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Mar 22, 2008 9:28 am US/Central
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Battle Of The Bunnies: Time To Test Chocolate
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
Americans spend around $1.9 billion on Easter candy each year. Frank Vascellaro decided to help his viewers spend their candy cash wisely.
Vascellaro picked four milk chocolate rabbits to face each other in the Battle of the Bunnies: Hershey, Russell Stover, Lindt, and a fancy brand, Godiva. Before the taste test, the chocolate rabbits were sliced into bite-size sample portions. Taste testers were found around Nicollet Mall.
First were a couple of Target employees, Nathan Kuznia and his buddy Chris Kaye. They decided they'd rather miss their bus than miss an opportunity to taste chocolate.
"You're gonna have to test different kinds of chocolate and rate them as to what you think is better," explained Vascellaro.
The taste testers were asked to rate the bits of bunny -- zero is the worst thing they've ever tasted, ten is the best.
Nathan had fond memories of biting into chocolate Easter bunnies.
"It's been a while, but I'd probably go for the ears first," he said.
"It's familiar," said Chris, after taking a bite of Bunny #4. "A little warm and tingly."
Raeanna Erickson is only six years old, but she knows what she likes -- chocolate.
"This is actually pretty good. I just want to taste it again and again…this is yummy," said Raeanna.
Her Mom Jeanette was more discerning.
"Not much flavor to that one," she said about #2.
Taste tester Emile Larson tried to guess what she was tasting. She was right on the mark about Bunny #1. It was Hershey's.
"It kind of makes your mouth pucker but in a good way, but in a chocolate way," she said.
Who won the Battle of the Bunnies? Bunny #1 was Hershey's. It cost 42 cents an ounce. The judges gave it a score of 6.8.
At 57 cents an ounce, the Russell Stover bunny cost a bit more and tastes a bit better. It rated a 7.
The Lindt bunny cost 86 cents per ounce, twice the Hershey price. It, too, scored a 7.
For $2.89 an ounce, the Godiva bunny better be tasty. And it is. Godiva got a 9.2 from the judges. It's the unanimous winner.
"I have expensive taste," said Jeanette Erickson, "So that doesn't surprise me."
Chris Kaye was pleased he picked the priciest candy, "Makes me feel good that I have expensive taste."
Nathan Kuznia was surprised by the big gap between the least and most expensive bunnies.
"They charge that because they can," he said. "People would buy it, and I probably would, too."
"Would you pay that much more for a good bunny versus a less expensive bunny?" asked Vascellaro.
"Good chocolate is like good wine," answered Larson.
For Raeanna, the Battle of the Bunnies was a four-way tie. She gave all four chocolates a perfect score. The lesson there is that you might not want to buy the best bunnies for your little ones.
"For a kid, any chocolate will do," said Raeanna's Mom.
For them, chocolate is chocolate. It's all good.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)