I was able to complete the research for this post VERY RAPIDLY.
(See also: Which Pieces Are in the See’s Candies Chocolate and Variety Box?
Which Pieces Are in the See’s Candies Soft Centers Box?
Which Pieces Are in the See’s Candies Assorted Chocolates Box?)
I’m evaluating the See’s assortment boxes to see if I like the included pieces enough to be worth saving $4.00-$4.50/pound over a custom mix. The last three have both been no: it made more sense to get the Custom Mix, especially since the Custom Mix boxes tend to be a bit heavier than a pound.
Now I’m trying the Milk Chocolates box. Here’s the description: “Enjoy soft buttercream, crispy molasses wafers, creamy caramel and beyond, all generously coated in our classic, irresistible milk chocolate. Includes Bordeaux™, Butterscotch Square, Caramel, Vanilla Nut Cream, Cocoanut, Almond Square and more.” There’s almost no chance this box will end up being a good value for me; I just got caught up in the fun of it, and also I’m curious: I want to know ALL THE PIECES.
Here are the pieces in the box (more info on what each piece is like can be found on the Custom Mix page):
Almond Square (2)
Butterscotch Square (2)
California Brittle
Caramel (2)
Chelsea
Divinity
Mayfair
Milk Almond (2)
Milk Bordeaux
Milk Butterchew (2)
Milk Chocolate Butter (2)
Milk Cocoanut
Milk Molasses Chip (3)
Milk Walnut
Mocha
Rum Nougat (2)
Vanilla Nut Cream (2)
Of those seventeen types, six are ones I would order for sure in a custom mix. Two are ones I really like but might not think to order, and so would be especially pleased to see in an assortment. Five are ones I think are okay; two more I think are kind of meh. And two I actively dislike and would give to Paul. (I don’t specify which are which, because it’s personal tastes/preference only: it’s not that I think some pieces are objectively higher or lower quality.) So for me, this box was good to try but not as good a value as a custom-mix box.
Additional notes:
1. I am almost always disappointed by unnecessary duplication in an assortment box. Why TWO chocolate creams when there are no vanilla, orange, or strawberry creams? I think I was puzzled about this with another box, too, that had, like, three raspberry truffles but none of the other fruit truffles. Diversification is the best part of a mixed box of chocolate. DIVERSIFY IT UP.
2. I’d thought of Caramel (chocolate-covered caramel with almonds) as being in the “okay” category, but after two pieces of it this time, I’d bump it up to the “really like but might not think to order” category. See, you DO have to try things ten times to see if you like them! (*orders ten more boxes*) Also, I would have used the name “Caramel” to describe the piece they call Milk Butterchew (chocolate-covered caramel), and I would have named the one with almonds something that sounds more like it has almonds in it. The name “Caramel” almost seems to specify NOT almonds.
See’s should REALLY be funding your research here. I never think of them as a possible treat option until you post these and now I’m off to go order some…
My husband buys me a two pound custom box every year for Christmas. Thanks to your research, I’ll be able to tell him to just buy the Milk Chocolates box this year and save a bit. A whopping THIRTEEN of the candies you listed are candies I request in the custom mix every year. (When the See’s Christmas catalog comes, I circle all the candies that I want to have in my custom mix, and then he adds a couple that he thinks I’ll like to round it out) This is exciting stuff. Thank you, Swistle, for your sacrifice in taking on this rigorous testing of See’s Candies. ;)
I feel like you need to send this research and feedback to See’s. They’ve got to send your some free stuff in return!
Also, this is awesome free publicity for them. I think Swistle at least deserves a free box.
Did I tell you on the last post that right after I had my baby last year, husband went to our See’s store with a lost to get a custom box. The store staff told him a premixed was just the same so he got that one. I am still mad. I spent a month planning that postpartum box, using your posts as a guide.
(I do have a hard time sometimes remembering the names of some; they don’t correspond well.)
Why doesn’t See’s sell a postpartum box?
Ahahahaha!
“I’m still mad!”
This made my day. ….
If I ever have another baby I am totally going to buy my own postpartum box (boxes?) in advance. Fabulous idea!
My husband also twice made the mistake of buying a pre-mixed box because it is cheaper even through I have him rundown of my favorites and specifically requested them. I have now created a google document that is shared with him that lists my favorites, with notations for those I want extra of. As I discover new pieces or my tastes change I update the document. See’s candy is serious business. Recently he got me a two pound box that consisted of one pound of my favorites and then on the bottom was an entire pound of my all time favorite, the cashew brittle. I was ecstatic when I uncovered that bottom layer of orgasmic happiness.
These posts make me happy. I love imaining you with a box of chocolates. Happily testing and savoring.
Your completionist dedication to this project pleases me.
Hi, sorry to necro an old post on you, BUT, re: having more than one of various things in the box. I once asked that same question of someone who foolishly mentioned being an executive at Godiva, and this is what I was told: Because per their research, the majority of folks buying the boxes are sharing them with at least one other person. They tend to give you two of the more popular chocolates (per their research again, so the fact that *I personally* might have preferred two strawberries to two raspberries is apparently NOT how the majority of their customers roll) to avoid civil wars from breaking out between friends, neighbors and spouses.
This did not make sense to me at the time because I was single, but post-marriage I have to say that yes, if the husband were to (GASP!) take the ONLY California Brittle from a mixed box? He would be a SINGLE MAN (if not a CORPSE) in VERY short order… :p