It’s National Licorice Day and I’m always up for some good black licorice.

I picked up the Panda Soft Herb Licorice after seeing Gigi Reviews coverage of the product.

First, I like the box that Panda uses. It’s foil lined and completely sealed, after opening the tab top there’s a little plastic film that keeps the contents fresh. Then I just tuck in the double tab top to keep it soft. The contents were soft for weeks, though there is some toughening after that.

This version of Panda’s licorice bites are all natural black licorice tubes made with molasses and wheat flour with an added punch of 18 herbal extracts. They include peppermint, blackberry, plantain, torch weed, sage, star anise and thyme. Sniffing the box it’s like a tea shop: minty, woodsy and clean.

The pieces are soft but separate easily. I like the aerated tubes, it makes it easier to chew them if they do get a little stale. The color is nice, it’s dark but not artificially colored.

The taste isn’t licorice immediately and it’s not molasses either. It’s more like brown sugar in peppermint and chamomile tea. The licorice and woodsier notes come in later. It’s delicate and not as overwhelmingly dark and charcoal-like as Panda’s usual far. There’s a cool menthol aftertaste that makes this kind of like a mint.

There’s a little sticking to the teeth, but it’s not as bad as some other Aussie-style brands. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. It’s mellow and might be a good “starter” licorice for folks who don’t care for the bitter, smoky and overwhelming licorice of Panda.

As a little change of pace I picked up Panda Cremes as well. The stand up bag holds the same amount as the box but has a zipper lock to keep it fresh. I have to admit that it’s not as eco friendly but did a better job of keeping these soft and fresh. A bonus is that the bag is collapsible, so it takes up less space the more you eat. The box is always the size of the box.

Cremes are the same shape as the bites but inside those little tubes are creme fillings. They come in three flavors: Banana, Caramel and Strawberry. I can’t say that any of these were ever really on my mind as great complements to the flavor of black licorice, but Panda usually knows what they’re doing.

The bag says that they’re all natural and suitable for vegetarians (but not vegans, as there’s some milk in there). The creme center is made from palm oil and there’s no indication of the source of it. A 39 gram serving (9 pieces) has 160 calories and 4 grams of fat (3.5 of those are saturated). In case you’re curious, 40 grams of the Soft Herb are 130 calories and no fat. It’s not like either is calorie-dense but still, it’s notable.

The package smelled like strawberries and banana, like some sort of smoothie or yogurt.

The Strawberry were easy to pick out as they were pink. The Caramel and Banana were the same color as far as I could tell.

The creme isn’t soft and flowing, it’s kind of crunchy at first - but at mouth temperature it softens up. It’s cool on the tongue and not too sweet. The Strawberry is fresh and floral. Banana is actually pretty fun, it’s strong banana flavoring but the sweet notes go well. The Caramel had a slightly darker note but the toasted sugar was missing or maybe overshadowed by the strength of the licorice itself.

I don’t think I need this much fat for something that didn’t really satisfy me the same way that a creamy chocolate product does. I think I’ll stick to the regular Panda licorice products. These are pretty enough to put in a clear jar and as compelling as Allsorts (especially if you’re not a coconut fan).

Related Candies

1. The 110 Essential Candies for Candivores
2. Organic Finnska Soft Licorice
3. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Filled with Creamy Peanut Butter
4. Anis de Flavigny
5. Dutch Licorice
6. Panda Bars
7. Fazer Lemon Lakritsi

I picked up these artisan candy coated chocolate lentils at the Fancy Food Show. They’re from the Artist’s Collection at Coco Chocolate from the United Kingdom. The box is clever and attractive and of course the lentils are made with good quality chocolate. They’re kind of like a flattened version of Cadbury Mini Eggs.

Pink, pink, pink and pink.

I reviewed these Hammond Pops before (this one was cherry).

It’s so frustrating when I know that there’s a candy out there I want to try but I just can’t get a hold of it. The Pink Grapefruit Tic Tac have been around for a couple of years, but as far as I knew they were sold only as a “big pack” and only at WalMart.

I’ve been scouring eBay and the discount dollar stores ever since, hoping they’d turn up. Thankfully last weekend I found them at the 99 Cent Only Store - and for only 59 cents a package. I bought two, because I knew I’d love them.

The box holds exactly one ounce, which sounds like a single portion to me, the way I eat Tic Tacs. (I eat them like they’re candy.)

They’re a beautiful shade of pink (carmine but at least the ingredients are all natural). They don’t smell like much, but they sound great in the package when I shake it.

They’re soft and smooth, a little slick on the tongue at first. Then they give up the flavor. The grapefruit is a good zesty blast, especially after the pink outside coating comes off. It’s tangy but I wouldn’t call it sour. I usually chew mine, so I was getting a big dose of grapefruit. It’s pretty intense if you eat a lot of them in a row since they use real dry pink grapefruit juice. In fact, after about half the package it was making my tongue vibrate a little bit from the citrus oils. There’s also a little bit of a mentholated after taste, it doesn’t really make them minty, but it does make my breath feel fresher when I inhale.

I would definitely buy these on a regular basis if I can find them reliably.

I saw that Ebidebby found them and Candy for Dinner also The Candy Enthusiast had the Citrus Punch Limited Edition version that included Pink Grapefruit.

Ferrero has changed the packaging just slightly. The old polystyrene that made such a satisfying rattling sound is gone and now they’re using polypropylene which cuts energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Of course it’s also important to reuse and then recycle the packaging when you’re done. The polypropylene is a little softer so the candy boxes don’t crack as easily as they used to. Do you have any tips on what to do with the boxes when you’re done?

Related Candies

1. Bissinger’s Pink Grapefruit Gummy Pandas
2. Jelly Belly Sunkist Citrus Mix
3. Dr. Doolittle’s Pastilles (Lemon, Grapefruit & Wild Berry)
4. Grapefruit Mentos (Japan)
5. HiCHEW Grapefruit
6. Tic Tac Bold!
7. Pink Grapefruit Mentos

Five years ago some good friends exchanged their vows. During the reception I was talking with some of the other guests at our table about chocolate. Someone remarked that I seemed really passionate about candy and I should blog about it.

I went home that night and started a blog. Here it is, five years later and I’ve reviewed at least 1,500 individual candies and tasted probably 5,000 during my travels and attendance at trade shows. There’s still lots more to see, taste and review.

So thank you, sweet readers. I probably wouldn’t have continued if the blog did not grow as it has, the fact that you’re here, reading and responding really makes it worthwhile.

As a big thank you I’m doing some redesign work that I think you will enjoy (such as adding a spot where you can give candies your own 1-10 rating, make custom lists in your profile of favorite candies and better search features).

As a small thank you, I have a $50 gift certificate for Think Geek where you can spend way too much for novelty candy.

To enter the drawing just leave a comment here by Monday, April 12, 2010 at 9 AM Pacific PDT telling me what your favorite post on the blog is. A random commenter will be chosen and will receive a digital gift certificate valued at $50. Anyone can win though I don’t know how useful it’d be if you’re outside of North America.

Oh, and happy 5th anniversary to Robin & Amy!

UPDATE April 12, 2010 5:32 PM PDT: Congratulations to Jeny! She was chosen at random from all unique comments received. I’ve already sent her the digital gift certificate for Think Geek.

Nestle is going full-tilt to reinvigorate their stagnant Wonka candy brand. Last year it was gummis (Sluggles, Puckerooms & Sploshberries), this year they revised their chocolate bar line under the new Wonka Exceptionals and now they’re introducing some new sugar candy items to the Exceptionals line. The first is called Fruit Marvels which are vaguely described on the packaging as hard candies with soft centers, delicately sugar dusted. They come in three flavors: White Grape, Pomegranate and Clementine Orange.

There are two formats for the packages. The first is the tins, which hold 1.9 ounces (14 pieces) and retail for $1.99. Though that’s a little expensive, there’s a second more cost effective option which is the 5 ounce box which retails for $2.99 (and you can refill the tin).

The box is imaginative and quite different from the holographic mylar/plastic of the chocolates. These stand up boxes come in two parts. There’s a tall tab top box with a dizzying purple/lavender design, over that is a sleeve. The sleeve is taped to the box and features little circular cut outs that reveal the patterned box underneath. Like the Wonka Exceptionals Chocolate Pieces, even the UPC code gets Wonka-fied.

Inside the box is another package, a long mylar pouch with the candy in it. They’re not marked for the individual flavor, as I discovered later on when I ditched the boxes and carried all three pouches around in a ziploc bag while I was tasting.

The front of the package states Made with Natural Ingredients* and then directs folks to read the list of ingredients to explain the asterisk. Flipping over the box the ingredients are really easy to understand. For the White Grape they were: Dextrose*, Sugar*, Corn Syrup*, Pear Juice Concentrate*, and less than 2% of Modified Corn Starch, Tapioca Dextrin, Natural Flavor*, Tumeric Color, Citric Acid*.

I find this a little confusing ... they’re saying it’s made with natural ingredients, but not saying that all of the ingredients are natural. (So just about all food products would qualify under this “Made with Natural Ingredients” thing.) I appreciate that they’re not saying that highly processed ingredients like modified food starch is natural, but I’d prefer if they just said “made with real fruit juice but no artificial flavors or colors” and left it at that. Both Clementine & Pomegranate have Carmine coloring, which is a natural coloring derived from insects but of course not considered vegetarian/vegan, may be an allergen for some sensitive folks and is not kosher/halal.

The Pomegranate Fruit Marvels tin is simple. Inside are tucked over a dozen little candies. The tin is about 3.5 inches in diameter and just shy of an inch thick - a little big to tuck in a pocket. There’s a piece of waxed paper cushion on the bottom and on the top. The tin is easy to open and close, but stays closed so I wouldn’t worry so much about this coming open in the bottom of your bag.

They’re about .75 inches in diameter with a sugar sanded coating and soft coloring. The candies are really a puzzle at first. I didn’t understand what they were by the description, but I guess that’s why they called them Marvels.

The outside is a hard candy shell, it’s made of dextrose like SweeTarts, but it’s not compressed like other powder candies, instead it’s panned (added as a liquid layer that forms a hardened glaze after many coats). Inside is a firm and flavorful jelly. It’s like a super jelly bean in a way but remember that the shell is very thick.

When I first popped it into my mouth I thought it would be like a Gobstopper, many flavored layers and then a jelly ball in the middle, but it is actually faithful to the scale on the package. I tried sucking on them first. The sugar sanding is rough at first but that dissolves away quickly to the shell. The shell is dextrose (glucose) so it has a slightly cooling effect and it has a kind of thinness to the sweet note instead of the round syrup sweetness of sucrose (sugar). Eventually there’s a little hint of the floral berry flavors of pomegranate. There’s a layer just between the jelly center and the shell that has a little burst of sour.

I pulled quite a few of the candies apart. I found I preferred biting them to letting them dissolve. It’s not advisable to just crunch them up at first until you gain some experience at it, I think letting them warm and dissolve a little helps.

You can see the thickness of the shell here and how it’s dense but kind of crumbly.

The jelly center is complex. It’s smooth and thick, it’s also nicely flavored without being too sweet or tangy. Though I don’t think any candies really capture pomegranate flavor well, these are still an excellent flavor no matter what it’s called. It’s more raspberry to me - floral and jammy.

The sanding isn’t messy, no sticky fingers, but there is a bit of sugar dust in the bottom of the tins or the bags which can get everywhere.

The Clementine Orange Fruit Marvels sounded really good. I love citrus and the less-common oranges often have wonderful notes that make things so much more interesting than just eating spoonfuls of Tang drink mix. Clementines are a tasty little citrus, they’re easy to peel and are usually seedless - they have the tangy profile and juicy taste of a tangerine.

The outside sanded shell doesn’t give much indication of the flavor inside, just a soft orange color.

The flavor is truly like a tangerine. There are bold juice and citric acid notes but there’s also a really good zest component that sets it apart from straight-laced orange. There’s no bitter or lingering orange peel aftertaste though.

The White Grape Fruit Marvels are nearly colorless on the outside but a little on the yellow side after cracked open. (They were devilish to photograph, but I think you get the idea with the other two.) White grape was always one of my favorite fruit juices as a kid, so I’m very familiar with the flavor. This is extremely faithful. There’s a concord grape note to it, but also a brighter and lighter feeling to it, a little like champagne.

All three flavors are distinct and faithful to their profiles. The candy itself is unique, I’ve never had anything quite like it before so I give Wonka high marks for not just regurgitating the ordinary with a frivolous name and funny packaging. I like the concept of the boxes and that they’re more cost effective than the tins but still $3 for 5 ounces of sugar candy is on the high side, even for something that doesn’t have artificial flavors/colors. Also, the amount of packaging is silly, the outer sleeve could easily disappear without losing the feeling of upscale decadence.

I’m a little unclear about the target market for these, I’m guessing they’re not for little children like many other Wonka products lately like Kazoozles. Perhaps they’re targeting young adults, especially since the tins are great for sharing. They might also appeal to folks who want an intense flavorful indulgence without too many calories. Since they’re all sugar there’s no fat and each piece is about 12 calories. The tin makes each piece feel rather special. (Honestly, it seems like the target market is for grown ups for never quite grew up, which would be me.)

I like where Wonka is going lately.

These are in limited release right now, they’re available exclusively at WalMart stores until June 2010 when they’ll start appearing at Target. The candies are made in Mexico.

Related Candies

1. Wonka Exceptionals Scrumdiddlyumptious
2. Big Tex Giant Jelly Beans
3. Wonka Kazoozles: Cherry Punch & Pink Lemonade
4. Jelly Belly Sunkist Citrus Mix
5. Wonka Tinglerz & Nestle Buncha Crunch
6. Gimbal’s Lavaballs
7. Wonka Sour Nerds

Creamy peanut butter base with shards of toffee topped with fresh jam then encased in a beautifully airbrushed milk chocolate shell. I would like a whole box of these now. The photoset of the whole box is here.

This one is a little different for a new product announcement. It’s kind of a preview and a tease.

Name: Askinosie Liberia
Brand: Askinosie
Description: Several years ago we started a program called Chocolate University designed to engage the children in our neighborhood.  We want to inspire them about business and about a world beyond Springfield Missouri.  We started in the nearby elementary school, then to the middle school, and now have project at Central High School called “Cocoa Honors.”  Askinosie Chocolate is the sole funding source of Chocolate University by donating 100% of our tour proceeds to Community Foundation of the Ozarks for the benefit of this program.  In Fall 2009, 14 juniors from Central High School were selected to participate with us in the selection of the next cacao source country in Africa as part of an 18 month-long project.  We believe that this is the first single origin bar available in the world from Liberian beans.  Auction begins Sunday April 4 at 8 PM CST and ends the following Sunday.
Introduction Date: TBD
Notes: I’m very interested in this new microbatch of chocolate, I don’t think I’ll bid but I’ll definitely buy a couple of bars when it’s released to the general buying public. I love the San Jose del Tambo chocolate that Askinosie makes and their white chocolate, made with goat’s milk is fascinating.

And now on to other new candy products expected this year:

Name: Fruitzels
Brand: Waymouth Farms, Inc.
Description: The Original Pretzel-Shaped Gummi Fruit Snack Made with REAL Fruit Juice! 
Introduction Date: 03/01/10
Notes: Waymouth Farms are the same folks that make the Popzels, I guess they do all things pretzel themed. I like interesting shapes for my gummis, but I admit that I’m not fond of worms. So maybe this will be a good compromise. They’re gluten free and are fortified with Vitamins C and E. It looks like the flavors are cherry, apple, strawberry, orange, raspberry and lemon ... a pretty promising mix in my book, though I love a pineapple gummi.

Name: Tabasco Chocolate Truffles
Brand: Elmer Candy Corporation
Description: A dark chocolate shell giving way to a unique creamy center with a subtle Tabasco warmth. Not too hot, spicy or peppery just enough to be enjoyed by all chocolate lovers.
Introduction Date: 05/25/10
Notes: Hot peppers and chocolate aren’t new, but this is the first major branded version I’ve seen so far. I’ll probably give them a try when I see them, but I’m also concerned that the chocolate won’t be great quality. Elmer’s does a good Easter egg, but can they do an all year round candy like this.

Name: Bake Shoppe Cookie Dough Miniatures
Brand: The Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc.
Description: COOKIE DOUGH ON THE GO!™ Cookie Cough Lovers celebrate, because Bake Shoppe™ Cookie Dough Miniatures Are the Real Deal you’ve been craving! Our Butter-In-The-Batter™, Mixing Bowl Licking™, Heavenly Bite Size Cookie Dough Morsels™ are drenched in pure Milk Chocolate, to tantalize your taste buds! Enjoy our egg-free Bake Shoppe™ Cookie Dough Miniatures on the go, or, you can just savor them slowly…one delicious mouth-watering bite at a time! Bake Shoppe™ Cookie Dough Miniatures is offered in a 3.5 oz Concession Box.
Introduction Date: 4/15/10
Notes: Is this another brand of chocolate covered chewy cookies? Or are they just repackaged Cookie Dough Bites? It’d be nice if they had better chocolate on them than the original - though Albanese makes some tasty cookie bites as does Koppers for those looking for good quality ingredients.

Name: Belgian Chocolate Thins
Brand: Royal Chocolates NV
Description: Luscious chocolate thins (chips) filled with crispy rice puffs & available in the following flavours: milk, caramel, hazelnut, almond, dark & mint. The product will be available in single packs & multi packs.
Introduction Date: 06/01/10
Notes: Do these look familiar to anyone? I tried something danged familiar from Trader Joe’s last year. If these are the same, I’m sure some fans of them will be thrilled to see the other varieties. I can say that I’d be interested in the hazelnut and mint (though the description doesn’t say if they have crispies in them too).

Name: Hoja Verde Dark Chocolate
Brand: Hoja Verde
Description: Hoja Verde Dark Chocolate is the first Ecuadorian company to use Fair Trade certified, premium “Arriba” cacao. This unique chocolate is made from single-origin cacao beans grown by small farmers in the tropical lowlands of Ecuador. Our company is proud to build enduring and equitable relationships with small farmer organizations. Ecuadorian cacao has long been recognized as the source of the world’s finest cacao beans. The “Arriba” cacao has captivated chocolate connoisseurs with its depth of flavor and its unequaled aroma. Sweetness comes naturally without artificial flavors or ingredients. The finished bar is a revelation for all the senses: its appearance, its aroma, the sound of the snap, the taste and the way it melts in your mouth. This isn’t just chocolate. It’s a journey through tannins, coffee, nuts, blackberry, cinnamon, fruits and flowers of the rain forest.
Introduction Date: 05/25/2010
Notes: Fair trade is all the rage now, and rightfully so. It’s an interesting trend to see all these smaller companies coming out with single origin or regionally sourced beans. I’m not sure how long it can be sustained and profitable but it’s an exciting time to be a chocolate lover. You can buy on their website now, they retail for $5.99 and the shipping is only 99 cents per bar.

Name: Haribo Fruity Frutti
Brand: Haribo of America, Inc
Description: Haribo’s new Fruity Frutti are 4oz bags full of pieces of gummi and foam with a juicy, fruity liquid filling. Fruity Frutti has no artificial colors and are made with Fruit Juice!
Introduction Date: 05/25/10
Notes: These remind me a bit of the Wonka Sploshberries, which also have a foamy base and a gooey center - though those are in berry flavors. I can’t say that my personal interest in these is that high since I just don’t click with the goo filled gummis. The no artificial colors element will probably make these a great option for parents looking for flavorful candies that kids won’t turn their noses up at.

Name: Natural Vines
Brand: American Licorice Co.
Description: Natural Vines, premium soft licorice twists made without artificial flavors and preservatives, are new from the American Licorice Co. Addressing demand from health-conscious consumers, the company says the licorice twists are sweetened with cane sugar, are low in sodium, contain no trans fat and are cholesterol-free. Black and strawberry varieties will debut in select grocery stores, natural markets and gourmet food distributors in May. Holding eight ounces, reclosable standup bags have a retail of $3.49.
Introduction Date: May 2010
Notes: I tried the black licorice version at ExpoWest last month and enjoyed the mellow and woodsy flavor of these. They also don’t stick to teeth and are softer than the Red Vine Bites. I think the packaging is charming.

Name: Thingamajig
Brand: Hershey’s
Description: It’s Back! The greatest thing since Whatchamacallit. Thingamajig was a successful limited edition bar concept in 2009, helping to drive a 20% increase in Whatchamacallit bar sales.
Introduction Date:  Limited Edition 9/3/2010-12/3/2010
Notes: I reviewed Thingamajig when it came out last year about this time. It’s a fun bar and certainly different from anything else on the market. I think seasonal versions of popular bars are a great idea. It’d be nice if candy companies conveyed that information to consumers. It’s easy to understand the holiday versions of candy, but not these “here & gone” recurring limited editions.

Name: KIT-KAT Wafer Bar Dark
Brand: Hershey’s
Description: Back by popular demand, KitKat Dark, crisp wafers in dark chocolate. Satisfies without being overfilling. Unique taste and texture.
Introduction Date: 3/26/2010
Notes: Look for a big media push on this. I haven’t seen them in stores yet, but I always prefer a dark chocolate KitKat. It’s hard though, since I’ve had the truly dark premium KitKat Bitter version from Japan before, the Hershey’s version just doesn’t meet those expectations. I’m still eager to find them in stores and I know that there will be oodles of Americans who will begin the stockpiling now.

Name: Cookies ‘N Cream Bites
Brand: Taste of Nature
Description: A Taste of Nature, Inc.‘s brand new Cookies ‘N Cream Bites are an expansion of the company’s Cookie Dough Bites. Cookies ‘N Cream Bites feature a cream-and-cookie-crumble center, covered in a white “chocolatey” candy coating. The 3.1-ounce box has a SRP range between $1.09 and $1.29; the 4-ounce box has a SRP range between $1.49 and $1.79
Introduction Date: unknown
Notes: Since they already have a dark chocolate version, a white coating seems like a good idea. In my dream world it’d be some good, very dark Oreo cookie bits in the center covered in real cocoa butter white chocolate. These are not from my dream world and I’m already a little tentative to try them because of the “chocolatey” coating.

Candy photos and images courtesy of the respective manufacturer.

Related Candies

1. Candy Tease: March 2010
2. Candy Tease Valentines 2010
3. Candy Tease: October 2009
4. Candy Tease: April 2009
5. Candy Tease: Spring 2009