Chocolate essence?

I searched (kinda... had a bored Jazz in the pram...) Woolies and Coles today for chocolate essence. Needed it for a Mississippi Mud Pie Shel was making today. Couldn't find it, so just decided to go without.

So my first question is, was I just looking in the wrong spot? I looked near the baking stuff, near the essences and extracts etc. Was I just unlucky that it wasn't on the shelf or is it in a different spot? Is there a particular brand, like Queen? Or do I need to look in a different store? Maybe IGA? I don't think theres a specialty store arond me that would sell it...?

My second question is, how essential is it? I've never used it, although I know it is supposed to give a deeper more intense chocolate flavour from the cocoa bean. Is it really as magical and wonderful and important as some have made out? :lol:

(we made the pie without it, it asked for a teaspoon in the filling but we reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally wanted pie so we decided to chance it hahahaha)

I've got some! I bought it in Coles where all the other essenes are (baking area). So maybe they jut ran out? I havn't used mine that much... Not sure if makes much difference... Sorry, I'm not much help.

I'll :bump: it for you!