Candy: Snickers 'ROCKin NutROAD'

It just occurred to me that I forgot to post this.

It's a Snickers bar, Rocky Road style.

Very good if you like nuts and marshmallow.

Give this one a try if they have it in your area.

Candy: Trident Wild Blueberry Twist

Welcome back! This is the new "I'll try that!" now. You may be wondering, "What makes it new?" Well, I have lost alot of the will to keep this up. I feel like I gave it a try, and it's just not something I enjoy doing enough to continue doing it at the extent I was doing it in. Got it?

So, instead of giving up completely, I am going to shorten it down to something that is most likely going to be less fun to read. I know, it stinks, but it was either this or nothing.

I'm going to try to add some new aspects though. Things like: Links to games I like, short musings about one thing or another, and I may continue doing "Guess What I tried!" as well as a few other interactive things like that.

Anyway, I bought this Trident Wild Berry Twist. It's gross. What is Xylitol and why is it in all Trident gum? The Answer.

(This is the top left picture in "Guess What I Tried!"3)

Verdict: "Stick" to chewing your favorite gum.

Candy: Herbert's Fully Loaded Blueberry Bites

Herbert's Candies is the self proclaimed maker of 'New England's Finest Chocolates'. We'll see about that.

The Fully Loaded aspect of this candy has to do with the combination of fine chocolate and a filling, in this case fruit, but they also have nuts and creams. I had my choice at the store and figured that I rarely eat any chocolate and blueberry mixtures so this would be the one to try.

The packaging is tantalizing and sexy. You almost feel ashamed to buy it, like its a naughty product from the adult room of the video store. YES, its THAT sexy.

I might be exaggerating a bit, but I will say that I had no idea what to expect when opening the thing up. Turns out they are in the range of, bite-size peanut butter cups, cherry cordials, and the chocolates that are in those romantic heart-shaped(and non heart-shaped) boxes. It was wrapped in purple foil with "Fully Loaded" patterned all over it, while unwrapping it reveals the flower design on the top of the chocolate. Strange, but I guess it's a trademark or something like that.

Now, the fun part: Tasting. The chocolate itself is rich, and a nice bittersweet for dark chocolate. The filling is fruity as promised, but also a sweet counter to the bitterness of the chocolate. The blueberry flavor is mouthwatering, but mild and quickly overpowered.

Good stuff, very gourmet tasting.

(This is the top right picture in "Guess What I Tried!"1)

Pros:
Nice package quantity.
Very inviting packaging.
High quality candy and flavor.

Cons:
I expected an entire blueberry to be inside based on the package.
I also had no idea what I was buying. (candy shape and size)
Intense sweetness, you really can only eat one or two without going into sugar shock.

Verdict:
A nice treat, or gift. It's not an everyday candy, but this is definitely something to keep in a bowl on your coffee table or on your desk at work. This candy could become your trademark. It's very, very good.

Candy: Bartons Monopoly Creamy Milk Chocolate

This is just a quick review of an impulse buy at the checkout line.

Bartons Candy doesn't ring any bells for me, so I don't believe I have ever had any of their products before. I am also not one to snack on a simple chocolate bar, but I have to admit that the main reason for buying this was the Monopoly tie-in.

Win $5000 instantly? Sure!

So, long story short, I didn't win anything.

(This is the top left picture in "Guess What I Tried!"1)

Pros:
Decent Chocolate.
Chance to win prizes.

Cons:
Nothing memorable about the product at all.

Verdict:
Buy it to try to win something, not for the chocolate.

Candy: Wonka Giant Chewy Nerds

The wacky world of Wonka is responsible for so many innovative candy treats, one has to wonder where they come up with all of the ideas. Some of the my favorites: Bottle Caps, Laffy Taffy, and Pixy Stix.

Then a few years ago they decided to start making every "hard" candy they make, have a "chewy" counterpart. Bravo. Some examples: Chewy Runts, Chewy Gobstoppers, and Chewy SweeTARTS.

But by far, the most recognizable, never duplicated, candy to come from the famous factory is Nerds. They have come in many flavors over the years, even sour. Then, they managed to come on a rope. However, nothing will top the day I came across Giant Chewy Nerds!

The science behind them is a mystery, but to an ordinary man they can best be described as a jellybean enclosed in a nerd-like shell. The flavors are pretty basic with strawberry, lemon, grape, orange, and watermelon.

I can confidently say that this is the most unique candy I have had in a long while. The "crunchiness" and tartness of a handful of nerds with the chewy texture of a jellybean. A match made in heaven.

Pros:
It's like a new invention, even thought its just a marriage of two others.
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.

Cons:
Could have used some more risky flavors.
Probably could have packed more in a bag.

Verdict:
Buy them. If you like Nerds and/or jellybeans (and not jellybelly gourmet jellybeans, I'm talking about real Easter basket beans), the Giant Chewy Nerds are what your life has been leading up to. I bought 2 bags to try, and I have already been back to the store for more. Wonka, you have done it again.

Candy: Mint Crisp M&M'S®

What happens when you combine an m&m, a rice crispy, a junior mint, and the marketing power behind the new Indiana Jones movie?

Mint Crisp M&M'S®.

Mars has done it again! Yet another flavor of M&M's has graced the checkout lines and this time it's got a friend on the package: Indiana Jones.

There could not be more cheese on this packaging. First off, it says, "DIG NEW" because Indiana Jones is famous for digging things up as a treasure hunter, and trouble maker. The little green m&m girl is saying, "Treasure is a girl's best friend." I honestly can't believe they couldn't think of something better than that. I would love to hear your alternatives; here's mine, "Is that a crystal skull in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Okay, maybe it is harder than I thought. Then finally, instead of the usual tag of "Limited Edition" the package simply says, "Get "m" Before They're Lost!" It's clever but I don't condone the shortening of the word "them" to "em", and then furthermore to just "m".

If you remember the Crispy M&M's, they are an M&M with a puffed rice center. These are the same only minty and decorated with Indiana Jones themed graphics around the "m" stamps. These designs are things like Mayan pyramids, crystal skulls, and ancient sun dials.

Pros:
Gives you minty, fresh breath.
Indiana Jones "Arti-FACT" on the back of the package like, "The car driven by Short Round in "Temple of Doom" is a 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster."

Cons:
They will probably be gone once the movie is in theaters.

Verdict:
- You really need to like things like Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, York Peppermint Patties, and Junior Mints to like this kind of M&M. The mint lingers in your mouth like a toothpaste or mouthwash.
- If you are feeling adventurous, and you enjoy M&M's, you should give them a try.

Candy: Peanut Butter Whoppers

Whoppers are a classic candy from the classic candy company, Hershey's.

As far back as I can remember, this was my number one choice for snacking on at the movies. The boxes, or sometimes cartons, seem to never end until the moment you realize, you've eaten the whole thing.

So, Hershey's got this wild idea. The thought, "Hey! People like Whoppers, and people like Reese's Peanut Butter candies. So why not combine them?" Then, they did; and I have tried them!

In case you are not familiar with the Whoppers make-up, they are a malted milk ball, covered, in this case, with a smooth peanut butter coating. The original Whopper is covered in chocolate.

I can honestly say that the only thing better than this, would be if they managed to somehow combine the chocolate and peanut butter coatings, either on the Whopper itself, or in a box.

The peanut butter flavor is mild and very true to the established Reese's taste. I am not a huge fan of peanut butter, or such flavored candies, so I have broken up this carton into a few different snacking sessions and casual handfuls when I get the urge. Yummy.

Pros:

New flavor Whoppers!

Not just peanut butter, but Reese's Peanut Butter.

Milk-carton style packaging.

Cons:

Addictive. It's hard to stop yourself from eating them, even when you are choking from peanut butter overload.

Peanut butter can become overwhelming after eating it like this.

You need to mix Chocolate Whoppers in yourself!

Verdict:

- These Whoppers are not far off from the classic, therefore you can enjoy them without feeling like its some totally new candy. If you are familiar with the original, I suggest trying them.

- If you like Reese's Peanut Butter anything, I think you will enjoy these quite a bit.

- If you have peanut allergies, you better stay clear. These could actually kill you.

Candy: Duvalin

As a great follow-up to yesterday's post, I have another product from the Ricolino Company. I also found the official site, believe it or not, it was Ricolino.com, but I didn't try that until today.

Duvalin is a small, shallow cup of what I can only describe as a frosting of some kind. There was a choice of two flavor combinations, I chose hazelnut and vanilla. The other was strawberry and vanilla.

I will be the first to admit that this is the most confusing "candy" I have ever eaten. First off, I didn't even know for sure what the consistency was going to be, but like I said, it's like frosting.

So how do you eat this tiny tub of frosting in moderation? With the tiny, flat spoon provided to you of course!

I don't speak any Spanish, but by the end of my Duvalin, I was saying, "¡Muy bueno!"

Pros:
Nice Flavor.
Perfect serving size for something so sweet.
A tiny souvenir spoon!

Cons:
Borders on being too sweet.

Verdict:
- Simply because this product is basically a cup of frosting, if that sounds appetizing to you, you will probably love it. Kids, adults, seniors, you will all love it.

Candy: Bubu Lubu

Bubu Lubu is a Mexican candy by Ricolino that is very similar to products from the Joyva Company.

It is basically a candy bar made of marshmallow, strawberry jelly, and covered with chocolate. Joyva makes the same thing, only are not combined, meaning you can get chocolate-covered Marshmallow bars, or jelly bars (or rings).

The chocolate is very rich in flavor, the jelly is tasty, and the marshmallow it light and fluffy but kind of gritty.

Not bad for a knockoff.

Pros:
Cheap in price.
Strange fluffy mascot with a scarf and mittens.

Cons:
Cheap in quality.
Not widely available.

Verdict:
- If you see them, give them a try, you may have to buy a box of 8, but you could give the rest away on Halloween if you hate them.
- Otherwise, stick with a well established brand and product by only buying Joyva.

Candy: Skittles Chocolate Mix

Well, the good folks over at Skittles have decided to start making a "Chocolate Mix" of their popular candy. So, let's see how they did.

It's not a very appetizing way to start a candy review, but I simply cannot go without mentioning something. Skittles has the slogan: "Taste the Rainbow." So the first thing that pops into my head when I open this bag is, "What feces-infested sewer do you have to visit to see a rainbow made of different shades of brown?" Okay, glad I got that out of the way.

There are five flavors:

S'mores- These are flesh tone in color, and taste nothing like a s'more. They went a little heavy on the marshmallow flavor, and if the after taste is supposed to be graham cracker they are way off the mark. It almost tastes like what you would expect s'more flavored aspirin to taste like.

Vanilla- These are a nice creamy vanilla color, and the taste is exactly what you would expect. The word "vanilla" is sometimes used to describe something as bland and uninteresting, but there is nothing vanilla about the vanilla flavored Skittle. Does that make sense?

Chocolate Caramel- This might just be the worst flavor in the bag. I think Skittles knew it too, since there was only 7 in the bag. Something about it burns the back of my throat while I bite into it. By the end, it ends up tasting a little bit like caramel, but nothing like chocolate caramel. They must have been desperate to get another flavor in the bag.

Chocolate Pudding- First of all, half of the bag consisted of this flavor. It is a very dulled done version of chocolate pudding but after a few, you really have the taste in your mouth as if you were eating pudding.

Brownie Batter- The final flavor is almost black in color. And black is what you think of when you eat them since they taste like burnt brownies. Oddly enough, this still makes them the best flavor.

It was quite difficult to eat the entire package in one sitting which is absurd when talking about Skittles. I once ate a 16 ounce bag of the original flavors in a single night. So, I should know.

Pros:
Another new experiment in flavor from the Skittles people, there is an enormous list of Skittles flavors (Original, Wild Berry, Tropical, Carnival, Ice Cream, Smoothie, Sour) and the effort is appreciated.

Cons:
The flavors are hit or miss, and some are even hard to swallow.

Verdict:
-The only way you will know if you are going to like these is if you try them. The flavors are inconsistent. You shouldn't need to eat 5 of them before you can tell if you like it or not. But, some people may like that. So to break it down for you, I recommend you eat the things the flavors are based on if you have a real chocolate craving.
-If you want Skittles, pick another one of their many available flavor mixes.

Candy: Wildly Cherry M&M'S®

Today, I had the pleasure of running into a bag of Limited Edition Wildly Cherry M&M'S®.

I have to admit, I don't love cherry as a flavor, as there are many more interesting flavor combinations to come by. However, I do like chocolate cherry cordials so why not give these M&M'S® a try?

The first impression, often important with something you are going to eat, was that these are larger than regular M&M'S®, and perhaps peanut M&M'S® as well (didn't have any to compare). I took one and popped it in my mouth. The flavor is pretty intense! I expected a much more mild flavor, but the cherry is very "in your face", or in this case, mouth.

The next one from the bag I decide to bite in half. I had expected to find a freeze dried cherry inside of it, based on the flavor and texture of the previous one. But alas, it's chocolate all the way through. This was enough playing for me, so I proceeded to gobble up the rest of the bag in handfuls.

Pros:
A nice new flavor from M&M'S®.
Larger that original M&M'S®.

Cons:
"Limited Edition", which means they might not be around for long.
Not much variety: two colors, one flavor.

Verdict:
-If you like cherry flavor and chocolate, you will love these, so buy them by the case before they are gone forever. Then, start writing letters to M&M'S®, demanding they make them a regular product.
-If you are a fan of candy, but don't care much for M&M'S®, you may just want to share a bag with a friend. That should be enough to satisfy you, and then in 10 years when someone says, "Hey, remember Wildly Cherry M&M'S®?", you can say that you tried them.