Macadamia Nut Rice Crisps - Jan. 28, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Explore Vietnam (brand)
Milk Chocolate Macadamia Nut Rice Crisps
OK + - Good
Weight: .276 oz. (7.8 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) total box of 18 pieces
Calories: 42.6 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $9.00 total box of 18 pieces
Purchased from: Duty Free Shop, Hanoi Airport; Hanoi, Vietnam

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week.

These "Explore Vietnam" milk chocolates (manufactured by Hawaiian King Candies in Hawaii) were molded into smallish, peanut butter cup-shaped confections -- with bits of hazelnut and rice crisps in them instead of peanuts and peanut butter.

I've done my best to explore Vietnam this past week, and to look for chocolates with both nuts and rice (crisps) or rice flour/crepes. This may sound like an odd flavor trio, however, I've had no trouble finding chocolates with nuts + rice (in some form).

I also sampled some fairly fresh, lightly sweetened mochi (made with rice and filled with red bean or fruit paste, or sometimes chocolate flavoring), with chopped peanuts, and some local ice cream. More on that later.

Today's Explore Vietnam box was adorned with a large color photo of Halong Bay in central Vietnam, a popular tourist location. A boat tour is one of the best ways see some of the more than 1,600 towering "karst"/limestone (sea stack-like) islands in Halong Bay. Having visited this site this week, I can say that it's worth a visit.