Jim Jams 83% Less Sugar Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
I've been eating a lot of chocolate spread recently, which is unusual for me, but I guess I got sucked in by the craze started with the newly launched Cadbury Caramel & Crunchie Chocolate Spreads. After posting about the Cadbury spreads I was contacted by Jim Jams, a company producing spreads with no added sugars, and was asked if I'd like to review their No Added Sugar Chocolate Hazelnut Spread. I'm notoriously moaning about quitting or reducing sugar, so I couldn't refuse to give it a try!
Rather than sugar this is instead sweetened with maltitol, which is a type of sugar alcohol that can have "unintended effects" if consumed in excess (and those who've tried it know what I mean!) This may be a blessing in disguise, as it's a further reason not to over-indulge. As well as maltitol, the spread contains 13% hazelnuts, cocoa, milk powder, whey powder and a mixture of palm and rapeseed oil. It's gluten free and contains 494 calories per 100g.
Opening the lid, it had a kind of swirly appearance with what looked like small chocoloate nibs in it.
I'm not sure what they are exactly, I thought maybe hazelnut bits, but they didn't taste any more hazelnutty than the actual spread.
This is a very tasty spread indeed, but very different from your regular chocolate spread. The sweetness is of course milder which means the flavours of cocoa and hazelnut can shine through a bit more, and the texture is a bit different from the likes of Nutella, it's firmer. I really enjoyed it, it's smooth and nutty and not throat-burningly sweet. However this meant that it was a little too easy to overdo it and eat more than a few spoonfulls...oops! I did indeed suffer the consequences from that!
Overall, is this better than Nutella? To be honest no, nothing will ever beat Nutella in terms of pure yumminess, but for something that's healthier and makes you feel virtuous while eating it this is a great option. It's rare to find a sugar free chocolate spread, so kudos to Jim Jams for catering for this increasing dietary need...I hope to see more flavours and varieties in the future!
8 out of 10.
You're 100% right, Nutella is the reigning champion but seeing a reduced sugar alternative is really encouraging! And gluten free to boot, even better!
ReplyDeleteproducts like this irritate me so much, they fool people into thinking they're healthier as they had "no added sugar" but instead ram it with subsatnces your body can't process. You don't even get that fewer calories, per 100g of proper nutella is 546 cals so you're saving 52 cals per 100... if you think about this in regard to the serving size its probably saving you around 5 calories....
ReplyDeleteThe best Nutella equivalent I've found is the Meridian hazelnut spread - no sugar, no salt, no artificial things and no palm oil - 100% pure hazelnuts. Mix it with raw cacao, spread it on whatever and top with sliced banana - heaven! You can also sweeten it if you want or even stir in melted chocolate
Delete@alex Glover Completely agree! No real gain when cals essentially same and you end up doubled over with the GI side effects
DeleteCrikey unintended effects! Living on the edge there Kevvie with you're spoonfuls!
ReplyDeleteHaha i would be safer sticking to the sugar!
DeleteGluten free, wheat free, nut free, dairy free, sugar free, fun free.. Butty the sole Moo cow eating extraordinaire! PRAISE THE BEUFF. xx
DeleteWhat on earth are you on about love xx
DeleteI have no idea but I'm sure it made sense at the time hahaha. xx
DeleteWhere did you get it?
ReplyDeleteI was sent it to review, but you can buy it on Ocado.
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