Monthly Archives: January 2007

Twisted Push Pops – Berry Blast

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I am afraid of a bunch of silly things. The dark, spiders, sharks, giant whales and now, Push Pops. That’s right, I have one more thing to add to my list of silly-scary things. You can now officially file spring-loaded Push Pops under “Candy I Fear.” I just got this new “Twisted Berry Blast” Push Pop and while the outside is similar to what I remember the original Push Pops looking like, inside the cylinder the hard candy sits on is a small, tightly coiled spring. When I uncapped the contraption, a blue and red striped wand shot a couple of inches out of the package and it threw me off a little. With my luck, that thing could have taken my eye out! There is just something unsettling about the whole situation – buy one and you’ll understand.

Aside from that, it tastes great. It’s been years since I have had a Push Pop and while I don’t eat lollipops that often, this one will surely rank at the top. Even though the original appeal of the Push Pop (you no longer push this pop – it’s more of a spring pop) is gone, this is still a fun candy. The cylinder of candy has been divided into four equal “twisted” parts. Two flavors of pop-py goodness have been twisted and together have formed a super pop of sorts. Berry blast tastes like raspberry and maybe strawberry (?) combined. It’s sweet in the way that you hope a lollipop will be. And the best part is, you don’t have to get your fingers all sticky – I really hate that. These would be great for kids – you can throw them in your purse or bag and hand them out during car trips, a day at Disneyland or just an at-home treat. When the kids get tired of the candy they can just re-cap it and save it for later. The cap even has a little hook that they can clip to their shirt, pants or shorts. Heck, these would even hold onto a pair of Batman pajamas (if your kid is that cool). All in all, it’s a fun to eat candy that brought me back to my childhood – even if it did scare me a little.

Baskin Robbins Smooth and Creamy Vanilla Candy

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Usually I am not a huge fan of hard candies. I am more of a chocolate or gummy girl, but I make an exception for these Baskin Robbins Smooth and Creamy candies. They are superb! Each individually wrapped candy is like eating a mini dish of ice cream, minus the brain freeze, of course! These little vanilla hard candies are smooth, creamy and made with real butter and milk. They are about the size of a quarter and are great for when you are on the go. Pop a few into your pocket or purse and you can enjoy them wherever you are. The flavor of this candy is not too sweet. A lot of the time, hard candy seems to be too sugary and I am not able to finish it, but that is not the case with these Baskin Robbins candies.

I am a big fan of vanilla ice cream versus chocolate, so I was happy to see that Baskin Robbins offered a pure vanilla hard candy. As much of a chocoholic as I am, for some strange reason, I like vanilla over chocolate – but only when it comes to ice cream choices! Outside of that, I am a chocolate fan all the way. If you like hard candies, I would definitely recommend these little guys. They are the perfect way to treat yourself to the delightful taste of ice cream, without all the calories and mess! There are only 60 calories in three pieces of candy – not too shabby! Baskin Robbins also offers a sugar free version of this hard candy that is made with Splenda. It’s a perfect treat to have when you are watching what you eat, or if you are not allowed sugar. The best part is, they taste just as good as the regular ones! Creamy, dreamy and delicious!

Lifesavers Sweet Mint Candies

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Life Savers candy was first created in 1912 by Clarence Crane, a Cleveland chocolatier. At the time, he was looking for a new “summer candy” to supplement his chocolate business, which slumped in hot weather. Crane developed a line of hard mints, but didn’t have the space or machinery to make them. He contracted with a pill manufacturer to press the mints into shape. The pill manufacturer, whose machinery was malfunctioning, found that the pressing process worked much better when the mints were stamped with a hole in the middle. Crane called the new candy “Crane’s Peppermint Life Savers,” because they looked like miniature throwable life preservers. The ring-shaped devices were just beginning to come into use after the Titanic disaster.

In 1913, Crane sold the formula for his Life Savers candy to Edward Noble for only $2,900. Noble started his own candy company and began producing and selling the mints known as Pep-O-Mint Life Savers. He also began to package the mints into rolls wrapped in tinfoil to prevent them from going stale. This process was done by hand until 1919 when machinery was developed. In 1925, the tinfoil was replaced with the signature aluminum foil we all know today. Noble soon began to create and sell many other flavors including the popular fruit “five flavor??? rolls. Today, Life Savers holds the market for rolled, hard candies. And it’s easy to see why.

Life Savers have always held a special place in my heart. My grandfather, who had as big of a sweet tooth as I do, was a huge fan of Pepp-O-Mint and Five Flavor Life Savers. He always kept a roll on him and was more than happy to share with me and my cousins. My grandmother bought them in bulk, so there were always spare rolls at their house. He would hand us kids each a $5 bill when we came to visit and a roll of Life Savers. We would trade our flavors with one another and use the candy pieces as checkers, sun visors for our pinkies, or pencil toppers. Having grown up eating Life Savers, it’s always exciting to try a new flavor. This new Sweet Mint variety is especially good. The mint flavor is not too overpowering, but instead it is refreshing. The candy has a sugary taste to it – it reminds me of a mint-y icing.  Very flavorful, but understated at the same time. The mints leave your mouth feeling very cool and refreshed. I think this is a great new addition to the Life Saver family. Hopefully it will be around for a long time.

Tootsie Rolls

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Tootsie Rolls are, quite literally, a national institution. For over 100 years, the Tootsie Roll has charmed the young and old alike – all over the world. In 1896, Austrian immigrant Leo Hirshfield brought his recipe for Tootsie Rolls to the U.S. He began selling them in a small confectionery store in New York City. He named the candy “Tootsie??? rolls after his 5 year old daughter who was graced with the nickname “Tootsie???. Hirshfield’s success continued to grow over the years, and so did the Tootsie Roll name. The recipe for Tootsie rolls has never changed over the years, nor has their signature wrapping/packaging – making Tootsie Rolls one of the most recognizable candies of yester-year.

I adore nostalgic candy and have been eating Tootsie Rolls since I was a kid. I mean, who doesn’t love Tootsie Rolls? They are chocolaty, chewy little morsels of goodness. They are a low fat candy and they are simply irresistible. There is something so pleasant about biting into a soft, sweet nugget of Tootsie Roll. Whether you get the original size, mini-midgees, midgees, snack size or even the granddaddy of all Tootsie Rolls – the GIANT roll, you can’t go wrong! Tootsie rolls are a chocolate flavored candy that will never go out of style. No other candy has ever come close to matching that unbeatable taste, freshness and likeability that the Tootsie Roll has. Today, Tootsie Rolls are produced using the same basic recipe that Hirshfield used over a century ago. About 62 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day and they never stay on the shelves long! My grandmother used to keep a jar of Tootsie Rolls in her kitchen. Even after my Grandfather lost his teeth and began wearing dentures he still insisted on eating the sweet little candies. He claimed that he ate them as a child and would continue to eat them in spite of the “trouble??? they caused. He’d sneak a few, hand off some to me and we’d sit on the porch savoring the flavor of the little “rolls???. I’ll never forget that. Tootsie Rolls definitely get the Sheriff’s badge of approval for being one sweet, tasty and classic candy.

Hershey’s Kissables – Dark Chocolate

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Hershey’s Kisses are known the world over, and so it stands to reason that Kissables are “mini-kisses”. I love things in miniature and I adore these Kissables – something about them is just so cute you could just, just.well, just kiss them. And by “kiss them” I of course mean “gobble them up”. I tried the milk chocolate variety last year and even bought a package for the Good Doctor for Valentines Day. Both these little candies and the Good Doctor are extremely kissable in my book – but I digress, I am here to talk about candy! Back to the Kissables.

It seems as if American chocolatiers have finally seen the light. They are making more and more candies of a dark chocolate variety. They’re about twenty years late in the game, if you ask me, but I suppose it’s better to be late than never. European chocolatiers have been gracing us with dark chocolate creations for decades and that is where we dark chocolate fans manage to get our “fix”. Suffice to say, the more American candy makers that produce the luscious dark confection, the better – so bring it on Hershey! These little Kissables are not only cute and fun to eat, but oh-so-tasty. They have a crisp sugar shell, much like an M&M, although this one is a little softer. Once you break through that, you are faced with a chocolate chip sized drop of dark chocolaty goodness. The chocolate is just what you would expect from Hershey. It is smooth, rich, dark and delicious. There is a reason why Hershey’s has been in business so long – they just keep cranking out classics. Kissables are great to eat on the go – you can grab one of their mini bags, or buy a larger one to keep in bowls in your home or on your desk at work. Kissables would also make a great addition to your favorite cookie or brownie recipe or as an ice cream topper. However you decide to eat them, you won’t be sorry!

Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Truffle Kisses

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Oh gosh, I really love blogging about new candy. There is something just so, I don’t know, special about reviewing a candy that no one else has tasted. I feel like a V.I.P candy connoisseur. A person in “the know”.  A privileged individual.  As we all know, I am a bona fide chocoholic. Milk, dark, sweet, bitter…bring it on! I’ll try ’em all! From dark chocolate spiced with chili powder like the Aztecs used to drink, to milk chocolate with a caramel ribbon, I’ve bitten, chewed, savored and swallowed dozens of variations of the cacao bean, and this my friends, this sweet little nugget of chocolate perfection, is rapidly becoming one of my very favorites. This little KISS may soon be a top competitor for my palate.

Hershey’s is one of my favorite confectionery creators. I love, love, love their candies – with their chocolate selection ranking number one for American chocolates, in my humble opinion. I have tried it all.from Hershey Bars with almonds, to Reese’s peanut butter cups, to the beloved Hershey Kiss, I have secured each and every candy avenue Hershey has to offer until now. Until I was presented with a package of…are you ready for it? Da-da-da-daaaaaaa! Hershey’s Dark Chocolate TRUFFLE kisses! Yes, candy kids! TRUFFLE KISSES! Just the mere mention of the name makes my mouth water and my lips tingle in anticipation. And the taste! Oh my goodness, it’s so good, it’s positively sinful! The geniuses at Hershey’s have managed to place a scrumptious chocolate truffle smack dab in the middle of a dark chocolate Hershey Kiss. It is smooth, it is rich, it is dark it is GONE! I have eaten almost a whole bag of these little silver-wrapped babies and let me tell you, they will be worth every single minute I have to spend at the gym. They are so delicious and so delectable that I predict they will go down in history as one of Hershey’s all-time-great-chocolates. It looks like a normal Hershey kiss, but it is so much more. So, so much more! Once you bite through that dark, almost bitter-sweet chocolate shell, you encounter a world of truffle-y goodness. Smooth, creamy and chocolaty. It makes your taste buds stand up and cry, “more, more, give me more!” I’m telling you.once these hit the market, you will see what all the fuss is about.until then candy kids, sweet dreams!

Dorval’s Sour Power Straws

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Ok, when I am not busy munching on chocolate or saving the world from bad guys, from time to time I like to punish my tongue with sour candies. The more sour, the better! And more than anything, I like chewy sour candies. You know the kind I am talking about, right? The little flat or rope shaped numbers that are covered in that delicious sour, sugary “sand”. The kind that you can lick off and then are left with a sweet-ish chewy candy to savor at your leisure.

Well, Sour Power straws give you just that. I have sampled dozens of different chewy or gummy sour candies, but these might be the best. This particular package features candy “straws” that are dual-flavored. One side is cherry while the other is raspberry – double the sour flavor, double the fun, right? RIGHT! And boy, do these little babies pack a sour, powerful punch!  They are chewy, tart, tangy and have a hint of sweetness towards the end. They chewy enough, not too gummy and the sour flavor can be tasted throughout the entire candy, not just the sour-sugar coating. That is a first because most sour candies are just coated with the sour taste (through the sugar) but this sour flavor seems to lie in the gummy candy as well. I also love that you get two flavors in one – the cherry and raspberry combination is great! One half of the candy bright red (cherry) while the hot pink is raspberry. It makes for a great flavor twist. They’re hollow in the middle, so you can always bite off the ends and use it as a soda straw (we used to do this when I was a kid – we thought we were super clever). These are a great sweet treat when you are bored with the same old thing – and after reviewing all that chocolate, my tongue was certainly craving a change!

Eclipse Cinnamon Flash Strips

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Back in the early 2000’s the world was graced with the invention of “breath strips???. They revolutionized the fresh breath market, in my humble opinion. Packaged and sold in both the gum and oral hygiene aisle of the supermarket, they gave you a feeling that gum did not – though you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. Just why did your mouth feel so great, so fresh after popping a little strip of freshness?  The strip itself looks like colored tape and is brittle if you happen to break it. Once on your tongue, it instantly dissolves into a sticky substance that stains your tongue for a little while, this is the magic though, kids. THIS is when it happens. After opening and closing your mouth a few times, along with a couple of swallows, you find your mouth remarkably cooler, fresher and more pleasant. I found that if you take a sip of cold water immediately after, this effect is heightened and reminds me of mouthwash you can swallow. Thank the gods for such an invention! Or just the good folks at Wrigley’s.

Today I am sampling the Wrigley’s brand Eclipse cinnamon flash strips. So far, I have only had the mint and wintergreen varieties, but I enjoy a cinnamon-y mouth from time to time, so why the heck not? They look like the usual breath strip that we have all come to know and love, except these are a fiery, cinnamon-y red color – perfect for Valentines Day next month. The texture of the strip is the same as the old ones, but how about the taste? Well, let’s give it a whirl. Drumroll, please…

They’re great! The cinnamon flavor is not too strong, but has just the right kick. My mouth is filled with a pleasant sweet-spicy flavor, but not one flavor overshadows the other. My mouth feels a lot fresher and in spite of the cinnamon flavor, has cooled off quite a bit. As usual, taking a sip of water helps to enhance this effect. I definitely give these new breath strips the Sheriff’s badge of approval. 

Hopjes Coffee Candies

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So I have decided to step away from my usual forte – my realm of chocolate and sour flavored candies. That’s right, I’m thinking out side of the box, so to speak and these next few weeks, I’ll be reviewing candies from other countries, as well as candies of various flavors and tastes. So for today, “Goodbye America, and Hello Holland!???

This little coffee candy is so simple, it’s ridiculous. And maybe that’s what makes it so darn good. It’s a little square candy with rounded edges and is about the size of a nickel. The main ingredients are sugar, then glucose syrup, rounding out with…you guessed it…coffee! And boy, you can really taste the coffee. It’s not too strong, that is, it does not taste like a cup of black coffee, this is maybe coffee with a hint of milk and sugar, but it is most definitely coffee. The good folks at Hopjes got it right. Simple, timeless ingredients make for a tasty candy and by the look of it, these have been around for quite some time. Now this candy is certainly buzzworthy and a little goes a long way. I would say a few of these would equal the same “pick me up??? that you’d get out of a small cup of regular coffee, without all the mess. These are great to pop in your purse or pocket, or even keep in a small bowl at work to share with your friends. At least four people have stopped by my desk so far to steal some – they are a hit! The flavor of this hard candy is great and the candy itself is smooth and rich – it’s not rock hard, so you can happily crunch away if that is what you prefer to do – don’t worry, you won’t chip any teeth!

Nips – Mocha Parfait

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For people who need a break from life’s little irritations, NIPS is the rich and creamy hard candy that provides a soothing diversion. Each NIPS candy has its own distinct and truly satisfying flavor. This hard candy is known for its smooth, creamy texture and bite-size eat with an unmistakable hint or “nip” of flavor – hence the name “Nips”. NIPS candy comes in two forms; solid candies and soft centered candies known as parfaits.

I love coffee flavored candies and NIPS are no exception. These sweet and delicious little babies are great for when you need a little pick-me-up but don’t want the actual cup o’ java. The hard candy shell becomes a little on the chewy side the more that you suck on it and the greatest part is the “parfait??? in the center. That’s right, these particular NIPS are filled with a creamy mocha center that adds a hint of chocolaty sweetness to the strong coffee flavor of the hard candy. It’s like going to a coffee shop without even leaving your house! NIPS are a great long-lasting candy which makes them ideal for work, a movie, in the car on a road trip or even just for a little at home treat. NIPS give you a little jolt of caffeine without going overboard and without all the mess of a cup of steamy coffee with cream and chocolate – just pop a few into your purse or pocket and you can enjoy that “cup of joe??? on the go!