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Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Lifesaver MuskMonths and months ago a reader suggested I get familiar with a strange favorite it Australia - musk sticks. Basically they’re pressed candy stick flavored like musk. You know, the perfume. I figured if I’ve eaten violet candies, rosewater ice cream and 10 year old Lifesavers, there’s no reason I shouldn’t try these.
I found them at Mel & Rose’s, which seems to carry a lot of Australian candies. The package doesn’t make them look that appealing, the word musk has those little “smell wafts” coming off of it. The candies themselves are the pressed chalk variety like Pep-O-Mint, not a hard candy like the Butter Rum Lifesavers. They smell like incense or a soap shop. It’s more like a lightly floral patchouli. So when I took the photo and then put the roll in my desk drawer, it was kind of like a sachet in there. The little candy is sweet and of course easy to crunch. The flavor has no other notes besides this soapy detergent scent and made me wonder if this is what it’d be like to eat incense cones. There isn’t any listing of ingredients on the package or dietary info, so for all I know, they are meant to be burned. I have no idea if the Lifesavers version of musk is consistent with the other musk sticks so popular in Australia and New Zealand, but I think my curiosity is satisfied. I suppose if I were trying to cover up strong mouth odors (like smoking or antibiotic side effects) this might be a good candy, but for some reason I think my neck should be perfumed, not my breath. Note: though these candies are branded Lifesavers, they’re made by licensing agreement by Nestle.
POSTED BY Cybele AT 8:22 am
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICEAll content (text and photos unless otherwise credited) is copyright 2005-2009 by Cybele MayPlease do not use my photos without prior 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 Studios & powered by Expression Engine
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I don’t really care for perfume flavored candy of any kind - rose, lavender, and most likely, musk. Ew.
for some reason, i absolutely adore the choward’s violet mints. the smell alone drives me crazy, although i admit after two or three it starts to taste like you’re eating soap
This is a totally foreign thing to me. I have never heard of Musk flavored anything.
So weird.
Ugh! I’ve never been so wholly turned off by a candy from its name alone. It makes me think it will taste like hippies, or drug store Jovan perfume circa 8th grade. What’s next, Love’s Baby Soft lollipops?
I think it may be one of those things you have to be raised liking, like vegemite. I find most Americans have a negative reaction to them. I have a roll of them in my bag right now, they’re probably the only lifesaver flavour I ever buy. The flavour is pretty much the same with musk sticks, only they’re softer.
I’m going to consider that one appalling and inedible all in one. Aussie food seems as if it is based on a dare.
I admit that these are probably my favourite Lifesaver flavour. I’ve eaten countless musk sticks as a child, and as an adult these re the perfect wy to enjoy theat sweet taste on the go.
Like Leigh said, it’s probably something that you get used to growing up in Australia so it’s probbaly not to everyone’s taste. Promite anyone? Yeah, I love that too…
I don’t think these are big in New Zealand, I think they are strictly an aussie favourite.
They are not common in shops here- at least in the South Island
Wow, it’s been ages since I’ve had lifesavers and musk sticks.
Musk sticks are a different beast from musk flavoured lifesavers… though the taste and smell is largely the same.
One thing though—are these made in Australia? When things are sent into different markets, and made elsewhere they tend to stuff with the recipie.
(I’ve gotta go out and pick up a bunch of different types now.)
Let us not forget that Austrailians also eat Vegemite.
I tried and tried and failed to like this flavor when I lived in Australia. You should try musk sticks, they have a very unique texture that I really like. Alas, the artificial perfume flavor makes me sick to my stomach. Thats the difference between these and violet flavor: that artificial, chemical taste.
“Let us not forget that Austrailians [sic] also eat Vegemite.”
...and whats wrong with Vegemite?
When you said “musk” I didn’t think “perfume”, I thought of stinky weasels, badgers, mink, etc. - the Mustelid family. But of course that would be wrong, musk comes from musk deer in the Moschidae family. (Sorry, that’s what comes of being a tech-type hanging around with biologists. :^) Either way, it doesn’t make me think of candy. I guess I need to broaden my horizons!
These are also my favourite flavour of life savers - used to crunch through a packet in under two minutes - so yummy!!!! I feel compelled to defend Australian food - Vegemite is very tasty as well - try it sometime!!!
Living in Australia, I grew up on musk lifesavers and musk sticks- but I never made any connection between their flavour and scent musk… I kinda suspect they’re not even related. The flavour of musk lollies (Aussie word for candy)is just a really, really sweet, slightly “rose” flavour…
I *LOVE* musk sticks with a passion1 I am currently working on a recipe to incorporate the pink musk sticks, (not the life savers) into other foods… yep, I love them THAT much! lol. I am also a sucker for vegemite, I start my day with the stuff everyday on wholegrain toast. Has anyone ever rubbed it over a whole raw chook with butter and then stuck the chook to roast in the oven? FANTASTIC!
it is true though, that if You get some Aussie foods from other countries, they totally mess with the recipes, take MILO for instance, when I was in Canada, I was stoked to find MILO on the supermarket shelf, could not wait to get it open and eat with a spoon, but to my disappointment, it was ground down like nesquik chocolate powder, had no more crunch to it, and had a strange taste to the damn stuff. I ended throwing it out.
are they gonna screw up Tim Tams too? if they do, it would be a crime!
This is a foreign thing to me. I have never heard of Musk flavored anything. But I ‘m try and I like it.
Musk Lifesavers are the BEST! I have about a roll a day. I also like the strawberry ones but the musk are totally great! I’d eat more if lollies weren’t so bad for your teeth.
Bring on the pinky goodness.
Sare
man americans are picky with what they like hey?
musk lifesavers are awesome, if you dont like them thats your choice mate, but dont pass judgement on how aussies like our food etc, you guys fry cola for gods sake hahaha.
every site i sign into someone’s bagging something out, lets get positive people, grow up a bit…............
Suzi Q - A 5 out of 10 is not bagging something out. It’s average, edible and worthy. The glory of this site is that the comment section is open so that others may either bag on it or sing its praises ... so maybe you’re just not seeing the positive here (and not all the comments are from Americans).
Can you answer whether or not the Lifesavers are the best Musk Lollies Australia has to offer?
I hope you’ll feel free to offer up your feelings on other reviews (whether you agree or not) in the future.
i wasn’t actually talking about your review, you have a site based on reviews and its your opinion - go for it!
i was merely pointing out the fact that people in general nowadays are different, they see the negative in things and then apply that to something - eg. aussies have bizarre tastes in foods. its small minded and it annoys me, and you’ve made this an open forum, so i can respond to their comments just as you responded to mine.
i personally think musk lifesavers are perfect the way they are, so yeah they’re the best musks we have to offer!
rock on cybele
Viva la Musk Sticks - I love them and Musk Lifesavers too. As an Australian I was introduced to these as a child and was surprised that the whole world doesnt eat them too - yes, I have a packet of musk sticks in the cupboard….ok, I’m eating one right now!!
Now I know this is probably one of those small minded generalisations, but dont all Americans eat cinnamon flavoured everything!?
Now I love cinnamon & sugar sprinkled on warm buttered toast - but in sweets and gum - I just want to gag!!
Viva la difference
)
I tried the musk Lifesavers once when a friend of my parents’ from Australia came up to visit and brought a few rolls up with him. I fell in love with the taste and have been craving them ever since, and I can never get any more! There are several reviews I’ve read online that compare the taste with raw meat. I’d like to ask these people when they’ve ever eaten raw meat, and if they have, when it ever tasted like flowers.
Grant—I’m American, and I like actual cinnamon (as in the stuff you sprinkle on toast), but I hate cinnamon-flavored candy. I’ve never liked hot spicy things.
hmm.. I found this blog while trying to research “musk candy” I myself am australian and wondered just now while chomping through a 1.20 dollar pack of generic brand musk candy (think crown mints but musk) if the fragrence and musk candy is related.. I admit I grew up with it and never thought of it as an australian thing.. I must see what my asian fiancee has to say about it when she comes home from work.. I never considered she’d not tried the flavour musk in a candy.. as for the reviewer complaining about milo in canada.. its different the world over.. in africa is chunks, in canada is powder.. in australia its kind of half half.. in the philippines its different still
Fry - it’s funny that you’ve commented on this older review. I just picked up some Black Gold Musk Flavoured Sticks yesterday. It was the first time I saw an Australian brand being sold in the States.
I haven’t tried them yet though. Shockingly pink, though.
My brother just came back from Australia and brought me some musk sticks (at my request). They truly are the most horrid things I’ve ever tasted.
I passed them around at work and doubled-over in laughter watching the different reactions. Someone asked if they were real or if they were meant to be a “gag gift” (like dirt flavored gum or a whoopie cushion). I tried to convince them that folks REALLY eat these, but no one believed me.
My two-year old nephew loves them and my mom (who will usually eat anything under the sun) declares that they are “naaaaaasty”
I used to think that licorice and/or those marshmallow Halloween peanuts were the nastiest candy on the planet, but I was severely mistaken.
Everyone needs to try some as soon as they can.
Musk lollies are the best! I eat musk lifesavers and home brand musk sticks all the time. Got some sticks in the kitchen now.
Musk isn’t minty but it does remind me of mint…spearmint…a strong sweet and pungent flavour that somehow leaves your mouth feeling cool and and fresh. Aromatic compounds designed to tantalise the olfactory senses.
20 years ago you could get these tiny pink musk lollies, like hard bits of chalk, crunchy and yummy. You can probably still get them down south.
Oh yeh and vegemite is awesome on toast with loads of butter!
(From Washington State, USA)
In our psych 100 course’s intro to sensory perception our professor wanted to make a point about perception being influenced by culture and handed out these pink lifesavers from an undisclosed foreign country (before I saw them I was fearing the dreaded tamarind). Of the 15 who volunteered to try them, 4 (myself included) liked them, 4 didn’t like them and 7 were neutral. I’ll admit that I had a bit of a cold at the time, so my first impression was skewed, but I look forward to the chance were I can get a second taste.
I never realised that Australia was the only country with musk lollies… Don’t know if I’ve ever seen a musk flavoured perfume either in Australia either.
If you think Musk flavoured lollies are weird though, you should try Musk Flavoured Liqueur. (google it)
I find it absolutely delicious, but I love Musk Lifesavers.
I tried this candy 33 years ago for the 1st time, my pinpal from Australia brought it over for me to try. I was very unsure about the taste but, it started to grow on me. I visited Australia 13 years ago and bought some more lollies and now I crave them!!! I have friends that travel and bring me some home every now and then. I truely love them!!
I can’t believe you can’t get musk lollies anywhere but Australia!!!!!!!!! They are awesome….............?? I couldnt live without musk flavoured lollies and I never remember going to a birthday party as a child that didn’t have yummy yummy musk sticks…........The rest of the world is so far behind Australia lmao.
When my wife and I visited friends in South Africa a few months ago, they had musk flavored gum. I’d never heard of musk flavored anything, and just thought of the Jovan musk days of the 80’s. I was so wrong, I absolutly loved the gum and bought a dozen packs to bring home with us. My kids loved it as well, and I’ve not been able to find it anywhere in the states.
haha Cybele get into those black & gold musks! The cheaper/nastier the musk sticks the better
They are all I could afford as a kid from the local corner store. great stuff
I had one of these for the first time in AP Psychology today. The teacher gave them to us with our eyes closed and we had to guess the flavor (it was a demonstration of how we try to fit new things into schemas).
While it was in my mouth, I didn’t mind it too much. Not my taste, but it was interesting. However, I think my dislike grew exponentially after the candy was gone. The taste stayed with me for hours, even after a stick of gum. My tongue felt disgusting.
Weird how different cultures develop different tastes. I never would have even considered the possibility of eating anything musk-flavored, but it looks like a lot of people like it.
My Australian friend just sent a package to me, and in it was a package of Musk Sticks. I forced myself to eat a whole stick. I found it rather like eating dried out men’s underarm deoderant sticks. It was not at all what I would be accustomed to eating as a flavour…kind of like eating perfume. The upside of eating these would be the breath freshening properties. An hour after eating my musk stick, I brushed my teeth and went to bed. The next morning I could still taste the musk flavour, and my breath smelled like incense. I can only assume these are an acquired taste.
i love love musk sticks
but i thought the twizzlers were tastles n awful chewy ...
i think its all about wat u grow up on ... i was in a lolly shop n they had american candy (im an aussie) so i bought twizzlers n razzels ... i loved the razzels
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