I’m not a stranger to “healthy” candy, nor are my views on it anything but direct: there really isn’t such a thing. So if you’re looking for a candy that’s going to be something I recommend you add to your diet, you can stop reading now.

That said, I do believe there is a difference between candy and candy that is better for you. And with childhood obesity on the rise, more and more parents are looking for these sorts of confectionery avenues. Kids are always going to want to eat sweets, so you might as well buy them the ones that are not as hard on their bodies.

Recently, I have reviewed products from companies that share this vision for candy, namely from Surf Sweets and BrightSpot, so it’s not all that surprising to hear of more and more companies adopting this mantra. The latest comes from Yummy Earth, who proudly boast a tagline that their candy is “The best stuff on earth.” Hmm… Snapple anyone?

The idea for this company is steeped in genuine love of both candy and children; the founders are two fathers who teamed up develop a candy for their children that didn’t rely on all the additives, preservatives, etc. that are common in most American candy.

There are certain traits each of their products share, including all being certified USDA organic (the first of its kind for gummy bears or gummy worms), manufactured without corn syrup, and stamped with a variety of allergen-free ingredients. Note that the Parve (a specific designation of Kosher) certification displayed on their website applies only to their hard candy, as the gummies contain gelatin (presumably an un-Kosher gelatin), which is also why the hard candy is certified vegan and the gummies aren’t, so you’d do best check the specifics on each bag for the slight variances.

Organic Candy Drops: All these pieces were shaped at about a half-inch diameter. The bag I received came in fourish flavors, which all remind me of hard candy sticks in terms of flavor and smooth surface.

Wet-Face Watermelon: is the pink piece. It bears a refined watermelon taste with a slight burst of tartness. It’s not really watermelon, and as someone who dislikes watermelon in candy, I enjoyed that.

Mango Tango: this piece is half-orange, half-yellow. The citrus here is zestful, but more indicative of lime, lemon, and orange than mango. I am not sure what flavor is doing the tango with the mango, but it’s very confusing in a delicious and flavorful way. Not really mango, but tasty.

Cheeky Lemon: this piece is the full yellow drop. The lemon flavor is more tart than zestful, but in an understated manner that lets you appreciate the charm of a lemon. I don’t really notice the cherry notes hidden under the potency of the lemon flavor.

Pomegranate Pucker: is the deep-purple piece. I have to say I enjoyed the other flavors, but wasn’t bowled away until this one. Wow! The pomegranate juice notes are strong with an alcohol base flavor profile that is robust, complex, and deep like a woodsy wine. Notes of black currant and grape juice reveal themselves, and I am reminded of the black currant piece in Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles, a product I lauded to no end. Of all the things the kind folks at Yummy Earth sent me, this was the best.

Organic Lollipops: come in eight different flavors, including three of the flavors found in the candy drops. Each lollipop is about an inch in diameter and labels its flavor on the wrapper (the candy drops did not do this, hence why I mentioned their colors).

In terms of the repeating flavors (Wet-Face Watermelon, Mango Tango, and Pomegranate Pucker), each resembles the flavor and smooth consistency found in the candy drops, except the pomegranate is not as bold here.

Strawberry Smash: like the watermelon, this is comprised of a muted strawberry flavor, relying on the taste of strawberry in an altered state, such as a jam or fruit leather. It too reminds me of the strawberry piece in Rowntree’s Wine Gums. This piece refrains from being to sweet and lets the flavor speak instead of sugar. Very delicious.

Sour Apple Tart: I believe this piece is more tart than it is sour, the way a Granny Smith apple isn’t really sour. The apple flavor is reminiscent of freshly squeezed juice and is spot on for what it is trying to convey to your taste buds.

Very Very Cherry: there are so many types of cherry flavors, and this one is more along the lines of a cherry juice or the tart quality found in sour cherry pie. Those who are fans of that sort of cherry will enjoy this.

Googly Grape: I’d wager that this is the most traditional of the flavors. The taste is approximately that of grape juice, but not nearly as sweet. It’s mild like a grape popsicle, but genuine in it’s flavor presentation.

Tooberry Blueberry: blueberry is a hard flavor to reproduce in a candy, and these guys do pretty well here for the most part. Like their other flavors, it tastes more like the fruit juice than the fruit itself. I am not quite sure what the white flavor swirling the blueberry is (cream perhaps?), but I would prefer this lollipop without it.

Gummy Worms: For those of you accustomed to eating gummy worms, please not that these are about half the size of a traditional worm. I would also say they look a little more snake-like than worm. Regardless of size or shape, they are highly fragrant and provide a 100% daily dose of vitamin C.

Sour Apple Tart: in gummy form, the sharpness of the apple flavor in the lollipop is muted—but this is a great thing. The taste is pure apple and works well with the firm, but easy to chew texture of the gummy. Best of the three flavors.

Pomegranate Pucker: oddly enough, this version of the pomegranate flavor differed from that of the candy drop and lollipop.

Tangy Tangerine: tangerine isn’t a popular gummy flavor, but I’m not sure why, since it works well here. The citrus component is far from subtle and has a great tangerine zest, but it does seem more like orange than tangerine.

Gummy Bears: these are akin to Haribo gummy bears in shape, but not as defined. Like the gummy worms, they too boast a 100% daily dose of vitamin C. I also noticed the gummy chew was a bit firmer in these, which is a nice contrast from your typical flabby gummy.

Sour Apple Tart: the gummy quality is definitely playing a role in reducing the same flavors that are in the hard candy. Even more so than the worms, these lost that tartness in the lollipops. I think the reduced intensity worked well in former example, but here it’s just too subtle.

Pomegranate Pucker: not really a surprise, but the pomegranate flavor here is completely different than any of its other manifestations reviewed so far. Had I not known these were pomegranate, I’d probably guess grape.

Strawberry Smash: this bear in particular stood out. More so than the others, the chew factor played out well. The strawberry flavor mirrors that of the green bear in the Haribo variety (yes, green is strawberry in Haribo land), but does so in a much more flavorful and natural way. Best in this bag.

Aside from offering a great array of flavors in some better-for-you ways, one thing I really enjoyed about these guys was that the hard candies came in resealable bags; not sure why the gummies didn’t as they would need it more, I would think.

For those of you who, like me, enjoy certain flavors more than others, you can purchase the majority of these in individual flavor bags, as opposed to the mixed variety I sampled.

All in all, I think these are actually tasty. I don’t say that in that “healthy candy” tasty way, but tasty for any type of candy. Certain pieces here are just spectacular, and I would easily purchase those on their own. In a testament to how good they are, I actually handed them out for Halloween and received a variety of compliments from my neighbors; in the better-for-you candy world, your toughest critics are kids, and Yummy Earth easily made them smile.

Candy Addict received this product as a sample from the manufacturer. No payment was received for this review and all opinions represent an unbiased view of the product.

• Yummy Earth Website

When I think of lollipops, I think of, well… lollipops. I try not to read too much into the whole adult humor and related connotations that can be associated with such a candy. Apparently, the folks at Das Foods think differently than I do.

I was supposed to receive a shipment from them, but for some reason it never arrived at my doorstep, but as luck would have it, they were attending the All Candy Expo, which provided me an opportunity to pick up some samples on site.

It was hard to miss to the Das Foods booth; they hired four dancers from UIUC to perform a Das Lolli dance routine and socialize with the attending clientele. Since most of the people attending the convention were males, I suppose their ploy worked, as there was always a crowd at their booth.

Even the packaging (think something circular within a square, plastic wrapper that isn’t candy) or the taglines of “What’s your flava?” and “Shamefully delicious lollipops” are begging for an adult audience, which is odd given the premise that these are all natural lollipops made without preservatives, HFC, and chemical additives. Seems like a good thing to give your kids, but I’m not sure how you explain what exactly “Man Bait” is supposed to mean…

The Das Lolli assortment is comprised of four flavors:

Fab-O-Pom: This translucent pink lollipop has no fragrance to it, but the taste is strong right off the bat. It isn’t too sweet, with a slight zest factor that gives it a nice rounded quality on the palate. Neither orange nor pomegranate is present flavor-wise, and for some reason I taste hibiscus in mine. On the plus side, they’re not sticky, but there’s an odd herbal quality instead of fruit.

Naughty Ginger: This dark yellow sucker has a nice ginger flavor that intensifies into a slight burn. The ginger quality and taste borders on the crystallized variety. Unlike the last one, I can easily detect the lemon zest overtones in this piece. These reminded me of cinnamon in the way cinnamon can create that spicy quality on your tongue. I enjoyed the duality of the tart and spicy, but found myself wanting more of a savory presence like rosemary or thyme to fully balance out the different flavors. This was still my favorite.

Caramel Me Happy: This piece is dark brown. I was looking forward to this piece in particular because Das Foods already carved a niche for itself in caramels, and felt this would be an obvious transition in flavor for them. Unfortunately, the flavor in these takes a long time to develop, and isn’t ever fully realized. I enjoyed the salty quality, but I found that minimal too.

I don’t eat bacon, something I found put me in the minority at ACE considering the other non-Candy Addict bloggers spent a good ten minutes professing their love of bacon to each other during a luncheon; however, Cadence, who isn’t a fan of bacon per se, will eat it, and she thankfully gave me her response to this one.

Man Bait: As soon as I opened the package, I could smell the smoky, slightly acrid aroma of bacon. The first taste was very sweet, with a nice maple flavor that surprised me because it wasn’t that artificial maple taste. Then the flavor changes to a salty, sweet mix and the smoky bacon kicks in. The bacon flavor reminded me of the bacon bits you add to salad – artificial and strong. The bacon flavor sort of hijacks the maple, so what you end up with is a salty, sweet, slightly maple-y, bacon-flavored lollipop. The texture is a bit odd: it gets progressively bumpier as you uncover the bacon bits embedded in the sugar. I have to say that the mixture of the salt and the sweet was surprisingly good. A very interesting, unusual lolli.

Personally, I wouldn’t crave any of these aside from the ginger ones, but none are bad by any means. Try them if you get a chance to. You might like them more than I did, and I doubt you’ll hate them. If nothing else, it’s nice to see folks approaching candy with a sense of humor, albeit an adult-rated one, and crafting a series of adult flavors as opposed to the traditional.

• Das Lolli Website

Since joining the Candy Addict staff, I have found my usual proclivities for candy changing. One such change has been an added addiction to lollipops. I typically find myself inundated with so many candies that it’s nice to retreat to a lollipop, a candy that is small, filling, and pleasant if only for the fact that your hands can’t get sticky or gooey from consuming it.

At the All Candy Expo, there was an assortment of lollipops to sample, but one piqued my interest more than any other: the new Banana Tootsie Pop. I have long been a fan of Tootsie Pops, and banana seemed like a great flavor. I mean, who doesn’t like chocolate/mockolate and banana together?

So I grabbed a handful of the suckers each of the three days knowing that not only I, but also many of my friends would be delighted to see what the folks at Tootsie had whipped up for us.

The candy is a dark yellow, lacking in fragrance, and frankly, doesn’t seem like much to look at. But you don’t look at candy, you eat it; I was willing to forgive it’s aesthetic flaws in exchange for a great taste. Unfortunately, that trade-off never occurred.

The banana flavor isn’t very revealing, and when it does manifest, it shows up as a chemical banana flavor that I dislike. There are a lot of types of artificial banana flavors in the confection world, and this one most resembles the flavor of banana Runts.

Now, some people love banana Runts (I think they are the most popular of the five flavors), but I am not one of them. When chewed with the center, something I did because I didn’t think I could last that long without chewing, the poor flavor was slightly assuaged.

The main problem with the banana shell mixing with the Tootsie Roll center is that, essentially, all you’re tasting is the Tootsie Roll. The banana flavor is so muted that the center overpowers any banana flavor, which disappointed my thoughts of a harmonious melding of the two.

I’m sad that these were not as successful as the Pomegranate Tootsie Pops that debuted last year at the ACE. Lovers of this sort of banana flavor will most likely enjoy these, but I think a good number of us will stick to the original flavors.

• Tootsie Pops Website

Buy Tootsie Pops Online:

• at Candy Crate
• at Candy Direct
• at Old Time Candy
• at Amazon.com

I had the pleasure of reviewing some of Lollipop Labs unusual lollipops this weekend. Given that they have flavors like “Dirty Martini” and “Earl Grey,” I would recommend these lollies more for the discerning Candy Addict than for, say, your five year old.

A couple of general notes: these lollipops don’t have a lot of scent when you open them, but don’t let that fool you. As soon as you lick them you get plenty of flavor. I thought one of the coolest things about them was the way the flavor nuances change as you eat them. Sometimes you’ll get more of one herb than another as you go, while still enjoying the overall main flavor of the lollipop. Neat! Plus, I love that I recognize and can pronounce every ingredient on the labels.

One more thing: if you don’t see a flavor below that appeals to you, Lollipop Labs will custom design the flavor and shape of their lollipops to your specifications. How cool is that?

Dirty Martini (aka: Dude There’s an Olive in My Lollipop!): Might as well start with the aforementioned Dirty Martini. I gotta tell you I was excited by the idea of this lollipop. In case you haven’t had one, a dirty martini is like a regular martini, but they add in a bunch of olive juice. So, I was envisioning something sweet and salty – a combo I really enjoy. This baby starts off with a sweet flavor that reminded me of the old-fashioned barley sugar lollies. Then, as I nibbled, I did get a little bit of salty, though not as much as I’d hoped. I could also taste the olive, but again it wasn’t the whomping olive flavor I associate with dirty martinis. However, when I got to the middle, I had a ring of olive to eat, just like the olives in the martini glass. This olive was quite chewy and a bit disconcerting. Overall, although this lollipop was ok, I found I liked the idea better than the actual pop. Still, I recommend trying it because it’s such an unusual experience.

Peppermint Tea Toddy: In contrast to the Dirty Martini flavor, I was not excited about the Peppermint. I figured, you’ve tasted one peppermint, you pretty much know what you’ll be getting with the rest. I mean, I enjoy a nice candy cane every now and then, but they can be kind of “ho hum.” Oh boy was I wrong! This wound up being one of my two favorite flavors! The Lollipop Lab geniuses decided to throw in some rum here and wow! The rum is subtle, but it does this little dance with the peppermint and boy is it good. There’s also just a hint of lime that plays in the background. Overall, a truly yummy pop that should make candy canes embarrassed!

Kaffir Lime Lemongrass: Unlike all the other lollipops I tried, the first taste you get with this pop is NOT sweet. It’s a bit startling. Have you ever bitten into the rind of a lime – or orange, or lemon? Well, that’s kind of how this lollipop tasted to me: like the zest from the rind of a lime. So instead of the tangy tartness I expected, the taste was a bit bitter, with a strong lime zest flavor, and only a touch of sourness. I like sour things so I wished this was more tart, more like the meat of the lime and less like the zest. I also didn’t get a lot of lemongrass in the flavor, which would have helped add some tanginess – the lime seemed particularly dominant. So, if you like a strong lime flavor, you should check this out.

Lavender Rose: I thought this was by far the prettiest of the lollipops, and I can see it making a really good gift (the photo doesn’t do the colors justice). You’ve got the heart shape, the purple color, and the pretty flecks of herbs – they all make for a nice package for some really good flavor. Out of all the lollipops I tasted, I found this pop to have the gentlest flavors. It started out with that sweet, barley sugar taste but then the rose flavor kicked in, with just a hint of lavender. Some licks had more lavender to them, some less, which just made the experience all the more interesting and enjoyable. If you want to go mellow and pretty with your pop, try this flavor.

Swine Flue Prevention: The pig shape certainly gives this lollipop a fun factor! I gotta tell you that this lollipop tasted medicinal to me. Given that it’s got ingredients that include echinacea, eucalyptus, and ginger, I can see why. But I have to say, sucking on this lollipop is way more fun than I usually have taking my vitamins. I can’t vouch for the efficacy of its prevention abilities, but in terms of boosting my immune system by boosting my mood, this sure works. See, the lollipop is too big to fit in my mouth. So that meant I had to spend time nibbling on the pig’s ears. Definitely good for the giggles.

Earl Grey: This was my other favorite flavor. If you like Earl Grey tea, this lollipop is for you! I don’t know how they managed it, but they got the perfect Earl Grey flavor with this pop. It’s like having a nice, sweet cup of tea without all the fuss. I got the sometimes sweet, sometimes peppery, sometimes spicy flavors I associate with excellent Earl Grey. This lollipop has a really bumpy texture but I have to say I didn’t mind it – it just added to the experience.

Overall, none of these flavors turned out to be what I expected, which was totally fun for me. If you like lollipops and unique flavor combos, I recommend giving these pops a whirl.

If you could design your own flavor, what would you choose?

• Lollipop Labs Website
• Lollipop Labs at Etsy

I am not what most people would call fashionable. From my short stature to my complete disdain for makeup to a wardrobe described by former neighbors as “like a cartoon character,” I’m probably one of the least chic people you’ll ever meet. But I’m a complete Candy Addict, and am intrigued by pretty much anything new and different that happens in the world of sugary goodness. So when I was given the opportunity to review a lollipop that serves double-duty as a fashion accessory, I wasn’t about to say no.

Judging from its website, the Sugar Company looks to be one of those brands that’s more about style than substance. Most of the products on offer are cleverly packaged, overpriced versions of old standbys easily found in your nearest mall. Chocolate-covered gummi bears, saltwater taffy, licorice mix… solid, dependable candies to be sure, but nothing really unique to the company.

The Sugar Factory’s Couture Pops, though, are their real claim to fame. Comprised of interchangeable, bejeweled sticks and color-coordinated candy heads, these just might be the coolest candy fashion statements on the market right now. They even come with ringing celebrity endorsements. Yep! Britney Spears, the Pussycat Dolls, and Kim Kardashian are all big fans of the customizable lollipops.

Even I had to admit that the concept’s pretty cute. When I was twelve, I probably would have loved to carry around a Couture Pop. At $25 apiece, while the lollipop may be expensive for a candy, you have to admit – it’s pretty cheap for an accessory!

My Couture Pop was blue raspberry, with a coordinated scepter adorned with crystals in turquoise and green. Its candy head comes enclosed in a plastic snapcase, the better for storing your half-eaten lollipop while on the go. Useful for anyone; extremely so for club-savvy hotties who need to keep their pops fresh and juicy between flirtations with one guy and the next.

As far as I was concerned, if the lollipop was as tasty as it was pretty, there’d be no need for the plastic snapcase. I’d suck it happily until nothing remained but the bejeweled stick and attached “screw” at the Pop’s center. In the end, my lollipop’s taste didn’t rival its presentation, but it wasn’t half bad, either.

As the Pop made its way over my tongue, I realized this is pretty high-quality candy. It’s very thick, without being too syrupy, and tastes enough like blue raspberry that fans of the flavor won’t feel too ripped off. I don’t know if this is the case with all of Sugar Factory’s flavors, but the brand’s candymakers seem to know what they’re doing in this case, so I wouldn’t doubt it. The pop is amply sized; about the size of a large super-ball or a standard clown nose. It took me over an hour of licking to reach the lollipop’s base. I can see how that snapcase comes in handy! If you need a solid sugar fix over a lengthy period, this might just be the lollipop for you.

So, if you appreciate the taste of a well-made, suckable ball of flavored sugar, you’ll probably find one for a far better price at your local novelty shop or candy store. But, if you like your candy to come with fashion sense and a dose of Hollywood glamor, you just might want to visit The Sugar Factory today and buy a Couture Pop. Make sure to buy a few different sticks and different colored candy heads while you’re at it – the better to coordinate with different outfits!

• Sugar Factory Website

With spring trying desperately to make itself known, I thought it would be nice to try another of Beth Kimmerle’s crafty candy creations (say that ten times fast!). Today I bring you gum pops, fun treats that are easy to make, fun for kids (and adults!), and great for the season.

Spring Gum Pops

Wow your friends at your next get together by using candy molds and your favorite chewing gums to make custom-themed gum lollipops. Pick up an assortment of candy mold shapes at baking or craft supply stores and grab your favorite Wrigley’s gum before letting your imagination run wild!

The finished creation can be bundled together for a beautiful and edible centerpiece or used individually as party favors!

You will need
1. Plastic candy mold
2. Several softened sticks of gum
3. Lollipop sticks
4. Vegetable oil or non-stick spray

Gum color recommendations
1. Juicy Fruit for yellow
2. 5 Elixir and Lush for pink and orange
3. Extra Fruit Sensations Berry Paradise for purple
4. Extra Spearmint for green
5. Hubba Bubba Max Island Punch for blue and green

Instructions
1. Clean and dry plastic molds. Using vegetable oil or non-stick spray, lightly grease inside mold cavities. Set molds aside.

2. Unwrap and soften stick gum by kneading in the palm of your hand. The amount of gum you will need depends on mold size but start by kneading several sticks at a time and once soft, place and press firmly into mold cavity. If more gum is needed, repeat steps until mold is completely filled. The softer the gum the better. Try a brand like Juicy Fruit for best results.

3. To transform molded shapes into lollipops, lay sticks along the back of the mold and cover with additional pieces of softened gum.

4. Once molds are filled and sticks are in place, give each a final press and place in refrigerator for about one hour or until gum is completely hardened. Once chilled, remove plastic molds, gently ease gum shape from cavity and enjoy!

• Beth Kimmerle’s Candymonium

Buy Wrigley Gum Online:

• at Amazon.com
• at Candy Crate
• at Old Time Candy

Of course, it helps if I don’t come to this realization only after a marathon apartment-cleaning/box-recycling session. Somewhere amid my giant pyramid of boxes I discovered a medium-size box chock-full of fruit shaped lollipops from Melville Candy Company. A quick mental inventory revealed that these hadn’t been reviewed and were desperately overdue. D’oh! Time for me to buckle down and do some licking!

These were interesting, to say the least. The assortment consisted of seven different shapes and flavors of lollipops, each much larger than your average lollipop (at least 12 inches tall) and beautifully designed. At first glance I thought each one was hand painted or somehow made to be different colors. However, closer examination revealed that the lollipops themselves are only one color, with other colors being printed on the clear wrappers. Still, they look darn nice and very similar to their real-life fruit counterparts. But, the real question is, how do they taste?

Watermelon: This had a very mild watermelon flavor. However, the smell it emits is incredibly strong – the entire box smelled of watermelon as soon as I opened it! The flavor is a lot more mild than the smell; I would have preferred a little more flavor, but it wasn’t bad in any way.

Orange: Unlike watermelon, orange had a very faint smell. It was very cute, and had a generic orange lollipop flavor. Kind of similar to the flavor you’d get on one of those lollipops you got at the doctor’s office when you were a kid.

Butter Popcorn: I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what flavor this gigantic corn-shaped lollipop could be. That’s when I figured out that the flavors are printed in fairly small print on the back of the lollipops. Hehe. Duh. Anyway, this one turned out to be butter popcorn, which was imminently clear when I tasted it. In fact, it’s very similar to the flavor of Jelly Belly’s Buttered Popcorn jellybeans. So if that’s your kind of thing, you should check these out.

Peach: When I first saw these, my immediate reaction was “Oooh, peach!” I freaking love peach-flavored stuff (but not actual peaches – go figure). My first taste revealed a very faint peach flavor, but it was definitely identifiable. Yum! My favorite out of the whole bunch.

Pumpkin Spice: This is a cute little pumpkin shape. It’s faintly spicy, kind of like a pumpkin pie, but with some strangeness thrown in. I really can’t explain it. It’s OK, but not one of my favorites. I’d say it’s more “spice” than “pumpkin.”

Apple: Despite its color, this has more of a green apple-type flavor. It reminds me a lot of a mild Jolly Rancher flavor. Just, you know, a heck of a lot bigger. And on a stick. But anyway, yeah, it’s yummy!

Strawberry: Unlike the rest of the flavors, strawberry didn’t really taste like its real-life counterpart. In fact, it tasted more like cotton candy than anything else. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course, so I didn’t mind it at all.

These have a definite cute factor that, for the most part, outshines their flavor. I probably won’t finish all the duplicates I have, but they’d be awfully cute in any number of decorative roles. Heck, they’re so big they could even be used as a weapon for beating off intruders; they’re nearly a deadly weapon!

• Melville Candy Company Website

My love for all things black cherry-flavored originated from living in Los Angeles, haven of Rite-Aids. Now, for those of you who don’t have these drugstores in the states you live in, they are pretty much your CVS or Walgreens – with one exception.

You see, Rite-Aid was originally named Thrifty, a name I actually still use, and they were known for their own brand of ice cream. You might be thinking “Yuck! Drugstore ice cream?” But I assure you that it’s some of the best you’ve ever eaten, with my favorite flavor always being Black Cherry.

As far as flavors go, black cherry is just a specific type of cherry, characterized by its darker and juicier flesh, which tastes more woodsy than the tart of your average cherry. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to consume any since I moved away from Los Angeles.

Passing through a gas station, I spotted Charms Black Cherry Blow Pops. I reviewed the mango-tangerine variety not too long and failed to be impressed, preferring the classic Blow Pops flavors, but I was curious to see how this flavor compared to the original cherry variety.

The lollipop is a dark purple, a nice start for something that claims to be black cherry; however, the color is about the only thing this candy shares with the fruit it is modeled after.

The flavor is very mild at first, but intensifies after about thirty seconds. It goes from an unremarkable fruity flavor to a sweeter, inarticulate grape/berry concoction. Despite the name, there is no cherry in here.

Is that such a bad thing? I didn’t think so. Yes, it was a letdown not to have a black cherry flavor, but this grape-berry mix tasted good regardless. I think people who are not fans of artificial grape or cherry flavors, as in the originals, might actually enjoy this since the flavor is more realistic in terms of mimicking a fruit than any other Blow Pop I have ever tried.

As for the gum center, well, in my typical anti-gum fashion, I disliked it. The gum was very hard to chew. Once pulverized enough, it tasted like the gum center found in all Blow Pops, while amounting to the puny size of a stick of Trident.

So I say buy one of these if you see them. They aren’t going to wow you with a black cherry essence, but the candy itself is still downright good, and that’s something you can take to the bank.

• Charms Website

Buy Charms Black Cherry Blow Pops Online:

• at Candy Direct
• at Amazon.com

Cotton candy, candy floss, fairy floss – whatever you want to call it, the universal translation for this confection is Yum! But what is one to do when the carnival/fair is not in season?

I suppose you could always buy a bag of the prepackaged stuff they sell in stores, but it just isn’t the same as having the freshly made variety melting betwixt your fingers and dissolving as soon as it hits your tongue.

While popping in to the convenience store to buy a cup of tea on a particularly chilly morning, I spotted Charms Fluffy Sutff Cotton Candy Pops. Cotton candy in a lollipop? I was skeptical, but the payoff was too great to not try. I mean, if these could accurately mimic the taste of cotton candy, my dilemma would be forever remedied. So I bought my cup of lemongrass tea and the lollipop.

These lollipops, as opposed to the well-known Charms Blow Pops, are flat, resembling the traditional lollipop. Coming at about an inch and a half in diameter, they feature a festive coloration of light blue and light pink, both of the cotton candy hue variety.

I stuck the lollipop in my mouth and waited for the taste to come. And then waited, and waited, and waited. Apparently, someone forgot to wake up the flavor because it never showed! Feeling as if someone had just stood up my tongue for a promising blind date, my only reaction was that of Stephanie Tanner: “How rude!”

To be fair, cotton candy does not have a strong flavor to begin with, since it’s just heated sugar that cools in the air as it’s spun. The fibers are only strongly flavored if the sugar has an artificial flavor added. But regardless of its subtle taste, it still has a distinct presence in the mouth.

These lollipops tasted of a mild sweetness, but nothing else. I suppose that is a great deal like cotton candy in theory, but the fresh form yields a more flavorful result because of the recent melting of the sugar. Furthermore, real cotton candy offers textures and heat (if consumed immediately from the machine).

If you’re going to lose those elements, you have to compensate by provided a stronger taste of cotton candy. And it’s not as if it can’t be done. Carnival Skittles have an amazing cotton candy piece that is spot-on for the real thing.

So, I haven’t been able to rectify my inability to consume cotton candy any time I wish, a desire that is only further exacerbated by the fact that Carnival Skittles were a limited edition variety that is not easily found these days. For those who do find these lollipops, I say save your money. Charms is a great company, but I feel they just dropped the ball here.

• Charms Website

Buy Charms Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy Pops Online:

• at Candy Direct
• at Amazon.com

My favorite candy company that I can never remember is Perfetti Van Melle. Born out of the fusion of Perfetti (Italy) and Van Melle (Netherlands), this company boasts one of the largest confectionery operations in the world.

But, if you don’t recognize the name, you might be wondering what they make. Well, aside from their long list of gums and mints that enjoy mostly a European audience, Americans can buy their famous Mentos and Chupa Chups quite easily in their hometowns.

Oh yeah, they also make Airheads. For those who aren’t familiar with Airheads, they’re an elongated strip (as opposed to a circular blob) of taffy/chew known for their sweet flavors. I’ve actually been a fan of this candy for some years, finding it to be a perfect snack when you don’t want something as filling as a candy bar.

So I was eager to try these new Airhead Pops when I spotted them at Walgreens. Airheads have always been good on delivering flavor, so I reasoned that since the most important aspect of a lollipop is its flavor, these might stack up pretty well.

Blue Raspberry: These appear similar to Dum Dums. The color is dark blue. Unlike most blue raspberry flavors, this isn’t sour, just a little tart. It’s not too sweet, and even though I don’t typically enjoy this flavor in candy, I didn’t mind it because of the mellow quality. I was also surprised by just how long the flavor lasted.

Strawberry: The taste is again a little tart, but not sour. Strawberry/floral notes spread from the piece, tasting like a syrup or jam. I was reminded of eating strawberry Sour Punch – sans the sour powder.

Watermelon: There is a strong, artificial watermelon flavor, mimicking the exact flavor of the Airheads taffy flavor, which always tasted like Hubba-Bubba to me.

Apple: This piece is tart, reminiscent of the regular Airheads version. It retains the same flavor concept as the Charms Blow Pop, but is more sweet than sour. This is the sort of flavor you get from Granny Smith apple juice.

Cherry: This cherry was tart and woodsy, causing me to draw taste comparisons with Cherry Heads. It has that classic overtly strong and cough syrup twist to it that many older cherry-flavored candies possess.

Grape: My favorite of the six was grape. It was the same grape found in Bazooka Joe, a nice balance between grape juice and jam overtones.

My overall impression with Airheads Pops is a positive one. Though there were flavors I preferred more than others, none of them were unlikable. I think I still prefer the classic version just because I love chewy candy more than hard candy, but these are great for when you’re in a lollipop mood. Each is only 25 calories, and this fact coupled with their small size makes them great for those who want a little sugar in their diet, but nothing that will put them on edge.

• Airheads Website

Buy Airheads Pops Online:

• at Amazon.com