Holiday
This Japanese Kit Kat is special, as it’s not only a new flavor (lemon) but also a novelty because the packaging is different. It’s a “Share with a Friend” box, that opens like a love letter, and it’s decorated with hears just in time for Valentines Day (yes, I know, way late on the pickup). It’s pretty to look at and I appreciate how unique it looks. It’s certainly catch my eye at the convenience store, that’s for sure.
The box opens so it’s like a letter and the two packets of the Kit Kat pop out perfectly inviting to give to a friend or lover. I can’t read the text, as my Japanese isn’t fluent enough, but I’m sure it’s something sappy. The color of the fingers is a nice creamy pastel yellow. It’s very spring-like aura to it. The bar smells less like lemon but more strong and sweet like a pudding or custard. Now that I think about it, it’s exactly like lemon pudding pie. It’s just a heavenly smell.
The flavor is out of this world! It tastes just like lemon curd. It’s tart, so terribly authentically tart. There’s a little hint of something in there that tastes of creamy cheesecake, and overall it’s terribly creamy, smooth and a little sweet. So awesome. Yum.
What could I say? After my first bite or two to taste I couldn’t gobble this Kit Kat down fast enough. I don’t understand why I’d want to share this one. It’s too good I need to keep it for myself. (I’m guess I’m bad to think like that, but in all honesty, I did share this with the boy.)
Rating: Hoard
Links Kit Kat Japan (Breaktown) Website
I’ve shared my thoughts on Reese’s pieces before: hated as a child and I’ve come to appreciate them with special and infrequent cravings. I really just miss the chocolate with the peanut butter. I saw these on one of the candy hunts and wanted to give them a try, mainly because I hear so many good things about these in their Pastel Eggs format. Part of the allure was that if I didn’t end up liking them, I could at least get some pretty photos of them and then give the rest to my boyfriend, who is crazy about Reese’s Pieces.
All I can say right now, these changed my mind about Reese’s Pieces. This new shape and size changes everything. The pieces are eggs shaped: fatter like marbles with one end a little pointier than the other. They come in festive pastel colors: green, yellow, blue and pink. The quality control here is excellent as there’s little variation in shape and texture of the shells.
Taking my first bite, I realize immediately what makes them special. There’s just more of everything. The shell is bigger and thicker, giving a more satisfying crunch and there’s more peanut butter. Enough to pleasantly coat your tongue if you’re patient enough to let it melt in in your mouth. This means there’s much more flavor, obviously. Some things are the same though: the shells feels nice and smooth on the tongue and the peanut butter is creamy, sweet with that perfect kick of salt.
A glowing example of how a small change in format can change a so-so candy into something stellar. If only I could get Reese’s Pieces like this year ‘round! I’m definitely going to look for more of these as the Easter sales continue.
Rating: Will Buy Again
Links Reese’s Website
Happy Belated Easter to all you candy lovers!
I hope you had something sweet and delicious in your Easter basket. Or at the very least, ate some candy. Here’s a treat from me here at The Candy Enthusiast: some LOLz Peeps from…strange Peeps I found in the packages I bought this year. I hope they give you a chuckle.
Yes, I realize I am quite silly.
The Lifesavers jelly beans are one of the flavors I looked forward to trying the most. Unlike Jolly Ranchers and SweeTarts, I’m actually a big fan of Lifesavers, ever since I’m a little kid. I ate every flavor in the roll when I was treated to one, even the green one that most people would try and trade away for another flavor. This was back in the day when the Five Flavor roll consisted of cherry, lemon, orange, pineapple and lime. Ah, those were the days.
There’s a large flavor variety of flavors in this one bag, eight to be exact. I like the fact that there’s lots to choose from, but at the same time, I feel a little overwhelmed. I think it’s funny how there’s flavors included in this mix that you can’t find in the normal Lifesavers hard candies, like the Peach. I could be mistaken though, as it’s been a bit since I last examined the rolls in the checkout lane in the supermarket.
The beans are a nice shape and are very bright and colorful. They are very glossy, and therefore I find them very attractive.
Strawberry (pink): very tart, fruity and jammy. It’s very syrupy sweet and really reads as a “pink” flavor.
Apple (green): Right away this flavor is very sour and zesty with strong apple flavors. It tastes like a tart apple cider with a slight artificial edge to it.
Peach (light orange): This flavor is very perfumey and juicy. It has an intense, and surprisingly authentic flavor.
Grape: The flavor is mild, but comes across as very rich, deep and jammy flavors. My thoughts immediately run to concord grape jelly.
Pineapple: This is like the real Lifesaver with a very authentic pineapple flavor combined with a good tartness.
Cherry: So loyal to the cherry Lifesaver, it’s incredible. Tart, fruity with a very acute fake metallic flavor.
Orange: Also very faithful to the Lifesaver candy, this is so bright and juicy. I love it! The flavor is so zesty I want to call it Tangerine as opposed to orange.
Lemon: So zesty, sweet and flavorful of juicy fresh lemons. Wowoza. This is what all lemon candy should taste like.
I really, really enjoyed these. I liked the ability to get some of my favorite Lifesavers flavors in a new texture. It’s exciting and makes me fall in love with Lifesavers and jelly beans all over again.
Rating: Will Eat Again
Links Lifesavers Website (Candystand)
I was a very late bloomer in terms of my appreciation of the Cadbury Creme Eggs (or CCE’s in shorthand). My first memories of them was the ads I recall as a child of the 1980’s, featuring a white bunny that clucks like a hen, surrounded by impostor bunnies that made noises of different animals. I recall my Mom wrinkling her nose at these adds, stating that she “hated” those things, as they were too sweet. I paid little attention to her comments, like most children do with their parents. It wasn’t until college where I actually got my first taste of a CCE, and from then on, I was forever changed.
There’s many types of CCE’s on the market. There’s the original, caramel, fudge (or was it truffle?), mini, mini caramel, and most recently orange (which I reviewed for CandyAddict last year). I’ve tried them all and liked them, but I keep returning to the original as my favorite. If I had to give one second place, I’d go for the orange.
The concept of the CCE is simple. It’s a hollow milk chocolate egg with a creamy fondant center that’s white with a yellow spot in it, so it looks like an egg yolk. The egg is a good size (though it’s been shrinking over the years) and the packaging changes every year it seems. The photo above is the new update of the design for 2008.
Unwrapped, the egg is beautiful and feels heavy in your hand. You can see the seam whee the two halves come together to seal the fondant interior. The chocolate sides have a design of a eight pointed star on each side and lines that circle them.
The egg smells lightly of cocoa and cream.
The chocolate is thick and has that wonderful European flavor to it. Sweet, milky, a little tart, and a good chocolate flavor. Now I can see why my mom complained that this style of chocolate is too sweet, but I like it just fine. The center’s overall texture should be thick and flowing, like egg white can be. But the one I got here to sample was more dried out and grainy, which I found odd. The flavor is extremely sweet with hints of vanilla. The texture in the mouth is smooth with a little grain to it, and it feels cool on the tongue. It can be a little sticky, and it feel like eating frosting fresh from the bowl.
I bought a few more in search of that creamy, flowing center. I think I got it here.
What can I say, I love these things. I tend to get a small stash to last myself a little while each Easter. They’re the kind of candy I can only have so often, as if I eat too many close together I feel I need to pass out in a sugar coma. Yes, they’re that sweet and that addicting. Isn’t that a sign of a good candy? It is in my book.
Rating: Will Buy Again
Links Cadbury Website
