Cookie Week Continues: Costco Cookie Conclave

This whole theming thing for my posts has been completely unintentional. I start out writing one thing and before I know it my brain has made connections to other things I already have. My last post busted through my Oreo backlog (I think I am all caught up on those now), and this post covers items I recently bought to celebrate a coworker's birthday. (Except the black and whites, those were all for me.)

Having themes has helped me bust through my stash faster, which is awesome, but it's not something I am going to be rigidly sticking to from here on out. So be prepared for me to go back into super random nonsense pretty soon. In the meantime, here's my thought on 3 different cookies purchased at Costco.

Hi-Chew Fantasy Mix

When I started the blog over a decade ago (time is so weird!), Hi-Chew was much harder for me to find. I used to stock up during my trips to the Asian Food Market (RIP), but now you can find it everywhere.

With it being more readily available, I actually found myself losing interest and buying it less over the years. (I guess scarcity makes the heart grow fonder.) That is until I saw this bag at Target. While all three flavors sound fun, it was the Rainbow Sherbet that sealed the deal! 

Just keep Chewing - Yogurt3 Hi-Chew

Yogurt Drink Hi-Chew - Hung Vuong Market

I want buffalo chicken and Yakult flavored everything.

Yakult, is a tiny, sweet, yogurt-based probiotic drink popularized in America by the, "To All The Boys," series of movies. (Which I haven't seen.) They are easy to find in any Asian market, and there all all kinds of brands with their own takes on the drink and fruity flavor variations.  

It's typical for me to go through foodie-flavor-phases, meaning I'll get really into something and consume it until I get absolutely sick of it, but this is a particularly unique combination. To satisfy my cravings I have made buffalo chicken dip, buffalo chicken soup (which was especially delicious), a buffalo chicken casserole, and I went to H-Mart and grabbed several packs of Yakult and these candies from Hung Vuong Market.  

That said, these are not technically "Yakult" flavored candies, but we all know what they're going for.

Mr. Owl's Eggs? - Tootsie Roll Eggs

Tootsie Roll Eggs - Dollar Tree

Tootsie Rolls are one of those products I never think to buy on their own, but I am always happy to see it in a candy dish or in a seasonal candy bag. They're simple, chewy, chocolatey, and unlike other candies, they still taste exactly how I remember them. (Can't say the same about Crunch bars or Buncha Crunch, have you guys eaten those lately? What the heck happened to it?!)

Other than a few new flavors of Tootsie Pops over the years, like banana, pomegranate and others, there hasn't been much innovation to their product line. Which is why these Tootsie Eggs, essentially Tootsie Rolls with a crispy sugary shell, were so intriguing. Would it drastically change my opinion on the candy? After all, I'm a sucker for a crispy shell. I love chicklet-style gum, I love the candy shell on Cadbury eggs, m&m's, and the Reese's cup with Reese's Pieces mixed in is phenomenal. Probably my favorite new thing Reese's has done in the last 5 years. So, why not see what a crispy shell can do for a classic like Tootsie. 

Two Tantalizingly Tangy Tropical Taffys! - Pineapple & Guava Laffy Taffy

Pineapple and Guava Laffy Taffy - Dollar Tree

First those Laff Bites last week, and now these? 

Turns out I've been doing this for long enough that I have finally forgotten what items I've reviewed and what I haven't. In my mind I thought I had already written up a bunch of flavors of Laffy Taffy, so I searched for them on my own blog and ended up finding only one post, the fall themed Pumpkin Donut and Apple Crisp flavors they released in 2016. (And last week's Laff Bites of course.)

That's it. How is that possible? I know for a fact I have eaten a ton of Laffy Taffy in my lifetime, maybe not so much in the last 3-years, but still! This is something I should remedy, and thankfully Dollar Tree had this fun tropical peg-bag at the ready. 

Oh, and when can peanuts laugh? 

Banana Laff Bites - Lafflettes

Laffy Taffy Gone Bananas Laff Bites  - Dollar Tree

I really liked Laffy Taffy as a kid, back when there used to be monsters on the wrappers and mix-ins, like candy watermelon seeds, but since they changed to a more stream-lined look with less texture, it just hasn't been the same. I still buy it from time to time, and if there is a new flavor (like apple crisp) I'll write about it, but when it comes to my normal non-blogging candy cravings, they just aren't in the rotation. 

When I spotted these at Dollar Tree I thought it was interesting that another product was looking for a way to ditch the wrapper and go bite-sized. I also wondered if this really was the same as normal Laffy Taffy, just more snackable, or if it suffered the same fate as all the unwrapped Starburst products that were completely reformulated. 

Let's find out. Oh! And why did the banana need medicine?  

Puccho, is that you? - Puchao

Puchao

Lookie what I found at Walmart! Puchao, or really, Puccho, just repackaged and rebranded for international audiences. Over the years Hi-Chew has gotten far easier to get in the states, with various flavors available at places like Walmart, 7-Eleven, and Five Below. I guess Puccho realized they have a similar enough product, so why not make it look similar and target the same audience? 

But, will it taste the same? Or did they reformulate? 

So Freaking Cute, I HAD to have it

Sumikkogurashi Puccho (with Washi Tape!) - Hung Voung Market

Hello, my name is Maria, and I am a sucker for cute packaging and a craft supply hoarder. It's like this product was made for me.

I am not a San-X fan, in fact, I had to google these characters to even know what they were, but I couldn't resist a tiny roll of (potentially) adorable washi tape. 

For those interested, these characters are Sumikkogurashi, pretty much adorable little animals/objects/anthropomorphic food who prefer living a solitary live in the corner of a room. An oddly specific interest for sure, and their bios indicate that each character has their own issues, like body insecurity, being generally fed up, and being discarded. The concept seems like a downer at first, but...same. 

See for yourself: 

Lidl's take on Skittles - Worth the Buy?

Sweet & Sour Crunchy & Chewy Candy - Lidl

Chocolates are easy to copy. I have seen variations of peanut butter cups from pretty much every store out there from big chains to mom and pop's, tons of candy bars that look an awful lot like Snickers, but aren't, and I have even seen plenty of takes on m&m's, but fruity candy? That's harder to dupe. 

There are a few exceptions, like gummy bears, which are available from tons of brands, but how often do you see a knock-off Skittles? 

I have seen a few faux Starburst over the years, but something that this closely matches Skittles is so rare. They even have 3 of the same flavors as Original Skittles, and it comes in normal and sour flavors. How will these compare? 

Starburst on Steroids

Sweet & Sour Hi-Chew  - H-Mart

If you've never experienced a Hi-Chew, you're missing out. These are Starburst on steroids. I introduced my fiancee to these candies when we started dating, and since he loves all things chewy, they quickly became one of his favorite candies. 

Thankfully they are getting more traction here in America. A few years ago I could only find them in Asian markets, but now big chains like Target, Walmart, and 7-Eleven regularly keep them in stock. It's beautiful. Still, for the more unique flavors and mixes, the Asian markets can't be beat. I grabbed these at H-Mart and I'm excited to give them a try since I have NEVER had a bad flavor of Hi-Chew, but you know what they say? Never say never.

Well, shake it up baby now! Twist and...meh? - Lemonhead Twists

Lemonhead Twists - Walmart 

While running errands I had a craving for some tangy candy. Instead of reaching for an old faithful, I decided to try something new. Was it worth the risk? We shall see...

Candyology 101 Episode: 38 Now & Later

Candyology 101 - Lemonhead

It's a fruit flavored chewy taffy square that has always lived in Starburst's shadow. On today's Candyology 101 Cybele and I talk about Now and Laters! This tangy taffy may be the enemy of fillings and dental work, but it something I grew up enjoying with my friends and I feel like it's never had it's moment in the sun. There's not much history for this product, but there is something very very wrong with their wiki page.... What am I talking about? Tune in to find out, and click THIS link for the show notes with links so you can see it with your own eyes.

Subscribe to the show via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS.

Plus, we're now available in the Google Play Music Store! Or you can download today's MP3 file HERE. 

© Maria Smith http://poison-and-antidote.net

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Project 7 Key Lime Pie Build+A+Flavor Gum - Target

Project 7 Key Lime Pie Build+A+Flavor Gum - Target

I've gushed over Project 7's packaging and overall branding, but to be honest, the only product of theirs I truly love and repurchase on a regular basis are their vanilla peppermints. This company has TONS of gum flavors, but I always feel like the taste never lives up to their fancy flavor names, but maybe that will change now that we have these Target exclusive Build+A+Flavor packs. 

Back when Dessert Delights gum was around they had a Key Lime Pie flavor, and it was my absolute favorite! Since it was discontinued a few years ago I've been missing my chewable pie-flavored fix, so I'm really hoping this will be an adequate (or improved) replacement.

PEZ Hedz Bearz - Dollar Tree - Cherry Hill, NJ

PEZ Hedz Bearz - Dollar Tree - Cherry Hill, NJ

Looking at this item, it's packaging, and the flavor variety, my gut told me, "do not buy it." I went months without ever seeing this on the shelves, and yet, here we are.

When I was buying some other items for our Candyology101 podcast, I saw this hanging in the candy aisle at Dollar Tree, and after passing it by a few times, I finally decided to give it the benefit of a doubt. Maybe my original assumptions were wrong and this will turn out to be a miraculously awesome candy. It's happened before, but today is not one of those days.

Extra Pumpkin Spice Gum - Target: Marlton, NJ

Extra Pumpkin Spice Gum - Target: Marlton, NJ

So I wasn't a huge fan of the Trident layers Pumpkin Spice gum, it tasted like I was making out with Bath & Body Works, but I heard this Extra version was better. I saw a pack of three on clearance for a dollar at Target and figured, why not check it out?

Strawberry Watermelon 2-in-1 AirHeads - Five Below : The Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Strawberry Watermelon 2-in-1 AirHeads - Five Below : The Gallery, Philadelphia, PA  

Now that the video haul is up, I can finally dig into my Chinatown goodies! (I know, I know, I already opened the Peepsicles. I was just too excited.) I have been eying this Airhead since I saw it in the store.

There isn’t much to the packaging, it’s just a foiled plastic wrapper, but the design is fairly busy. I understand the two toned color scheme, and the logo is a must-have, but the bold yellow and red message saying, “2-in-1 Big Bar” is just over the top and obnoxious. Yellow is eye catching, but I feel like it would still stand out if the splattered background shape was white. I can’t be too critical. This is a candy that is made to appeal to children. Kids like bright colors and crazy designs, so I bet this works well with their target demographic.

Banpeiyu Da Mon Puccho - Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Banpeiyu Da Mon Puccho - Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Here is another flavor of Puccho candy! The label didn’t have much English, so I assumed that this flavor was yuzu after looking at the label,but this is actually banpeiyu flavored. What is banpeiyu? (I had to look it up.)

"…banpeiyu fruits are citrus fruits that bear a resemblance to hugely oversized grapefruits.”

All of the flavors I have reviewed so far have stuck to the classic Puccho mascot or AKB48 members, but this specific flavor is a little different from the others. This package features a big black bear character. The front of the packaging features the fruit itself and bear mascot, but overall it’s very basic. I love the bold contrast of the yellow and black with red accents.