Individually wrapped in bright yellow packaging, Sweet’s Cinnamon Bears are hot (but not too hot) and big (but not mammoth—just the right size for your gummy-loving appetite). Sweet’s quality candies are based out of Salt Lake City (ironic, eh?), and their line also includes fruity Nummy Bears, Sour Bears and Black Tie Bears. But the cinnamon variety is truly top-notch. Open up this wrapper, and you’ll unpack a gummy treat that isn’t sugared on the outside like gummy fruit slices, but one that has a smooth outer surface wrapped around firm cinnamon innards. About an inch tall, Sweet’s bears are quite sizable when compared to gummy candies produced by other companies like Hairbo. The bear itself, being larger than most, has a visible smiling expression. But don’t feel bad about hurting this guy—he gets his pleasure out of making consumers happy.

The texture is, as I said before, firm or dense unlike the gummier chews available, making it a filling and satisfying treat. You can eat a handful of these for a well-portioned snack. Cinnamon Bears have been around for years and years; Sweet’s started as a family tradition in Portland, Oregon in 1892 by Leon Sweet. In those days, all of the company’s candy was made by hand, and varieties were limited. But the people couldn’t get enough. By the time these candy makers moved the company to Utah in 1900, they had earned a reputation for quality that still holds true today. Though they currently manufacture over 250 products, Sweet’s is still most famous for Cinnamon Bears, Chocolate Orange Sticks and Salt Water Taffy. I’ve only recently discovered these delicious Cinnamon Bears, but am already hooked on them. They are a perfect blend of sweet and spicy cinnamon, and I’d grab a handful on the go anytime. It’s no wonder they’ve been around for so long, a candy tradition that’s meant to be discovered.

From the same people that gave us Jujyfruits and (in my opinion) one of the best Gummi Bears in the world, I present to you Heide’s Red Raspberry Dollars.  Though these gummy candies are very different from their Gummi Bears, they have the same excellent qualities that you would expect from such a reputable company. 

The Heide Candy Company was founded in 1869 by a German by the name of Henry Heide.  In 1930 when RED RASPBERRY DOLLARS were first made, they were originally called Red Hot Dollars, but not for their red hot flavor because they were raspberry flavored.  Rather, they were called “red hot� because during the depression, a dollar was considered “red hot.�  In 1999, the name was changed from “Hot� to “Raspberry� to stop the mass confusion and rioting, so to speak.  Farley’s & Sathers has now expanded the line by adding a hot cinnamon flavor and bringing back the original name (for old time’s sake), as well as adding Black Licorice Dollars.

These raspberry gummies have a more adult taste to them, because they are not as sweet as typical gummies.  But though they have a less intense flavor than most other gummies I know, they are still sweet enough to satisfy that tooth of mine…  Their smooth texture is a signature of the Heide Candy Company, and though some may consider them to be a bit tough for being gummies, they are not too sticky, and they also happen to be relatively low in fat AND calories (yesssss!).  However, if you enjoy them as much as I do and can eat half a box in one sitting, they end up being a bit high in calories…  Go figure.  These delightful dollars come stamped with a dollar sign as well as the Heide name, so that no other brand can rob you of your delicious Red Raspberry Dollars!

Nathan’s hot dogs are one the best-selling dogs ever—they’re a classic in New York City and a must-have if you’re visiting Coney Island. They sell over 350 million hot dogs a year. Now, you may have tried the all-beef dogs, but if you haven’t tried the sweeter version of the classic, then you don’t know what you’re missing! These delicious, spongy gummies have a unique texture, and they come individually-wrapped. You may be thinking, “Spongy gummi hot dogs? What in the name of…� Yes, these dogs are a spongy treat that kids naturally love and adults will go gaga over. Plus, Nathan’s Famous Gummi Hot Dogs come pre-topped with loads of condiments, so you don’t have to bother with that!

I personally have never had a real Nathan’s hot dog, but if they’re as good in the hot dog world as the gummies are in the gummi world, then what’s not to like? (By the way, who even knew there was a hot dog world???) Unlike other gummi candy, these gummi hot dogs are the perfect combination of goodness: soft & chewy, and packed with flavor. I personally like to take the dog and eat that first, (they are two separate pieces, so it’s like getting two gummies in one), and then I eat the bun separately. So tell Mom you want a hot dog for dinner… Heck, tell her you’re having five! Nathan’s Famous Gummi Hot Dogs are the best dogs in town!

 

Sour Patch Kids got their start as a candy called “Mars Men�. They were created and named in the 1970’s during an era that was UFO crazy. The “kids� back then were actually little space “men� that featured the same recipe, but a different mold. The jelly candies were molded and then coated with the signature dusting of sour sugar crystals. They were supposed to feature an “out of this world� tartness and were thought to be one of the most sour candies on the market at that time. In 1985, the company decided to change the name of the candy to Sour Patch Kids in an effort to tie them in to the popular doll of the time – Cabbage Patch Kids. The marketing ploy worked and Sour Patch Kids have been a hit in the US and Europe ever since.

Now I love Sour Patch Kids. I love to punish my mouth with their tartness. They are one of my all-time favorite sour candies. The package features red, green, yellow and orange candies. All are gummy candies that are sweet, with the exception of the super sour sugar coating on the outside. The red candies are cherry flavored, the green are lime, the yellow are lemon and the orange are, well, if you guessed orange flavored, you’re right! These little gummy treats are really tasty. They are great at the movies, at home, in the car or while you are bored at work. The shapes of the “kids� are cute and add a little something to the candy itself. I don’t think that sour candies will ever go out of style – they’re just too yummy!

Here fishy, fishy, fishy! Get in my belly! I love Swedish Fish - these little red guys can swim upstream to my mouth any day. They are one of the simplest candies on the market and I am crazy about them. In 1958, Malaco, a Swedish confectionery expanded their business and sent some of their treats to North America. The first to arrive were licorice ribbons and laces followed by the Swedish Fish and Swedish Berries in the late 1960’s. The candy was, of course, named Swedish Fish because it was created in Sweden.

Okay, history lesson over. Let me tell you why these little fish rule. They are like an upscale gummy bear. They are not too soft, nor are they too hard. They have just the right amount of chewy-ness and are not too sweet. I’d say that they are a cross between a cherry/strawberry gummy candy. These little fish are a perfect mix of chewy, red goodness and adults and children alike enjoy them all over the world on a daily basis. Today, they can be found in boxes and bags at movie theaters, drugstore shelves, local candy shops and even Ikea, but they will always remind me of my first trip to Europe. I had gone to visit family in Norway and while on the way to a snowboarding excursion with my cousins, stopped at a mini-mart to refuel and stock up on goodies. I was perusing all the cute, European candy and picking up as many packages as my arms could carry when I stumbled upon Swedish Fish. I had never had them before, but thought they looked so cute. I picked up a couple of packages and it was love at first bite. I bought a box of them to bring home, only to return to the States and find out that they had been sold here all along! Pleased with my discovery, I have enjoyed their gummy, fruity-ness ever since. If you’ve never tried Swedish Fish, you’re missing out. Pick some up today…and Happy Fishing!

When I open a bag of Gummi Bears I take a moment and just smell them before I actually eat them. The smell is so sweet I just can’t wait to eat them, but actually I do one more thing. I’ll take them all out and place them on top of the bag to pick out which flavors I eat first. Gummi Bears are a true reminder of my childhood because I remember always sneaking in a little pack while my mom was shopping for groceries. Luckily for me she, when she saw them she would just look down at me and smile, and would buy them for me. The reason she gave me was because she knew it contained fruit juice, but I knew that it was because I would always give her all my orange ones. They are just so delicious and sweet, nobody can resist them. In each package of Gummi Bears come five different flavors; strawberry, lemon, lime, orange, and pineapple. They each have their unique and delicious taste.

“I like playing with them and doing the story of the three little bears,” said Zadah a young girl who loves being creative. The littlen bears are not only the tastiest gummy candy ever, but they are also adorable. There are types of gummy candy, but the original will always be the bear.