Category Archives: Novelty Candy

Hannah Montana Disco Ball Lollipop Cover

Miley Cyrus—how did you do it? From the DNA of Billy Ray to little-girldom fame, the world has its eyes (and its pocketbooks) turned to you. Hannah Montana Disco Ball Lollipops are brought to us by the masterminds at Flix Candy. These suckers are nothing special at all. But, hey, you get a plastic disco ball to hang on your backpack or keychain when it’s all done, so you can feel just like Hannah Montana giving a concert with all the glitz and glamour of being a superstar. The disco ball does have an official Hannah Montana logo sticker, which makes it worth more than a quarter to most girls ages 6 to 14. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, try Hannah Montana Concert Candy (chewable microphones), Glamour Guitar Lollipops, or Picture Ring Pops. Millions of viewers and concert-goers can’t be wrong—this little girl’s got star quality and the ability to sell anything she puts her name and likeness to.

Once I pried open the shiny, disco ball cover, the lollipop inside was nothing to write home about. Its strawberry flavor was a bit dull, and the candy itself was only slightly bigger than a Dum Dum. The inner wrapper was plain white—no glitz at all. All in all, you’re paying for the image with this candy, and image is pretty much all you get. I would never buy this candy myself, but I know about a million and a half little girls who would. So hats off to Flix Candy and Hannah’s savvy agents for bringing the goods to the goody-goody consumer. Based in Niles, Illinois, Flix Candy is big into licensed candies, with Care Bears, WALL-E and Disney Princess candies all in the repertoire. They also market candy to boys, like their Box of Boogers, Gummy Bugs and superhero licensed brands.

Wazoo Candy Bar

What can we say about the Wazoo Candy Bar? Originality is key here, meaning there’s nothing like this on the market—no candy even comes close. With carnival-colored sprinkles dressing up a cotton-candy-colored blue chew, this rainbow-inspired candy bar is sugar and corn syrup at its best.

The inside boasts a layer of bright pink taffy atop turquoise chew, giving you an overall raspberry flavor that’s pretty close to perfection. Surrounding the taffy bar is a layer light blue layer resembling white chocolate. Think of a Charleston Chew gone completely fruity, and slap on some purple, yellow, red and pink sprinkles for good measure. Even the aroma of this candy is appealing, with floral undertones. After finishing this candy, you can’t help but scope out the wrapper for remainders. Were there any orphaned sprinkles? Yes…and with the taste of rainbow Nerds, the sprinkles are in fact the best part. This candy bar isn’t without its caloric content, however. The modest-sized bar boasts 170 calories and 5 grams of fat. For you’re the same taste you could get from fat-free taffy, you can probably satisfy your sweet tooth elsewhere and be just as happy.

The Wazoo Bar is brought to us by Topps, the company famous for bubble gum in baseball cards. The company’s marketing materials beckon candy fans to “excite their taste buds with Wazoo.” After diving in, I’d have to say that’s easy to do with this fun-tastic candy bar. Also available in Wild Berriez flavor, this candy is a delight with yellow and pink taffy, wrapped in lavender-colored coating with multi-colored sprinkles. Can’t decide on a flavor? You’ll probably want to try pick up a few of both flavors, because all of your friends will want a bite of this unique candy bar. And at just over 4 inches long, you’ll likely find that there’s really not enough to go around.

Tags: , , , ,

Albanese 12 Flavor Gummies

 

Who knew that we had beets to thank for one of the best candies on the planet? The second ingredient listed on Albanese 12 Flavor Gummies is, in fact, beet sugar! All produce aside, I was instantly drawn to this product, being a fan of gummy candy and wondering what the 12 advertised flavors could be.

These soft and luscious chewy gummy bears come in 12 amazing color-flavor combinations: Ornery Orange (of course, in orange), Poppin’ Pineapple (yellow), Granny Smith Apple (dark green), Rrripe Watermelon (in the not-so-obvious pale aqua/blue), Lickin’ Lemon (bright yellow), Wild Cherry (red), Bodacious Banana (pale yellow), Luscious Lime (pale green), Freshhh Strawberry (dark pink), Rockin’ Raspberry (dark blue), Groovy Grapefruit (pale pink), and Concord Grape (purple). You’ll need the color code on the back of the package to keep them all straight, though the flavors themselves are bright and fruity—totally what you’d expect from Albanese, a quality confections company since 1983.

I loved these gummies, and was so glad to have more than one bag handy. The 5-ounce package isn’t quite enough to share, because you’ll want to try all of your favorite flavors several times over. My favorites had to be Banana, Grapefruit and Grape, because you just don’t see those flavors honored in the gummy candy world—not very often, at least.
Touted the “world’s best” gummies, these candies are (as the package states) bursting with flavor! If you try these gummies and like them, check out Albanese Gummi Army Guys, Gummi Jet Fighters, Assorted Krunch Bears (coated with candy sprinkles) and Gummi Cola Bottles! In addition to gummies, Albanese is famous for their gold label chocolates and premium fresh-roasted nuts.

Tags: , , , ,

Eiffel Bon Bons

????????

If you remember this candy from the days of high school French club fundraisers, you’re not alone. Eiffel Bon Bons, distributed in the U.S. by the Foreign Candy Company (based in Iowa), come in both strawberry and apple flavors. These are the varieties available through retailers to the general public, but rumor has it that fundraising groups have access to three additional flavors (blue raspberry, watermelon and cherry). Having never lived in France, I can’t confirm that this is true. But rumor also has it that Eiffel Bon Bons are a popular European candy, having been around for the last 20 or so years.

When I opened the strawberry package, I was expecting something that tasted soft and creamy, but I got a tart bite of sugary sweetness. These tiny candy chews are about the size of gumdrops, and the consistency of tough taffy or a day-old marshmallow. But who can argue with that adorable little French candy man on the packaging? He stretches out his white-gloved hand as if to say, “Welcome to France. Eat this candy, and you will be transported to someplace magical and delicious!” That said, the candy itself may be a bit too chewy for some. Hard on the jaws, the candy pieces are tasty, leaving their fruity undertones on the palate long after they are gone. The apple chew was not as good as the strawberry, but that’s just preference.

These aren’t the kinds of candies I could scarf down all at once—I’d rather enjoy them over time. If I could reinvent the packaging, I’d put them in a box rather than a bag, so I could close it up and enjoy some of the candies later in the day. Available 1.25- or 4-ounce bags, these French-inspired chews are good enough to chew on a rainy day, but nothing to write home about. Still, the company’s idea to market through school language clubs is brilliant. If you make the product available only at certain times and in certain seasons (take, for example, Girl Scout Cookies, or Cadbury Cream Eggs), the candy addicts will come running, waving their dollar bills all the way. It’s a proven fact.

Flix Batman Push Puppet

The Flix Batman Push Puppet is candy with a bonus. The entire topper is a Batman toy (his arms wave up and down when you push on the base) that you can save after the candy is long gone. Kids are crazy about this candy product because it just screams “play with your food.” But the packaging is so complicated that you’re lucky to even get the candy out of the tube—I couldn’t open this for the longest time. Once you do get it open, you’ll be able to remove the toy topper and fill your mouth with candy in the shape of bats. With their great, sugary crunch, the tiny bat candies are about the size of Tic Tacs and come in shades of grays and purples. I couldn’t really distinguish a flavor—just tasted like sugar in my opinion. But that’s okay, because these candies are more for looks than anything else. The novelty of eating your favorite superhero is enough for most to pick it up off the shelves and buy it.

Specializing in novelty candy and licensed candy brands like Disney, Flix Candy Company is based in Illinois. Their candies make a wonderful gift for a special occasion (whether that’s a birthday, Christmas or Easter), and you won’t go broke trying to buy a candy that has a toy in the same package. The company also sells High School Musical and Hannah Montana candies for the next generation of kids destined for superstardom. It’s hard to resist these products for their familiarity. (C’mon, Batman would never make a second-rate candy! His powers must extend to candy….) But they’re not like some of the old favorites, like Peanut M&Ms or Jolly Ranchers, where you’re just destined to come back for more. All in all, Flix Batman Push Puppet is worth a shot, so long as you don’t have to fly halfway across Gotham to buy it.

Fascini Creatables

Want candy you can pull apart and play with before you eat it? If you’re a fan of Fruit Roll Ups with pop-out shapes, Twizzler’s Pull-n-Peels and Oreos (the cookie that’s meant for twisting apart and licking the insides), you’ll probably dig Fascini’s Creatables. This candy puts the emphasis on “eat” (Cr-eat-ables), but the wrapper shows that this is meant to be fun for your hands, too. In fact, the company markets this as the candy you absolutely must play with before you eat. Open up a pack of these fruity shoelaces and you’ll chew on strawberry, apple, tutti frutti or blue raspberry fun.

I love the idea of candy that’s multidimensional. If it can provide kids with entertainment, rather than being here today, gone tomorrow, that’s a huge bonus. These candy ropes can be braided into lanyard jewelry, or sculpted into animals, buildings—whatever the mind can dream up. Unfortunately, the taste and the general waxy texture of the candy left something to be desired. These aren’t especially great going down. But then again, kids probably won’t notice. They’re busy having too much fun! Props to Fascini for inspiring creativity in its eaters. This would make a great candy for a special occasion, like Easter or Christmas. If you’re curious and would like to try your hand at lanyard-making, try out a pack of these fruity ropes today.

Based in the Netherlands, the Fascini company is nearly a century old, getting its start not in candies, but in rodent repellent. Now attracting instead of repelling its clients, Fascini has expertise in licorices, peppermint candies and other chewy or gummy treats. The company also makes some great sweet and sour gummy candies like Sour Snagx and Sour Cosmix, made with the same fruitgum recipe. All in all, Creatables get an “A” for fun but a “C” for taste.

Grillz Candy


What do you get when you mix Billy Bob Teeth with rap star Nelly’s dental fixation?

“Lemme see ya grillz!” Grillz Candy is one of the most surprising candies of this decade. Aimed at children three and older, this fruity lollipop is attached to a “partial” denture made of six shiny, silver teeth that you can use to dress up like your favorite rapper. When you smile, your new grillz will shine, letting people know you mean business. And the best part—this grill doesn’t cost thousands of dollars like the ones real rappers wear. Celebrity grills can cost anywhere from $50 for one gold-encrusted tooth to as much as $10,000! Wrappers lile Lil Jon, Snoop Dogg and the Ying Yang Twins sport diamond-jeweled grills in gold or platinum varieties. With the notion that “bigger is better,” these rappers really put their money where their mouth is. And Since Nelly’s hit song “Grillz,” this hip-hop phenomenon has become a worldwide fad. Just listen to the lyrics: “My teeth are mind blowin’ givin everybody chillz. Call me George Foreman ’cause I’m sellin’ everybody grillz.”

Just like Grillz candy, real Grillz can be bad for your teeth. The American Dental Association believes that wearing metal a metal grill extensively can cause bacteria to get trapped causing cavities, gum disease, or bone loss. If that’s the case, buying Grillz candy for your kids is definitely a better alternative to the real thing—price-wise and health-wise. I ripped open this package, anxious to see my rapper face. What would I look like with grillz? Would I like the look so much I’d want to keep it? That thought was fleeting, as I realized I’d just succumbed to another trend not much different from Billy Bob Teeth. In fact, Grillz are today what Billy Bob Teeth were a decade ago, and what wax lips were in the 1950’s and 60’s. What will you look like with a shiny smile? No need to rob a jewelry store—you can get these Grillz in the novelty candy section of your local grocery store.

Atkinson’s Chick-O-Stick

Atkinson’s most famous candy, Chick-O-Sticks are a cultural icon. Quite a nostalgic treat, these candies are a favorite of the generation that grew up rocking out to Elvis and cutting loose with the Jitterbug or the Lindy Hop. Lucky for us, these candies are still sold widely today. Chick-O-Sticks are made from a recipe of finely ground and roasted peanuts mixed with granulated sugar. The mixture is then rolled into candy sticks and topped with toasted coconut. If you like Butterfingers, you may like Chick-O-Sticks, because the filling of both is virtually the same. Or, like me, you may just wonder where all the chocolate coating went. Still, the Atkinson’s company is doing their own thing, and the resulting candy pieces are flaky, crunchy, and a bit like tightly wound peanut brittle. The taste is good, but these orange-colored nuggets will get stuck in your teeth, so keep a toothbrush handy for afterward. I liked these overall, but I wouldn’t eat a bag full, or even crave them. And that’s coming from a fan of both peanut butter and coconut. A plus to these candies it that they are individually wrapped and they will not melt in the heat. With two grams of fat and 80 calories per serving, you won’t have your fitness instructor on your tail.

Sold in longer sticks or smaller, bite-size pieces, Chick-O-Sticks are founded in a strong candy-making tradition. The Atkinson’s Company has been making sweets since 1932 from their home in Lufkin, Texas. The company is family-owned and produces other quality products like Old Fashion Peanut Brittle, Assorted Sours, Mint Twists, Long Boys (chewy coconut caramels), Rainbow Coconut and Peanut Butter Bars. By far the most popular, Chick-O-Sticks are a great invention, and one that we hope will be around for future generations of candy aficionados.

Fizzies Drink Tablets

Alka Seltzer for children? Yes, indeed. Enter Fizzies drink tablets, a candy tablet that is not meant to go in the mouth, but in a 6-ounce cup of water to make a fruity drink mix. The outer packaging of this candy looks enticing. Fizzies come in seven flavors (lemon-lime, root beer, sour apple, orange, blue razz, fruit punch, and cherry) and the animated Fizzard the Wizard character adorns the colorful wrappers. Fizzard casts spells like “balla bo berry, turn to cherry” and “floo fly florange, turn to orange!” And his spells most certainly work—when placed in water, the tablets turn a regular glass of water vibrant colors, adding a dose of flavor and fun for kids who are more interested in eating candy than drinking their recommended dosage of water.

Once the kids taste this water, however, they are likely to spit it out. Though the effervescent tablets are advertised as a good source of vitamin C (equaling 100 percent of your recommended daily value), kids may not be fooled into gulping this stuff down. It doesn’t taste as sweet and fruity as Kool-aid, nor does it taste like a soft drink. The end result is actually closer to watered-down medicine. The orange isn’t bad though, and reminded me of Airborne, the anti-cold medicine. On the plus side, these are calorie free and should make moms happy. The hands-down best part about this candy is watching it dissolve and turn your water colors. Different colored tablets can be combined to create new colors and flavors, which adds an element of learning to the mix.

If you recall, Fizzies first became popular in the 1950’s and 60’s, so parents seeking a nostalgic treat may need to snag one of these tablets just to recall the unique drink-making experience. Fizzies are manufactured today by Las Vegas company Amerilab Technologies, who also create Drinkin’ Mate, a special effervescent tablet meant to relieve hangovers. Who knew?

Tags: , , , ,

5 Gum


“5 is the new black.” Though you won’t see the manufacturer’s name anywhere on the package, Wrigley’s is the company behind “5”, the newest product to hit candy shelves. The name sticks, as each sugar-free piece of chewing gum has only five calories. Some people think there’s a greater significance to the name. Does 5 ignite the five senses when  chewed? It has been five years since Wrigley’s introduced Orbit gum in 2002. Could that be the reason for the mysterious, numeric product name?

Once you get past the perplexing title, you can instantly appreciate 5 for its sleek, black packaging. In fact, the company is targeting teens with this product with the slogan “5 is the new black.” I was familiar with this gum before I tried it, since I’d seen one of the company’s advertisements playing on the big screen in a pre-movie commercial. I was intrigued by the image of the gum before I even tasted it—talk about effective advertising.

When I picked up the box, I thought it looked strikingly similar to a pack of cigarettes. The gum sticks even stand upright in the pack and slide out the top like cigarettes would. The gum definitely has a bad-boy image to it, as much it is possible for a chewing gum to seem rebellious. Available in three flavors—Cobalt (Peppermint), Flare (Cinnamon), and Rain (Spearmint)—each pack contains 15 pieces of gum covered in bright, color-coordinated foil of red, blue, or green. Rain tastes a lot like other spearmint gums on the market—nothing new there. Flare is a bit tamer than Big Red, with more of a bubble gum flavor to it than the hot and spicy cinnamon you would expect. And Cobalt is refreshing like a candy cane, but again, not as intense as you would expect from the packaging. I must say that the flavor, though not as intense as some other gums bring, lasts and lasts. It’s doubtful that chewing a certain type of gum can give you an image boost. But if any gum could make you cool, it would be 5.

Tags: , , , ,