Candy Bar Reviews: 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Queen Anne Black Cherry Cola Cordials

Place purchased: Walgreen's

Price: $2.19

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 6.5

The Black Cherry Cola Cordials have a domed milk chocolate shell with a dual layer liquid filling. The top layer is deep red in color and contains a whole, pitted cherry. The lower layer of filling is glossy white.

Flavor and Taste - 7.8

When biting into the cordial, there is an initial wave of cherry cola flavor from the filling. The flavor becomes more cherry-dominate once the whole cherry is chewed. The chocolate flavor comes into play only after the filling dissipates. Both the filling and milk chocolate shell are incredibly sweet.

D: Don't think I am sold on the premise.
E: Whoa... Sweet, fizzy, fruity, cola-y.
N: Just a hint of cola.

Texture - 7.0

The filling is liquid, gooey, and slightly effervescent. The cherry is crisp and provides a pleasant textural contrast to the liquid center. Since the filling is so runny, the cordials are best eaten in one bite.

D: Grainy texture.
E: Like a cherry cordial, but fizzier.
N: Exploded in my hand.

Aftertaste - 7.0

The aftertaste is initially that of cherry cola and chocolate. The sweetness of the filling lingers long after the cherry cola and chocolate flavors recede.

D: Very cola and super sweet.
E: Fruity and sweet.
N: Quite a lot of cherry.

Overall - 7.3

While the Queen Anne's Black Cherry Cola Cordials do not have a strong cola flavor, they are still quite delicious. I view these as a successful line extension of the Queen Anne's Cordial brand and recommend cherry cordial fans to try them.

E: Interesting take on a cherry cordial.
N: Very good!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Candyology 101 - Episode 3 - Chewing Gum

The third episode of Candyology 101 is here! In this episode, co-hosts Cybele (Candy Blog), Maria (Sometimes Foodie), and I discuss chewing gum. Listen to the episode below, on iTunes, or on Stitcher.

Thanks for listening!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Candy Hunting: Holiday Assortments

Dum-Dums Holiday Pops

Flavors: Merry Cherry, Sugar Plum, Hot Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Apple Cider, Green Apple Grinch, and Polar Punch
Place found: Target
Price: $2.69

Jelly Belly Holiday Favorites

Flavors: Egg Nog, Candy Cane, Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Sauce, and Hot Chocolate
Place found: Target
Price: $2.69

Ghirardelli Holiday Limited Edition Squares

Flavors: Egg Nog, Peppermint Bark, and Pumpkin Spice Caramel
Place found: Target
Price: $3.99

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting:

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Candy Hunting: One Pound Holiday Candy Bars

Reese's 2 Half Pound Cups

Place found: Target
Price: $9.99

Snickers Slice n' Share

Place found: Target
Price: $9.99

Hershey's 1 Pound Bars

Flavors: Milk Chocolate and Candy Cane
Price: $9.99
Place found: Target

Crunch 1lb Bar

Place found: Target
Price: $9.99

York 2 Half Pound Patties

Place found: Target
Price: $9.99

Giant Gummy Bears

Flavors: Green Apple and Cherry
Place found: Target
Price: $9.99

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting:

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Candy Hunting: New Non-Chocolate Candy

Trolli Extreme Sour Bites Fruitz

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.19 for a single-serve sized (2 oz/57 g) pouch

Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers Minis

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.19 for a single-serve sized (2 oz/57 g) pouch

Trolli Sour Watermelon Sharks

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.19 for a single-serve sized (2 oz/57 g) pouch

Limited Edition Airheads Fruit Punch Big Bar

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.19 for a 1.5 oz/42 g bar

Airheads Xtremes Bites

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.19 for a single-serve sized (2 oz/57 g) pouch

SweeTarts Chewy Sours

Release: December 2014
SRP: $1.19 for one roll, $2.09 for a share-sized pack

SweeTarts Soft & Chewy Ropes

Release: December 2014
SRP: $2.09 for 4 ropes

Candy Hunting: Holiday Peeps

Red Velvet Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99

Sugar Cookie Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99

Hot Cocoa & Cream Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99

Candy Cane Dipped in Chocolate Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99
There are also Candy Cane Peeps without chocolate.

Peeps Marshmallow Minions

Place found: Walmart
Price: $1.08

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting:

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Candy Hunting - New Stride and Trident Gum

Stride Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Gum

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.29 for 14 pieces

Trident Black Raspberry Twist Gum

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.29 for 18 pieces

Trident Pineapple Twist Gum

Release: January 2015
SRP: $1.29 for 18 pieces

Ghirardelli Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares

Place purchased: Walmart

Price: $4.99

Number of reviewers: 6

Appearance - 7.2

The Ghirardelli Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares are sold in bags of 20 individually-wrapped squares. Each square has a glossy milk chocolate shell filled with a pumpkin spice flavored caramel containing visible flecks of spices.

Flavor and Taste - 7.6

The caramel squares have a perfect balance of sweet caramel, milk chocolate, and spices.

D: Yum! Good balance of pumpkin and spice.

E: Spicy nutmeg/clove flavor dominates. Very rich.

E2: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, caramel, sweet. Milk chocolate overpowers the caramel/pumpkin.

G: Nice amount of pumpkin flavor. Not too overpowering.

N: Not much pumpkin.

Texture - 7.4

The milk chocolate shell has a firm bite The caramel filling is very soft and runny, which could be a problem if the square is eaten in multiple bites.

D: Could have more snap, but great.

E: Crisp chocolate with good melt. Gooey center.

E2: Smooth, creamy, not too hard or too soft.

G: Very creamy texture.

N: Sticky!

Aftertaste - 6.8

The aftertaste is of milk chocolate and spices.

D: Mmmmm.

E: Sweet, acidic, dairy, spicy.

E2: Sweet, dairy/milk.

G: Aftertaste is more from the chocolate flavor, can't taste any of the pumpkin flavor.

N: Caramel mostly.

Overall - 7.6

Overall, the Ghirardelli Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares are the best pumpkin spice and chocolate combination I have tasted. Unlike most pumpkin spice chocolates, the milk chocolate in this application did not overpower the flavor of the spices.

D: Love it!

E: If you like chocolate caramels and fall spices, you'll like this.

E2: Satisfied, very fall appropriate.

G: I am not a pumpkin fan, but I love caramel and chocolate. And I love Ghirardelli.

N: More pumpkin!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Candy Hunting: 2014 Holiday Candy, Part 1

Seasonal Edition Extra Candy Cane Peppermint

Place found: Walgreens

Peeps Candy Cane

Place found: Walgreens

Brach's Candy Cane Candy Corn

Place found: Walgreens

Brach's Peppermint Creme Candy Canes

Place found: Schnuck's

Cherry Apple Twist and Candy Cane Tic Tacs

Place found: Schnucks

Hershey's Cookies 'n' Mint Nuggets

Place found: Walmart

Russell Stover Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Santas

Place found: Walgreens

Russell Stover Dark Chocolate & Coconut Macaroon Santas

Place found: Walgreens

Twizzlers Cherry, Green Apple, and Lemonade Pull 'n' Peel

Place found: Schnucks

Queen Anne Black Cherry Cola Cordial Cherries

Place found: Walgreens

Whiskey Flavored Chocolate Flight

Place found: Target

Chocolate Covered Nuts and Berries

Varieties: Hot Toddy Chocolate Covered Peanuts, Egg Nog White Chocolate Covered Almonds, Mulled Cider Chocolate Covered Cranberries, and Buttered Rum Chocolate Covered Raisins

Place found: Target

Caramel and Fudge Bites

Varieties: Chili Pecan Caramel Bites, Scotch Whiskey Caramel Bites, Maple Bacon Caramel Bites, and Jamaican Rum Fudge Bites

Place found: Target

Holiday Mr. Sketch Markers

Ok... These are not candy, but they are awesome.

Scents: Candy Cane, Santa's Cookie, Christmas Tree, Sugar Plum, Gingerbread, and Chimney

Place found: Schnucks

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting: