Seldom do I get as excited about candy as I did when the shipment of Zingerman’s Zzang! Bars arrived after a long workday. The hip, slick packaging, the simple mixed with fancy ingredients, and the interesting flavor combinations promised a unique treat. And, with three varieties, I felt sure my palate would be artfully stimulated.
I tore into the Original first, because I wanted to use it as a base to compare to the other flavors. Zingerman’s marketing team made me salivate with anticipation:
“Starting with a honey nougat made with natural peanut butter, we dip it in a sensual caramel made from muscovado brown sugar. The biggest and best butter roasted peanuts we can find come next, and the whole endeavor is finished off with a dip into a rich bath of dark chocolate.”
It looked great and smelled good, but the taste was disappointing. It was very peanutty and rich, but left an odd, almost smoky, aftertaste in my mouth. I expected the bar to be sweeter, and was left wishing I’d eaten a Snickers instead. Dang. Next…
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A couple of years ago (yeah, we were that up on the trend), Brian wrote an article about Ecoist’s Candy Wrapper Handbags, a line of bags made from recycled and repurposed candy wrappers, food packages, and soft drink labels. Well, since then the whole Green Movement has really taken off and Ecoist has kept pace by expanding their popular line to include bracelets, coasters, napkin rings, and placemats.
Now I ask you, what better way to proclaim your support of sugar in public or at intimate dinner parties? It’s like the Livestrong bracelet for green candy fans. (That would be environmentally-friendly Addicts, not those of you with a penchant for a certain color M&M – though you can get in on the action, too.)
Like Brian, I have yet to identify any recognizable brands (these are 100% handmade in Mexico and Peru and my guess is that many of the wrappers are those of Latin American treats), but the origins of both the eye-popping, confetti-like palette and the chic silver line are undeniably sweet. And for the more brand-conscious amongst you, Ecoist produces equally stunning products with packaging from Coca-Cola and Diet Coke, Luna Bars, Dasani water, and a “swirl” that looks conspicuously like the Good Humor logo.
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