Here, the Herald Lifestyle team offer their subjective verdicts on several of the novelty flavours that have come out in recent years.
Do you agree? Vote in our poll to tell us which of the blocks/bags should be top of the chocs.
10. Pascall Hokey Pokey Lumps (2023)
Flavour-wise, if the Buzz Bar bee had a way less cool younger brother, these would have been it. While the Buzz Bar at least gave us a cool bee in a gold chain riding a skateboard, these hokey lumps only gave us nostalgia in the weakest (and least memorable) form. – Jenni Mortimer
9. Whittaker’s Gumdrop Block (2026)
I had to eat three squares of this to find a single gum drop and when I did it was a green one. Nothing about that experience said “goody” to me, but if you’ve spent your life looking for a pale green, white chocolate-coated bubblegum without a prolonged chew factor, consider yourself fulfilled. (Confused? So is this “chocolate”). – Kim Knight
8. Cadbury Creme Egg Block (2019)
The beloved Creme Egg has always been my Easter egg of choice. But what makes it supreme (in egg form) is its oodles of gooey eggy goodness that drip from its eggy belly when you bite in. In block form it lacked that appeal entirely and there was much more chocolate than filling, leaving the ratios and mouth-feel all wrong. – JM
7. Whittaker’s Banana Caramel Block (2025)
If you’re like me, you think the only banana-flavoured thing that actually works is … a banana. So a banana-flavoured caramel is blasphemy, naturally. That milk chocolate that coats said blasphemy is great, though. Would have that bit again. – Varsha Anjali
6. Cadbury Pineapple Lump Block (2019)
This limited-edition block combined Dairy Milk chocolate with mini pineapple marshmallow chunks. I remember liking it, but also wondering why it existed when you could have the real thing? It’s not a novelty flavour I miss. – Bethany Reitsma
5. Pascall Snifters Lumps (2020)
The much-hyped return of movie theatre staple Snifters came in lump form, so while it brought back that nostalgic mint flavour, it was missing the crunchy shell we all miss. Bring back the original Snifters. – BR
4. Cadbury Perky Nana Lumps (2019)
One lump-based collab that got nostalgia right was these bad boys. They gave us the perfect perks of the nana without the complimentary teeth removal and trip to the dentist that the full bar form was well known for. Refrigerate them at your peril. – JM
3. Whittaker’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Block (2021)
It’s a criminal offence here in New Zealand, but I am more of a Cadbury girl than Whittaker’s. But when you shove peanut butter and jiggly berry-flavoured jelly (as a stand-in for raspberry jam) inside it, I don’t really care what the chocolate is because it will always be delicious. This block is no different – a classic for a reason. – Bridget Jones
2. Pascall Passionfruit Pavlova Lumps (2026)
Pineapple lumps might be New Zealand’s greatest invention. And I will happily chew on any variation of them: I love lumps, sue me. This combo is no different. The passionfruit is tart and the pavlova is sweet (and that not-quite-eggy-ish flavour that feels like it should be weird and wrong but is actually just a wonderful reminder of Christmas day). A+ would munch again. – BJ
1. Whittaker’s Jelly Tip Block (2015)
Jelly Tip is my favourite ice cream of all time and I think the chocolate block version captures the same flavours perfectly. Clearly I’m not alone, as the Jelly Tip block has since become a staple in the chocolate aisle, and claims its rightful place as our No 1. – BR