Many people are probably aware of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, but few are likely aware of its relation to candy. When this scientific tenet is applied to candy, the theory states that a candy’s taste is relative to its surroundings.
Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but it is important to note that candy is affected by its surroundings. One important aspect people often ignore is temperature. Commonly, most people eat candy in this manner: you’re driving and suddenly get a craving, park at the nearest 7-11, buy that Twix staring at you from the candy shelf, and have consumed half the bar by the time you’re back in car.
Instances like this are examples of candy being consumed at room temperature. There’s nothing wrong with this way of eating candy, and in fact, candy like chocolate is often considered to taste best at room temperature. But have you ever tried a Twix frozen? I have, and I must confess it’s a great way to enliven your favorite confections that might have lost their zest over the years.
And frozen isn’t just the only temperature to explore. Just cooling your favorite candy by sticking it in a fridge can add unexpected delights. Chocolate has a great feeling in your mouth when it’s served a few degrees below room temperature. Even gummy candies are transformed into chewier eats the more they’re chilled.
Don’t stop with cold. Explore the other spectrum of heat! Big Hunk advertises on its wrapper that you should try heating them for a little bit in the microwave to get a great melty, gooey surprise. You can even venture to the complete extreme and melt down your favorite chocolate bar as a sauce to pour on top of your favorite ice cream.
Whether you’re heating up a Peep or cooling a Hershey’s Kiss, candy is a dynamic food that needs to be tasted in all its states. Sometimes, room temperature is the best fit because not all candies work in all temperatures (never freeze a 3 Musketeers!), but you’ll never know without a little experimentation. So the next time you reach for your favorite candy, give it a try and think outside of the box (or wrapper as is usually the case)!
Frozen Charleston Chews are a revelation!
July 17th, 2008 at 6:32 amOn Robby’s advice, I tried freezing Twix Java bars and they are great that way! I would have never tried that without Robby’s advice!
July 17th, 2008 at 9:41 amWhy shouldn’t you freeze a 3 Musketeers?
July 20th, 2008 at 6:02 pmI have frozen a 3 Musketeers. It was really hard to eat. I think ifI wanted to try it again, I would do those little bite size square ones instead of the whole full-size bar.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pmThe problem with a 3 Musketeers is, in my opinion, the nougat. I don’t like nougat chilled because it becomes incredibly hard and tastes weird. It’s almost like a more extreme version of the frozen Charleston Chew. I say try it if you want to know what I am talking about, but I personally avoid freezing any candy with nougat or marshmallow. I suggest basic chocolates, liquid centers, caramel-filling, or peanut butter to work best.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm