I picked up a box of Theo Chocolate Big Daddy Marshmallow 3-pack when I was at the Theo Chocolate Factory for a factory tour. It was a pack of 3 confections containing chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker, and caramel – basically smores plus caramel. The kind store attendant told me that it was one of their best sellers so I just had to try it.
Theo Chocolate is the first bean-to-bar chocolate company in the United States and makes amazing chocolate bars and confections. Their bars are easy to find in grocery stores and they are known to be very ethical. I’ve tried many of their chocolates including best-sellers like the peanut butter and jelly cups, 70% sea salt dark chocolate, and their caramel collection.
Theo Chocolate Big Daddy Packaging
I love the packaging! The navy blue and earthy teal color scheme and the mountain drawings made me feel like I’m camping in the pacific northwest. If you look closely at the drawing on the right side, you will find Gerald, resident sasquatch and unofficial Theo mascot, making smores. I thought that was a really cute and whimsical touch. The white box underneath the blue cover was sturdy and protected the confections well. All three were perfectly intact with no dents or blemishes.
Appearance
The confections were much bigger than I thought they would be which was a pleasant surprise. I thought that they would be the same size as Theo’s chocolate-covered caramels but they were almost two times bigger. Despite being made by hand in Theo’s Confection Kitchen, the confections were all consistent and flawless. I like the milk chocolate swirls that decorate the dark chocolate shell. It was simple but effective.
Right when you open the box, the strong smell of cacao permeates the air. It smelled exactly like the neighborhood surrounding the Theo chocolate factory and took me back to my chocolate factory tour experience. There is also a slight hint of the handmade graham cracker in the smell.
Taste
Overall, I enjoyed the three layers separately and combined. The caramel has the same base flavor and consistency as the caramels in the Let It Snow box. My only critique is that I don’t find the marshmallow fluffy but more on the chewy side. Perhaps a roasted marshmallow ganache would work better. The overall flavor could also be a little sweeter. I love their graham cracker so much that I wish they would sell them individually.
Quality
The quality is overall exceptional. It has more layers and textural complexity than the average smores. You can also tell that every component was made carefully by hand and tweaked ever so slightly until they reach this flavor combination.
Is Theo Chocolate Ethical?
Theo Chocolate sources their cocoa beans directly from the farmers in the Congo via Esco. Their packaging is mostly paper-based and very sustainable. It would be good if they were more transparent. For example, they can list all the farms in the Congo that they source their cocoa beans from so that people can track to see that the farm is run fairly without the use of child or slave labor.
Conclusion
Overall, Theo Chocolate Big Daddy confection was well done. The packaging was cute and whimsical. The handmade graham cracker was crispy and outstanding but could taste stronger. My biggest critique was the marshmallow. I think that component of the confection can be improved to have a smores similar flavor to a roasted marshmallow. I think the texture can be improved as well. Check out my review on Bon Bon Bon for a better smores confection.
Chocolate Scorecard
| Packaging | 4/5 | The navy blue and earthy teal color scheme with mountain drawings made me feel like camping in the Pacific Northwest. The packaging was sturdy and protected the confections well. The white box underneath the blue cover was sturdy. |
| Appearance | 3/5 | The confections were much bigger than expected. Despite being made by hand, the confections were all consistent and flawless. Milk chocolate swirls decorated the dark chocolate shell. It could be better. |
| Flavor | 3/5 | The caramel had the same base flavor and consistency as the caramels in the Let It Snow box. The marshmallow was on the chewy side and could be improved to have a similar flavor to a roasted marshmallow. The overall flavor could be a little sweeter. |
| Mouthfeel | 4/5 | I enjoyed the three layers separately and combined. The confection had more layers and textural complexity than the average s’more. |
| Quality | 4.5/5 | Every component of the confection was made carefully by hand and tweaked ever so slightly until they reached this flavor combination. The quality was exceptional. |
| Ethics | 4.5/5 | Theo Chocolate sources their cocoa beans directly from farmers in the Congo via Esco. Their packaging is mostly paper-based and very sustainable. The company could be more transparent about its sourcing. |
| Overall | 3.83/5 |
Where can you buy Theo Chocolate Big Daddy Confections?
You can buy it on the Theo Chocolate website.
Should you buy Theo Chocolate Big Daddy Confections?
Whether or not to buy Theo Chocolate Big Daddy Confections ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you enjoy smores and caramel flavors, as well as high-quality, ethically sourced chocolate, then you may enjoy these confections. However, if you are not a fan of chewy marshmallows or prefer sweeter flavors, these may not be the best choice for you.
Chocolate Information
| Brand | Theo Chocolate |
| Description | Three colossal organic & fair trade confections sure to please even the biggest sweet tooth! Made by hand in our Confection Kitchen, this classic Theo treat is our take on the classic s’more. We start with a handmade graham cracker crust, add a layer of buttery vanilla-infused caramel, and float a fluffy marshmallow cloud on top. Enrobed in dark chocolate, and decorated with milk chocolate flourish. |
| Chocolate Type | Dark chocolate, milk chocolate |
| Cost | $11.49 |
| Made in | Seattle, WA, USA |
| Ingredients | Cane Sugar*+, Cream*, Corn Syrup*, Cocoa Beans*+, Butter*, Whole Wheat Pastry Flour*, Water, Graham Flour (Whole Grain Hard Red Spring Wheat Flour)*, Honey*, Cocoa Butter*+, Gelatin, Molasses*, Whole Milk Powder*, Ground Vanilla Bean*, Salt, Baking Soda. CONTAINS MILK & WHEAT.*ORGANIC +FAIR TRADE |
| Allergens | Made on equipment that also processes tree nuts, sesame, eggs & peanuts. |
Nutrition Facts
N/A
Have you tried anything from Theo Chocolate before? How was your experience? What other chocolates would you like me to review? Let me know in the comments below.
