CandyFavorites

There is nothing like a complete sugar rush. I’ll admit, it’s been a while. Getting a sugar rush usually relates with being a kid, but I think adults could so with a sugar rush every so often too! So what is the best candy for a sugar rush you ask? It’s something that you probably ate as a kid. They aren’t as popular now what with all the new fangled sugar candy around. But as they say, oldies are goodies!

It’s all about the Pixy Stix!

There’s nothing better than ripping off the top and pouring all that flavored sugar in your mouth. It turns your tongue fun colors and it gives you pure energy for about half an hour….well maybe more depending on how many you eat at one time! I also always loved the really long and wide ones that you sometimes got at Halloween. That thing could last the whole day! Some days I really miss being a kid. Those carefree afternoons spent in the sun in my self-induced sugar high. Perhaps I’ll take a day this summer to sit by the pool and eat Pixy Stix all day long. Should be fun, until I get sick of course, but it’ll be worth it! So go out and get your long overdue sugar rush!

Until next time, this is Kandy K……stay sweet!!

Need some Pixy Stix?

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang and Carolyn Wyman, Universal Press Syndicate
February 22, 2006

Hershey Extra Dark Chocolate Bars. Pure Dark, Pure Dark With Cranberries, Blueberries and Almonds, and Pure Dark With Macadamias and Cranberries. $1.99 per 3.5-ounce bar or $2.99 per 5.1-ounce pouch of Pure Dark Miniatures.

Bonnie: The explosion of new foods from dark chocolate seems directly proportional to the hype about the results of research linking the natural flavanol antioxidants in cocoa to heart health. Specifically, it’s linked to improved blood pressure and arterial function.

Hershey’s contributions to the avalanche are three dark-chocolate candy bars with added nuts and fruits (antioxidant-rich ones, of course). My favorite features almonds, cranberries and blueberries, but they’re all delicious. .

If you’re a chocolate eater, dark chocolate like Hershey’s Extra Dark is a better choice than milk chocolate. But this is still candy.

Carolyn: Hershey’s product response to the flavonoid studies is more measured than competitor Mars: Its new dark-chocolate products are candy, not a health program.

Unlike Mars CocoaVia, these Hershey’s Extra Dark bars don’t contain soy, calcium and extra vitamins: only delicious dark chocolate, dried fruits and nuts.

Only the plain Pure Dark are sold in bite-size pieces; the others are offered only in mega-bar size. Add Americans’ increasingly sophisticated palates to the new studies showing the health benefits of dark chocolate, and I’m sure they could find buyers for the 1.5-ounce bars, too.

By the way, the Hershey’s chocolate with the most flavanols (a type of flavonoid in chocolate) is actually the very old Hershey’s (or any brand) unsweetened cocoa.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL AND MENTIONS CANDYFAVORITES.COM….

Written by Tamara Ikenberg
Published by The Courier-Journal – Saturday, February 18, 2006

Call it “minner.” At the modern movie theater, dinner and a movie are the new double feature.

In theater lobbies, old-school faves like Sno-Caps and Swedish Fish compete with gourmet coffee and complete meals that far surpass nachos with slimy, suspicious-looking cheese.

The lobby has become more of a hangout than simply the space you walk through to reach the auditorium.

Locally, Cinemark Tinseltown USA at Springhurst Towne Center has recently started selling a variety of ice creams, burgers, fries and more — packaged for in-theater enjoyment — at the new “Studio Eats” stand. Tables and chairs provide a place to chill before, after or even instead of taking in a flick.

“In the old days it was granted you were going to get a popcorn, a soda and that’s it,” said Jon Prince, owner of Internet candy store and wholesale movie candy retailer candyfavorites.com. “Today, you might get a popcorn, you might get a mocha latte, you might get a box of Swedish Fish.”

The sprawling lobby at the Showcase Cinema de Lux 16 at Preston Crossing is a major food court, featuring Starbucks-sipping patrons relaxing in comfy chairs, a Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, a Sbarro and a full-service restaurant, Chatters Bar & Grill.

Taking a cue from its surroundings, Chatters offers movie-themed cocktails like the Dirty Dancing Martini (Absolut Raspberry, Triple Sec and lime juice) and the Pirates of the Caribbean Rum Runner (Cruzan Dark Rum, Captain Morgan’s and pineapple and orange juices).

You can even get a beer for less than what you’d pay for a small soda … but you have to drink it before entering the theater.

If, that is, you are even going to a movie.

“We’ve got our regulars who just come to eat,” said Dana Thompson, a Chatters employee. Chatters has also become a popular lunch spot for people who work in the area, she said.

Concessions are a big business. The treats account for 40 percent of all theater profits, according to In Focus magazine, a publication that covers the movie industry.

While the movie meal may be moving in, it’s not evicting classic movie candy. Familiar favorites like Milk Duds, Goobers and Junior Mints still tempt from behind the glass with their ultra sugar-high prices.

“The standard markup for (movie candy) is 300 percent. They may sell a box of candy for four dollars that they paid a dollar for,” Prince said. “When you go to a movie theater, you always pay that extra money because it’s part of the ‘experience.’ ”

Well, not always. Another trend, Prince said, is people buying concession-type candy ahead of time and bringing it with them. “They sneak it into the theater. We sell to anybody — large corporate chains and … directly to consumers.”

Suanne Nixdorf, 64, of Elizabeth, Ind., is a Junior Mints smuggler.

“They fit nicely in my purse.” Nixdorf buys her beloved chocolate-covered minty discs directly from candyfavorites.com. The main reason? The theater she frequents doesn’t stock them.

“I have my grandchildren addicted to Junior Mints too,” she said. But “they’re just for our movies. (Around the house,) “we put them way up high.”

Prince said that almost all original movie candies are still in circulation. “If they didn’t sell so well, they’re not part of our collective memory,” he said.

Locally, stabs at selling new concession candies haven’t had sweet endings.

Two years ago, the Baxter Avenue Theatres behind Mid City Mall introduced Japanese sweets like Pocky, crunchy, pretzel-like sticks with sweet frosting. They are no longer available. They just didn’t sell, said Les Aberson, president of Apex Theatres.

Moviegoers clearly prefer to munch on more familiar goodies. Nationally, Raisinets are the best-selling snack, says In Focus’ editor in chief Jim Kozak.

Edna Lee, an “over-55″ Okolona resident who was heading into the Cinema de Lux 16 at Preston Crossing recently, said that Raisinets are her all-time favorite snack.

But she also makes room for the next generation of options, occasionally getting a gourmet coffee.

Prince said that in his experience, young people are drawn to tart treats like Sour Patch Kids, while older film folks prefer the classics. Junior Mints remains a perennial favorite.

“Me, I’m a Junior Mints fan,” said Jason Andrews, a 28-year-old Jeffersonville, Ind., resident who works at a marketing firm and was catching a recent flick at the Cinemark Greentree 10 in Clarksville.

He said he’s been into Junior Mints ever since seeing the famous “Seinfeld” episode where Kramer sang the praises of the treat.

Andrews, also a fan of Milk Duds and Hot Tamales, said he isn’t impressed with the allegedly more “sophisticated” movie fare.

“It’s a waste of time. There are already too many Starbucks as it is.”

One of the trends in the candy world that really came out of the 80s is the super sour. For years every candy company in the world has been looking for a way to make me cry. I have to say some have made it for me, I’ve cried more from eating some sour concoctions than I did at the end of old Yeller. It’s a strange sensation too, that feeling that every muscle in your mouth is contracting in such a way that you can’t move your tongue. The worst part of it is when your eyes start to water and you lose the ability to swallow. Then when your mouth finally lets go all you have is this strange pasty feeling and a faint memory of what just happened.

Sure this works, it’s a candy sensation that makes a good part of your body react most importantly your mind. But I have to be honest; I think many candies are abusing this great power, or more directly not using it properly. Sure a candy can be sour, but if that’s all you’ve got, I say stay home. The only reason you should be able to just be sour is if you’re the sourest treat ever (on a side note if you think you’ve got that send me a sample and I’ll be the judge).

I once tried a gumball called a Mad Dog, it seemed friendly enough at first, but I was wrong. You see what this gumball did was start off really sour, about as sour as a Tear Jerker (A Tear Jerker is one of the better sour gumballs out on the market) but this treat was not ready to let you off that easy. The thing about Tear Jerkers is the best way to get rid of the sour is bite into the sweet gum, but this treat had other plans. You see after biting into the gumball I found that it was in fact full of foaming powder. So with my face still all messed up from the sour my mouth became full of foam and my friends watching me eat this treat had a great time.

Sour is fine, it’s a great thing, but I’ve seen it and it’s been around for more than 20 years already, if you’re going to use it make it clever.

Chris Stewart
www.candycritic.org

We all love to travel. The sights, the sounds, the tastes. It’s all foreign and exotic, but when I travel there’s one thing on my itinerary that probably isn’t on yours. When I travel, I stop in local candy stores to sample different products. The above picture is of me on a trip in Europe. By this point you are probably wondering who exactly I am.

I am Jon H. Prince, and I’m the owner of the largest candy store on the web. So when I travel, I like to search for new products and tastes! My favorite candies to sample are unique gummy candy items. On my recent trip to Europe, I made sure to check out the local candy shops.

So wherever I travel next, you can be sure I will be looking for new candy that I can pass on to you all. Now the next time you travel somewhere, maybe you will stop in a local candy store and try some new things! Be sure to let me know if you find something great! So for all your candy needs, remember to visit www.candyfavorites.com.

Jon H. Prince

Right in time for the upcoming holiday, I thought all the singles out there could use a laugh. So I have brought you the top ten reasons why chocolate is better than a lover. These were suggested by fellow candy lovers like yourself. So without further ado, here’s the list!

Top 10 Reasons Why Chocolate Is Better Than a Lover

10. Chocolate will never leave you or cheat on you
9. Chocolate never ignores you to watch the game.
8. Chocolate will not interrupt you when you are yelling
7. Chocolate never suggests you invite a friend around to “join in”.
6. Chocolate never has to work late
5. Chocolate never smells bad
4. There’s no such thing as bad chocolate
3. Chocolate will never fight you for the remote control
2. Chocolate will never tell you “Not tonight, I’m tired”
1. A way to a chocolate bar’s heart is through your stomach

If you have any more reasons to contribute, please let us all know!

Until next time, this is Kandy K……stay sweet!!

What Is Happing To Our Candy? Are We Being Forced Into A Culture Of Here Today Gone Tomorrow Candy? Are We Being Manipulated Into Buying Candy That We ‘Must Try’??

Now I’m not someone that’s stuck in their ways or won’t move with the times. I’ve Got My i-Pod, PSP & Everything That Makes Life Easier. I’m all for change but only when things are for the BETTER!

Now way Back when the first “Limited Edition” Candy Bar came out it was fun & Different but actually all they had done was change a Candy I have been eating for years Into A New Shape. Are we being sucked into these large corporate plans to exploit us the Consumer. Now I Used to love it when a NEW Candy was brought out it was something New & Different & You Try It & Decide If It’s For You Or Not But These New Candy Bars are getting few & far between. We have far more Products being Mutated to make us buy something that we already loved or hated!! The Corporations have hit on a Great Strategy…..Why Waste Millions In Producing Something New, When they can add the words “Limited Edition” To make it sound like we must go & Panic Buy As Stocks May Run Out for a Candy that is now Just Covered In White Chocolate Or Orange Flavored Or Extra Creamy Or Even EXTRA BIG!

I now live in the U.K. & Operate An On-line American Candy Store. We Carry Most Of What You Would Find From Your Candy Isle. We Sell To Allot Of Ex-Pat’s, Embassy’s & Celebrities Living Across Europe. Recently We Were Invited To Be One Of 4 American Companies To Create A Store At The American Embassies Ambassador’s Thanksgiving Cocktail Party. So We Created Our “Store” & Had Everything we carried including a large percentage of Limited Editions. I was proud to be introducing them to Europe. However The Reception I Received Was So Bizarre Out Of 400 Guests We Sold Only 29 Limited Editions but sold out of everything else. When I started to speak to some of the shoppers, they reacted with a surge of Questions & they had never seen or heard of them, there was no Quirky Ad’s Or Promotions for them to see so selling to a Perfect Audience The Ex-Pat’s didn’t want to try Pina Colada Candy Or Double Double Chocolate Covered their favorite Candy Bars!

Nick Martin

So In Our Isolation All We Really Want Is Our Regular Candy & Those “New” Candy Bars! Am I Out On A Limb Here Or Is It Just Us Locked Away Here In Europe Please Add Your Views, We’d Love To Hear From Over There Whatcha Thinkin’

Hello candy lovers! I have to apologize for the lack of updates. I had some technical difficulties for the past week, and by technical difficulties I mean evil computer viruses. They left me internetless for a week! On average I spend about 75% of my day online. So this was a big blow for me. I needed some comfort. So what did I do? I turned to candy of course. An old friend that helped me make it through the tough times.

Yes those miniature Reeses cups were there for me. With their sweet chocolate outer layer, and creamy peanut butter center, I almost forgot that I didn’t have internet access. Needless to say I’ll probably have to hit the gym this week after going through a few bags of Reeses cups.

So next time you are upset, or your internet turns its back on you, remember that candy is always there for you. It doesn’t leave to go to class, or make you listen to a bunch of number command prompts before allowing you to talk to it. It will listen to you for as long as you can keep yourself from not eating it. But even then it will make you feel good inside. Once that chocolate begins to melt in your mouth, all else is forgotten.

Until next time, this is Kandy K…..stay sweet!!

Need some Reeses? click here