|
Thursday, April 20, 2006
ChucklesIt’s not that I’ve never had Chuckles, but it’s been a very, very long time. I don’t actually know who eats Chuckles. It’s not me. And it’s pretty hard to figure it out because I never see them being sold, let alone being eaten.
The last time I remember seeing them was in a vending machine on the campus of Kent State University in the basement of the building where my father worked ... this would be around 1978. I probably bought them. I loved that vending machine, it was super-cheap and sometimes dispensed two candy bars, it was like a slot machine! (Except when you win candy you can’t really stuff it back in the coin slot to try to win more.) What sets this flavor assortment apart is the first one: Licorice - light and refreshing, a completely different experience from the doughy/molasses experience of black licorice vines. The licorice isn’t overpowering but nice and smooth. Cherry - this is one of the worst and for lots of personal reasons. It reminds me of medicine, like so many of those cough potions and penicillin elixirs of my youth, I just can’t bring myself to like cherry that much. This is sweet and strong and has a slight bitter, poison note to it that I’m never sure is the color or the actual cherry flavor. Orange - wonderfully zesty without much of a tart hint to it at all. It was so orangy that it left a slight burning tingle to the inside of my lips. Maybe Chuckles can be called the Altoids of jelly candies? Lemon - zesty, light and sparkly. The zest actually lends a little bitter note in the middle to this one, but I don’t mind it a bit because it reminds me of real lemon rinds. Lime - well, there’s always the underdog in every flavor mix and lime is it here. It’s everything you’d expect from a circa 1920 lime candy - the essence of a clean floor. It’s kind of sad that the fabulous flavor of lime was co-opted by the cleaning moguls, but there you have it, for at least two generations the scent of lime just can’t be separated from the smell of a clean bathroom. Even with all its baggage, I still ate the whole piece (not true with the cherry one) and wondered what was so bad with associating a piece of candy with sparkling tiles? Now, I like jelly candies. I do find myself pining for Spearmint Leaves and Orange Slices from time to time, but I don’t really care for buying a half pound of them, which is usually how they’re sold. But then again, when I want Spearmint Leaves, Chuckles aren’t going to scratch that itch and maybe if I’m in the mood for citrus, I’m not going to want that licorice or cherry. The point is, no one else sells a single serving of jelly candies like this and these are really good versions of a jelly candy because the flavors are so intense. Now I’ve gotten myself all worked up and I’m a little sad they don’t sell these around here.
POSTED BY Cybele AT 8:13 am 
|
||||||||||||||||||
ABOUT
FEEDSSEARCH
CONTACTEMAIL DIGESTCANDY RATINGSTYPE
BRAND
COUNTRY
ARCHIVES
|
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
  FEATURED NEWS ITEMS
COPYRIGHT NOTICEAll content (text and photos unless otherwise credited) is copyright 2005-2008 by Cybele MayPlease do not use my photos on your own site without permission directly from me, they represent what I ate in preparation for these reviews and are not to be used for other purposes. Design by Hop StudiosPowered by ExpressionEngine
|
|||||||||||||||||
VOTE IN THE POLLWhich do you prefer?
Total Votes: 419
Milk Chocolate 
41% (172)Dark Chocolate
26% (111)Really Dark Chocolate (70%+)
18% (76)White Chocolate
14% (57)Carob!
1% (3)
 
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
SUPERB 
YUMMY 
TASTY 
WORTH IT 
TEMPTING 
PLEASANT 
BENIGN 
UNAPPEALING 
APPALLING 
INEDIBLE 
SUPERB
YUMMY 
WORTH IT 
TEMPTING 
PLEASANT 
BENIGN 
UNAPPEALING 
APPALLING 
INEDIBLE 
I used to eat the Sunkist Fruit Gems like they were going out of style...which I guess they were, because I haven’t seen them in ages. I’ll have to give Chuckles a try!
I used to eat these when I was younger. I still see them in those little newspaper/magazine stores when I’m in NYC. I like them because each Chuckle has all those little tire-like demarcations, so you can eat them slowly and methodically, bit by bit ^_^
You and my brother would make great candy sharing buddies because he loves all and any “red-flavored” candy and hates licorice.
Lesley - Chuckles are way better than Sunkist Fruit Gems in my humble opinion. Chuckles are firmer and prettier colored and the sugar coating adds a more distinct texture.
You can still find Chuckles at oldtimecandy.com I just recently sent some to my dear mother for Easter as Chuckles are one of her all-time favorites.
Chuckles were sold in a vending machine at the YWCA where I went to an after school program as a kid. I honestly don’t know if I’ve even seen them since then. I really liked them because they had the licorice flavor. Not the green one though, that was the pits.
Never had Chuckles before, but from the looks of them, they look similar to a something we get here in the UK - “York Fruits” - Little sugar coated Jellies in the shape of their respective fruits. They’re not very nice, the kind of thing you win at a cheap prize draw. You know, it’s either the set of Coasters, donated by the local OAP’s home, or a box of York Fruits.
i loved your review and i love chuckles as a lad i used to run them under the hot water before i ate them keep up the great writing
I like the cherry ones.
Now, excuse me as I go chug some cough syrup.
PS: Chuckles are very commonly found on Long Island. They’re at just about every news shop and drugstore.
I buy Chuckles at Sparky’s at Universal City Walk from time to time.
i remembered these as a kid too, and hadn’t thought at all about them until i discovered your terrific blog; so i went an bought some at said newspaper/magazine store and here’s my humble opinion;
cherry- ok not a fan of cherry things, but i do like the coughsyrup/medicinal flavours not so much because they taste at all like cherry but i’m fond of them on their own… that said chuckles cherry is ..well, icky. too sweet.
Lemon- fairly typical, not terribly impressed, but not unpleasant.
Lime- here again, i sort of like ‘floorcleaner’ flavour in and of itself, not cause it tastes at all like lime- so these are tasty (for real lime taste i recommend Brach’s lime flavour hard-candy)
Orange- chuckles has one of the best orange flavours of any jelly i’ve had. very tasty.
Licorice- HUGE fan of licorice of most kinds (allsorts; not so much), chuckles might become a favorite simply because of this…
however as far as fruit jelly’s go, surprisingly
lifesaver’s makes REALLY good ones, particulalry the assortment that includes grapefruit, which is right up there with the Haribo wedges, as being one the best confections ever made.
Great news…
Cracker Barrel Restaurants now carry Chuckles. I bought 2 packages the other day after lunch. %.89 + tax.
I am crazy about Chuckles ever since I was a child in rural U.S. Recently my tastebuds have been playing tricks on me. Some versions of Chuckles seem to have the Black Licorice flavor on the black candy while others have clove or pimneta (allspice) has anyone noticed this? -or do I need to seek psychological help? Thanks!
I LOVE chuckles and agree with you about the licorice flavor WHEN I can find chuckles the licorice flavor varies.
In Indiana they must either not be selling them or I don’t know where they are. Used to find them in hospitals and hotels, obviously I prefer not to hang at in either of those locations.
Chuckles are good when you first quit smoking!!!
I’m now 60 years old and am still buying Chuckles!! I just love ‘em! When I was a kid, I used to ride my bike down to the corner store and at least five at a time. They were five cents a package!! And I am somewhat embarrassed to tell you that I still eat them in the same order, always saving my favorites for last (orange and red.)
I enjoy Chuckles, they’re good! At work, my pal and I are constantly ridiculed for eating Chuckles. It’s tough. The others, the snobs that don’t eat Chuckles, they look down at us and sometimes “chuckle” while pointing...people stare...it’s horrible. But I’ll never stop! Chuckles Rule!
Tell me about it, Eric. What’s a guy gotta do to get a little love for the Chuckles? I’m glad this site has devoted some time to this time-honored treat. They’re so brightly colored and this photo really does justice to them; even the name says fun. However, they are lined up incorrectly in the photo, no? Shouldn’t licorice be in the middle, flanked by two Chuckles on either side, like a king protected by royal guards?
I’ve always loved Chuckles. I go on binges, buying them after lunch for 5 days in a row, then not again for a year or so. And I’m always trying to figure out the best order to eat them. I like licorice the best, so it goes early. I like lemon the least, so I can’t end with that one. And they are lined up incorrectly, licorice is always in the middle, red and green on either end and yellow follows the red.
I am trying to find Chuckles candies, but am not having any luck. Where in the midwest can you find these?
Chuckles are what is driving DOD. They can be found in the snake shops and vending machines at the Pentagon and Ft. Belvoir. If you can’t get to those locations go to Round Lake Minnesota and behold the ultimate in chewey goodness.
If you see Chuckles at your job site, your job is secure. If not, start updating your resume.
This is one on Eistein’s many Theories of Physics and Relativity. Chuck2=EJob2
Next entry: Pierre Marcolini Chocolates
Previous entry: MarieBelle Chocolates
Trackback URL: http://www.typetive.com/trackback/907