Candy Blog

March 8, 2010

Minty Fresh

Filed under: Candy, Candy Tips, Old Time Candy, Reviews, Soft Candy — Seth Blake @ 5:59 pm

Peppermint; some know it as a digestive, others as a pest. Ask King Leo and it’s bound to say this menthol-rich herb (actually a hybrid of spearmint and watermint) makes for fine confections, such as the kind the company has been manufacturing since 1901. Notable amongst the pool of mint-makers for its high quality products, which utilize pure all-natural peppermint oil and real sugar, King Leo offers a wide array of mint-inclined confections. The jewel in the King Leo Crown? Soft Peppermint Puffs.

His Royal Majesty, seen lounging

If you make a point to always reach for the wicker basket by the register whenever you go out to dinner, you’ve probably come up with a handful of these babies before.Several factors distinguish Soft Peppermint Puffs from the field of other after dinner palette cleansers. While the title might lead you to believe that they’re somewhat squishy don’t be deceived, they may not be as hard as starlight mints but Peppermint Puffs are no Milquetoast. They have a somewhat chalky exterior that takes a decent bite to break through and crumbly interior that dissolves slowly on the tongue. As the mints dissolve, they release waves of powerfully aromatic peppermint oil, which is mitigated, but not masked by a light sweetness. Because of their fairly generous size and lack of the syrupy film that tends to coat my throat after many after-dinner mints, I consider Peppermint Puffs satisfying as a stand-alone snack.

Try Me.

March 5, 2010

Shmooth as Silk

Filed under: Candy, Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Reviews — Seth Blake @ 5:20 pm

Cadbury’s always done wonders with milk chocolate and I hold Caramello up as proof—at any given time, probably the creamiest thing in the room unless you bunk with Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (in which case I’m sorry for waking you).

Caramello got quiet after a series of T.V. ads in the 80s and 90s, which at the time seemed incredibly seductive, and are now officially kitschy. I say it’s high-time the silence was broken. Summon the band from their millennial slumber!

Caramello is delicious, from its light-brown, segmented milk-chocolate exoskeleton to its gooey subcutaneous reserves of liquid caramel. The bar literally and swiftly melts in your mouth, so please don’t drown as you enjoy it, as that would not jive with the glad spirit of the bar. One thing that may help you avoid a smooth, untimely demise would be to break off squares of the Caramello and then further separate the confection into its components by squeezing gently on the top and bottom of each segment, allowing the caramel to drain completely into your mouth (or other waiting reservoir). Tackled separately, the chocolate shell and caramel goo probably won’t suffocate you. Small bites, kids.

March 3, 2010

Oh Nuts!

Filed under: Candy, Candy Tips, Reviews — Seth Blake @ 6:47 pm

If you like ‘em, you’re in luck, if you don’t, well, you may want to look for another job—one with a compensation package that doesn’t exchange vacation time and dental insurance for nut-covered bars.

On the Payday Premium Plan, you can say "good bye" to all of this!

Payday operates on a simple premise; trying to fit as many peanuts as possible on a six-inch rod of caramel, possibly inspired by the time the guy that invented it dropped a warm rod of caramel between the cushions of his couch, causing the inevitable stores of peanuts therein to become entrapped in the sticky substance . Just how many of these plucky legumes cling to your average Payday? The answer is about a handful. This might not sound particularly impressive, but remember that most other candy bars that feature peanuts only contain a smidgen. Also, I have huge hands.

My hand, gently mollfying a "normal" hand.

The flavor combination is tried and true, but no less tasty for this. The crunchy peanuts are very salty and find a pleasant partnership with the sweet, chewy caramel. Just one bar has 14% of your recommended daily protein intake and 20% of your recommended daily fat intake, making it a great choice for staying alive while the forest rangers locate you. The caramel tasted slightly rubbery to me at times but as this would certainly never deter a bear, you should eat it anyway.

“In Soviet Union, Payday Pay for You!”

March 1, 2010

What Look like Teeth and Taste better than Toothpaste?

Filed under: Candy, Old Time Candy, Reviews, Soft Candy — Seth Blake @ 6:02 pm

Chiclets for dinner!!

And shouldn’t it technically be Teethpaste? Honestly, I’m asking. As everybody knows, the vicissitudes of the English language are many and storied, and while we may be novitiates with regard to the inflectional rules of certain nettlesome lexemes, we here at Candy.com know our Candy. Which is why I can answer the following question; which came first, Chiclets gum, or Chiclets as slang term for those things that are always a-fallin’ out of your head and having to be brushed, etc?

Brush the hair off them cowstoppers

Place your wagers.

Drum-roll please.

Thanks, Al! Mr. Al Jackson everybody, of Stax/ Volt!

Turns out the answer is the gum, the term proceeding from the (apparently accidental) resemblance these ancient chews bear to common teeth, not the reverse, silly. So why such an unusual name— one that makes one think of small, young birds and bar-fights? Ever heard of the “Chicle?” It’s a tropical evergreen tree that grows in Mexico, Central and South America, which produces a resinous sap, long chewed by the indigenous folks of the area and adopted for use as the gum base in the original manufacture of Chiclets gum back in 1906. Highly renowned, Chiclets have been so ubiquitous in some parts of the world (especially in the Middle East and portions of North Africa and Europe) that the name has become a general term for all varieties of chewing gum.

The culprit tree with its bulbous nodes

Could numerous millions and several generations be wrong?

Of course they could, but we’re not going to hate on Chiclets (without) just ‘cause. Chiclets are solid gum, both literally and conversationally. The peppermint and spearmint varieties have clean, refreshing, aptly-named flavors and a crispy candy shell that sets them apart from most of your basic chews. The first bite is a heavenly, mentholated blast of soft and crunchy and while, (like anything, but gum in particular), the good times don’t last, I’d guess fifteen to twenty minutes of herbivore-caliber chewing had elapsed by the time I realized I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore.

A mighty chew

Unfortunately, there’s a dearth of the assorted-fruit Chiclets around the office so I can’t comment on them at this time, but if my memory serves me, (which is regrettably seldom) they’re also pretty dang good. I’ll get back to you on ‘em.

Pinky Swear

February 26, 2010

Gimme a Break

Filed under: Candy, Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Old Time Candy, Reviews — Seth Blake @ 12:18 pm

You don’t need me to tell you about the Kit Kat bar. With major production facilities in more than 15 countries and world-wide distribution, Kit Kat is a truly international candy. If you’re reading this, you’ve eaten one. Heck, you’re probably eating one right now. Careful! It’s dangerous to chew and read at the same time, especially if you’re operating a motor-vehicle. Don’t think you can get away pretending you’re not, this blog is like a one-way mirror. Quit the forklift, pocket the Kit-Kat and finish up, I won’t be long.

Not an easy-chair.

First devised by British confectionery Rowntree in 1935, the Kit-Kat’s signature combination of crispy, snappable, segmentary crème-filled wafers, generously coated in milk chocolate has been wildly popular since its inception. Ranging in size from the petit “half-finger” marketed in Japan to the massive, “twelve-finger” family size bars of Australia and France, (and with occasional, limited-time forays into exotic alternate flavors such as strawberry and green tea) the Kit Kat has proven both versatile and enduring. While part of this could be due to expert marketing, (the classic “Gimme a break” U.S jingle was cited by University of Cincinnati researcher James A. Kellaris as one of the most infectious, can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head melodies of all time), and blind luck (it’s proven popular in Japan as a kind of good luck charm due in part to the similarity of the name to the phrase “kitto katsu,” meaning essentially, “You will surely win!”), it would be wrong to underestimate the appeal of the treat’s simple composition and satisfying crunch.

That jingle has been bouncing around in here for decades.

As in the case of “Oh Henry,” the Kit Kat is produced by HERSHEY in the U.S (due to a licensing agreement that predates Nestle’s 1988 acquisition of Rowntree) and Nestle everywhere else. Though there are slight differences in packaging and production, the confections are purportedly quite similar, with accounts indicating that Nestle’s milk chocolate may be slightly creamier. I’m perfectly satisfied with the cocoa butter content of the Hershey’s variety, but trust that the Nestle variety is no slouch, especially since the Nestle Kit Kat has long been the number one chocolate and “biscuit” (the British term for cookie or wafer) confection in the UK, where people seem to know their chocolate and biscuits.

Merry sporting yeomen are often fueled by biscuits.

Another neat thing about the Kit Kat bar is that everybody seems to have his own way of eating one. Personally I’m convinced that the best way to go about it is to snap each “finger” off one by one, first nibbling away the small, flared ridge of pure chocolate around each like some kind of chocolate-crazed rodent and only then crunching into the wafer. Prove me wrong.

“break me offa piece of that“

February 24, 2010

Good(tze)!

Filed under: Candy, Old Time Candy, Soft Candy — Seth Blake @ 4:07 pm

The pet project of Goetze’s Candy Company founder August Goetze, Caramel Creams (AKA Bullseyes) have been staving off hunger pangs since 1917. I had vague memories of these chewy, two-tone caramels, (for some reason mostly in school bus related settings) as a kind of lower echelon candy, before I caught up with them earlier today and found out how wrong I was.

While a hotbed of youthful intellectual zeal, many conclusions reached in this environment prove false

True, Caramel Creams aren’t overwhelmingly sweet, and while the sensibilities of my younger self may have taken umbrage with that aspect of the candy, now I can appreciate it. It’s also possible that many of the Caramel Creams I’ve sampled in the past were less than fresh—yes, even candy has an optimal shelf life. Luckily, this was not the case today.

Check that expiration date!

The outer layer of caramel (the retina) is probably what hung me up most as a child. While it’s got a wonderfully thick, chewy texture, it’s also only mildly sweetened, with malty overtones reminiscent of whole-wheat flour. Since I now love bread that isn’t immediately metabolized as sugar, I find this flavor fantastic and refreshingly unique in a confectionery setting. The cream (lens) meanwhile, is a wonderfully sweet fondant (and actually made with real cream), which is vaguely tangy and the perfect accompaniment to the earthier exterior.

Goetze's Scores a big one

Still manufactured in their home city of Baltimore Maryland, Goetze’s Caramel Creams are an All-American snack that are (for a change) actually low-fat, low-sodium and cholesterol free. Get ‘em fresh and I’ll bet you’ll be hooked*!

*Candy.com, like Goetze’s, encourages you to get hooked responsibly.

February 19, 2010

More than Three Feet of Fruit Flavor!

Filed under: Candy, Fruit Candy, Reviews — Seth Blake @ 2:03 pm

I typically enjoy a lot of freedom when I do these reviews, but by-the-by I’ll notice a cryptic message in my marshmallow alphabits, some hastily scrawled insinuation on the steamed surface of my bathroom mirror or car window, a familiar sign traced in the fresh snow by deer-leavings, and I’ll know what my next blog must be about. Yesterday, for example– while enjoying my morning stroll– a gloved hand offered me a sealed envelope from underneath the tin-lid of a trash can at the corner of Elm St. and Union. It contained three Strawberry Rip Rolls. I do not know if these “suggestions” are the work of Candy.com, some benevolent allied organization, or greater and more terrible forces, nor do I wish to provoke whatever malevolence they could conceivably harbor by scorning their largesse. Since I have so far honored their address, I have suffered no injury. Thus, here we are.

Some people read horoscopes. Not me.

I had never heard of Strawberry Rip Rolls before the occasion of their gracious gifting, and for that I am ashamed. If you read my Fruit by the Foot review, you’ll remember I was pretty complementary. Well, everything positive I wrote about Fruit by the Foot applies here, but more so. Not only are Rip Rolls longer than Fruit by the Foot (40 inches instead of 36) they’re chewier, more nuanced, and better tasting.

This good.

Aptly named, you’ve got to pull hard on a Rip Roll unless you want to enjoy the whole ball of wax in one sitting. They’re not tough, but definitely as chewy as it gets outside of gum, which means even small bites can last a good long time. The flavor tastes surprisingly authentic (a small amount of natural flavoring is used) though markedly tarter than most strawberry candies due to a liberal dusting of sour sugar and the noticeable presence (though at first difficult to place unless you check out the packaging) of pineapple juice. Though potently sweet, the sour elements help balance the flavor of this confection and despite its size and consistency, (and if my sampling was any indication) it tends to disappear quickly, but certainly leaves you satisfied. Highly recommended!

Try ‘em You’ll Like.

February 17, 2010

Cherry Bites

Filed under: Candy, Candy Tips, Fruit Candy, Kosher Candy, Reviews — Seth Blake @ 2:17 pm

While not technically licorice, chewy, red, fruit flavored candy ropes such as Twizzlers and Red Vines are certainly more popular than the genuine article in the U.S. Most of these reds approximate a strawberry flavor, but HERSHEY’S Twizzlers have also been available in a bite-size cherry variation since 1990.

When this was cool

Let me preface the forthcoming statements with an assurance that I’m not against fruit snacks. In the fourth grade, for example, “gushers” were worth more than their weight in gold and even the mere suggestion of ones future willingness to facilitate their entrance into the classroom often liberated the potential trafficker from social mores whose neglect would have been considered inadmissible under normal circumstances, such as using the computer during a peer’s allotment, cutting in line WHENEVER he wanted, and not having to participate in read-aloud time. To be sure, I’ve eaten my fair share of glutinous fruit polymer and ken a good gummi when I spy one. I’ve tangoed with Twizzler during many a movie and recall the pairings with fondness.

Nearly this good.

It’s as a friend and neighbor that I implore this product to explain why, in an age of space-travel, quadruple-protein processing ribosomes and 170 mpg vehicles, it tastes like Robitussin. I understand that natural flavors may be more expensive to mass-produce but there must be a better alternative to the blend they’re using now. An open question: medicinal / spiritual incentives aside, does anyone actually enjoy the flavor of Robitussin? Don’t be shy, if you’re out there I want to hear from you and a team of scientists wants to study your brain.

What is it you like about this stuff?

I like the idea of bite-size red icorice snacks. These cherry bites look cool (almost like a little bow, or pile of logs), are stimulating on the tongue due to their smooth, ridged consistency, and are really very juicy, springy and chewy (especially so when fresh). All of these are excellent attributes according my sensibilities, but the taste is just too factory-fire-burn-and-cauldron-bubble for me to consider seeking them out again.

“But you don’t have to take my word for it!”

February 15, 2010

Everything to Everybody

Filed under: Candy, Kosher Candy, Old Time Candy — Seth Blake @ 3:46 pm

Confection, percussion instrument, energy blast, aphrodisiac, co-signer of the Treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo. These little purple (and white) pills have been making people feel “plenty good” for over a century, so why not you?

First: The bad news. Good & Plenty contain wheat flour, making them a no-no for those with wheat allergies or Celiac’s disease (gluten intolerance). Vegans also need not apply since, like many healthy, ruddy-countenanced candies, the pink ones (plentys) are colored with K-Carmine dye, whose red pigment is derived from female Cochineal Beetles.

A lovely specimen

There, now that’s out of the way, on to the good stuff (come on, beetles are neat!)

And they know how to have a good time

Rich in space-age sugars such as Dextrose, Good & Plentys provide the kind of instant energy boost so popular amongst such social elites as athletes and cartoon characters.

These fellows are both, and in the public domain!

Commonly packaged in sturdy, chipboard theater-boxes, the tough-exteriored Good & Plentys rattle appealingly when shaken, as evidenced by the case of “Choo Choo Charlie,” who used Good & Plenty to successfully play at being a railroad engineer for over 20 years.

Last seen here, bravely pushing his engine into the heart of suction-arrow territory

Sweet, salty and sophisticated, the licorice / anise heavy taste and scent of Good & Plenty polled at the top of a recent survey conducted to determine the smells most desirable to women.

Tied with the ever-amorous eu de cucumber

Manufactured consistently since their inception in 1893, Good & Plenty’s haven’t been around so long by accident. Fat-free, kosher certified, and reasonably priced (especially for a licorice confection) it’s easy to see why Good & Plenty have stayed that way!

Check out our Selection!

February 12, 2010

Fun that lasts for a Modest Amount of Time!

Filed under: Candy, Fruit Candy, Kosher Candy, Reviews, Soft Candy — Seth Blake @ 1:22 pm

If your brain was still forming tens of thousands of synapses in the mercurial glow of the television screen during the Clinton Administration, you may be physically incapable of forgetting slogans such as the entirely too apropos “The fun just lasts and lasts!” While I can’t say I’m in love with having my upstairs cluttered with decades old marketing detritus like this, I can’t entirely contradict the sentiment. Indeed, whatever fun Fruit By The Foot claims to offer continues to last, even as I’ve grown to appreciate the taste of raw fish.

That’s not to suggest that the act of consumption will last and last, rather that the concept has staying power. Now, I’m no glutton, but it took me less than five minutes to finish my three foot roll! I’ve determined this is because: a) it was delicious, and b) there’s barely anything to it. The whole thing weighed less than an ounce! Do you realize that citizens in the Los Angeles metropolitan area inhale more substantial air-born particulate on their evening commute? On the other hand, good for Betty Crocker for creating a modestly portioned snack, high in Vitamin C (though really high in sugar as well) and Kosher Certified.

L.A. bears a surprising resemblance to Old Republic Galactic Capital, Coruscant.

The variety I sampled was tri-tone: yellow, green and red. I couldn’t taste much difference between the colors, but can say definitively that the “fruit flavor” was tart, sweet and vaguely creamy. Less sticky, chewy and tough than the similar Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit Leathers, Fruit by the Foot is light snack, great for a quick dose of tart nostalgia. MMmm Nineties!

Performance pieces like this thrived in the era. We still puzzle over what they mean.

“And the time just passed and passed…”

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