I'm curious which part you consider reductionist. Also, American milk chocolate proper tastes like vomit to some Europeans/Aussies due to the butyric acid formed during the lipolysis phase of the milk fats. It's exactly that which gives American chocolate its unique (vomit-like) flavor.
Anecdotal, but I couldn't believe it when I heard people hated our chocolate, and asked my decidedly non-snobby English buds and my (non-American) fiancé, and they confirmed it tastes off to them, albeit palatable. However, Hershey's Kisses were a no-go for the fiancé.
Anecdotal, but I couldn't believe it when I heard people hated our chocolate, and asked my decidedly non-snobby English buds and my (non-American) fiancé, and they confirmed it tastes off to them, albeit palatable. However, Hershey's Kisses were a no-go for the fiancé.