Okay...so they're mostly mints. But you get the idea. You might remember Christmas Nougats from going "treeing" at other people's houses. They have these tiny little trees in the middle, and you can't help but try and bite around the candy just so, in an effort to free the tree from a forest of nougat. And then, when you fail, you can't help but try again. Over the years, I wiled away many hours this way, waiting for adults to finish talking. These candies, for many of us, are a signal that the holidays are really here.

Classic Peppermint Christmas Nougats

It all started with the Brach's Peppermint Christmas Nougat. This red-and-white variety is the classic soft candy of Christmas, but as a kid I shied away from them. But as an adult, curiosity struck. What I found is that these are actually quite addictive. The texture seems to be hard before you open them. But the nougat softens as you chew, giving way to one of the cleanest and smoothest candy textures I've experienced. They're really nice after dinner (and after dessert) to make your mouth all fresh and tingly. They're more peppermint than sweet, so you feel like you've eaten a mint rather than a candy.

Wintergreen Christmas Nougats

Somewhere over the years, Brach's decided to mix it up. So now those more inclined to eat Canada Mints can have a Christmas candy, too. Wintergreen is one of those bizarre flavors that you don't think you want to eat on purpose. Pepto Bismol might have done that to us. But one bite of something Wintergreen that's actually yummy, and you can't stop eating it. Brach's Wintergreen Christmas Nougats are no exception. They have the exact same wonderful texture and festive design as the Peppermint nougat, but the base color is light green instead of white. These leave you with a distinct cool feeling in your mouth.

Cinnamon Christmas Nougats

Cinnamon might be the best variety for children new to the world of Brach's Christmas Nougats. These also have the little tree design, but the main color is pink. When you open an individually wrapped piece, you're immediately hit with a jolt of cinnamon fragrance. These are just remarkably pleasant, because they have potent cinnamon flavor without overwhelming you with a burst of heat. Cinnamon Christmas Nougats give you all the texture of classic nougats, plus a cinnamonny experience without the annoying loss of flavor you get from chewing gum. Unlike the mint varieties, this one leaves your mouth feeling warm and toasty.

Chocolate Mint Christmas Nougats

And then there's one more -- the fun one. Brach's Chocolate Mint Christmas Nougats take things outside the box. They abandon the classic tree design for a basic but totally cute irregular swirl. This makes them fun to smash, so kids -- or you -- might end up playing with them more than the others. The chocolate and mint layers are made from two distinct flavors of nougat. The chocolate is a really nice surprise. It has none of that essence-of-fake-chocolate taste, but rather adds a subtle chocolate tone to the distinct mint flavor. I carefully nibbled at the mint layer of several of these, trying to decide what kind of mint it was. I gave up. It has the light green hue of wintergreen but the freshness of peppermint. And seems too much like a Peppermint Patty to be Wintergreen. Either way, when you eat the layers together, you still get that very consistent, smooth nougat texture, with a refreshing flavor that leaves behind notes of mint.

A Christmas Candy Tradition

The nutrition facts on these puppies makes them an indulgence that's worth it. The stats are pretty similar for all varieties, so 5 pieces have around 160 calories and 3 grams of fat. That's not bad at all for candy in any season. Stick with Brach's to revive old traditions or start new ones. These candies are so unique, they won't be forgotten.

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