CandyFavorites

The Cool Kidz taste gummi raspberries and blackberries and runts....

Fruit appears to love being transformed into candy and this week, we tried soft  gummi raspberries and blackberries and runts

The soft berries came in two flavors: raspberry and blackberry which are soft chewy candies, surrounded by small dots. The first bite is different, as the candies have a weird texture but once you reach the center, the flavor is revealed and the candies taste noticeably better.

The raspberries were very sweet, and did not resemble raspberries at all. Emily enjoyed them, but claims she would not buy them at a supermarket while  Brooke believes, these little gummies are unappealing and do not taste very good.  The blackberries on the other hand were a lot less prevalent in the bag and we both agreed that they were not as good.

At first, they taste the same, but, however, after they have disappeared they taste weird and have a gross after taste. Then we ate the Runts, which Emily points out, “The flavoring is not very strong so you need to eat more than one at a time.” to which Brooke added, “you want to just eat it, but because they are hard candies they take a while to finish.”  Runts come in many flavors: banana, cherry, orange, grape, and apple and while they are delicious in their duration, their aftertaste is not as good.

“I never thought I could have it so good, you were the song that my soul understood” – Joy; Phish

Peace & Love,
The Cool Kids.

Brachs Soda Poppers are a tasty alternative to soda

Sharability: 9

Denture Danger: 7  (chewy center)

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 5

Overall: 7

 You’ve seen the root beer barrel but have you seen the Dr. Pepper barrel or the 7up barrel? I didn’t think so! Forget the full stomach of drinking a soda for the mere taste of the drink and grab a Brach Soda Popper instead. These candies are shaped like the can and are surprisingly accurate to the taste.

This candy is advertised to include real fruit juice in the inside. It only confuses me because I was never under the impression that these drinks were made with real fruits. I take it as a little marketing scheme, but whether or not the “fruit juices” are “real” the chewy center of the hard candy packs quite a flavor punch.

 The Crush Orange and the A&W actually feel like the candy is carbonated (is that even possible?). The lack of the carbonated feel in the Dr. Pepper and especially in the 7up is what pulls away from the accuracy of the drink. I was not able to find an A&W root beer barrel to compare the taste but my instinct tells me that the same flavoring is used for the two. But I will say that this soda popper really has a strong sassafras flavor when it gets to the chewy center (stronger than that of an A&W root beer barrel).

It is surely not your ordinary root beer barrel. The Dr. Pepper, though a little flat, has an accurate taste. The 7up, has a tangy lemon lime flavor, but it lacks the surprising first taste that the other flavors do so well. The first taste of the Crush Orange and the Dr. Pepper and the A&W exceed expectations, they’ll make anyone say, “Wow, this really does taste like Dr. Pepper/A&W/Crush Orange!” The 7up is not only flat, but doesn’t have the shock value of the others.

 Whatever soda popper you may choose, just know that you are getting the same taste for a fraction of the sugar damage to your teeth. Every three soda poppers has 12 grams of sugar. One can of soda ranges from 26 grams of sugar in the 7up to 50 grams of sugar in the Crush Orange. It’s up to you to decide.

 Sources:

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/brachs

http://www.thedailyplate.com/

Juju Hearts are a fun candy for Valentine's Day and may be infused with magical powers...

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 8

Convenience: 8

Novelty: 8

Overall: 7

 Ju Ju Hearts are another great Valentine’s Day candy. Upon seeing the bag of red scrumptious squishy hearts I assumed they would be cinnamon flavored. Though these hearts would probably be better with the cinnamon spice tongue tingler, the cherry flavor that lies within the Ju Ju Heart is far from terrible.

It has a similar flavor to the red jolly rancher, but it isn’t too sweet or medicinal tasting, which many cherry flavored candies tend to be. The Ju Ju heart is a great candy for the gummy valentine.

 Coming from West African origin, Ju-Ju is either an object used as an amulet or fetish or is the word representing the supernatural power that is ascribed to an object. The terms came to the United States through African slaves and those who still practice certain African traditions still use the term Ju-Ju and the customs associated with it.

 I don’t want to make any rash assumptions, but if I were to take a guess I would say that the manufacturer named these hearts ‘Ju Ju Hearts’ with the not-so-hidden-implication that there are supernatural powers of love implanted in every heart, but don’t take my word for it.

 Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juju

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/juju

Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts are a perfect gift for a loved one and the combination of Milk Choclate and Peanut Butter really can't be beat!

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 4

Convenience: 5

Novelty: 6

Overall: 8

 Valentine’s Day Mini Reese’s are adorned in gold and red foils, waiting to be undressed and enjoyed by the peanutbutter-chocolate lover. I offered a bag of chocolates to my friends and all of them reached for the Reese’s cups saying “When you see chocolates always go straight for the one shaped as a Reese’s cup.”

 Nonpareils are by definition the little color sugar balls that decorate small milk chocolate discs. I don’t understand why the name of the candy (which is basically a colorful snow cap) is named after the little balls, I think they could have come up with a more creative name, maybe the Nonpareils Valentine’s Day Ball. The pink, red, and white sugar balls make this candy not only tasty, but a work of art.

 The Hershey’s Hearts may not have a cute wrapper, but the chocolate inside the simple foil wrapping is mouthwateringly delicious. The pink wrapped milk chocolate, purple dark chocolate, and gold wrapped Reese’s shaped hearts are all outstanding. The variety is just another reason to add onto the list of why these chocolate hearts are better than any other chocolate heart.

 My family had a Valentine’s Day tradition that we all looked forward to all year. The Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. My siblings and I would wake up early with energy and excitement, probably a similar feeling to Christmas morning. My parents would write rhyming clues on heart shaped pieces of construction paper and hide them in various places around the house, in shoes, in the microwave, under pillows, behind pictures, in the piano… anywhere and everywhere.

As the years went on it became more and more difficult for our parents because we were getting older and demanding more challenging hunts and they were running out of hiding place ideas. A scavenger hunt didn’t go through without complaints of either of a clue being too easy or too hard. At the end of the scavenger hunt would be the jackpot prize: a paper lunch bag filled with treats! NECCO conversation hearts, cute chocolates like the ones in both Valentine’s Day blogs, some higher quality delicious chocolate and usually even an inedible prize like a beanie baby.

I not only give you permission to borrow my parent’s idea but I highly encourage you to use it. It made Valentine’s Day a day to actually look forward to instead of a day where you either have unmet expectations from your special someone or wish you had an intimate partner to share the day with. Enjoy the scavenger hunt, it’s the best Valentine’s Day tradition out there!

The Cool Kidz tackle their favorite chocolate candies

This week we tried Reese’s peanut butter cups, Hershey kisses, Hershey bars (both milk and dark), Krackels, and Mr. Goodbars.

The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were a definite favorite. Both the peanut butter, and chocolate are manufactured specially at the Hershey’s factory; they even sell Reese’s peanut butter at grocery stores. Our opinion is that the big Reese’s cups are better than the miniatures, however they are both good.

The next best candy in this assortment is Hershey’s Krackels. The whole concept of the candy is disgusting: rice in the chocolate. However, the candy is yummy. Even though one of us thought the Mr. Goodbar candy was next in line the other thought that the Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar and Hershey Kiss were better.

So, the Hershey bar, which has become the icon of The Hershey Company, is just plain milk chocolate. That being said, it is the best plain chocolate bar in the world but like any other, it does leave you in need of water.

The Hershey kisses are also iconic for The Hershey Company, and are very similar to the Hershey bars, however they are bite size. Mr. Goodbar is like the Hershey bars but with peanuts. They were developed in 1925, and have consistently been a favorite. And lastly are the dark chocolate Hershey’s bars. These miniatures, we recommend, if you like dark chocolate. However, we do not. Overall the Hershey’s company produces delicious candy.

“I’ll leave this world with a satisfied mind” – Bob Dylan; A Satisfied Mind

Peace & Love, 
The Cool Kids.

A 3 Musketeers Wrapper from the 1970's when candy bars were still $.20

Sharabilty: 6

Denture Danger: 4

Convenience: 5

Novelty: 8

Overall: 9

 There were a number of years in which I called 3 Musketeers my favorite candy and it isn’t a mystery why. The ‘whipped up’, fluffy chocolate in the center of the milk chocolate shell may look like wet cat food but the taste, consistency, and texture are in a league of their owns.

 In August 2007,  3 Musketeers came out with the 75th anniversary addition of the candy, The 3 Musketeers mint with dark chocolate. This version has a filling of a similar texture and consistency as the whipped, fluffy chocolate, but its taste matches right up with that of the filling of a York peppermint patty.

In fact the 3 Musketeers mint is basically a peppermint patty in bar form. It also differs from the normal 3 musketeers in that it comes in two separate bars instead of one full size bar, which makes sharing a little easier.

 In 1932 3 Musketeers was the third brand to be produced by the Mars Company. It originally had 3 small bars inside the package—hence the name—with three different flavors, vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.

This version of the bar stopped being manufactured, most likely because of the rising costs and taxes on sugar during wartime. So the most popular of the three, chocolate, took over the package.

 Fun Fact: The 3 Musketeers bar is known as Milky Way outside of the U.S. and Canada (we have our own Milky Way).

 Sources:

http://www.3musketeers.com/index.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Musketeers_%28confectionery%29

Did you know that the Hershey 5th Bar was invented by William Luden who invented Ludens Cough Drops

Sharability: 3

Denture Danger: 6

Convenience: 5

Novelty: 8

Overall: 9

NECCO created the Clark Bar, Nestlé created the Butterfinger, and Hershey’s didn’t want to be left out. Don’t fear because Hershey has its own chocolate covered crunchy peanut butter candy bar, the 5th Avenue bar.

 I can’t say it is better or worse than the Clark Bar or Butterfinger, because it is basically the same. It’s delicious, it’s flakey, it will get stuck in your teeth, and it will leave chocolate on your fingers, but it won’t disappoint.

William H. Luden started his candy business in 1879. He manufactured hard candies and soft candies, marshmallow products, and chocolates. He created the well-known Luden’s cough drops as well.

In 1936 Luden introduced the 5th Avenue candy bar. During WWII the cough drops and 5th Avenue bar had greater production rates because they were used by the military. Until Hershey’s acquired Luden’s in 1987, the 5th Avenue bar had two chocolate-coated almond halves on top. 

The 5th Avenue bar is great for creating one of those stories where you use the candy bar (or just the wrapper) as a word in the story. I know Pittsburgh has a 5th Avenue, and I’m sure most cities have one, too. Write a story with it, share it, or gobble it up, but whatever you do with it, make sure you enjoy it!

Fun Fact: The 5th Avenue bar appeared in the Seinfeld episode The Dealership and in the 1994 movie, Stargate.

Sources:
http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/fifthavenue.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Avenue_(candy)

CandyFavorites has been Serving Candy Lovers Since 1927

CandyFavorites.com, the Internet’s Oldest and Largest Online Candy Store, is Proud to Announce a New Blog and Forum devoted exclusively to candy lovers young and old.

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) February 4, 2010  – CandyFavorites.com, the Internet’s oldest and largest candy site is proud to announce the launch of a Sweet Forum which is an forum for candy lovers around the globe as well as a revised candy blog featuring reviews with an emphasis on history and trivia.

“People love candy and I always wanted to launch a forum where people could go and discuss a product that is so linked to good memories.” said Jon H. Prince, President, “and with the recent emphasis on nostalgic candy, we are thrilled to offer an updated blog featuring product reviews along with historic insights”.

For the next few months, CandyFavorites.com will be awarding a $50 SweetCertificate weekly for the best Candy Memory shared on the new Candy Forum

“Retro candy has never been more popular and I think it will be fun for candy lovers to have a place to go to voice their opinions knowing that it is populated by their peers and read by industry insiders,” says Jon H.Prince.

“Our new blog writer, Becca Droz, has added a marvelous educational element to our blog that is seldom encountered on more commercial sites. She loves candy and it shows in her writing.”

“When I first started in this industry over thirty years ago, no one could have imagined that there would be a forum devoted to candy.  This just shows how rooted candy is in our collective psyche.” Says Tom Griffin, General Manager, “and I think that visitors to our website will find this interactive element entertaining and educational.”

CandyFavorites.com offers over 2800 varieties of candy, with an emphasis on bulk candy, Brachs Candy and hard to find old-fashioned and classic candy offerings. It also features a unique section devoted to candy related history and trivia.

About McKeesport Candy Co. / CandyFavorites.com
CandyFavorites.com is backed by the McKeesport Candy Company, one of the oldest candy wholesalers in North America. It is one of the internet’s largest candy stores and contains over 2800 items in their candy warehouse. It was one of the first online stores to offer an educational section featuring pictures of retro candy advertisements as well as history and trivia of many of the candies offered. www.CandyFavorites.com.

If you like the combination of chocolate and pretzels, you will love the taste of Hershey's Take 5 Candy Bar

Sharability: 2

Denture Danger: 5

Convenience: 5

Novelty: 3

Overall: 9

Hershey’s Take 5 is one of the most ultimate candies out there. Pretzels and chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and peanuts all combined into one delicious two-piece candy bar. Mmmm, salty, sweet, peanuty, crunchy, chewy, chocolatey, melty… wow, it’s amazing they can fit so much deliciousness into one candy bar.

It took Hershey’s a while to come out with this genius idea. The Take 5 bar didn’t hit the market until 2004 where it immediately began satisfying the munchies of teenagers all over America.

You are going to want to take at least five minutes to enjoy this delicious five flavored bar. The time spent eating this delicious bar (which you probably will want to do alone as to make sure you don’t have to share any of it) is best spent listening to “Take Five,” a jazz piece written by Paul Desmond.

 The Dave Brubeck Quartet performs this swingy song that is named after the unique quintuple (5/4) time. I can’t think of what might be a greater five minutes than that spent with a Take 5 while listening to Take Five.

Sources:
http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/take5.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Five

The Cool Kidz share their opinions about Gummi Fruit Salad

We’re Back!

Recently, we have tried  gummi fruit salad, which consisted of sour watermelons, apples and cherries.

These candies were good,however, their was a clear distinction between the best and the worst. The best being sour watermelons, which are classic and are sold everywhere and are delicious.  However, they are not sour, at all. According to one of our mothers named Frannie, “they should be called sweet watermelons!”

 In spite of that, they are very good. In our opinion the next best is sour apples. They are moderately sour. And worst of all, but not horrible, are the sour cherries. These red bite sized pieces are interesting in flavor, but the most sour of all three.

Overall, these candies are definitely addictive, but their titles can be misleading as they are not very sour whatsoever.

“Oh babe I’m in the mood for you”  – Bob Dylan; Baby I’m In The Mood For You

Peace & Love,
The Cool Kids.