, or you could use the 300 gram bar for a cheesecake or mousse recipe. Or, if you like sweet dark chocolate, you could just eat it. But if that is your reason, it would be best to buy the 100 gram chocolate bar, or you may just eat too much!

So my questions for Lindt are: why do the packages need to be different colours? Would it not be easier for consumers to know that this is the same product, just in a different size format?  Also, why does the ingredients list on one bar say "flavour" and the other "vanilla"? Hmmm....I think that is strange. And, shouldn't we save a little money when we buy the larger size?  I paid $1.99 for the 100 gram bar and $5.99 for the 300 gram bar, so in fact, I paid $0.02 more by purchasing the larger package.  I think I should get a deal when I buy a larger size of the same product. Perhaps Lindt & Sprungli Canada (or Switzerland) can consider these questions for future packaging and retail sales improvements.

Overall, the price is still fairly reasonable for quality baking chocolate for all your home baking needs, and the chocolate is smooth and tasty for a sweet treat in the morning, afternoon or whenever you get the urge to eat chocolate. 

Here are the details from the packages of both of these chocolate bars:

Chocolat Lindt Swiss Dark Chocolate, 100 g (silver package)
Imported by Lindt & Sprungli (Canada) Inc.
http://www.lindt.com/
Ingredients: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, flavour.  May contain traces of peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds and milk.

Chocolat Lindt Swiss Dark Chocolate, 300 g (gold package)
Imported by Lindt & Sprungli (Canada) Inc., Manufactured by Lindt & Sprungli AG (Switzerland)
http://www.lindt.com/
Ingredients: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, vanilla.  May contain traces of peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds and milk.