Black Taffy Is the Black Jack Throwback

Sharability: 9

Denture Danger: 10

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 9

Overall: 9

 Primrose Candy Company’s Black Taffy is not what you might expect. For starters, the candy itself has only an accent of black color. This is a salt water taffy type candy, but every pieces holds the unmistakable flavor of black licorice. The candy itself is aesthetically pleasing, a peach colored ring around a black center and dash of red coloring on the side.

 Some might see this black taffy and think, “Oh, Black Jack! I remember that classic candy!”  The original Black Jack (that you can now get in Beedies gum form) is no longer made in candy form, but at least you have this Black Taffy to bring nostalgia to the tip of your tongue.

Smarties: Eat, Share or Smoke them, Big, Sour, of Small

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 2

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 9

Overall: 10

 At this day and age people will find a way to smoke anything and believe it or not but Smarties candies are among the smokables. I could say that this feat is simple and clean, but it is a bit more trouble than it is worth. The goal is to crush up the Smarties inside the wrapper and then open both ends of the wrapper.

This is when you can inhale through one end and have Smartie dust come out of your mouth when you exhale. I tried to crush up the candies with my hands; I the dense candies put up a tough defense. I tried to crush them up with my teeth; I managed to bite through and slobber on the wrapper. I resorted to taking a hammer to crush them up, which worked, but completely tore through the wrapper, so I wrapped it all up in a note card to test out the smoke.

I pulled the candy dust into my mouth and exhaled a very thin plume of dust. It did leave quite an enjoyable aftertaste, but you can get the same after-and-during-taste satisfaction if you just eat them. Attempting to inhale the candy into your lungs is silly not only because you don’t want candy dust in your lungs, but it will surely make you cough as soon as the dust tickles your throat. Smoking the Smarties is an experience worth trying once, because you wouldn’t want to waste more than one roll of this delicious candy (but you also don’t want to take my word for it being a waste).

Smarties is a great candy for the go because each roll is individually wrapped with enough colored sugar discs to satisfy you on multiple different occasions.

Smarties also comes in an enlarged size that gives you a roll’s worth of original Smarties candy in one piece. I would be lying if I said it was bad, but it is a lot of Smarties sugar for one bite, especially since eighteen huge disks come in this package.

Smarties didn’t stop at the original, and they didn’t stop at the enlarged size. Smarties candies come in original size Xtreme Sour as well. These Smarties definitely have a nice sour kick to them, but I don’t know if they quite make the “Xtreme” category. They surely don’t force your face into involuntary actions like warheads do.

In 1949 Eddie Dee lead his family on an adventure across the Atlantic, from England to New Jersey. Eddie founded the Ce De Candy, Inc. and the company grew exponentially over the next forty years. It not only expanded throughout New Jersey, but a factory was built in Ontario, Canada to make Smarties, which there are called “Rockets”.

Eddie and his kids and grandkids currently work together in New Jersey to keep these Smarties rollin’. Ce De Candy, Inc produces billions of Smarties rolls each year. If you are lucky you can touch, smoke, taste, or share one of those billions.

Sources:

http://www.smarties.com/history/

Vanilla Tootsie Rolls are a "Limited Edition" yet are one of the most sought after candies!

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 9

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 8

Overall: 8

 In a world where communities strive to represent diversity, candy companies seem to do the same. These Tootsie Rolls are what one might call the Caucasian candy of the community.

This limited edition candy receives a thumbs up and a cheesy smile from me, as it succeeds in being sweet and vanillay. As in most situations, where there is chocolate, there is also vanilla, and Tootsie Roll wouldn’t be the one to put its foot down to this norm.

 What confuses me is that this candy is marketed heavily as a “Limited Edition!” candy, so heavily that a good portion of the small wrapper is taken up with this exclamation. Though this exclusively vanilla bag is limited edition, the vanilla flavored Tootsie Roll is a regular candidate in the multi-flavored Tootsie Roll bags.

 On that same note, limited is a relative word. All candies are technically a limited edition in the world of time, as they will not exist forever. This candy is only around for a brief moment of existence, as are our lives. Limited could mean this candy is available only for one week, or one year, or a limited one hundred years.

Calling all vanilla lovers! This is your chance to purchase and enjoy the one of a kind, “Limited Edition!” Vanilla Tootsie Rolls, get them while they are still in existence!

The Zero Bar is a candy with a long history as it was first introduced in the 1930's by Hollywood Candy Company but it now owned by Hershey Foods. This wrapper , circa early 1930's, is very rare as it shows a Polar Bear!

The Zero Bar is not your average candy bar as it is a candy with a history spanning over 70 years!

It was first introduced in the 1920’s by the now defunct Hollywood Brands Candy Company and is now owned by Hershey Foods although this transition took place over many years and included many owners in between.

 The candy bar is unique in that it consists of a delicious amalgamation of almonds, peanuts and caramel nougat covered, or shall we say , drenched, with delicious white fudge. This was even more controversial upon its release as most candy bars then, as now, are coated in milk chocolate.

As per the name, this has been the subject of candy lore as it was not touted as a reduced calorie candy bar – hence the name Zero – but rather because the white coating was supposed to give the impression of snow and, metaphorically speaking, “cool as zero degrees”

The original wrapper had a Polar Bear on it and upon it’s initial release,  was called Double Zero. It wasn’t until 1934 that it formally became known as the Zero Bar

The original Zero Bars were distributed in the summer as fudge has a much higher melting point than milk chocolate and, as there wasn’t air conditioning readily available when the bar was first released; retailers stored this in their refrigerators.

Yes, this candy bar like others will melt if exposed to high temperatures but there is something intriguing about this bar that makes it endure as a classic if only because it is delicious and holds true to it’s original formula and because it is over 70 years old!

PS: The vintage Zero Bar wrapper pictured above is VERY rare as it shows the Polar Bear!  This is circa early 1930’s

In 1923, the first chocolate candy bar with a filled center was introduced and it was called Milky Way. In 2010, this iconic candy bar has a new relative called Milky Way Simply Caramel which is a great tasting candy bar aimed at lovers of Caramel Candies...

Did you know that the first chocolate bar with a filled center was the beloved Milky Way bar, made by Mars, which was created by Frank Mars in 1923. However consistent this candy bar has remained for over 87 years, it is important to note that note all Milky Way bars are created equal. 

The Milky Way bar that is offered in the United States is a delicious amalgamation  of chocolate malt nougat topped with caramel and covered with rich milk chocolate BUT the Milky Way Bar offered on “distant shores” is not topped with caramel and is therefore similar to the American 3 Musketeers.

Confused? The Milky Ways sold in the United States is similar in taste to the Mars Bar sold in Europe.

Just when you think that you understand the subtle differences, Mars throws us a challenge with their new and delicious Milky Way Simply Caramel.

Unlike its siblings, this is identical throughout the world and, according to Masterfoods USA, it is “for consumers seeking a totally caramel experience” and is “tempting with rich, creamy caramel surrounded by real milk chocolate.”

It is a delicious new candy bar and there are few companies that can take a tried and tested classic and make it better as Masterfoods USA has done with Milky Way Simply Caramel

Clark Bars have a unique place in Pittsburgh history and were invented in McKeesport where our candy warehouse has been located since 1927! The new Dark Chocolate Clark Bar is a truly delicious twist on an old classic!

The former pride of Pittsburgh and McKeesport , the beloved Clark Bar, has just released a  All Natural Dark Chocolate version which is truly a unique twist on one of the best tasting candy bars available

In case you are not familiar with Clark Bars, they are a candy bar consisting of a honeycomb peanut butter crisp center with a rich milk chocolate covering.

The signature item of one of the country’s largest candy empires started in 1891 with a small operation run by young entrepreneur David L. Clark located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Within a few years, he made enough money to open a modest factory in McKeesport which is where CandyFavorites has been located since we opened our candy filled warehouse in 1927 ( actually it was in 1926 but we didn’t incorporate until a year later)

 By 1911, the candy had become so popular that the company was forced to relocate, and Mr. Clark purchased a large building from a cracker manufacturer. 

 In the 1920’s, when the company was making approximately one hundred and fifty (150) different types of candy and gum, Mr. Clark decided to create a separate company for the gum-making business, thinking that the candy and gum operations would be more successful if run separately.

 He opened the Clark Brothers Chewing Gum Co. across the street from his candy factory and his family continued to run the business until 1955.  The company remained a Pittsburgh mainstay for several decades but ran into financial difficulties in the 90s and the brand was rescued by the New England Confectionary Company known to candy lovers as NECCO.

In 2010, the formula was changed for Clark Bars and now includes All Natural Ingredients.  The Dark Chocolate version of the Clark Bar is one of the few examples of a formula being improved and we think that this variation is so delicious that, someday, it too will become a classic!

This is a paper cut out advertisement for Mary Janes and one of the oldest candy advertisements in our collection!

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 10

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 10

Overall: 9

 I’m in love with Mary Jane.
She’s my main thing.
She makes me feel alright.
She makes my heart sing.

 This Mary Jane I am referring to could be Spiderman’s woman or a certain plant, but instead it is NECCO’s classic peanut buttery, molasses flavored, chewy rectangle.

 It all began with Charles H. Miller and his three sons. The Millers started a small candy manufacturing business in Boston in 1884. The building in which this business blossomed from was Paul Revere’s house until 1800. (For those who haven’t been to history class any time in the last decade: In 1775 Paul Revere made the famous ride from Boston to Lexington to warn the people in the countryside that the British were coming.)

 In 1914 after Charles had died and the Miller boys had taken full responsibility of the family business, the Mary Janes hit the market. The candy was named after their favorite aunt, Susan. Just kidding, her name was Mary Jane.

The Miller Company tried its best to create variations of the Mary Jane, but all paled in comparison to the original. The Miller Company tried its best to manufacture other popular candies, but again, they all paled in comparison to the Mary Jane. Eventually, after failed attempts at variety, Mary Jane was the only candy that the Miller Company produced.

NECCO was lucky to take control of the Mary Jane in 1990, as Mary Jane is a poster child of the New England Confectionary Company. Nostalgia blooms when we talk about our love for Mary Jane.

 Sources:

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/friday/maryjane.htm

http://www.necco.com/ourbrands/default.asp?brandid=1

The Cool Kidz dig a cool candy called Zotz

Zotz are delicious hard candies, which were first made in Ambrsoli, Italy in the 1980’s.  They have a sour and fizzy center, which is surprising because they look like regular sucking candies.

We tried the cherry, which is delicious, however they come in many flavors including cherry, watermelon, lemon, grape and orange. They are very difficult to find; however, if you come upon them you should give them a try and let us know what you think.

 “The best thing that you’ve ever done for me, is to help me take my life less seriously” – Closer to fine, Indigo Girls

Peace & Love,
The Cool Kidz

If you are looking for a boost, why not try a new treat called McJak Caffeinated Suckas!

Sharability: 0

Denture Danger: 0 (Unless you try to chew this dense ball of candy)

Convenience: 9

Novelty: 9

Overall: 8

Sometimes you are looking for a caffeine energy boost but don’t want the coffee breath or don’t want to spend the six dollars for a cup of coffee. When this situation presents itself, the Caffeinated Suckas from the McJak Candy Company are a perfect substitute.

This large ball of candy sits on the end of a heavy-duty plastic stick and leaves you with the satisfaction of a candy craving and caffeine wake up call. With 60 mg of caffeine this lollipop doesn’t pack the punch to give you the shakes, but does have a significant amount of caffeine that will add a little pep to your step. (As a reference point, a cup of coffee has anywhere between 80 mg and 200 mg of caffeine).

 The Suckas come in four colorful flavors: slammin’ strawbanana, bustin’ berry blast, wicked watermelon and wired wild cherry. These flavors will last a long time, which also makes for a gradual come on of the caffeinated effects.

The sticker label on the plastic packaging of the Sucka looks to be hand drawn and hand stuck on which creates for a less corporate feel. Overall, this Sucka will keep your sweet tooth happy and your eyes open, enjoy!