Nintendo continues to cash in on its classic video game character, the Italian plumber – Mario!. This time they’ve come up with sour and non-sour gummy candies called Super Mario 3-Dees. I tried the sour version because I love sour candy! The gimmick here is the fact that the gummy candies are actually three dimensional figures, like gummi bears. They come in four flavors and four shapes. The flavors are: orange, watermelon, strawberry and mixed berry. The shapes are: Mario, Yoshi, Diddy Kong and Donkey Kong. The shapes do not denote the flavor as some candies do, but rather you could get say 3 Mario shapes in your bag but they can be all different flavors.

The candies are all brightly colored with pretty much standard colors denoting the flavors (ie: blue for the mixed berry, orange for orange, etc.) The texture is that of a pretty standard gummy and of course they have the nice sour coating on top that gives a little crunch if you bite into it right away. As for the flavors, they are pretty much standard fruit flavors, there is nothing really outstanding about them.

It’s pretty obvious that these Nintendo candies will appeal more to kids who just love Nintendo games or the Nintendo collectors out there. The Super Mario 3-Dees really have two things going for them: one is the fact that these are three dimensional candies, not flat like Sour Patch Kids, and two that they are Super Mario characters. Otherwise, they don’t stand out as any better than other similar candies on the market today. If you’re buying them for the flavors, I think you’ll be disappointed but if you love Nintendo stuff or have kids that love Mario, these are great!

• 3-Dees Website
• Buy Nintendo Candy Online
• Huge list of Nintendo candy

As I was waiting in CVS one day for a prescription to be filled I wandered around the store. I had about 20 minutes to kill and there’s not much else to do in CVS but look around. That’s when I found this little six pack of Soda Can Frizzy Candy. The six-pack is a cute little novelty and there are four flavors: lemon-lime, cola, orange and grape.

There’s actually a little plastic pop top on each can that you have to pop open to get the candy, which is kind of neat. The candies look like Tart N Tinys (remember those?) but in paler colors based on the flavor. They have almost the same texture too but are softer to chew.

These are not fizzy like pop rocks or some of the powdered candy that’s out there but they do pack a punch. The Lemon-Lime flavor was almost too tart and too strong on the fizziness. You don’t get the fizzy feeling until you start to chew the candy but it’s there trust me. The grape reminded me exactly of grape soda flavor. The fizz in the grape flavor is there but not as pronounced as with the lemon-lime. The orange was not a great flavor but this one fizzed on contact in my mouth. The cola honestly didn’t taste much like cola, it was actually kind of gross. I’ve certainly tasted much better cola flavored candies.

This six-pack of Soda Can Fizzy Candy is cute, but definitely not a worthwhile soda flavored candy (though the cans are cute and worth keeping). It’s a great little novelty item, but the flavors need to be improved and the fizz needs to be consistent. Seriously, don’t waste your money on this one. If you really love your soda flavored candy, I recommend sticking to Wonka Bottlecaps (which I LOVE)!

• Kidsmania Candy Website
• Huge list of cola candy
• Buy Soda Candy Online

As a woman, I just enjoy shoe shopping. What could possibly be better than that? How about shopping for chocolate shoes? I’m talking about solid chocolate edible shoes. Gayle Harte is a chocolate fashionista and artist. Besides creating cool animal shaped chocolates (like sharks and tigers), she has created a collection of chocolate shoes that would never last in my closet.

The shoes range in style and colors from golf shoes to a special Royal Wedding shoe made in honor of Kate & William’s wedding. Each shoe is solid chocolate and weighs between 4 ounces and 14.5 ounces. Most are 7 inches long and almost 6 inches tall. They are amazing little edible works of art. I know some people would say they’d never eat them because they’re so pretty. Not me, I’d eat one in a heartbeat.

• Gayle’s Chocolate Shoes

We’ve all seen Ring Pops: those sweet lollipops made into the shape of huge faceted gemstones that we slip on our fingers in order to eat them. Well, now I’ve seen it all. Check out the “Bling” pops that Bazooka, the maker of Ring Pops, is sending to the Dallas Mavericks. These are Swarovski crystal encrusted Ring Pops in the Mavericks signature colors.

Here’s what Bazooka had to say:

“Bazooka Candy Brands, the iconic confectionary company and manufacturer of Ring Pops, believes that the Dallas Mavericks should be rewarded for all their hard work and their NBA finals win. That’s why they’ll be stepping in and saving the day, creating Swarovski-encrusted Ring Pops in the team colors of Blue and White for the team to wear to celebrate their feat. The Ring Pops will be shipped to the team shortly. “

I don’t know if any of the Mavericks will, but being a Candy Addict, I’d probably one of the only people in the world to actually eat this special Ring Pop, if they sent me one.

• Yahoo Sports story
• Bazooka (Ring Pops) Website
• Buy Ring Pops Online

Do you love candy so much you would wear it? Any chocoholic jewelry-lover would be enchanted by these chocolate earrings by jewelry designer Wendy Mahr. The Edible Jewelry Collection also offers a chocolate ring, chocolate pendant, and a cluster of chocolates on a necklace. All of the chocolate jewelry is adorned with edible gold leaf flakes.

They’ve been tested in the blazing Miami sun, and they didn’t melt! They stay nice until you, or someone who thinks they’re sexy, takes a bite! Keep them in their adorable box that they arrive in between wears and away from the heat, and you can wear them several times! They’re a great conversation starter!

After you eat the jewelry, you can send it back to have the chocolate replaced with long-lasting pearls or other stones.

• Edible Chocolate Jewelry

Item: M&M’S® Brand Star Wars Coin Bank
Description: A coin bank topped with an M&M’S® Character dressed up as a Star Wars personality. Available in three styles: Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Includes a FUN SIZE® (.53 oz) bag of M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies.
SRP: $2.99 Wholesale Price: $1.95
Shipping: Six 9-count displays per case

Item: M&M’S® Brand Star Wars 9”& 12” Dispenser
Description: These working candy dispensers dispense M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies. Each 9” and 12” dispenser is topped with an M&M’S® Character dressed as a favorite character from Star Wars: Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Includes a fun-size (.53 oz) bag of M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies.
SRP: $4.99/9” Wholesale Price: $3.25
$11.99/12” Wholesale Price: $7.75
Shipping: Six 9-count displays per case for 9”
Eight 1-count displays per case for 12”

Item: M&M’S® Brand Star Wars Fan
Description: A child-safe candy fan that’s topped with an M&M’S® Character dressed as a character from Star Wars, including Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia—complete with her signature hairstyle. Includes a FUN SIZE® (.53 oz) bag of M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies in the handle.
SRP: $3.99 Wholesale price: $2.65
Shipping: Six 12-count displays per case

Item: M&M’S® Brand Star Wars Lightsaber
Description: Let the Force (and fun) be with you! This novelty lightsaber contains a FUN SIZE® (.53 oz.) bag of M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies in the handle.
SRP: $3.99 Wholesale Price: $2.65
Shipping: Six 12-count displays per case

Full press release:

World Introduction of Novelty Items from CandyRific Featuring Star Wars™ and M&M’S® Characters

What: CandyRific will announce to the world its new license pairing Lucasfilm’s Star Wars with M&M’S® Characters, featuring novelty items that partner the two icons at Dylan’s Candy Bar, the ultimate candy store. CandyRific holds licenses with some of the best known brands in the world and has planned a day-long event to celebrate its license with M&M’S® Brand and Star Wars on Valentine’s weekend. Join us for a day of fun-filled activities at Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City. According to CandyRific President Rob Auerbach, they chose Dylan’s Candy Bar as the location “because it’s a world renowned venue and Dylan’s Candy Bar is a great candy innovator and partner.” The date was chosen in conjunction with Toy Fair, taking place Feb. 13-16 in New York, and of course, the biggest candy day of the year, Valentine’s Day.

When: Saturday, February 12, 2011 – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Where:
Dylan’s Candy Bar
1011 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Highlights:

• Meet Star Wars characters (great photo opportunity!) – 10 a.m. – Noon
• Make-Your-Own Star Wars Candy Mosaic – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Star Wars Trivia with prizes – 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Posters to first 100 customers
• Sample over 7,000 different kinds of candy, including the new M&M’S® Brand Star Wars items filled with delicious M&M’S® Chocolate Candies in 9” and 12” Dispensers, Candy Fans and Coin Banks.
• Talk with officials from CandyRific and Lucasfilm.

More Information: For event information, please call Dylan’s Candy Bar at 646.735.0078 or CandyRific’s public relations office at 770.363.7085.

CandyRific sells candy and novelty product combinations utilizing popular licensed brands. Other licensed brands in CandyRific’s portfolio include Scooby Doo, Dreamworks, SKITTLES® Brand, and STARBURST® Brand. All products have a high perceived value, are merchandised in colorful displays and are especially popular with collectors. The company has distribution with most of the major retailers in the U.S. and distributors in almost every major market in the world. CandyRific has appeared on the INC 500 and INC 5000 lists of fastest growing companies in the U.S. consecutively for the last five year.

Remember when Godzilla first stomps his way into Tokyo? Picking up buses, throwing them down, weaving through the buildings toward the center of town? Well, that’s what we have today: the giant monster of the gummy bear forest. Your average gummy bear would be stunned in wide wonder to behold this thing, then run far, far away. The Big Bite Gummy Bear is 12 oz (most entire bags with dozens of gummy bears don’t weigh that much), and stands a mammoth three inches high.

And doesn’t this huge gummy bear kinda look monstrous? Glowing orange from some molten undersea origin, perhaps? Well… time to bite its face off.

After removing a band of plastic wrap, you need to pry away the two halves of a form-fitting, hard plastic mold that encase the beast. (Oddly, the mold has a lanyard loop; you could actually wear this thing as a necklace, I guess. Wow, that would hurt.)

Gnawing away at Big Bite’s head, I can report that this candy tastes like… an orange gummy bear. It’s your standard artificial orange flavor, not bad, not good. The texture is maybe a little stiffer than your average Lilliputian gummi bears.

Two things I don’t like about this huge gummy bear: 1) it has a film-like residue on its surface (maybe to assure it won’t stick in the mold) and 2) it’s too big! Unless you lost a bet, there’s no way you’d put this whole thing in your mouth at once (even if you could), so after each bite, you have to put the slightly slimy bear back in the mold. Then you have to handle the gelatinous mass some more the next time you want a bite. It’s just really not a pleasant eating process, and the taste isn’t good enough to make me want to continue.

After eating most of the Big Bite Gummy Bear’s orange face, I’m tossing this thing away. Let’s just hope he doesn’t come back to terrorize the citizenry. The Bear in the Iron Mask would not be a happy encounter in gummy bear forest.

So, if you want a novelty joke gummy bear or a strange and unique necklace, the Big Bite Gummy is perfect. For eating, not so much.

• Novelty Specialties Website

Tung Toos – an interesting concept in the candy world. I remember how popular the temporary tattoos were when I was in junior high. A tattoo for your tongue – a candy tattoo for your tongue? Okay, sounds good! Or so I thought when the makers of Tung Toos offered to send me a sample for review. Unfortunately, I’ve gone down a series of disappointing steps since receiving the package.

First let me point out the positives of Tung Toos. They are visually appealing with bright colors and fun pictures that will draw any kid’s attention. I received three packages – one decidedly meant for girls and two that would be preferred by the boys. The girls’ pack has castles, crowns, magic wands, and the word Princess. The boys’ packs have sports balls – soccer, basketball, baseball, and football – and military vehicles – helicopters, jeeps, tanks, and ships. Since I have three boys and no girls, this was a good mix of Tung Toos for my family.

The idea of having a picture on your tongue – to stick out at all your friends – is, presumably, attractive to the younger set. Personally, I don’t feel the need to stick my tongue out at anyone and don’t want to see other people with their tongues wagging around either. Call me a dud, if you wish….

Now on to my actual experience with Tung Toos. I found the packages themselves extremely hard to get open. Each sheet of Tung Toos is sealed within a plastic envelope – an envelope that has not a single ‘tab’ to facilitate opening. After jerking and pulling at every potential spot, I finally had to cut the pack open. The first set we tried (the sports balls) was actually adhered to the bottom of the envelope. I had to literally rip them free, but this seems to have been a unique mistake in the packaging. The other sheets slid out easily once I cut the envelopes open.

The battle to try the Tung Toos didn’t stop once I freed the sheet of ‘ttoos. The sheet is perforated with two Tung Toos squares per section – each section is sealed in yet another plastic envelope. Oh, the agony! Fortunately, these small envelopes do have a tab that you can rather simply pull to tear open. For some reason, though, the backside of the Tung Toos (where the directions are printed) is actually attached via a light adhesive to the plastic envelope. After more tearing and dropping a very large amount of plastic waste paper onto my carpet, we could at last try the Tung Toos.

Using them isn’t hard at all. You simply lay the ‘ttoo face down on your tongue for a couple seconds and then lift off. The picture left behind is decent and looks reasonably like the picture that was on the paper. If you apply a second Tung Too, however, (and who wouldn’t?) the image is distorted and you end up with a bluish-black blob that looks exactly like you just ate a Charms Blow Pop or a handful of SweeTarts.

Okay, taste. Isn’t that the most important part of candy? Isn’t taste the entire reason we eat candy?

When I laid a Tung Too on my tongue, there was a mild tangy flavor. After I lifted the tattoo paper off and kinda licked around in my mouth, I detected a slightly sweet flavor. Within ten seconds, any hint of flavor was completely gone. Flavor is obviously not the intended drawing point of Tung Toos.

I offered Tung Toos to a 22-year-old friend of mine, who is much more hip & happ’nin’ and up-to-date with fads and being popular than I am. I figured if Tung Toos was appealing in a “youth culture” sort of way (boy, do I feel old talking like this!), he would find the appeal in it. After using one, he said (of the flavor), “That’s just a tease.”

My eight- and five-year-old sons did keep using them (would it make sense to say “eating them”?) for a couple days, but I can’t say they were ever thoroughly enamored. If you were throwing a kid’s birthday party, these would probably make good party favors. But I can’t personally imagine any kid wanting to request them on a regular basis. I figure they’d rather have Fun Dip or Smarties.

• Tung Toos Website

Chocorooms do not contain mushrooms of any kind. Let’s be clear about that. Not Red Belted Polypore, not Queen Boleti, not Morel. No mushrooms at all. Instead, these are “sweet and crispy” Japanese candies that happen to look like rather small mushrooms. They have cookie-like stems, with chocolate tops.

Okay, so what do these fake fungi taste like? Let’s start at the bottom. The stems are not tasty in the least. They’re very bland, like a really boring biscuit. They remind me of fortune cookies a little bit, too. They also leave a slight film in your mouth.

The chocolate of the mushroom tops tastes cheap. Like, Nestle Quick in mushroom-shaped chocolate form. It’s okay, but very flat and rather waxy. A look at the ingredients shows lots of extraneous junk that never improves the taste of chocolate, but lessens the cost with filler.

Now, the cookie stems do allow you to chomp on the chocolate tops without getting your fingers chocolaty, but lots of candies have figured out that trick.

Bottom line: if you think candies that look like mushrooms are irresistibly cute, then Chocorooms are for you. Otherwise, I’d resist.

Really, these mushrooms should be left in the candy forest.

• Meiji Chocorooms Website
• Linda’s Review of Kinoko no Yama at Snackerrific

I find Jelly Belly jelly beans really fun to eat so I was delighted to try the Sunkist Citrus Mix. As an added bonus, these jelly beans have added Vitamin C, so you can justify your sugar fix with the knowledge that you’re actually getting some nutrition.

Sunkist Lime: I only had one of these in the bag. The lime flavor was sweet with a little bit of bitterness and a little bit of tartness to it. Even though I only had one to try, the flavor really lingered.

Sunkist Orange: This jelly bean had an artificial orange candy flavor that faded quickly. It was also very sweet. There were lots of these in the bag, but eating more than one didn’t help the flavor to last.

Sunkist Grapefruit: I only had two of this flavor in the bag to try. Still, these jelly beans had a tangy grapefruit flavor with a very brief burst of tartness. There was just a bit of bitterness, but not as much as the lime. Like the orange flavor, the grapefruit flavor started strong but then faded out.

Sunkist Lemon: Unlike the other jelly beans, the lemon flavor grew stronger as I chewed. A bit of tanginess added some interesting notes to the flavor, as did a hint of bitterness on the finish.

Sunkist Tangerine: I wish I could tell you how these tangerine jelly beans were, but there didn’t seem to be any in my bag!

I didn’t have enough of any flavors to try together except for the lemon and orange. When I ate these two together, they had a sweet, general citrus taste at first, but then the orange gave out, and I wound up tasting just the lemon by finish.

Overall, the mix of flavors in the bag was very uneven – I was even missing a flavor. Still, you do get the Vitamin C regardless of what the flavors are, and that’s a good thing. This was a fun mix to try, but not my favorite in the Jelly Belly family.

• Jelly Belly Website

Buy Jelly Belly Candy Online at:

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