Tikkabik

So over the weekend I tried Hershey's new Hershey's Swoops, a new chocolate candy that looks disturbingly like a tiny potato chip but is, in fact, all chocolate.

Swoops are flavored like other popular Hershey's-owned products like York Peppermint Patties, Almond Joy, Reese's Peanut Butter cups and regular olde fashioned Hershey's Milk Chocolate. But they're shaped like Pringle's potato chips, stacked six to a pack in hermetically sealed snack packages, three to a box. There is a squiggle or a pattern on the top of the Swoop to let you know how it's flavored, but that's all it is -- flavored. There's no thin layer of peanut butter or mint, it's just chocolate.

Apparently this is a hipper, more trendy way of eating candy on the go than stodgy, old fashioned candy bars, as the Web site assaults visitors with a "Swoop, there it is" loop and the advice that "SWOOPS are best served with a personal signature move. Pop open a canister and start Swooping away," complete with the image of a woman entranced in rapture while exercising her "personal signature move," which resembles a cat with a bad case of diarrhea trying to wipe its ass on the couch.

In fact, much of the Web site is dedicated to showing off these "personal signature moves." Apparently motion is vitally important while eating Swoops, otherwise the Swoop experience will somehow be lessened. There are "group Swoops," involving more than one person, "Bust a Swoops," which calls to the hip hop fans out there, and "Hippie Hippie Swoops," which I guess are supposed to appeal to potheads with a case of the munchies.

My "personal signature move" was to sit my ass down on the couch. Maybe that's why I thought Swoops were lame. Bottom line is if I want peanut butter cups or peppermint patties I'll go for the real thing.

Have fun Swooping.