Comments on: Candy Review: Idaho Spud

By: Monster A Go-Go

Monster A Go-Go — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:30:23 +0000

I have lived in California all of my life. When I was a little boy back in the 70’s, I first encountered these strangely textured candy bars. For whatever warped reason, they actually appealed to me.

I’m now in my 40s and a wonderful candy store (Powell’s Sweet Shoppe) recently opened in my area. Powell’s carries all sorts of wild candy and other sweets that you haven’t seen in years. It’s just a mind-blowing nostalgic paradise. Anyway, they have Idaho Spuds there. I was DELIGHTED to know end and have found that others in the area –for whatever reason– also seem to like them because the store can’t seem to keep them in stock.

Although not exactly what I would call “good”, I somehow LOVE these weird little creations (that look more like hairy turds that potataoes to me). YUM!!!!

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:19:04 +0000

I have lived in Idaho my entire life. The only joy i get from them is telling my out of state friends how good they are and then watching them try one. Its good for laughs. I have never been able to finish one of them. I guess if they were the last thing edible on the planet I would eat them but I probably wouldn’t survive long.

By: Howard

Howard — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:51:04 +0000

I love Idaho Spuds!! Always have – always will. Moved away from Idaho over 20 years ago but still buy them by the box when we return to share with my favorite people. I’ve never had anyone refuse one – and many request to be on the receiving end if/when they know I have them. They’re a flavor blast to my past and this senior citizen will be a fan forever!

By: Kerin

Kerin — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:46:29 +0000

Well – I just read all the comments ! I actually like them !…….because I detest peanuts. When I came to the USA to visit ( I live in New Zealand) a few years ago and wanted to buy a candy bar, I could not find one without peanuts in it. Yuck. Finally found the Idaho Spud on a store shelf and read the label – no peanuts – so ate those while visiting. Sure wish I could buy them here.

By: Nessa

Nessa — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 17:44:22 +0000

wow, people don’t like these?? I LOVE them. We would always get them when we went to Idaho for family reunions. Now that I live in Utah (which is the only other place I know where you can get them easily) I eat them every so often. Had 2 this week :) Had fun and sent a box of them home to my family in CA…they were thrilled.
*Shrug* more Spuds for me!

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:27:48 +0000

I was born and raised in Idaho and I love Idaho Spuds. We spent 22 years in the military and always got a “care package” from home which always consisted of at least two boxes of the famous candy bar which we shared I never had anyone tell me they didn’t like them.

By: lisa

lisa — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:28:26 +0000

Now I happen to be from Idaho, and was raised on these things…I admit they do have an odd texture, and are messy to eat, but we like them. But after all, there are people who eat chitlins…so how bad is this in comparison.
:-) Lisa in Idaho

By: betty

betty — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:12:27 +0000

i feel like a terrible person for not sharing you sentiments…
i personally love that odd texture.

i live a mere three hours from aplets and cotlets and they are probally, well most definatly more delicious than the spuds.

my favorite are the pineapple.
just get a variety of tropical

but stay away from the sours gross.

By: Gloria

Gloria — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:23:34 +0000

I also ordered this candy after seeing it on unwrapped. Mine also ended up in the trash.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:26:46 +0000

Writing from just 1 mile from the epicenter of Idaho Spud production, let me offer up a few comments:

First, Cybele is just plain wrong. Neither Mock nor ‘latex marshmallow’… poor presentation isn’t due to quality of ingredients, it’s more about a process dating back so damn long it predates even *caring* about, let alone knowing how to engineer this sort of thing. A spud bar doesn’t cheat the ingredients; it *is* chocolate, coconut, and whipped (mumblesomething). As cloyingly extreme and unbalanced as this candy is, there’s no need to go into character assasination, C. Please, don’t think I’m getting defensive. I’d nominate a spud bar for this site’s top-ten worst candy list in a heartbeat. I’m just saying it does that without cutting corners, it ain’t cheating on ingredients that gets the spud bar my vote.

Now… for the mystery of WHO BUYS THESE THINGS?!

1 – tourists. Something like a million people a year go to Yellowstone, most pass thru this area.
2 – tourists with a sadistic streak toward people they’ll gift them to. Thus, the repeat customers.
3 – locals, same sadistic streak.
4 – a tiny niche of adherents or fans: when I worked back east, a buddy found out I was from Idaho and had me bring several back as a repeat gag gift for his family on christmas. One per stocking. He then mentioned that they’d all end up eaten by his brother, who thought they were *awesome*.

Me? When I get one, I cut it into about 6 or 8 pieces, and nibble my way thru with some rich, strong, dark-roasted *black* coffee. They’re not bad if consumed this way; coconuts, chocolate, sugar, and coffee. Oh, and that’s about the only time I take my coffee black, to give some context.

The same company makes a cherry/nut candy and several others. All suffer the same poor balance and asthetic, IMHO. Tragic. And rather than seeking these out, I recommend Owyhee Butter Toffee, or Aplets or Cotlets (which are from Eastern Washington, so are regional)

Nice site. Hopefully, I’ll be back.