Junk Fud and You - What I look for in a Candy - Taste

 Ever wonder why I give a particular score to some candies? How does taste affect my reviews? I decided to break down my criteria for taste when I review treats.

I Make Marshmallows Awesome!

Marshmallows have always been on my list of treats that I don't always love. I think as an ingredient they can be good, but on their own I just don't get the appeal. Today I decided to try and figure out how I can change that and make marshmallows awesome. Spoilers, I figured it out.

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Today's New Candy Review Makes Me Think About What's On A Package - Snap and Crackle

Whenever I review a candy, I try my hardest not to be influenced by the package. The thing is, the more I think about it, the more I realize that the package of a candy treat is really a big part of any candy experience. It's the first thing you see when you're at a candy store, and it often gives you some insight into what you should be expecting. Sometimes that expectation is only hinted at, and sometimes it's laid out in full words (I'd say full English, but I've had several candies that have zero English on them at all). This candy on the other hand has what it's "supposed" to be written in plain English, yet it doesn't actually have any of what it's describing. Strangely, this actually disappointed me.

Click here to find out why this taffy candy disappointed me.

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Wafer Bars Are Tough, And This Review Proves It - Tivoli Combo

I have a love hate relationship with wafer based bars. Some of my favourite bars in the world are wafer based, however there seem to be more failures than successes in this style of candy bar. I'm not sure why this is, I don't think that wafers have a complicated flavour, and they also add a great texture. My guess is that wafers are cheap to purchase, so if you want to make a cheap bar, use wafers to take up space. What happens then is most cheap candy bars choose to use wafers, and they use them poorly.

Click here to read why this particular wafer bar didn't really work.

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Candy Packaging Is Kind Of Important - Pop It! Chocoballs

One of the debates I have with myself when it comes to reviewing candy is weather or not I should consider the candy's package. In some cases it seems vitally important to mention it because it's part of the candy, but most of the time it's not really that important, but it might be the reason I bought the candy in the first place. The two reasons I buy a candy is either because I had heard of it somewhere else (either a friend or the internet may have mentioned it), or because the package has attracted me.

It could be as simple as the correct words on a package, "lasagna potato chips" for example, or it could be some kind of creepy cartoon on the package. Sometimes it's the little  window on the package that shows me what the candy looks like. I think I'm just going to have to start dropping this whole idea of not reviewing a candy based on its package. It will likely never be the focus of the review, but I think it's an important part of any candy.

Click here to read about a candy package that  confused me enough to buy the candy.

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This Third Entry In Our Gummy Review-A-Thon Squirted Me - Juicy Squirts Berry

I think it's strange, but there's something I really like about a candy that squirts out a liquid when I bite into it. This doesn't really work with other foods. If you bite into a steak, a piece of broccoli, or an  apple, and it squirts, you'll  likely spit it out. Candy on the other hand is "more fun" when it squirts. I don't know why this is, I assume it's some kind of conditioning. Having a liquid center is a highlight for me when it comes to candies, and I can't say that I've ever been disappointed when it happens.

Click here to read the latest gummy review that squirted me.

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Most Notable Candy We Ate In 2017 - Crunchy Gummies

It's not often that I'm surprised by a gummy candy, particularly when it comes to texture. It's even more rare that I'm surprised by a gummy candies texture, and I like it a lot. This was truly one of the biggest surprises I got out of a candy this year, and I'm hoping for some surprises like this in 2018. I'm also realistic, because chances are that there are going to be some horrible surprises in store for me this year as well.

Click here to find out why these gummy candies blew me away.

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Best Variety - M&Ms

All this month we're looking at some different treats that offer interesting variations.  Last week we looked at Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, and before that we looked at Pocky and Kit Kats.  Today we're looking at a fairly unique treat, that's been around so long we might forget how unique it is, M&Ms.  Unfortunately M&Ms are a copycat candy, they likely were inspired by the British Smarties.  Smarties are a candy coated chocolate that was created several years before the M&M.  The real difference in the two candies is the choice of colours (although with custom M&Ms this might not be true), thickness of the shell, and in some cases the flavour.  M&Ms have also branched out a lot more than Smarties.

Smarties have really only come out with one variety, and that's putting their popular candy into a chocolate bar.  M&Ms on the other hand have branched out a great deal.  M&M's might also be considered one of the first candy companies to produce a variation.  M&Ms peanut came out in 1954, just under 15 years after the original "plain" M&Ms came out.  This variety proved to be very popular, and today is considered just as original as the milk chocolate filled variety.  While M&Ms diversified fairly early on, they didn't get extremely experimental till much more recently.

In the last 15 or 20 years there has been a renaissance in the M&Ms variety world.  It started with adding a few different nuts to the center, and has expanded ever since. Similar to the Kit Kat, M&Ms have two different kinds of variations, long term and limited edition.  Since starting out with variations M&Ms have introduced a few varieties that have stuck around.  Peanut butter, Almond, and crispy M&Ms are still around, and are likely not going anywhere soon.  There have also been a few varieties that are limited edition, and many that seem to be tied in with movies.  Some of  these movie tie-ins make sense, like Ogre sized M&Ms that tie in with the movie Shrek.  However a few of the limited edition movie tie-ins are not so clear, like Peanut Butter and Jam M&Ms tied in with Transformers, and mint crisp M&Ms tied in with Indian Jones.

So far I've tasted 11 different variety of M&Ms, and the one thing I can say about almost all of them is that they've never really deviated from their original format.  With some of the other treats I've discussed in this series there have been some variety that are almost so different that you might have a hard time saying they're a variant as opposed to being a completely different treat all together.  M&Ms variants seem to stick to the format, a small candy coated candy, often with chocolate involved.  With this limitation, it's surprising not only the number of variations, but in the diversity of each of these variations.  There are different textures and flavours in most of these treats, and you'd likely have no problem telling them apart in a blind taste test.

In fact that would be really fun.  Take a bag of every variety of M&M ever made and put them in one bowl.  Then spend the night randomly picking out M&Ms and guessing what variety they are.

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Best Variety - Pocky

Each week we're looking at some candies that have spawned many variations.  Last week we  looked at Kit Kat bars, this week we're looking at Japanese classic that's gone nuts with the varieties, Pocky.  Most people consider Pocky to be a fairly new candy on the shelves, however Pocky started in Japan in 1966.  These cookie sticks dipped in chocolate are as tasty as they are simple, but that doesn't mean they can't be complicated.

For most North Americans the classic Pocky with vanilla cookie center dipped in milk chocolate is about all you have.  Step outside of North America and this changes dramatically.  In many Asian countries Pocky varieties are vast, and if you include Pocky's salty cousin Pretz, then it's even more enormous.  It's strange to have such variety with a candy that is so simple, however this might prove the idea that the simplest of treats have the most potential for variation.

As of the writing of this article I've sampled 8 different varieties of Pocky, and two varieties of Pretz.  This is a small sampling of the varieties available, but since I've only visited (or lived  briefly) in countries that specialize in Pocky variety, it's difficult to sample every flavour.  This is true because while Kit Kat seems to focus their varieties in Japan, Pocky has expanded to other Asian countries.  Places like Thailand and China have their own flavours that are exclusive to these places.  Pocky has also had fewer "strange" flavours, and instead seem to focus on simple flavour combinations.

Probably the strangest Pocky flavour that I've ever seen is Pocky for Men.  This flavour is simple in design, dark chocolate with vanilla cookie sticks, but the idea of marketing it as a candy for men is strange, particularly from a North American standpoint.  Most of the other flavours I've sampled or seen are just cookie sticks, either vanilla or chocolate, with some kind of flavoured icing, instead of chocolate.  A few have broken bits of things, such as cookies, glued onto the sticks with the various flavours of icing.  These are generally considered the higher end of Pocky treats, and are marketed as such.

Pretz, also made by Glico, maker of the Pocky, is a salty version with a similar concept.  These are often flavoured with savory spices instead  of sweet. I'm assuming that the word "Pretz" is a play on the word "pretzel". These don't have the variety that I've seen in Pocky, or the following, but are still fairly popular.  These, much like Pocky, also don't come in many "strange" flavours.  Most of them are based on popular savory spice and food combinations.

I'm not certain that  we'll ever see the variety of Pocky in North America that there is in Asia, particularly since Pocky is a fairly new treat in these areas.  In some cases you can find varieties of Pocky at specialty stores, and I've even seen Pretz at grocery stores. I just don't know if they'll ever become a classic treat, like they are in Asia.

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Best Variety - Kit Kat

All this month we're going to look  at candy varieties. Varieties happen when candy companies decide to change their classic bars with alternative flavours and textures.  Some of these variations are very complicated, while others are very simple.  Sometimes the change to the bar is more about texture, but most of the time it's about a change of flavour.  This kind of change doesn't alter  the  original  treat, instead it's about releasing a second treat with a slight variation.  Sometimes these variations stick, but most often they're temporary.

For our first installment we're going to look at the Kit Kat Bar.  This  is probably the most famous variation bar in the world right now.  This is not only because this bar is known  in almost every country in the world, but also because they've released so many different varieties.  Japan is probably the center of the variation craze for Kit Kat right now.  In Japan they release a new special edition Kit Kat flavour monthly, and to this date they've released  dozens, maybe even hundreds of flavours so far.

Interestingly though,  Japan wasn't the  first place to start this trend.  Kit Kat varieties started  in the UK and Canada first.  Simple variations included the Kit Kat Chunky (1999) and Kit Kat Orange (1996).  Both of these variations have remained very popular since their release. Japan can however be credited with creating the most, as well as the strangest, flavour variations.

As of writing the review, I've sampled approximately 26 different varieties of  Kit Kat.  Some were fairly basic, like Kit Kat Chunky, Kit Kat Dark, and Kit Kat Caramel.  Some were a little stranger like Kit Kat Mango Pudding, Kit Kat Apple Vinegar, and Kit Kat Azuki (red bean).  More interesting is how some of these varieties are presented.  With some flavours you get the standard small Kit Kat 4 or 2 fingers, however a few of the varieties come in the Kit Kat Chunky style.

This says a lot about one particular variety of Kit Kat, the Chunky.  This is probably the most successful of any Kit Kat variety, in fact the Chunky might be the most successful of any variety ever.  This bar came out in 1999 and has been with us since, and this bar has spawned varieties itself. While I'm sure the Kit Kat Chunky is not outselling the classic Kit Kat, it's safe to say that at this point the Kit Kat Chunky has turned into a classic unto itself.  This is a very rare case where a variation on a bar has become so successful.

I'm sure at some point Kit Kat will give up on their massive collection of variations, until then I'm willing to  try and them all, but I'm pretty sure that none of them will ever outsell the  original.  Hopefully the only variety to make it out of this trend will be the Kit Kat Chunky, and the rest will be bars that we'll look back on with fond memories.

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Bad Candy Ideas? - Part 2 - Edible Styrofoam

Everyday this week I'm posting about one of the worst ideas in the candy world that I've ever come across.  This is one of the rare occasions that I'm going to say that I love the idea of eating styrofoam.  While I really believe the idea of making a candy that has the same texture and flavour as styrofoam is a bad idea, for some reason I was addicted to these disk things for a while.  I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the sour powder inside, as I sampled a different variety of these disks later on with small sweet pellets inside and they were hideous.

So here's my final opinion on candy that taste and looks like styrofoam.  Unless you happen to fill it up with the perfect filling, and chances are you're not, then it's generally a very disturbing food to eat.  Edible styrofoam could also be dangerous. What if you where on an edible styrofoam eating frenzy because for some reason you really like the stuff, then you came across a box filled with packing peanuts (note they're not actually peanuts), you might eat the whole box.  I assume that eating a box of packing peanuts can't be good for you.

I should note that this particular candy like substance has one thing very different than styrofoam, it melts in your mouth.  I assume that styrofoam does not melt in your mouth, and therefore isn't as much fun to eat.

Click here to read the very short review about these Styrofoam disks.

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New Brittle Review

If I think about all of the candy categories with strange names, brittle might be the strangest.  It's one of only a handful of candies that's known by its texture, instead of its shape or contents.  The word "brittle" is also commonly used for things that aren't stable, or weak.  Whenever I give the word "brittle" too much thought, visions of bones breaking come into my head.  The thing about brittle as a candy is that when you bite down it's actually a very pleasant feeling in your mouth.

Click here to read our new brittle review.

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Candy News

Ben and Jerry's has invented a new way to put more things into their ice cream, this is the kind of science I can get behind.

I'm glad that King Games does not own the word candy, because that might affect the way I write candy reviews.

Are those Cheesies?  Nope, they're miniature representations of popular culture and art.

What would you do with five-hundred thousand sugar cubes?  Would you build a fortress?

Here's a look at 50 years of PopTarts, from a PopTarts expert.

Here's a look at how Russel Stover turned into one of the biggest players in the chocolate scene.

Here are 10 facts about Tastykakes, and here's one bonus one:  I've never tried one in my life.

The folks at Jelly Belly are trying out some new natural colours, but we all want to know, will their candy still be pretty?

I've stopped believing when "experts" tell me that something I eat is unhealthy, it's a constantly changing science.  Moderation and portion control are always in style.

Army rations are often described as horrible but nourishing, but some of the treats you get with them are downright tasty.

Sara Lee, real.  Betty Crocker, fake.  Famous Amos, real.  A great list of who's real and who isn't, as well as an explanation.

Did you know that you can order custom made chocolate bars on the internet? You can also get custom ice cream too.

Just Born updates their factory, and now we can expect some new awesome treats.

Fannie May recalled their heart shaped box of chocolates, apparently they contain nuts where there shouldn't be.

So this guy working at a warehouse had problems with a candy machine, he then did the next logical thing, and slammed the machine using a forklift

Apparently people wan their licorice to not only be soft, but healthier.

Time Magazine listed the 13 most influential candy bars of all times, I have a few problems with this list, but many of the bars deserve high praise.

If you want to keep up with all of the daily candy news that we come across as it happens, follow us on Twitter.

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Your Food Is Different

The flavours and flavour combinations that we find in candy is something that's very close to many of us.  Most of us started eating candy as children, so the flavours, smells and textures were implanted into our memory at a young age.  Science has proven that flavours, smells and textures stay in our minds, and are directly associated with our brains memories.  This means that you'll probably remember the smell of your 5th birthday, long before you remember who actually attended.  Because candy plays with these senses in particular, we remember candy well, and often very fondly.

We build a certain bond between these foods we've grown up with, and our place in the world.  Since humans are often self-centred, we also assume that everybody else will also have these same bonds.  The truth is, many people don't have the same connection to certain foods as you.  This means that people from certain cultures may have never had contact with a particular food that you love, and when they try it, they can only rely on the actual flavour in relation to their experiences.

This brings me to the best example of this that I can think of, peanut butter.  In North America we put peanut butter on everything.  Chocolate and peanut butter, peanut butter and jam, I've even had peanut butter on a hamburger.  In Europe however, many people don't eat peanut butter.  In fact I know several people who've never even tried it in their entire lives.  I also know a few people that have tried it, and absolutely hate it.  So why would you hate peanut butter?

I think the answer can only come about when you look at peanut butter from a neutral standpoint.  The texture of peanut butter is the first thing that turns people off; it sticks to your mouth, and is difficult to eat.  Peanut butter is also very oily, and many people don't like oily food.  Finally, peanut butter tastes like peanuts, and while many people enjoy peanuts, not everybody likes to mix it with so many other foods.

Don't get me wrong, North America isn't the only peanut loving continent, many Asian countries use peanuts and peanut butter for a great deal of their cooking.  Have you ever had a peanut Thai sauce, often peanut butter.  Many North Americans I know can't imagine someone not wanting to eat peanut butter, but then my Japanese friends can’t understand why everybody doesn't like red bean past either.

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Cold Themed Review For My Friends In North America

I'm not sure if posting a review themed on the cold is cruel for my friend having a tough time of it in North America right now.  The intent is not to mock you, the intent is to acknowledge the fact that it's cold where you are.  While I can't share this cold feeling seeing as I'm in the Mediterranean right now, I do really miss it.  I'm sure I wouldn't miss it after a few months of it, but for now I simply pine for a cold winter's morning.  While I'm at it, I'll enjoy one of the treats from today's review, maybe that will help get me into the winter spirit.

Click here to read this "chilly" candy review.

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Tic Tac Syndrome

Tic Tac Syndrome is what I call it when you can't eat just one of a particular type of candy.  Actually it's a little more serious than that, the Tic Tac Syndrome is what happens when you can't help but dump an entire package of candy in your mouth all at once.  The name comes from the candy (Tic Tac) that consists of a package of small mints that are simply unsatisfying to eat individually.

While Tic Tac’s are the best example of a candy you can't eat slowly, there are many others.  Pixie Sticks, (Canadian and UK) Smarties, and Chiclets gum, are a few other examples of candies that cause people to down an entire package in one go.  These treats just have a certain flavour and texture that is satisfying when it fills up your mouth.

While I believe that I suffer from this syndrome in a fairly bad way, I'm not the only one.  I've spoken to many candy fanatics all over the world that have had problems with the Tic Tac Syndrome.  These people have told me tails of stuffing their faces with all kinds of bite-sized treats.  Some are proud of how many of a particular treats they can shove in their mouths; while others are ashamed at how quickly they go through an entire package of candy.

For those that want to defeat the Tic Tac Syndrome, it can be a great challenge.  The best way to regulate the problem is with novelty candy dispenser, such as a PEZ dispenser.  These can slow down your face stuffing habits, but they're not perfect.  First of all, most of these dispensers are cumbersome to fill.  There's also nothing to stop you from just emptying the entire contents of these dispensers into your hand and simply eating all the candy in one gulp.

The only other cure I've heard of is an unplanned accident.  Say for example your tasting a new mint, and each mint is made up of a tiny mouth pleasing little round ball.  Many people suffering from the Tic Tac Syndrome would have a hard time just eating one or two.  Now if these mints were super-powerful, or spicy, this would leave you in a great deal of discomfort.  Having this happen enough times, or having a serious enough trauma, might kick you of the habit.  But it doesn't always work, and I'm proof of that.

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Candy Art Posters From bewarethecheese.com

Caramel and Chocolate Poster by bewarethecheese
Find other designs of Art & Posters at Zazzle.com

It's funny, if you saw almost anything in the world with the same texture as caramel, it would probably gross you out.  Say for example your kitchen faucet started to drip with a brown gooey liquid.  You'd call a plumber and have it fixed immediately.  Yet even a photo of chocolate filled with a brown sticky goop makes your mouth water.

Click here to check out more candy themed posters.

Click here to check out some candy themed greeting cards too.

A Fun Fizzy Review

I think people really don't understand the power that a good texture can have on a candy.  More importantly people don't realize how much a bad texture can completely ruin a candy. I've had a few treats in my day that probably would have received a much higher review score all around if they only worried about how the treat felt in my mouth.  Fortunately this week's review did worry about it, and it was a better treat because of that.

Click here to read this week's new review.

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We've Got Some News Later Today!!!

Yup, we're officially announcing a huge contest this afternoon, and today's new review is just a small hint as to what kind of awesome prize you could walk away with.  If you've never sampled, or heard of, today's new review you don't want to miss a chance to sample it yourself.  I was once like you, I had no idea what this "Walnetto" thing was, but I'm a changed man now.

Thanks to our good friends at candycrate.com for providing us with this yummy treat to try.

Click here to read the review.

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Wednesday's Japanese Candy Review

Today I was wondering if a day will come when I run out of Japanese candies to review.  I think Japan might be the country with the largest variety of treats anywhere in the world.  When most candy companies think about new treats, they think about seasons, or holidays, in Japan I think they think as far as that month and next month.  If you visit a sweet shop in Japan every month you're sure to find something brand new that you've never tried before.  When I was in Japan, they were producing a new Kit Kat variety every month.  That's pretty amazing considering most places around the world only have a few varieties of Kit Kat to choose from, if you're lucky.

Click here to read today's new Japanese treat review.

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