Cookie, Bar or survival ration?

Marketing for a treat is so important. I find it particularly important because it helps me categories the treats that I review on candycritic.org. Some treats are easy to label, some treat like this cookie/bar/war ration is a little more complicated. I do have a "unique treats" category, where I put treats that are just too hard to categories. However, with the treat I'm reviewing today, it's not that it doesn't fit into any category, it fits into several. Although I don't actually have a category for war rations... yet.

Check out the review for this odd treat.

Not All Snickers Are Created Equally

 Check out my list of the top 5 Snickers variants that I've ever reviewed.

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We're Starting A Review-A-Thon, And It's All About Japanese Kit Kat Bars - Kit Kat "Cranberry and Almond"

All this week we're going to be posting reviews for various Japanese Kit Kat bars. We've got the good, the bad and the wasabi. There are hundreds of Japanese Kit Kat bars that have been made, and we're going to try and taste them all. If we fail, it's the greatest battle one could lose.

Here's the first entry in our Japanese Kit Kat review-a-thon.


Last week we did a quick ranking of 5 of the bars we got, and you can check it out in this YouTube video.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with the many reviews we'll be posting all week.

On a secondary note, we've decided that we're going to re-work our YouTube video channel. We've started to notice that we're pumping out content that we're not really happy with (and you don't appear to be watching it anyways). To start, we've decided to do our Monday Morning Breakfast Thoughts monthly instead of weekly. We're also looking to cut back the number of fully produced videos each month,  but we may have more informal videos posted more regularly (depending on what we're up to). Make sure to check out our YouTube channel and subscribe to keep up with this content.

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Ranking Kit Kat Bars

After visiting Japan the one thing I always come back with is a feeling of calm and tranquility, I also come back with a lot of Kit Kat bars.  I thought I would look at some of them and rank them from best to worst.

Next week we'll have the full reviews of each of these Kit Kat bars and more for a Japanese Kit Kat review-a-thon, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to follow along.

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Memorable Japanese Kit Kats I've Reviewed - Part 1 - Two Japanese Classic Flavours In One

Last week we looked at some of the fun varieties of a classic Japanese treat, Pocky. This week we're looking at a classic British treat that took the world by storm, and then Japan ramped it up even further, the Kit Kat bar. It all started several years ago when Japan released a special green tea variety. Since then they've been breaking the boundaries of what we expect the Kit Kat bar to be. So every day this week we're posting a look back at some of the more interesting Japanese Kit Kat bars that we've reviewed. We're still in Japan, and hopefully we're finding even more.

For our first entry this week, I thought I would start with a Kit Kat bar that pretty much sums up the  flavours of Japanese candy. Japan has some pretty creative treats of their own, but they also excel at taking already established treats and giving them a Japanese spin. Two of the more common flavours to use in this kind of adaptation is match green tea and sweet red bean paste.

In the  past there have been various matcha and red bean Kit Kat bars, but this was the first time I'd ever seen them both together. It's a strange flavour combination, but it really does taste Japanese.

Click here to read our review about this ultra Japanese flavoured Kit Kat.

Also make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with our Japanese adventures right now.

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The Third Kit Kat Bar In Our Kit Kat Review-A-Thon, Could Have Been Better.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm becoming a Kit Kat snob or something.  As of late, few Kit Kat bars have held up to my expectations.  Is Kit Kat running out of good ideas, or am I just too picky?

Click here to find out  why this milk and white chocolate Kit Kat bar didn't really work.

Let us know what you think about Kit Kat's new flavours on Facebook and Twitter.

Also make sure to follow us on Pinterest to keep up with all of our new candy reviews.

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A Take Care Of Your Lips Candy Thing - Part 4 - Candy (Seriously Just Candy)

If you want to kiss a candy fanatic, this is the way to do it.

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This Week In Candy (A Little Late Because Of Easter)

The days after Easter are always the same, it starts with a little regret after you realize you've eaten a huge chocolate Easter bunny in one day.  Then you're filled with hope, that starts when you go shopping for something to help your stomach ache and you see discounted Easter candy.  The next move is to buy that same chocolate Easter bunny on sale, and this time take it slow.  That works for a few days, until you binge on the chocolate Easter bunny while watching Walking Dead in one night.  Fortunately, by then all of the good discounted Easter treats are gone, and you're left two weeks after Easter debating if it's worth buying that case of Peeps.

This week at Candy Critic, it's a bit of a work week.  We'll be recording the latest episode of the Junk Fud podcast featuring all of the junk food news that we came across in the month of March (it should go online later this week).  We're also working on some of our new Youtube content, including a new intro for our soon to be regular segment known as "Chris, Why Would You Eat That!??". We're also going to be working on a new segment that we hope to have going soon where we'll look back at some of the candy we've reviewed in the past, and see if it's still the same.  Finally we're writing a few articles that will be coming online in the future, and possibly starting an art project related to the candy we've reviewed.

This week on Snack Facts, our Instagram feed, we're looking at when certain chocolate bars came out. It's amazing how long some of the classic bars have been around.  Most would say that they don't remember these bars not existing, but chances are your grandparents may not have known a world without a Hershey Bar either. Check back every day this week to find out when some of the classic bars came out, you can follow Snack Facts on Instagram, our Twitter feed, and our Facebook page.

This week's new review is a classic treat, it's a classic treat that everyone loves to hate.  I'm still looking for anybody to make the Circus Peanut fan page (that's not affiliated with any company that makes them).  So click here to read why I loved and hated reviewing this bright orange peanut.

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Hey Jelly Belly!!! Some Flavour Ideas - Candy Bars

Candy Bars

So far we've looked at two categories of Jelly Belly flavours that I think should exist, yesterday it was beans based on Japanese snacks, the day before Middle Eastern spices, today it's about working with other candy companies.

I seem to remember Jelly Belly having a few bean crossovers with soft drink brands in the past (and maybe present).  I'm pretty sure I've had a Dr Pepper Jelly Belly before.  I think expanding this idea is a great way to go.  Why stop at drinks, why not work tie inns with other candy brands.  I assume that Jelly Belly isn't really in competition with Kit Kat, as they're completely different kinds of candy.  This difference is what I think would make candy bar themed Jelly Bellies work so well.  I think visually you could decorate the beans with the package colour to make them more distinguishable.

Since it's my favourite candy bar, the first one I'd love to see is a Kit Kat inspired Jelly Belly.  I think the only challenge with this bean would be getting some kind of hint with the texture.  I'm not sure how you could simulate wafer without just adding wafers, but if anybody can do it, the folks at Jelly Belly can.

Snickers has the best option for gimmicks when it comes to making a Jelly Belly.  I think you could give the bean a chocolate/caramel flavour, then instead of adding peanut flavour, why not add real little chunks of real peanuts?  It would ad an interesting texture, and would insure that the peanut flavour was authentic.

Butter Finger would probably be the most difficult of all of these bars to re-create in a Jelly Belly form.  If they were willing, I would suggest that Jelly Belly look to their Canadian neighbours for help.  In Canada there's a similar bar to Butter Finger called Crispy Crunch, the two difference between these bars is the shape, and the nutty quality of the toffee.  The flavour of the Crispy Crunch is just so much nuttier, and I think that's what you'd need to sell the Butter Finger as a Jelly Belly.

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Candy In The Media

This is a long, but pretty awesome documentary that looks how the Hershey's plant ran a long time ago.

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Canadian Candy List - Part 8 - Most Canadian

Over the last few years I've been living away from my home country, Canada.  I've been traveling the world exploring all kinds of snack foods, junk foods, and sweets, but my heart is still in Canada.  I'm going to be back home for an extended period, and I've decided to compile various lists on the theme of Canadian candy and snacks.  Each week, for the next several weeks, I'll be posting a different list of Canadian candies I've reviewed in various categories.  Some of these treats may be available in other parts of the world, some are exclusive to the Great White North, but in my mind all of them are Canadian.

Some Canadian candy tastes great, other candies are fun to eat, but some Canadian candies are truly Canadian.  These candies represent everything it is to be Canadian, some are obvious, some are cultural things only locals would know.

 Some Canadians might argue that a chocolate bar from one of the Toronto Maple Leafs isn't really Canadian, it's more Torontonian.  Well since my Canada includes Toronto (mostly because it's my home town) I'm going to include this bar.  Frankly the bar itself was nothing special, but the idea that a hockey player "endorsed" it is what makes it Canadian.

Click here to read the Doug Gilmour 'Celebrity Candy Bar' review.

I'm pretty sure that just about every single Canadian has some kind of fond memory of eating maple sugar.  I have many, but almost all of them are associated with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.  We used to go every year, and it wouldn't be a proper visit without a taste of maple sugar.  It's also very Canadian when you consider that most of the worlds maple syrup comes from Canada.

Click here to read the Maple Sugar review.

 I posted about the Oh Henry "Oh Canada" bar on my earlier list of best Canadian variety treats.  All I can tell you is that eating one of these bars is the closest you can get to eating a Canadian flag.  It's easily the most Canadian patriotic candy bar I've ever tasted.

Click here to read the Oh Henry "Oh Canada" review.

If you think about Canada, you really think about down home people.  Canada is full of people who welcome everyone and are always super polite.  However, if you want to know where this is the most true, few provinces can beat out Prince Edward Island.  When I visited this awesome province every single time I crossed a street every car would stop (even when I was jay walking).  People would always welcome you into their homes, and the food was simple and very tasty.  When I eat a bag of PEI potato chips I'm reminded of how nice a place Canada is to live.

Click here to read the Prince Edward Island Potato Bag Chips review.

One of the great things about Canada is that it's a country of innovation.  No candy represents Canada, and innovation better than this Canadian Maple candy floss.  It takes a sweet treat that's been around for hundreds of years, and spins it into something brand new.  Unfortunately this particular brand of candy floss is no longer being made, but I'm hoping that another company takes this idea, because it's really great.

Click here to read the Organic Candy Floss "Canadian Maple" review.


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Classic/Creative Candy Advertising

A simpler tag line for an advertisement there has never been.  It's pretty effective for just about any candy in the world.  I guess the only problem is that it sounds strange when you say it out loud.  I'm sure any grammar nerds out there will tell me that it's not correct.  I'm sure there's supposed to be a "'s" or "is" thrown in there somewhere.

I found this ad here.

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Canadian Candy List - Part 7 - Varieties

Over the last few years I've been living away from my home country, Canada.  I've been traveling the world exploring all kinds of snack foods, junk foods, and sweets, but my heart is still in Canada.  I'm going to be back home for an extended period, and I've decided to compile various lists on the theme of Canadian candy and snacks.  Each week, for the next several weeks, I'll be posting a different list of Canadian candies I've reviewed in various categories.  Some of these treats may be available in other parts of the world, some are exclusive to the Great White North, but in my mind all of them are Canadian.

All over the world we're seeing candy companies produce treats (bars mostly) with limited edition versions.  I call this candy of treat, a "variety".  Some classic Canadian treats have also come out with different varieties, some are great, some not so great.

 Caramilk is most certainly a Canadian classic candy bar.  Most Canadians would probably put it in their top 10 list of favorite Canadian treats.  To attempt to affirm their Canadian status even more, Cadbury came out with a maple flavoured Caramilk.  You can tell by the review that it didn't really work very well, but at least I felt a little more patriotic eating it.

Click here to read the Caramilk Maple review.

I had a Mr Big faze in my life when I was a kid.  A time where this bar was the end and be all of my candy eating life.  It was short run, and today I'm not really a huge fan of these.  Adding more chocolate flavour didn't improve my opinion either.

Click here to read the Mr. Big "Double Dunk" review.

 This is probably the most Canadian variety of any candy ever.  Not only does it have a maple flavour, the log of fudge in the center was coloured red and white.  Canadians are not really known for being overly patriotic, but this bar is the exception to that rule.  Personally I would rather eat this than wave a flag any day.

Click here to read the Oh Henry "Oh Canada" review.

For a while Smarties got into the chocolate bar market (Maybe they still are, I haven't been paying attention).  For the most part it didn't really work out.  After all, the best thing about Smarties is the crunchy candy shell, and the fun colours.  They attempted to try to improve these bars by adding different centers (instead of chocolate) to the middle of the Smarties. Frankly I would have rather just had a handful of peanut butter Smarties instead.

Click here to read the Smarties Bar "Peanut Butter" review.

Americans don't really understand the pure joy of Cadbury products.  There's something really great about the way they take high quality ingredients, and occasionally do really creative and strange things with them.  These popping Mini Eggs are a great example of that.

Click here to read the Mini Eggs Popping review.


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Friday Candy Video

The animation geek in me just loves this commercial.  There's something so nice about the character design, and the simplicity of the animation.  You don't see advertising like this anymore, particularly with the fun story.

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Canadian Candy List - Part 4 - Best Bar

Over the last few years I've been living away from my home country, Canada.  I've been traveling the world exploring all kinds of snack foods, junk foods, and sweets, but my heart is still in Canada.  I'm going to be back home for an extended period, and I've decided to compile various lists on the theme of Canadian candy and snacks.  Each week, for the next several weeks, I'll be posting a different list of Canadian candies I've reviewed in various categories.  Some of these treats may be available in other parts of the world, some are exclusive to the Great White North, but in my mind all of them are Canadian.

Chocolate bars are a global phenomenon.  In fact I often judge a countries ability to make sweet treats by the types of chocolate and candy bars I find in local store shelves.  Some places only sell the global brands, other countries have a huge collections of local bars.  Canada is truly split down the middle in this regard, you can get all of the big name brands in the stores (or many of them), but there are truly some pure Canadian chocolate bars that are well worth trying.

 This bar isn't really a classic Canadian bar, but it is one of the best bars that's ever found its way onto Canadian shelves.  Sadly, as you'll read more about in a future post, it's not longer available.

Click here to read the Choclairs review.

 Most kids that I know, myself included when I was a kid, don't really like Coffee Crisp bars.  However, as an adult, most people can't get enough of these.  This is the kind of chocolate bar that one could eat in a business meeting, and not get any stares.

Click here to read the Coffee Crisp review.

 This bar will always have a soft spot in my heart.  It is my father's favorite sweet treat, so I always remember having them around.  To this day if I want to put a smile on his face, all I have to do is send him one of these, since he now lives in the USA.

Click here to read the Crispy Crunch review.

I had about two years of my life when the Mr Big bar was my bar of choice.  There was something great about the texture, and the fact that it was called "Mr Big".

Click here to read the Mr Big review.

Of all of the Canadian bars on this list, the Oh Henry! bar is easily my favorite.  It's not only my favorite now, it's been my favorite bar for most of my life (excluding the two years I was into Mr Big).

Click here to read the Oh Henry review.

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Classic/Creative Candy Advertising

Until seeing this cool Eat-More ruler, I'd never given much thought about how strange the name "Eat-More" really is.  Seeing it out of context the name is more like a bad slogan for a buffet than the name of a classic Canadian candy bar.  That's the strange thing about candy and snack promotions that are placed in strange places, it sometimes disconnects from the treat itself and lets you look at the slogan or name of the treat from a new perspective.

I found this ad here.

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Classic/Creative Candy Advertising

I have a soft spot in my heart for minimalist advertising.  When I worked in the advertising industry, I really loved to create this stuff, only I always felt like I was ripping off the client.  It's not that I didn't see the merit in simple art, I just worried that other people didn't.

I found this ad here.

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The Last Greek Review... For A While At Least

Some of the candy you find in Greece can trace its linage to some of the oldest candies in the world.  These candies are often hand made, depend greatly on the ingredients rather than the process, and require simple cooking techniques.  Greece also has some modern candy too, but it's still a little behind when it comes to the hip new trendy candy we see in other places around the world.  I'm not sure that their lack of modern candy is a bad thing though, while chocolate bars are just starting to really hit their stride here, their baked goods are better than most places anywhere else in the world.

Click here to read the last in our Greek candy review fest.

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The Oldest Sugar Ever In Our Greek Sweet Review

In my opinion, and in the research I've done on the subject, honey is the oldest candy ever.  It was probably the most obvious source of sugar in ancient and pre-historic times. Other than a few stings, it was the easy to harvest, and requires almost no manufacturing at all.  The best thing is, we still use it today.  We have the technology and know how to harvest and create all kinds of sweeteners, yet we still go back to the original fairly regularly.

Click here to read today's Greek honey filled review.

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It's The Start of the Greek Treat Reviews

As I mentioned earlier today in This Week In Candy, I'm moving away from Greece fairly soon.  Since I don't want to forget to review any classic Greek treats on candycritic.org, I've decided to dedicate all of my reviews (give or take) to classic and cool Greek candies until I leave.  Today I'm starting with a chocolate company that's very well known in Greece for making fine dark chocolate.  I actually once stumbled upon the factory where these are made, and came across an interesting garden/park on the side of the factory that featured an old bean roaster and bean grinder.  The smell of this park was fantastic too.

Click here to read the first in our Greek Treat Reviews.

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