cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Feb 8, 2012, 2:27 pm
One of the seasonal imported candies I looked forward to as a kid were Perugina Baci. They were one of my earliest recollections of hazelnut candies. It’s a simple construction, a chocolate cream filling with crushed hazelnuts, topped with a whole hazelnut and then dipped in dark chocolate. They...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 1:41 pm
The new Valentine’s version of Peeps has a little decadence going for it. The Peeps Strawberry Creme dipped in Dark Chocolate come individually cradled in a tray, each just lightly dipped in dark chocolate, like a fresh strawberry. The package is a bit small, each weighs only a half an ounce, so...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Feb 6, 2012, 5:30 pm
Mint and Chocolate is a classic combination and one that M&Ms has brought back seasonally with their Milk Chocolate Mint M&Ms in the winter for the past few years. This year they’ve introduced a new item with a little twist, Mint Dark Chocolate M&Ms. Like other Mars dark chocolate products, it�...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Feb 3, 2012, 1:13 pm
While in San Francisco I made sure to pick up some chocolates from Michael Mischer Chocolates which is based in Oakland. I’ve been to the shop before and have picked up both bars and bon bons. But it’s about time I did a full review. For All Alcohol Week, I have Michael Mischer Kentucky Bourbon...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 2:50 pm
While in San Francisco for the Fancy Food Show, I was introduced to Twice the Vice Spirited Chocolates at a PR event called Food Fete (photo). The confections are made with Callebaut chocolate from Belgium with an extra helping of premium spirits. In fact, there’s so much alcohol in there that t...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 3:21 pm
Here’s a little shift of gears in my All Alcohol Theme Week. I have a couple of rolls of Mentos that are inspired by mixed drinks: Mentos Pina Colada & Mojito is available in Europe right now, but should be sold in the United States shortly. The pieces are divided, each flavor is on the adverti...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 1:40 pm
This Zotter Scotch Whisky bar has everything that I would want in the perfect decadent candy bar. It’s made by Zotter in Austria from fair trade, bean to bar chocolate. The ingredient list is mercifully short and virtually all organic with more than a smidge of Scotch Whisky (9%). The things tha...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 30, 2012, 11:08 am
On my trip to Europe last month I was eager to see what sort of interesting candies were at the airport shops. I departed from Stuttgart, Germany late enough in the morning that the stores were open. (My layover in Paris was a bust, as I had barely enough time to get from one terminal to the other, ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 27, 2012, 1:50 pm
Valentine’s Day is all about red. Red is the color of love and passion; candies for Valentine’s Day play upon the flavors that follow with red: cherry, strawberry, raspberry and cinnamon. The fruity flavors are usually easy to find, but cinnamon is a little less common. I was excited to see thi...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 26, 2012, 1:06 pm
Trader Joe’s has its own version of a lot of standard food items. One that’s quite popular are the Trader Joe’s Joe’s O’s Cereal. I’ve never had it. It’s probably been 20 years since I’ve eaten Cheerios as well. I’m not a breakfast cereal sort of person, I prefer eggs and other mor...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 25, 2012, 12:17 pm
I’ve been waiting for a new variety of Skittles to come along to blow me out of the water. Something that really turns expectations about Skittles on their ear, like the Skittles Carnival limited edition version a few years back. Mostly I’ve been hoping for Skittles Soda Pop: cola, root beer, le...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 24, 2012, 1:48 pm
In the candy aisle at the 99 Cent Only Store they always seem to have a lot of boxed items filled with sugar and labeled as Snacks.  When I go into Target or a grocery store these same items are shelved with the granola bars, not far from the cereal, as if they’re real food. I picked up this bo...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 23, 2012, 4:11 pm
It’s as if Mars has a multi-year bulk deal with some coconut flavor supplier. They’ve added coconut varieties to their major brands over the years: Dove, M&Ms and Twix. The newest is 3 Musketeers Coconut. 3 Musketeers has been advertising that it has 45% less fat than average of leading candy ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Jan 20, 2012, 4:41 pm
Napoleon hard candies are made in the Netherlands and at one time were just a simple lemon candy with a sour center. Later they started adding other fruity flavors and of course the salted Dutch licorice. When I was in Amsterdam last month on a brief layover, I popped out to the grocery store to s...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 14, 2011, 11:42 am
I reviewed the manufacturer branded version of these a few years ago. Doulton Liqueur Chocolates (Cointreau & Teacher’s). Basically, they’re a good deal for three dollars. The quality of the candy is decent enough for Trader Joe’s but the packaging isn’t anything approaching exquisite. Cauti...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 13, 2011, 1:02 am
... mild, a combination of a jammy wild cherry flavor and a little hint ... ’s more floral than many other cherry candies and because they’re ... wished that Grether’s came in Wild Cherry and at a fraction ... boxes I remember as a kid. Cherry came in a deep red ... actually found myself ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 11, 2011, 11:21 pm
When I was in Amsterdam, instead of seeing Altoids by the check out stand at the grocery, I saw Potter’s Original. The funny thing was, there was already one in my purse. Several months before my trip to Europe, I picked up a little tin to tuck into my bag. It’s a cute little tin, light and na...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 9, 2011, 1:06 pm
The best known American marshmallows are Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows which are big, airy cylinders of fluffed sugar and gelatin. Lately there’s been a movement in the United States for more artisan marshmallows, flavored and in different shapes and often with less chalky corn starch on the outsi...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 8, 2011, 4:20 pm
Single origin chocolate and single origin coffee sound like an excellent fit. Askinosie Chocolate, one of America’s few (but growing) number of bean to bar craft chocolate makers has paired with Intelligentsia one of America’s fair trade, artisan and single origin coffee roasters. As with all ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 7, 2011, 4:59 pm
The combination of sweet and savory is nothing new. Peppers and chocolate were traditionally mixed together in Central America. Here in North America we’ve come full circle again with the new craze of adding spicy peppers to everything. One of the classic hot pepper sauces is McIlhenny Company�...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 6, 2011, 1:27 pm
Mars has finally hopped into the white chocolate game with both feet. Their new Dove White Chocolate Silky Smooth Promises stand alone as the only mass-market true white chocolate in bite size pieces. I don’t know if this is a regular item or a seasonal offering from Dove. They’ve already prov...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 5, 2011, 3:14 pm
R.M. Palmer makes charming and cheap candy for the holidays. Their Christmas candies are never as appealing as their Easter goods but I was intrigued by their new RM Palmer Giant 1/4 Peanut Butter Cup. Giant candy is pretty common as a holiday gift, especially as a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 2, 2011, 1:56 pm
Did you notice the theme this week was all Trader Joe’s candy for the holidays? Here’s a roundup of what’s at Trader Joe’s this season. New for 2011: Trader Joe’s Classic Holiday Candy Mix - classic hard candy straws & pillows made with all natural ingredients. $1.99 (read review - 7 ou...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Dec 1, 2011, 3:55 pm
Trader Joe’s often does classic looking candies but with a “too hip for the room twist” on the flavors. The Trader Joe’s Classic Holiday Candy Mix qualifies as classic solely in its looks. They’re cute little pillows and waffle pieces of hard candy but come in a curious array of flavors ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Nov 2, 2011, 4:09 pm
Seth Ellis Chocolatier of Boulder, CO makes an interesting line of candy cups called Sun Cups. They’re nut free, gluten free, use all organic ingredients plus ethically source chocolate, no soy, no peanuts and is Kosher. They do contain dairy. The first set of products they introduced were sunflo...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Nov 1, 2011, 5:22 pm
Haribo Maoam have been around for a long time. The early history is a bit murky, but according to Haribo, Edmund Munster (not this one), who ran the Düsseldorfer Lakritzenwerk (Dusseldorf Licorice Works) bought the license for the chewy, fruity candy Maoam and began making it in Germany. It was p...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 31, 2011, 11:50 am
Here’s what I’m giving out for Halloween this year. I decided that it was more important to take a stand against child slavery in West Africa than give out the most loved objects of Halloween, such as Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Hershey’s, Nestle and Mars have had more than 10 y...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 28, 2011, 5:29 pm
This is not so much a review as a recounting of an ongoing chocolate Odyssey. I regularly watch the eBay candy auctions. And when I say regularly, I actually check the pages several times a day during the week. Partly to spy new candy products, partly to find international candies that are hard to...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 26, 2011, 3:31 pm
Wrigley’s, now owned by Mars, has introduced Life Savers Gummies Spooky Shapes for Halloween. Inside the box, which has an oddly angled end (which does make opening and closing the box a bit easier) is a mylar pouch with the candy inside. It’s well sealed and fresh. The package shows three sha...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 25, 2011, 4:10 pm
I saw these little candies making the rounds as a meme, but I didn’t see them in person until I went to Germany. It’s a Swiss hazelnut chocolate confection shaped into a pocket knife and wrapped in red foil to look like a Swiss Army Knife. The Mindestens Swiss Chocolate Knife is a pretty sim...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 24, 2011, 5:05 pm
Jordan Almonds are one of the oldest confections. Panning nuts with a hard sugar shell is not only a beautiful way to serve nuts, it also seals the nuts up so that they don’t get rancid. I picked up this cheap box at Rite Aid a few weeks ago because it was on sale for 75 cents but it’s not the...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 21, 2011, 5:25 pm
So I’ve tried the Zachary Thick Mints and the Zachary Mini Mints. Today I have the Zachary Thin Mints. This is probably where I should have started, as this is the standard set of ratios that all other peppermint fondant and chocolate candies should be judged against. The Zachary line of candies ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 19, 2011, 1:05 pm
Here’s a new twist on a classic product. The classic Candy Buttons are a small strip of paper, like a receipt, that has little crunchy sugar dots on them in bright colors. This new version is amped up in size and has another twist, actual flavors to the candy buttons (the classics may be flavore...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 18, 2011, 6:26 pm
I bought these Bubble Gum Cigars while on vacation last month, mostly because it’d be so longer since I’d seen the full array of the flavors in quite a long time. They’re made by Concord Confections in Canada which is now owned by Tootsie. (They also make Dubble Bubble Gum.) I picked out thre...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 13, 2011, 4:24 pm
... few). They also have a line of economical mints, mostly available in discount and dollar stores. I’ve noticed that their mints come in the after dinner patty variety, ... ’t offensive or riotous like the Cookie Dough Bites family of products, so at least they had that ... products. Nam...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 12, 2011, 5:04 pm
The Meiji Creamy Marshmallow Chocolate has been around for a while in Japan, though it’s not easy to find in stores in the United States. I happened upon a display of them in Little Tokyo and got the last one on the shelf. The first thing I have to ask about this bar is why we don’t have anyth...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 11, 2011, 5:38 pm
Trader Joe’s continues its introduction of comfort candies. Recently they released a few licorice items and today I have their new Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips. The package is easy on the eyes, a soft robin’s egg blue and mellow orange-brown. The package shows the product,...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 10, 2011, 3:06 pm
Russell Stover has epitomized Americana for as long as I can remember. They’re a safe and unassuming brand. Their boxed chocolates are dependably sweet and bland but have a nice flair for dependable and fresh holiday themed chocolate novelties. I was a little surprised when I saw these new Russe...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 6, 2011, 12:06 pm
Candy Corn is a sugar confection made by depositing different colored layers of fondant into the shape of a narrow triangle. The flavor of candy corn is muted but often bears notes of honey, marshmallow and occasionally butter. It’s created with starch molds and the most common color layering puts...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 5, 2011, 1:42 pm
Mars has introduced a limited edition, limited distribution of a new variety of M&Ms for Halloween. M&Ms White Chocolate Candy Corn are appearing in WalMart stores exclusively across the United States. Since I’m not able to easily shop at WalMart (really not many in the Los Angeles area), some fol...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 4, 2011, 5:15 pm
Name: Angry Birds Fruit Snacks and Gummies Brand: Healthy Food Brands Description: The chewy candies are shaped to resemble characters from the Angry Birds video games, and packs feature the games’ logo and graphics. Made with fruit juice, all products are fat-, nut- and gluten-free, and come in...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Oct 3, 2011, 4:42 pm
Ritter Sport makes dozens of different chocolate bars. A few are seasonal varieties, such as their new Milk Chocolate with Strawberry Creme which debuted last fall in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Some packages feature the pink ribbon, others do not.) The picture on the front of the pack...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 30, 2011, 2:05 pm
There are two standard axioms for innovation in candymaking: Making it Bigger Makes it Better and Covering it Chocolate Makes it Gourmet. For the most part they’re true. Albanese Confectionery didn’t invent the gummi bear and didn’t innovate chocolate covered gummis. But that doesn’t mean ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 30, 2011, 10:12 am
Name: Small World Chocolates: Select Origin Brand: Lake Champlain Place Purchased: gift (but available from Whole Foods & online) Price: unknown Size: 6.7 ounces Calories per ounce: 141 Type: Chocolate Rating: 8 out of 10
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 29, 2011, 7:01 pm
Abdallah Candies was founded in 1909 by Albert Abdallah in Minneapolis. The company still run by the family using traditional recipes and focusing on classic candy products like caramels, dipped fruit and chocolates. I picked up an assortment of Abdallah’s Wrapped Caramels while on vacation here...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 28, 2011, 7:15 pm
In January of this year I visited Amsterdam for the first time. I was fascinated and delighted by the sweets culture of the Dutch. My visit to the city was almost completely on foot. I arrived in a plane and left on a train, but the rest was just walking around within the area of the city known as t...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 26, 2011, 6:01 pm
While on vacation on the central coast earlier this month I made my regular stop at Sweet Earth Chocolates in San Luis Obispo to pick up some rations for our vacation rental. I bought some turtles and some other items for immediate consumption and then a few items to bring back to Los Angeles for ...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 23, 2011, 6:19 pm
Before I started Candy Blog there was a rather short but significant list of candies that I had never tried before. One of them was Licorice Allosrts. This is mystifying for regular readers, I’m sure, who already know that I love licorice. But I didn’t quite understand what it was and as Allsort...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 22, 2011, 5:36 pm
When the classic Slo Poke Caramel was revived earlier this year, its chocolatey partner Black Cow was also on the slate for reboot by the Classic Caramel Company. Originally released back in the 1920s by Holloway, makers of Milk Duds, the Black Cow was just a chocolate covered Slo Poke (not that d...
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cybele posted an article on Candy Blog - Sep 21, 2011, 11:45 am
Most chocolate and liquor combinations are about the flavors. This one actually has a real sip of Scotch inside each chocolate sphere. Kind of like and alcoholic geode. These little morsels are from K Chocolatier of Beverly Hills. This is just a tease, review to come. Scotch and Soda. Scotch on ...
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