CARNAL NATION

The Better Than Chocolate Vibe from Nomi Tang is one sweet little vibrator.

A sucker for great packaging, I was impressed from the start.  Set in a white jewel box, the packaging was minimal yet elegant.  Sitting in its box, it reminded me of a mouse, the computer type not the one you have to jump up on chairs (does anyone really do that?) to avoid. The one-of-a-kind controls add to the mouse illusion.

Taking it out of its box, I set it on my desk, and no one said anything or asked what it was.  If you placed it on a mouse pad, no one would be the wiser.  The electronic slider control strip, capable of locking in a vibration pattern, is a really nice touch.  We’ve all had it happen, you’re just in your groove when you touch something on your vibe and suddenly you find you need to cycle back through twelve unique vibration patterns to get back to where you were.  This won’t happen with the Nomi Tang. Press the lock button for two seconds and your favorite pattern is set.

Like any good luxury vibrator should, the Nomi Tang comes with a storage pouch: this one is white and velveteen.  For me this is really helpful, slipping it into its pouch on the way to the ladies room meant no one asked why I was carrying my mouse into the bathroom.  I’m already the office oddball; my penchant for snow leopard tights and turquoise fishnets kind of sets me apart from the Ann Taylor crowd.

There are many things I really like about the Nomi Tang. Uniquely shaped, it reminds me of a manta ray with “wings” that allowed it to fit snugly over my vulva, held in place just with light pressure from my thighs.  Texturally, it feels smooth and soft; the elastomer surface allows for a good grip even when I added a small amount of lube.  The sound-to-vibration ratio is pretty much perfection.  Even at the strongest level of vibration, I found it to be one of the quietest vibes I’ve tested, perfect for my ladies room activities.

Now, this isn’t a knock-your-socks-off powerful vibe; its best for when you’re in the mood for a leisurely session.  If you want to come in five minutes, whip out your Hitachi.  Still, I was able to achieve my big O in timely enough fashion that no one came knocking on the door to see if I was all right.  I started out standing up, never the best position for me to come, and snuggled it between my parted thighs.  I felt blissful.  I experimented a little with the controls, sliding my finger up and down the strip, and locking it in full-on vibe mode. It locked and unlocked easily.  And even someone like me, who really can’t be trusted with electronics—I think I have some kind of force field around me that creates mini electromagnetic pulses—was able to handle it without it going haywire.

Finally, I decided I needed to sit down and get serious.  Applying some Sliquid Stimulating O Gel, I targeted my clit, using the tip to slide, circle, and press.  As I got wetter and wetter, I slid the tip inside, allowing it to stimulate that sensitive first inch of my cunt. The only problem I have with coming in the ladies room is the need to keep from screaming.  I ended up with teeth marks on my bottom lip.

The Better Than Chocolate also has another side benefit.  If you turn it on and place it on a table, it inches forward like a wind up toy.  Now for some this doesn’t count, but I find this highly amusing.  In fact, have a look at my blog for a tiny video clip of it walking on a table at lunch.

I really like the Nomi Tang.  For the price, it’s a wonderful buy.  Is it better than chocolate?  Sorry, I just can’t go that far.  But if you find a way to combine it with chocolate, say let a truffle melt in your mouth while using the Nomi Tang…mmmmm, well now, I know where I’m stopping this morning.  Looks like a trip to Li Lac Chocolate in the Grand Central Marketplace is called for.

I was pretty excited about this month's toy. I mean really, anything that is called "Better than Chocolate" has got to be good.

My Nomi Tang toy was packaged nicely in a discreet white box complete with a velvet drawstring bag. On first glance, it looks like a high-tech computer mouse. It is a pretty bluish-gray color, and the toy itself has a soft, smooth velvety texture (just like its little pouch). The underside of the Better than Chocolate has a nice arched shape that seems perfectly designed to stimulate the clitoris with the tip while the length of the toy fits the curve of the vagina like a glove. It has high-tech slide controls on the top to adjust vibrations, so you can experience pulses or steady vibes as well as speed adjusters.

Luckily, my husband is fantastic with high-tech products. He mastered this little tool quickly and skillfully used the Better than Chocolate to my delight. He adjusted the vibe strength throughout our play time to tease and enhance my orgasms. Ahh, with him, it was better than chocolate.

On my own, on the other hand, I had a tough time at first. I only had a short window of opportunity to break out the toy from the secret hiding place in the closet, turn it on, adjust it, and get off before the children discovered me. I will admit: I am a technological moron. I struggled to turn my Nomi Tang toy on and then struggled with the slide controls to get it just right. I had very limited time, and it seemed to have a mind of its own. Eventually, I got it to do what I wanted after consulting the instructions and slowing down. I was able to complete the job and go back to life.

This little lady is super soft and quiet. The vibrations are nice though not intense. The instructions are clear, and they even give you tips on setting the mood. The Better than Chocolate is ergonomic (no carpal tunnel here!) and waterproof, so it can be used just about anywhere. It is also discreet looking, so if left out, it won't raise eyebrows. For $79.99, I just wish I had more technological skills and time to play. I think I spent more time trying to perfect my slide control skills then actually using it. Again the vibes are ok, although I would prefer some higher speeds. I really liked the shape and the texture of the toy, but the slide control was frustrating on first use. With a little practice and time to slow down and enjoy, the Better Than Chocolate has potential. I'm glad that I had my brilliant hubby to tame my sexy little Nomi Tang toy. When he is in control, it is indeed Better than Chocolate.
 

The first word that pops into my mind when I think about the Nomi Tang vibrator is luscious. Specifically, the feel of this toy particularly enamors me. I am immediately curious about the type of coating on this toy. I assume it’s some type of silicone, but it’s softer and more smooth than any coating on a toy I’ve used before—velvety almost, which is appropriate since the toy comes with a lush velvet case to pack it away in.  I assume the signature texture of the toy is what inspired the slogan “Better than Chocolate.”

The design of the toy is aesthetically unique and amusing at the same time. The smoky-blue colored one I was given looks very much like a wireless computer mouse. It is modern and definitely prompts the “oooh, aah..” reaction upon first sight since it looks different than most vibrators. When held in the hand, as one would hold a computer mouse, the top of the toy has a clear thin strip where a mouse’s scroll button would normally be placed. This strip in fact does scroll and in a very discreet way. It is touch-sensitive, so there are actually no moving parts that lube or other random funk can get caught in. A classic push on/off button on the bottom of the toy turns on the toy while the scroll function of the toy acts as both a speed- and vibe-sensation controller.

The directions that come with the toy are very thorough, so it was easy for me to figure out how to operate it after I read through them. In fact, I was impressed with the attention to detail in the written directions. It is not very often (or even at all) that an adult toy manufacturer spends time to mention the importance of setting the mood with proper ambiance before one starts to play. I smiled when I read the directions as it made me feel like the person that made the toy might actually like to play with erotic toys.

My overall wish for the toy is that it could vibrate at a bit higher level. For individuals that like a softer sensation vibe, or for novice adult toy users, this is a perfect selection because it doesn’t look offensively shocking, and it won’t scare the crap out of your clitoris the way some of the more intense sensation toys might. Again, the amazingly soft texture of the coating on the toy makes it divine to play with for hours at a time, so even more intense vibe lovers like myself can have fun keeping it on their body while they do tasks like checking email, reading the news, and even writing toy reviews.