Copycats

One of my fears when I write reviews is that one day a candy company might get mad at me. I often think about this when I'm reviewing candies that are extremely similar to other popular candies. I will often refer to them as "copycats", but I also often explain that I could be wrong about the fact that they've copied another company. For the most part I'm pretty sure that many candy companies copy other candy companies, but I don't know for sure. If you ever notice that I've called a candy a copycat, and you have proof that it's not, let me know and I'll happily change my reviews.

Check out the latest version of what I think might be a copycat candy.

Mammi Tasting

Finnish rye pudding, or Mammi is a tradition Easter dessert in Finland. I’m not really sure how to describe it without sounding insulting. The thing you have to know is that it’s not that bad. The problem is that it looks pretty bad and the ingredient list isn’t something that sounds very appealing. It’s primarily rye flour, syrup, spices and dried Seville orange zest. It doesn’t appear to be baked at all, but is instead a very dark brown blob of goo, almost like eating a bitter cake batter. Again, while this is an accurate description, it’s not really a representation of how it tastes.

From what I can tell, from the internet as well as the selection of Mammi I was given, it’s most common to have Mammi with custard or something sweet and creamy. Of the three that we (Allison, myself and two Finnish friends) tasted, two of them came with some kind of sweet cream, one of them was on its own. while I appreciated tasting it on its own, it’s not something I would do again or recommend. However tasting it on it’s own gives me the opportunity to tell you how Mammi tastes without anything added.

The flavour of Mammi is fairly bitter, almost licorice like. I might have been projecting as most of the time anyone Finnish seems to offer me something it has licorice. However in this case I think the astringent flavour came from the Seville orange zest. For those unaware, Seville oranges are super bitter and most often used to make jam, when mixed with lots of sugar. Mammi on its own however doesn’t seem like there’s much or any sugar added. The texture is actually much better than you might think. It’s a little gritty, but actually kind of smooth. There’s also an aftertaste of the rye, so at least the gritty texture makes sense.

As for the toppings, apparently the tradition is to simply add a vanilla custard. One of the Mammis we had was just that, and it was by far the best one. The vanilla custard sweetens and smooths out the astringent flavour of the Seville orange a bit, but not so much as you still can’t taste it. It’s not like this custard covers everything up, instead it just makes it a bit more palatable.

The other Mammi we had was a little less conventional, in panna cotta form. I would say that this was far less successful than the classic vanilla cream, but I appreciated that the Finnish dessert manufacturers were willing to play with their classic Easter dessert a bit. I’ve been told there are a few other methods/versions of Mammi out there as well.

I would suggest that you try Mammi if you have the means. I’m pretty sure it’s an acquired taste and works much better if you grow up with it, but it was at the very least very unique and interesting.

Quick List of the Best Marshmallow Treats

 A quick list of the best #marshmallow treats I've ever #reviewed on candycritic.org. It's a bit of an accomplishment since I'm not a huge fan of most marshmallows.

Some Treats and Their Beasts?

 If you love beasts and you love treats, then check out my awesome alphabet book called Treats And Beasts, the perfect book for anyone, even if you already know your alphabet.

You can pick up your very own copy of Treats and Beast right now at https://bewarethecheese.com/treatsnbeasts/ or on Amazon (just search "treats and beasts chris stewart").

Candy and Dessert

 Is there a difference between a candy and a dessert? Can you eat a candy for dessert and can you eat a dessert when you would normally be eating candy? This week's review features a candy that's supposed to taste like a dessert, and that's not uncommon. There was a time in history when people didn't eat candy, and only ate dessert. It's a weird thing to think about, but I guess I'm a weird person.

Check out my latest candy/dessert hybrid candy (or dessert) review.

Junk Fud on the Road - Tunisia

 Allison and Chris talk about their latest adventure (and it's kind of long term) in Tunisia. Check back later as there might even be a second part where they explore the many deserts in the dessert portions of the country.

Check Out Blue Orchid

 

Did you know that I'm writing and drawing a comic right now. It's called Blue Orchid and it's an awesome tale of a teenage South East Asian girl that fights lots of cool monsters.

You can pick each and every issue of Blue Orchid right now at bewarethecheese.com/blueorchid/ or on Amazon (just search "blue orchid comics").