CandyFavorites

Sour Patch Kids Gummi Candy was one of the first sour candies!

 

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 9

Convenience: 6

Novelty: 7

Overall: 10

 Sour patch kids are one of my personal favorites. I love sour patch kids so much for a few reasons. Firstly, every flavor is distinctly different, unlike M & M s or something where you can barely even tell the flavor difference of the different colors. The yellow lemon, lime green, orange orange, and cherry red all satisfy the tastebuds with their sandy sour kick. 

Sour patch kids are a common concession candy and for good reason. They are perfect for movies because you can suck on them until all of the sour sugar dissolves and then you have Swedish fish, but in a better flavor. Of course it’s always fun to mix flavors (my favorite combinations being red and green and yellow and green) and chomp down making a really loud chewing sound because it is too just hard to resist it.

Sour patch kids also have a great history. In the 1970s when UFO sightings were the talk of the town, little “Mars Men” aliens were sold for a penny a piece and were quite popular because of their unique sour coating. A man named Frank Galatolie is credited with the invention of the gummy candy with the sour coating. In the 1980s Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were quite popular and that is where the name sour patch kids is derived from. The first sour patch kids product was sold in 1985 by Jaret, Galatolie’s company. The cartoon character on the original package was Galatolie’s son, Scott who is now in his 20s. As of 1997 Cadbury Adams has taken over the Sour Patch trademark in the United States.

But beware, just because sour patch kids are extremely delicious does not mean that they too should not be eaten in moderation. Too many sour patch kids can leave you with a numb tongue, hurting teeth, and a belly ache. But just the right amount can be exactly what you need to get you through your day.

The Charlie Brown character Linus would love Pop Rocks Pumpkin Patch Candy

Sharability: 1 (way too good to share)

Denture Danger: 0

Convenience: 6

Novelty: 8

Overall: 10

It is the eve of October 31st and the witches, monsters, and princesses are going house to house trying to make their pillowcases as heavy as possible. One secret that we know is that quality is better than quantity. 

We make sure to get pop rocks pumpkin patch orange edition for our trick-or-treaters. What could be more perfect for Halloween? You just know that at the end of the night each kid dumps out his big bag of candy onto the table. And when he does that he will pick up that pumpkin patch orange pop rocks and put it aside in the “best candy” along with pile with the full size snickers and package of four Reese’s Cups. Wouldn’t it feel good knowing that you gave every kid-in-costume one of their favorite candies of an entire night of candy collecting? 

The orange and green pop rocks feel like hundreds of tiny explosions are going off in your mouth. The actual flavor of the pop rocks is sweet without any particular flavoring even though the package says orange flavored. The best way to eat them is to rip off the top and pour them into your mouth, that way you don’t waist any poppers on you hand.

You can pour them on to your tongue so that it sounds like bacon sizzling on the stove. The pop rocks tingle is quote soothing and if you close your eyes it feels and sounds like a rain storm is happening inside your mouth.You can feel them popping all the way down your throat and in your teeth and it’s always nice to get that unexpected pop after it you think it is all over.

After you have held the bag upside down over your gaping mouth, it is always fun to rip open the bag and lick it clean making sure to savor every last pop.

So for this coming Halloween, you know what candy to get, and for the meantime, who couldn’t go without a little extra pop rocking in their life?

Brachs Root Beer Barrels will liven any party!

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 0  (8 if you chew it)

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 8

Overall: 8

You can’t confuse the root beer barrel candy for anything else of because its unmistakable barrel shape.  Even if you were blind and couldn’t distinguish the shape of the candy, you would know as soon as you popped the candy into your mouth because that sweet root beer flavor doesn’t hesitate to jump right out at you.

So forget the kegs for this party because we’ve got the barrels. Root beer barrels! There are two kinds for you picky partiers, regular and Brach’s A&W. The A&W barrel hits you with a sharp, almost spicy sassafras flavor. I would call it the darker of the two “beers” (as it is also darker in color). The regular is lighter and has a gentler taste. It has a mild sweetness to it that is just perfect if you want the smooth root beer flavor without an extra kick to it. So instead of making it an over 21 event with the beer keg, you can have a fun (and safe) party for all ages with a supply of regular and A&W Root Beer Barrels. Forget the tap and instead unwrap.

Do you love 100 Grand Bars? That is the $64,000 question.....

Sharability: 9

Denture Danger: 9

Convenience: 4

Novelty: 6

Overall: 9

 “Has anyone ever given you 100 Grand before?”

That is something my dad likes to ask with reckless abandon whether it be to hotel clerks, airport ticket sellers, or anyone he wants to flatter in order to get a better deal.

You would be surprised how often it works. You don’t have to use it to your marketing advantage like my dad does, but it is still fun to ask people, “has anyone ever given you a 100 grand?” and when the person responds, “uhhh, no.” You can give them a 100 Grand bar and say, “well there’s a first time for everything.”

The 100 Grand Bar, manufactured by Nestles,  is formerly known as the $100,000 Bar which was first introduced in 1966. The idea for the candy came from popular quiz shows such as The Big Surprise and The $64,000 Question. In 1985, one year after the bar was changed into a two-piece bar from a one-piece bar, the name was changed to “100 Grand.”

A 100 Grand bar is a hunk of caramel topped with “crispy crunchies” which is all dipped in chocolate. The crisped rice gives the candy a nice crunchy texture to add to the soft chewy caramel. This caramel is definitely the overpowering ingredient in this candy, but the crispies and the chocolate make it the unique candy it is. Be the benefactor of your friends and family and give out 100 Grand to everyone!

Share with us your favorite story about this candy and you have a chance to win 100 Grand…candy bar!

Swedish Fish are an enduring retro candy favorite!

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 7

Convenience: 7

Novelty: 7

Overall: 7

The Swedish Fish, as the name implies originated in Sweden by the Malaco candy company.

In 1958 the Malaco company began exporting some of their candy goods to North America starting with licorices. In the late 60s into the early 70s Malaco started exporting Swedish fish and Swedish berries (the same candy shaped as berries and, sadly, now discontinued) which were altered slightly to appeal to the North American market.

The Swedish fish are now made by the Cadbury Adams Company in Canada and are distributed all over the US. The winegum Swedish fish candies are a popular concession candy and are loved by people of all ages world-wide, especially in Sweden.

Winegum candies are very popular in Sweden are made in many different shapes including flowers, cars, coins, and boats. In Sweden the candy is called “Pastellfiskar” which literally means “pale colored fishes.” The original red fish is of an almost indistinguishable flavor that in my opinion seems to be a mix between cherry and strawberry.

Swedish fish come in different sizes (as there are all different sized fish in the sea) and in different flavors (as does most candy). You can find yellow lemon, green lime, orange orange, and purple grape Swedish fish flavors if the original read doesn’t tingle your taste buds. Forget paying for overpriced Swedish fish at the movie theatre, prepare ahead of time and order your Pastellfiskars from candyfavorites.com.

Dubble Bubble Gum was invented in 1928

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 10 (what can I say? It is gum)

Convenience: 9

Novelty: 8

Overall: 7

 Dubble Bubble was first invented in 1928 by a man named Walter E. Diemer, an accountant at Fleer chewing gum company. Diemer experimented with chewing gum recipes and one day accidentally created a less sticky, more stretchable gum, and best of all, it made bubbles!

Beginning in 1930 the gum was wrapped up with a comic strip about twin brothers Dub and Bub. Dubble Bubble was even a part of military rations during World War II. It wasn’t long before the gum was wrapped without the accompaniment of a comic strip and put on the shelf next to a variety of Dubble Bubble flavors including grape, watermelon, and apple. The newer flavors all pale in comparison to the original bubble gum flavor.

 The colorful yellow, blue, red, white, and pink Dubble Bubble wrapper is an automatic attraction to the eyes. You pull the ends and out spins a bright pink cylinder chunk that you get to toss into your mouth. The first few chews are a little tough on the jaw, but the juicy bubble gum flavor leaks out as the chunk of gum becomes softer and easier to chew.

Then you get to stretch out the gum around your tongue and blow your best bubble. The gum is slightly thicker than other gums which makes the bubble’s walls more durable and stretchable for bubble blowing. It may loose its flavor but it never looses the chewy bubbleable consistency.

 My friend Mark had been chewing a piece of Dubble Bubble for a little while before he randomly blurted out: “I really like this gum!” When I pressed him for why he said, “It’s really chewy and has a lot of flavor and it is not the standard bubble gum taste.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! So if you aren’t feeling up for a piece of candy, grab a piece of Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum instead and blow away.

Do you remember when Bulk Candy was $.49

I have always been a fan on innovation and few companies have captured my imagination more than Brach’s Candy. 

It is not that this company is the most innovative in terms of their current offerings but they surely have shaped the way candy is consumed and marketed.

In 1904, Emil Brach immigrated to United States and opened his first candy store in the Windy City of Chicago. The first product offered was Caramels, known today as Milk Maid Caramel Squares,  and Mr. Brach was the first to use mass production to create  candy combining high quality and a low price.

While the latter might not be the case today, one would be hard pressed to find a better manufacturer of butterscotch disks, candy corn or ice blue mint coolers to name but a few of their better known products.

While the candy speak for itself, few realize that Brach’s was the first to introduce the concept of purchasing candy en masse which lead to the creation of the bulk candy industry which now is taken for granted.

Many companies claim to have offered the first “penny candy” but it was Brach’s that created the infrastructure allowing for self service and different varieties of loose candy.

 The concept was called “Pick and Mix” and combined “old school” displays such as barrels, jars and scoops, a precursor to what is now found in Supermarkets around the globe!

McKeesport Candy Co. was one of the first candy wholesalers in the nation to offer bulk candy and we were one of the first distributors of Brach’s dating back to our first purchase in the 1930’s. 

Candy manufacturers have come and gone and Brach’s has changed corporate ownership quite a few times in it’s one hundred and five (105) year history but few companies have such a loyal following nor such a sweet history.

Please share with us your favorite memory of Brach’s Candy and, if chosen, we will send you a $10 Sweet Certificate which you can apply to any order on CandyFavorites.com

Why is the Indian on the Tootsie Pop Wrapper Circled? Read on...

What comes around goes around and this applies to the beloved, and elusive, Chocolate Tootsie Pops.

In 1931, fueled by the success of the soft “chocolaty” Tootsie Roll, an employee of the Sweets Company of America – renamed Tootsie Roll Industries in 1966 – decided to encase the famous candy in a hard candy shell and thus Tootsie Pops were inadvertently born.  These famous lollipops were a precursor to what is now called “novelty candy” as they were advertised as candy with a prize center.

 I am sure that the inventor, Luke Weisgram, never imagined that the company would eventually produce twenty (20) million lollipops daily!

The first flavor was chocolate which remains the most sought after flavor as any supermarket bulk candy bin will silently attest.   Today, despite literally dozens of flavors, Chocolate Tootsie Pops remain an elusive treat.

As to the proverbial question of “how many licks does it take to get to center of a Tootsie Roll Pop,” a group of engineering students from Purdue University recorded that their licking machine, modeled after a human tongue, took an average of 364 licks to get to the center!  So much for the beloved Tootsie Mascot, Mr. Owl’s claim of “the world may never know…”

As for the urban legend that if you receive a Tootsie Pop with a Native American aiming a bow and arrow, Tootsie Pop Industries will give you free candy, we are sad to report that like so many legends, this remains more fiction than fact, however, if you contact Tootsie Roll Industries and tell them how many licks it takes to finish your Tootsie Pop, the will send you a Clean Stick Certificate.

PS: Ironically, I noticed that boxes from the manufacturer are now bearing the following, “Watch for new flavors added to our mix.”   Stay tuned, as this will surely be the topic of another entry….

Haribo Gummi Bears were invented in the 1920's

Despite hundreds of unwrapped bulk items, Gummi Bears remain one of our best selling items and, love or hate them; they are a candy with a unique taste and history.

Gummi Bears were created in Germany during the 1920’s by Hans Riegel, the founder of Haribo, and were originally called Tanzbar which loosely translates to “dancing bear.”

The original gummi dancing bear was longer and leaner than today’s gummi bears and an unsubstantiated claim is that this influenced one of the logo’s of the famous pop band, The Grateful Dead.  It wasn’t until 1951 that the design changed to the current style.

An interesting piece of overlooked trivia is that the name HARIBO is an amalgamation of the owner’s first name (HA), his last name name (RI) and a tribute to the town in Germany, Bonn, (BO) where the company was located.

Haribo Gummi Bears were quite a rarity as the original ones, known as Gold Bears, were imported and had “cult status”.  It wasn’t until 1982 that Haribo began producing gummi candies in America.

Despite a World War and three (3) generation of ownership, Haribo remains one of the largest gummi candy producers in the world creating approximately eighty (80) million gummi bears a day for global distribution!

Herman Goelitz, of Jelly Belly fame, is also credited with making the first gummi bear; however, a distinction needs to be noted as he was the first person to make Gummi Bears in North America which occurred in 1981.

Sharability: 9

Denture Danger: 8

Convenience: 7

Novelty: 6

Overall: 9

As soon as you open the bag, a burst of the peachy sweetness aroma floats up your nose preparing your senses for the eating of peach ring.

Manufactured by Farley & Sathers, under the brand name Trolli,  these ring shaped gummies are fun to put on your fingers to admire your beautiful orange and yellow jewelry before ripping them off with your teeth. If you suck on the peach ring instead of chewing it up the sandpapery sugar melts away so that you can feel the smooth gummy squirm around your mouth.

As good as this candy is, I advise moderation. Though moderation is key with most candies, this one I can tell you from personal experience is one in which you should surely limit your intake.

Eating too many peach rings can make your stomach gurgle and your head pound. It gives you a good excuse to share this one with all of the watering mouths watching you chew up the peachy smelling, sugary, slightly sour gummy.