Browsing Tag

Junior Mints

Candy in Pop Culture, Candy Memories, Candy News, Gummi Candy, Retro Candy

Lights, Camera . . . Candy!

July 21, 2017 by

“There’s an electrical thing about movies.”  — Oliver Stone

Grab your tub of buttered popcorn and your ice cold pop because we’re going to see what candy debuted in some famous movies and TV shows. So “Here’s looking at you kid,” as you find your seat, sit back and relax as the curtain opens to some blockbuster candy treats that made their name on the silver as well as the small screen.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Reese's Pieces“E.T. phone home” for some delicious Reese’s Pieces. You all remember the scene when Elliott lures E.T. with this orange, brown and yellow coated peanut butter candy. But did you know that Steven Spielberg originally approached Mars Inc. to use M&Ms in the movie? Unfortunately Mars Inc. declined and that’s when Hershey stepped in and Reese’s Pieces were chosen to star in this block-buster film. Sales of Reese’s Pieces rose 65% after the film was released in 1982. Another interesting fact: Foley Artist John Roesch said he used a wet T-shirt crammed with jello to simulate the noise of E.T.’s waddling walk.

Laffy Taffy Bulk CandyWreck-It Ralph

When Wreck-It Ralph came to the big screen in 2012, candy was seen in an entirely different light. The candy world, Sugar Rush, featured in the movie, was an island completely made of candy and had everything from Mentos stalactites to Diet Cola Mountain, to Laffy Taffy vines, to peppermint racing wheels and candy cane forests.

Early Films

Hershey's Chocolate Bar

  • In the 1927 film, Wings, there was a plug for Hershey’s chocolate.
  • Fritz Lang’s1931 film, M had a banner ad for Wrigley’s Chewing Gum.
  • In the Marx Brothers 1932 film, Horse Feathers, Thelma Todd’s character falls out of a canoe and yells for a “life saver.” Groucho Marx responds by tossing her a Life Savers candy.

gummi bears

Friends

One of my favorite episodes is when Jon Lovitz guest stars as Steve, a food critic and while waiting for Monica’s tartlets to be done, grabs a bag of Gummi Bears and hides them in his jacket. Monica grabs them and they fall into her soup. “Bears overboard, quick grab onto these Sugar O’s!” Steve yells.

Aside from his favorite sandwich, Joey likes Hershey Chocolate bars. Hey it’s Joey, He loves eating period.

Mike and Molly

“Nielsen called a scene in an episode of CBS’ Mike & Molly of Mike eating M&M’s in Carl’s apartment 2013’s best branded and opinion-shifting product integration in a scripted show.”

Seinfeld

junior mintIn season four, there was an episode called The Junior Mints. Jerry and Kramer witnessed the surgery of Elaine’s friend Roy. Jerry wouldn’t take Junior Mints from Kramer and somehow Kramer dropped them into the patient. The chocolate covered mints were also included in many conversations between the main characters. Kramer says “Who’s gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint: it’s delicious!”

So don’t be a Slo Poke, or Snicker as I Take 5 and go looking for Mr. Goodbar. Whether you’ll be sitting in front of the big screen or chillin’ as a coach potato, I wish you a Whopper of a good time and Zero days without candy!

“Life is short, make it sweet!”

Candy News, Retro Candy

It’s Time to Sip Some Candy Flavored Coffee and Hot Chocolate

January 13, 2017 by

Heads Up, Candy Lovers! Candy Flavored Coffee and Hot Chocolate Is Coming To You

sugar babies hot chocolateWhen you think of CandyFavorites, we’re willing to bet that you probably think of us as straight up candy people. And, it makes sense. After all, we were founded on the principle of great, accessible candy. However, nothing maintains greatness like innovation. So, it should come as no surprise that, in this new year, we’ve got a few new tricks up our sleeves.

One such development involves candy flavored coffee and hot chocolate! You read that correctly. We’re excited to announce that we now carry a variety of candy flavored coffee and hot chocolate from 2 Rivers.

The flavors come in pods that have 12 to an order and are ready to go in your instant beverage machine, so you’re never far away from some great tasting drinks. But what exactly will you be getting yourself into?

andes creme de menthe coffeeSatisfy Your Endless Sweet Tooth Cravings

Well, if you’re a coffee lover, then Ande’s Crème de Menthe may be calling your name. Think: all the chocolate-minty goodness of Ande’s combined with the invigorating taste of coffee.

Or, if you’d rather something a little fruitier, Cella Chocolate Cherry Coffee might be right up your alley. After all, what could be better than chocolate covered cherries, in liquid form?

junior mints hot cocoaOh, but don’t worry hot chocolate fans. We didn’t forget about you! To get your own minty goodness, we’d recommend the Junior Mints Hot Chocolate. It’s the perfect combination of soothing and bright. And if you’re in the mood for something a little bit richer, then the Tootsie Rolls Hot Chocolate may be the one for you. Think chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

But this is just the beginning! We have a vast and tasty selection of candy flavored coffee and hot chocolate. So, you’ll want to take a look around. Who knows? Your favorite candy may now become your favorite cup of Jo.

Candy Memories, Retro Candy

Candy Movie Night Redux

February 2, 2015 by

By Susan Amerikaner
Contents of Casablanca Party Bags
We recently celebrated our 35th Wedding Anniversary. We are not big entertainers: not party-goers or party-givers. But my husband felt we ought to somehow mark this milestone in style. And thanks to CandyFavorites—and my own planning–our party was a wild success.

People have been asking me how I did it. So I decided to write and share. This was a decidedly adult affair, but you can easily adapt for children’s birthdays. We used candy, creativity and the film Casablanca. For children, you could easily use a film such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! (I prefer the original with Gene Wilder, but the newer one with Johnny Depp would do also.)

We have long loved the classic film Casablanca. We’ve seen it so many times, we can quote lines to each other. Casablanca has special significance for us, because the first time I met my husband he impressed me with his Bogie imitation of “Here’s looking at you, kid.” I was a goner!

We live in a community with a choice of party rooms, and we got one with a projector and sound system. I made the place look as much as “Rick’s Café” as I could. Inexpensive Moroccan style candle lanterns for each table worked well, plus movie posters and a six-foot-stand-up of Humphrey Bogart. We would serve Greek food—and then show the film while serving candy, popcorn and cake.

Then I came up with ways to make the movie “interactive.” If you have ever been to a Sound of Music Sing-a-Long or a Grease Sing-a-Long, you know what I mean. The audience gets a small bag of “props” to use at certain moments in the film. It’s great fun. These films also have song captions on the screen. Casablanca isn’t a musical, but it still has memorable moments to “play!” This is what we put in our party bags:

We instructed our guests that whenever they hear the line, “Here’s looking at you, Kid,” they take a sip of champagne. Whenever a film character smokes a cigarette, enjoy your chocolate ciggies or gum cigars. When Rick and Ilsa kiss, blow the lip whistles! When you see and hear the propellers of the “plane to Lisbon,” use your Biplane Whizzers. When Rick goes to the Roulette Table, throw your Chocolate Coins on the table. And during the famous scene in the café when they all drown out the Nazis by singing Les Marseilles, wave your French flag!

The purpose of the Junior Mints? I can’t stand to watch a movie without them. Since the room had to be darkened to show the film, we also included little flashlights in each bag. I found these online for a buck a piece, including the batteries. I got the flags from a flag company and the whistles and whizzers from Oriental Trading.

We sent out invitations asking people to come in forties attire if they desire. Our party was a major success. Guests keep calling and saying how much they loved the candy and the props. I was sure to order quality candy from CandyFavorites. Inside the candy bags, I had a little instruction sheet and also some trivia about the film itself. Believe it or not, some people were seeing this gem for the first time!

Candy Bar Reviews, Candy Reviews

Junior Mints: It’s chocolate, It’s Peppermint—It’s Delicious!

January 19, 2010 by
A vintage Junior Mints box from the early 1970's when Junior Mints were still being produced by Nabisco

A vintage Junior Mints box from the early 1970’s when Junior Mints were still being produced by Nabisco

Sharability: 1

Denture Danger: 4

Convenience: 4

Novelty: 7

Overall: 10

The Junior Mint name originated from a collection of stories by Sally Benson that were published in the New York Times, titled Junior Miss. The Junior Miss stories influenced the idea for a play called Junior Miss and the play was featured on Broadway from 1941 to 1943.

This play is where James Welch found the influence for the name of his candy that he first marketed in 1949. The Junior Miss play became a movie and this made the  Junior Mints quite successful at movie concession stands.

Nabisco acquired the James O. Welch Company in 1963, who then sold it to Warner-Lambert Company, which was then bought in 1993 by Tootsie Roll who currently manufactures the 15 million mints that are produced daily.

Junior Mints are popular among many, including my mom. When buying Junior Mints I always have to take caution when eating them around my mom because she will be sure to steal at least half the box.

Junior Mints are definitely a candy that I would label as too good to share. Putting it in your mouth you can crush the soft candy with your tongue and taste the dark chocolate melt onto your tongue as the smooth minty sweetness seeps out onto your taste buds. (You can’t tell me that your mouth isn’t watering right now).

The Junior Mint was featured on the sitcom, and one of my favorite shows, Seinfeld, on the episode titled, The Junior Mint. Kramer and Jerry are observing a splenectomy surgery from a viewing area above. Kramer offers Jerry a Junior Mint and Jerry refuses. Kramer insists for the reason that he later explains as, “Who is gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint—it’s delicious!” While trying to force Jerry to take the mint, it slips out of Kramers hand and falls into the patient’s body without any of the doctors noticing.

Though Junior Mints are extremely tasty, one thing you might not want to know about them is that they are not only not vegan, but they are not vegetarian either. The gelatin that makes up the peppermint filling is made from boiling animal hides and animal bones. And boy do those boiled animal hides taste delicious! In the UK and Canada, however, the gelatin is replaced by agar making the mints vegetarian and vegan.

I am a vegetarian and I did eat the Junior Mints. I was not aware that they were not compatible with my vegetarian diet, but even now that I do know, unless there were to be chunks of meat in the filling, I would eat another box right now.

Sources:

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Mints
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Benson
  • http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheJuniorMints.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Junior_Mint