My name is Cybele May and I love candy.
December 10, 2014 9:38 AM Subscribe
Candy Blog. Mentioned in passing in a couple previous FPPs, this incredibly in-depth and long-running site deserves a closer look. Candy obsessive Cybele May has ranked thousands of candies since 2005 on a ten-point scale from 'superb' to 'inedible'; taken an in-depth look at candy purveyors from from Just Born to Trader Joe's to See's; brought back news of the yearly All Candy Expo; and of course, compiled The 110 Essential Candies for Candivores. And as if all that weren't enough, there is now a podcast, Candyology, with the first three episodes devoted to Halloween candy, peanut butter candy, and chewing gum.
By the way, I've actually bought several candies on this blog's recommendation- most notably the Green and Black's White Chocolate Bar, since I was sick of everyone always ragging on white chocolate and wanted to find the best version available to win people over with. (It has yet to work, but I'm happy to just eat it myself, so...)
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:50 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:50 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I used to follow this blog daily back in the day. Really glad to hear she's still at it.
posted by briank at 9:51 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 9:51 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I am really surprised to see Mary Janes on the 10/10 list. I recall them as completely inedible. Maybe the ones I had were the stale dry ones she's referring to?
Differences over fake peanut butter teeth-pulling disasters aside, this is an incredibly cool blog.
posted by a hat out of hell at 10:02 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Differences over fake peanut butter teeth-pulling disasters aside, this is an incredibly cool blog.
posted by a hat out of hell at 10:02 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is great! My dad is a chocolate-covered cherry junkie, so I sent that to him. As for me, I am looking up my winter obsessions, Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses and Dove Peppermint Bark. I want to know exactly how much crack is in each portion.
posted by Miko at 10:04 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by Miko at 10:04 AM on December 10, 2014
I can’t help loving these. I don’t know why I do, but they’re positively addictive. I had a lot of Kisses for some photos I was shooting and I found myself digging through the assortment and eating all of these first. They’re a little grainy but have a good minty feel in the sinuses and the crunchy bits are kind of fun to roll around on your tongue as it melts.
Yesssss, yesssss
posted by Miko at 10:06 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yesssss, yesssss
posted by Miko at 10:06 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Those candy cane kisses remind me of smooth and melty, which I'm irrationally obsessed with. (And, oh hey, in that review she actually draws the same comparison...)
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:12 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:12 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I seriously question this person's taste. For example, there are no tamarind-flavored candies on the inedible list.
posted by slogger at 10:49 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by slogger at 10:49 AM on December 10, 2014
I am hugely loyal to See's (Godiva is some elitist shit, though the wrapping colors are amazing), and looked forward to the See's category - but the selection is quirky, to put it mildly. They seem to be going for the most unappealing of See's offerings, until I came across the entry for See's Egg Quartet.
The cross-sections of the eggs in that post give you some sense of what their chocolate box collections consist of, and I can assure you they are mind-blowingly good. Outstanding selections include the Bordeaux (they offer a box of JUST BORDEAUXS), the Buttercreams (milk and dark), and the "soft centers" boxes. They will also make up a custom box for you in-store, and you always, always receive one free sample as a customer.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:51 AM on December 10, 2014 [6 favorites]
The cross-sections of the eggs in that post give you some sense of what their chocolate box collections consist of, and I can assure you they are mind-blowingly good. Outstanding selections include the Bordeaux (they offer a box of JUST BORDEAUXS), the Buttercreams (milk and dark), and the "soft centers" boxes. They will also make up a custom box for you in-store, and you always, always receive one free sample as a customer.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:51 AM on December 10, 2014 [6 favorites]
Candy is dead to me since the demise of the Callard & Bowser Dessert Nougat. Dead, I tell you.
You do know that Dessert Nougat was basically the soft variety of torrone with glace cherries, right?
posted by pullayup at 10:51 AM on December 10, 2014
You do know that Dessert Nougat was basically the soft variety of torrone with glace cherries, right?
posted by pullayup at 10:51 AM on December 10, 2014
(This pink and green wrapping is what I refer to above, although I think Godiva have moved on now and are using a different color selection for packaging./derail)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:54 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:54 AM on December 10, 2014
I am hugely loyal to See's
There's a See's a half block from my office. The uniforms horrify me, all the moreso as the counter staff looks like they'd be happier with visible tattoos, piercings and black clothing.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:58 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
There's a See's a half block from my office. The uniforms horrify me, all the moreso as the counter staff looks like they'd be happier with visible tattoos, piercings and black clothing.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:58 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Speaking of candivores...
Nerf Herder - I Only Eat Candy...
posted by symbioid at 11:05 AM on December 10, 2014
Nerf Herder - I Only Eat Candy...
posted by symbioid at 11:05 AM on December 10, 2014
Trader Joe's needs to bring back the fizzy chocolate frogs (couldn't find a better link...this was my other choice, but that person saying "ewwwww" is wrong.).
posted by msbrauer at 11:14 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by msbrauer at 11:14 AM on December 10, 2014
It has not been the All Candy Expo for a number of years now. It's the Sweets & Snacks Expo now.
posted by phearlez at 11:35 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by phearlez at 11:35 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Someone recommended the Trader Joe's cherry cordials in a previous thread, so I was keen to try them this Xman. But according to my local TJs (Back Bay, Boston) they're discontinued. Have others seen them this year?
posted by benito.strauss at 11:37 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by benito.strauss at 11:37 AM on December 10, 2014
I'm surprised she hasn't tried Rowntree's Fruit Gums or Pastilles, which are far and away my favourite candy. For some reason they aren't officially sold in Canada but I was happy to see them in the 'International Foods' aisle of my local Walmart, at not too much of a mark-up unlike when they're sold in cutesy expat Britishe Shoppes.
posted by Flashman at 12:33 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by Flashman at 12:33 PM on December 10, 2014
The one and only thing I miss about living in the Bay Area is being able to get See's whenever I want. Now I have to wait until I visit (at which time I hie myself to a store almost as soon as I land and usually get around 20 pounds of various stuff, often causing the straitlaced staff to look at me with either bemusement or horror, I can't quite figure out which); order it online (they charge extra for warm-weather shipping, bah); or force anyone visiting to bring me back just one lousy one-pound box of the stuff. I hate it very much.
posted by holborne at 12:36 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by holborne at 12:36 PM on December 10, 2014
Are Chupa Chups available in the US? I have just realized how prevalent they were growing up in Australia, and that I have no recollection of seeing them here in the States. Are they a thing you buy? Their display stands were a fixture of trips to the corner store in my youth, and would surely make sense in many a bodega. Am I just blind to them, or are they not widely available?
posted by onetime dormouse at 12:37 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by onetime dormouse at 12:37 PM on December 10, 2014
She doesn't like ammonium chloride in her licorice, so I'll have to take her rankings with a pinch of delicious salt.
posted by bouvin at 12:41 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bouvin at 12:41 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
holborne - If you really want Sees you might pay attention to mall kiosks, if you have the misfortune to be in one. They crop up this time of year. I had the misfortune to be in Tyson's last week and we stopped and picked up a box to give as a gift at a mid-mall display. If they're in the Virginia area no reason they wouldn't be in NY.
posted by phearlez at 12:43 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by phearlez at 12:43 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Are Chupa Chups available in the US?
I don't know that I'd say they are widely available, but I have definitely seen them. I want to say at more specialty / foreign food stores? I was introduced to them a long while back by a friend who bought like a whole stand from a store, haven't seen them recently.
posted by tocts at 12:44 PM on December 10, 2014
I don't know that I'd say they are widely available, but I have definitely seen them. I want to say at more specialty / foreign food stores? I was introduced to them a long while back by a friend who bought like a whole stand from a store, haven't seen them recently.
posted by tocts at 12:44 PM on December 10, 2014
I had to stop reading this blog a few years back because it just made me crave candy like crazy. Great photography and write-ups, even if I don't always agree with her ratings.
posted by offalark at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by offalark at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
One of these years, I'm going to get into candymaking. Barley-sugar candy toys would be a fine excuse to buy a 3D printer - it's for making candy molds, for Christmas and Easter candy toys. I'm doing it for the children, you see.
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:01 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:01 PM on December 10, 2014
You do know that Dessert Nougat was basically the soft variety of torrone with glace cherries, right?
I'm aware of torrone, but the Dessert Nougat came wrapped in paper you could eat, and it was just…I dunno. Something's different with the other stuff. Mind you, nougat is a good thing, as long as you don't mean the shitty shit that comes in shitty American candy, but I miss eating paper with my nougat.
posted by sonascope at 1:46 PM on December 10, 2014
I'm aware of torrone, but the Dessert Nougat came wrapped in paper you could eat, and it was just…I dunno. Something's different with the other stuff. Mind you, nougat is a good thing, as long as you don't mean the shitty shit that comes in shitty American candy, but I miss eating paper with my nougat.
posted by sonascope at 1:46 PM on December 10, 2014
Someone recommended the Trader Joe's cherry cordials in a previous thread, so I was keen to try them this Xman. But according to my local TJs (Back Bay, Boston) they're discontinued. Have others seen them this year?
The Trader Joe's in Wellington, FL has them and I have bought and devoured two boxes so far this holiday season.
posted by Daily Alice at 2:17 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Trader Joe's in Wellington, FL has them and I have bought and devoured two boxes so far this holiday season.
posted by Daily Alice at 2:17 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
One of the best things about living in LA is driving down La Cienega past the See's factory. That chocolate smell is divine.
Every year at Christmas, my mom would get her dad a box of See's for Christmas, and we'd all share it as we took turns opening our presents. Time to resurrect that tradition with my own dad, I think.
posted by mogget at 2:20 PM on December 10, 2014
Every year at Christmas, my mom would get her dad a box of See's for Christmas, and we'd all share it as we took turns opening our presents. Time to resurrect that tradition with my own dad, I think.
posted by mogget at 2:20 PM on December 10, 2014
I don't eat much candy, but I love sour gummies and am on a perma-quest to find ones in the US that are as sour as the sour dummies I used to eat in the UK. So I am grateful to now have this blog in my life.
Also: watermelon flavor is a goddamn abomination.
posted by triggerfinger at 4:21 PM on December 10, 2014
Also: watermelon flavor is a goddamn abomination.
posted by triggerfinger at 4:21 PM on December 10, 2014
I had completely forgotten about this blog! I used to read it all the time.
I'm another See's fan transplanted to a See's-free land. My mom usually sends me a box at Christmas and I try to make it last as long as possible. Apparently some malls have See's kiosks? It might be worth driving 30 minutes to my nearest mall at Christmas time for a box of soft centers.
posted by apricot at 5:34 PM on December 10, 2014
I'm another See's fan transplanted to a See's-free land. My mom usually sends me a box at Christmas and I try to make it last as long as possible. Apparently some malls have See's kiosks? It might be worth driving 30 minutes to my nearest mall at Christmas time for a box of soft centers.
posted by apricot at 5:34 PM on December 10, 2014
The Sees shop finder is accurate with regards to the mall kiosk I saw this weekend and some are labeled seasonal so it's reasonably up to date. If your profile is accurate you're not going to find them at the closest mall but there's some at places 60mi from you in several directions.
posted by phearlez at 6:53 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by phearlez at 6:53 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
<3 Haribo. So happy they sell it in drug stores. Is that a recent thing? I don't remember seeing it so often as a kid, but maybe I just wasn't aware.
posted by oceanjesse at 8:42 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by oceanjesse at 8:42 PM on December 10, 2014
Anyone really into candy should read Candyfreak by Steve Almond. You will identify. You will cringe. You will read it again.
posted by xedrik at 10:43 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by xedrik at 10:43 PM on December 10, 2014
phearlez, thanks for that tip! I'll go on the hunt this weekend.
Seconding the recommendation for Candyfreak. Love that book.
posted by holborne at 7:58 AM on December 11, 2014
Seconding the recommendation for Candyfreak. Love that book.
posted by holborne at 7:58 AM on December 11, 2014
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posted by sonascope at 9:45 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]