Monthly Archives: December 2006

Dots (Another Perspective)

Leave a reply

 

Here’s my take that is a bit different than my co-reviewer.  In 1972, Tootsie Roll Industries acquired the Mason Division of Candy Corporation of America. They then two famous “theater candies” to the Tootsie Roll candy family: Mason Crows and Mason DOTS. Today, delicious DOTS are one of the best known brands of gumdrops in America. Tootsie Roll Industries produces more than 16 million Dots a day in their Chicago Plant.

Tropical DOTS offer a refreshing variety of exotic flavors. In 2003, Tropical DOTS began sporting a new “ocean horizon” package and new, improved fresh flavors including island nectar, wild mango, grapefruit cooler, carambola melon, and paradise punch.

My mom loves Dots. They remind her of candy she ate as a kid. I have had both flavors and I like them equally. The originals feature cherry, lemon, lime, strawberry and orange, while the Tropical flavors (shown above) pack more of an interesting flavor punch. They are basically a gum drop without the usual sugar coating. They are smooth and fruity. These chewy little treats are a fun snack and one that candy lovers of future generations will be sure to enjoy.

SUGAR BABIES

Leave a reply

 

The Sugar Baby is a 1935 spin-off from the success of the Sugar Daddy made by the Welch Company. In the 1930s, Sugar Babies were young women on whom middle-aged “Sugar Daddies” spent bundles of money. The candy company also featured Sugar Mama’s – a version of the sugar baby, but coated in chocolate. This was discontinued in the late 1980’s. Now, all that remains are the Sugar Daddy’s and the Sugar babies. Today the Sugar Baby is made by the Charms company.

Sugar Babies are essentially like a miniature version of the Sugar Daddy. They are small bite sized sugary caramels. They taste great – like creamy, milk-caramel treats. Each one has a sugary coating that is not gritty, but smooth. They are fun to eat but are very sweet. A few of these go a long way. Be careful while eating these, they have been known to pull out fillings! This is another long-lasting treat, making it great for people with little money to spend on sweets or the perfect treat to take to a long movie!

Milky Way

Leave a reply

 

The MILKY WAY Bar was first created in 1923, with the idea of putting “A chocolate malted milk in a candy bar”. And that’s just what they taste like, a chocolate and caramel malt…in candy bar form. Milky Way bars are an oldie but goodie. They are whipped nougat with a layer of caramel on top. The whole thing is enrobed in delicious milk chocolate. They are a sweet, gooey treat that is loved by the old and young alike.

The Milky Way bar is produced by the Mars Candy company. They are known for bringing some of the greatest sweet treats to America and Europe alike. In Ireland, England and Scotland, a popular treat is…are you ready for this? A sweet-battered, deep fried Milky Way bar. And get this…I’ve had one. It may be a heart attack on a plate, but it’s actually not that bad. I had to convince myself that I was on vacation and you only live once! It’s not something I’d eat every day, but it was definitely an experience. I prefer my Milky Way the regular way – straight out of the wrapper and into my mouth. But if you’re ever in the UK, I’d suggest trying it their way!

JUNIOR MINTS

Leave a reply

 

Tootsie Roll Industries acquired Junior Mints from the Warner-Lambert Company in 1993. The product was developed by James Welch and launched into the market in 1949. Welch named the candy specifically after his favorite Broadway stage performance, Junior Miss. Junior Mints with its chocolate covered, creamy mint, center, are a popular item in theaters and at home. Tootsie Roll Industries produces over 15 million Junior Mints a day.

I love candy that is older than me. There is a reason why certain classic treats have graced candy store shelves for over fifty years, and Junior Mint are no exception. The minty, chocolaty treat is both refreshing and just plain good. I am not even a huge fan of mint and chocolate combined, but for some reason Junior Mints have always been delicious. The minty center is smooth and creamy. The mint taste is not overpowering, but it leaves your mouth tasting cool and sweet. The dark chocolate coating is just thick enough and is smooth and rich. They always remind me of old movie houses. When I was young, most movie theatre candy came in boxes, not bags and Junior Mints were always present at the candy counter. I can still see the familiar logo today. Well, boxed or bag, this minty treat will probably outlive me!

PEANUT BUTTER M&M’S (Another Perspective)

Leave a reply

 

Here’s my take that is a bit different than my co-reviewer.  1990 marked the introduction of M&M’S Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies—and the beginning of a whole new fan following! And boy, am I one of those fans! I don’t know how often I can stress this, but I absolutely adore the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. There’s just something about the saltiness of the peanut butter offset by the sweet chocolaty flavor of the, well, of the chocolate. It makes my mouth water just thinking about them. And peanut butter M&M’S are no exception!

Every kind of M&M is delicious (am I wrong?), and these peanut butter babies certainly follow suit – they really deliver the goods. Then they RE-deliver the goods! You’ll crave a second bag, no joke! They feature a delicious, real peanut butter center that is smooth, sweet and just salty enough. This is covered by rich milk chocolate and the whole thing is encased in the signature M&M candy shell. These colorful little circles of goodness are one of my favorite sweet treats. They are similar to Reese’s Pieces, but in my humble opinion, SO much better. They have way more peanut butter in the center and we all know that that seals the deal. These also taste great over ice cream or in cookies. Mmmmm…peanut butter cookies with peanut butter M&M’S baked inside. You can’t go wrong!

 

 

 

Kit Kat Caramel

Leave a reply

 

Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that-GET YOUR OWN! THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE! Kit Kat has lost their minds! They have done something I never could have seen coming! Not only have they gigantasized their already infallible Kit Kat bar, but they have surgically implanted a creamy, gooey, tasty layer of caramel that flows through the bar like blood coursing through your veins. Pumping and pumping as if your heart is about to explode like a gladiator match inside the Colosseum fighting for your life, with wild Bengal tigers nipping at your heals. Spears of iron being thrown at your head. In the blazing hot summer sun at the height of the Roman Empire. It’s as though this bar has come to life, with one mission. To seek you out and destroy you!

This is nothing like I have tasted before. Expecting the usual dried up, pay less money for more bars assembly line taste that most other candy bars sell out for. The Kit Kat says nay, I have come for a much more prized possession, your soul! Besting all other so-called “caramel??? candy chocolate bars, the Kit Kat stands far above the competition with it’s true to name “caramel??? filling. But here’s the rub. That’s the only thing that they have done. Simply injected a layer of caramel. That’s it. There’s really nothing else to the Kit Kat Caramel bar. But that’s why it’s so brilliant. Because they have done what no other could. They have mastered the art of caramel. So forget everything else you know about caramel chocolate bars, and go pick up the new Kit Kat Caramel.

YORK MINTS

Leave a reply

 

I’m not a huge fan of mint and chocolate combined. I do, however, like Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies. But I digress. Today I am trying a new treat from York. York Mints.

They are little white balls that have a minty, sugary shell on the outside and the signature fluffy white mint confection and dark chocolate on the inside. They look like little snowballs. At first, I thought that they would be hard candies, given the look of them, but I was wrong…boy, was I wrong! They are soft and easily breakable when bitten. And they are taaaaaas-tyyyyyyy! These little guys are sure to be sold as after dinner mints, but my office mates and I have mowed through nearly the entire container and we haven’t even had lunch. They are minty and refreshing and the dark chocolate adds a rich, almost sinful touch to the whole affair. The tin that they come in is cute, too. It looks old fashioned and is reminiscent of the old mint tins that your grandparents may have carried in their pocket or purse. They are definitely a little treat without a lot of fat – three mints only have 10 calories and no fat or saturated fat. Now, I’m not one to calorie count, but with the holidays here, it helps to keep the calorie consumption down in order to make way for all those Christmas cookies and pies. York is of course famous for their peppermint patties and that is just what these little guys taste like. A mini peppermint pattie. I’ll think of them as peppermint snowballs, since we are approaching winter. These would make great stocking stuffers, so grab a few if you see them while you’re out shopping…and what the heck, go ahead and grab one or two for yourself!

TWIZZLERS RAINBOW TWISTS

Leave a reply

 

Now this is a first. Usually, Twizzlers come in only the standard red (strawberry) flavor. I don’t like them as much as I like the classic Red Vines, but I’m livin’ on the edge today, so let’s give these babies a go!

The pack of Rainbow Twists features six flavors. Red (strawberry), Orange (duh), Yellow (lemonade), Green (watermelon), Blue (blue raspberry), and Purple (grape). The red is the same old strawberry Twizzler. It’s good, but for some reason, never really caught on with me. I guess that it doesn’t taste as strawberry-y as I would like it to. The orange one is good. Sweet and a little tart. The lemonade one tastes like a very sugary lemonade. The watermelon has a pretty good flavor, it’s sweet and tastes the way a watermelon candy should. The blue raspberry is my favorite by far. It’s a little sour, without it being too overpowering and sweet towards the end. The grape is my least favorite, but then again, I am not a big fan of grape flavored candies – they never actually taste like real grapes. This one tastes like purple sugar, which, I’m sure would be a huge hit with the kiddies out there. In all, Twizzlers Rainbow Twists are fruity, fun and sweet. They are very eye-catching and pretty palate pleasing and the variety of fruit flavors makes them a treat, indeed.

ICE BREAKERS TROPICAL SOURS

1 Reply

Ice breakers are known for their extremely minty gum with flavor crystals. I like to call them “Barbie contacts??? because the flavor crystals look just like that. Ice Breakers also has a line of mints that feature the same flavor crystals that made them famous. All are sugar-free, which is a hit with both the young and older markets. They are packaged in a round “tin??? which makes the candy seem more festive. Upon opening said tin, I am greeted with a pleasing tropical scent. My nose detects hints of coconut, passion fruit and something else, something I can’t quite put my finger on.

The tin shows a host of fruits and lists four unique flavors: Tangerine Passion, Lime Coconut, Peach Dragonfruit, Mango Margarita. I’ll try Tangerine Passion first. I definitely taste the tangerine in it and the sour kick is evident from the beginning. I am assuming that the “Passion??? portion of the candy stands for “passion fruit??? which would account for the sweet undertones. When you bit into the candy, you get little bursts of flavor, both sweet and sour. Next up, Lime Coconut. The lime is really tangy and the coconut is sweet. The candy smells fantastic (I’m a fan of coconut – both in smell and taste). This one reminds me of a virgin pina colada. I LOVE pina coladas. Mango Margarita is next. The mango adds a great kick to the candy – sweet and tangy at the same time. The margarita portion of it tastes like lime and maybe a little salt? This particular candy has that salty-sour taste that so many people love, while the mango adds a tart, fruity sweetness. Ok, onto the Peach Dragonfruit. Let me state for the record that I have NO idea what a Dragonfruit is. I have never even heard of a Dragonfruit, and kids, the Sheriff is pretty wise when it comes to her fruits and fruit flavors. Will this candy taste like the big, fire-breathing dragons that we see in Harry Potter movies? God, I hope not! Will this candy taste like fruity dragon eggs? Again, I really hope not. Well, there’s only one way to find out. Hmmmm…I definitely taste the peach, and that is delicious. There is a tartness to the candy which I can only assume is the dragonfruit portion of it. And you know what, it’s good! It’s probably the best out of the four flavors featured in the tin. I like it!

So there you go, Ice Breakers Tropical Sours get the Sheriff’s badge of approval. Chew on that, candy kids!

REESE’S CRISPY CRUNCHY BAR

1 Reply

 

OH. MY. GOD. I have died and gone to candy bar heaven. What did I do so right in my time on earth to deserve such a delicious, delectable taste sensation? Seriously people, this new candy bar from Reese’s is (as the Good Doctor so eloquently puts it) the “BOMB DIGGITY!??? This candy bar is the shnizz, shnap, shnip, shnat, snack! The candy that bar is four, count them, FOUR layers of goodness. Four layers of peanut-y, peanut-butter-y, peanut-flaky, chocolaty awesomness. It is a taste explosion. God, this bar is good!

So Reese’s is known for their original peanut butter cups. One of my all time favorite candies. If you’ve been paying attention to my blogs, then you’ll know that peanut butter and chocolate together are two of my favorite things in the world. I love that flavor combination. It goes so well together. Like peanut butter and jelly. Nutella and banana. Lamb and tuna fish…

Now, Reese’s has decided to throw in a hail mary and go for the gold. And they have struck it rich with this lil’ number! A flaky, peanut-buttery center is topped of with sweet and salty peanut butter. You know the kind I am talking about. Reese’s signature peanut butter. No one in the world can make it like they can. Then, they add a layer of chopped, fresh-roasted peanuts and the whole thing is drenched in rich, creamy milk chocolate. So again, four layers of peanut butter chocolate goodness. Not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR! It is crunchy and creamy, sweet and salty, oh-so-yummy-in-my-tummy. I can’t stand it! It’s so tasty! Try it. Stop whatever you are doing and go get this candy bar. I’m not kidding, it’s that good. What are you waiting for??? GO!