Reese’s – Take 5

I can’t really tell if this is a collaboration flavour or just a rebranding. You see, Reese is known as peanut butter cups, while Take 5 are a somewhat complicated chocolate bar. Take 5 has pretzels, peanuts, caramel, peanut butter and covered in chocolate. The only difference I can see between the original Take 5 bar and this Reese version is the branding. It has all the same components as the original. I wonder if the rebranding is because Take 5 wasn’t that popular here in Canada, or maybe Reese is just a more household name so rebranding it would get it out there.

I personally don’t see Take 5 in non-specialty stores so perhaps this rebranding means it will get more attention and potentially be a mainstay. I only remember thinking fondly on Take 5 bars as a kid, so this could be exciting. I wonder if the Canadian market just isn’t there so they don’t even bother stocking it to make it widely available.

The standard sized bar has two separate chunks in it, kind of like Mounds bars. These feel chunky, like they have a lot of heft and weight. The bar size might not be big, but they feel dense. I like dense. In my snacks, not in people just to be clear.

The bar has a lot of components, but they don’t clash or anything so what you get is pretty straightforward experience flavour wise. It’s got the sweetness from the chocolate, caramel and the savoury saltiness from the peanuts, pretzels and the peanut butter has a bit of both. I’d say the caramel takes the sweetness a little over the top, but overall the flavour works well together and is enjoyable, if not a little on the sweeter side.

The texture reminds me of an Oh Henry bar, with a lot going on. The peanuts and pretzels provide a nice crisp crunch while the peanut butter and caramel smooth things out to a nice chewy texture. The whole thing comes together like a typical peanut chocolate bar like Snickers, but the addition of pretzels make it less sticky and gooey and adds some crispness to it.

Overall I’d say I enjoy Take 5. There’s a lot of different components to the bar, but this is a good example of the sum being greater than it’s parts. The combination of everything works together really well and delivers something memorable and leaves me wanting more. I haven’t had too much experience with Take 5, but each of them have been positive, this one being no exception. I would definitely consider getting this again if I want something that feels a bit more filling and substantial and the normal peanut butter cups won’t do it.