can someone tell me the difference between almond bark & candy melts? i alays thought they were basically the same thing.

I don't know what the difference is. I just use the candy melts for my molded chocolates and the almond bark for dipping strawberries, pretzels & etc. in.

do they taste different?

I don't think so. I haven't made molded chocolates for a while. I have a order for 400 of them for Christmas this year.

same product different packaging... actually the stuff called almond bark has no almonds in it they just mean you can make almond bark out of it... neither one is real chocolate

I do find a difference in the bark from the Merckens candy melts. The set up of the hardened chocolate pieces when done is different. And I do find the taste different.