Sugar Savvy

Andes Mints. Coffee Nips. Almond Roca. Three candies with not much in common, really, other than the fact that my grandma ALWAYS had them. And I always ate them when I visited her. (AND, as it turns out, they were all born not long after she was.) So, in honor of Mother’s Day, I would like to pay homage to these three classics that will forever be, for me, “Grandma Candies.”

Freida, my grandma, passed away last year at age 88. This will be the second Mother’s Day without her, and it still feels a little strange sending out just one card (to my own mother). Grandmothers are mothers, twice-over. And thrice-over if they are great-grandmothers, as was mine. And super duper EXCELLENT grandmothers, if they possess a secret stash of chocolate at any given time. As, mercifully, did mine.

With Mother’s Day approaching, I am naturally thinking about my grandmother (and, mom, too, of course). But with regard to candy, my thoughts seem to flow first toward Grandma.

This “super-secret chocolate stash” could consist of several varieties and types. I put this in quotations because the secret hiding spot really was no secret. It was not her intention to hord it, but I think putting it out of direct eyesight prevented all of us (including her and my diabetic grandpa) from incessant grazing. Plus, it was always fun to find out what was stowed away on that lower cupboard of the china breakfront. (I mean, if she was really trying to hide it from us, she wouldn’t have chosen a hiding spot so close to our eye-level!) It would not be uncommon to discover an opened box of See’s candies, reception sticks, Frango Mints or Hershey’s Miniatures. But I could be sure, with almost no exception, that I would open the cupboard to find the Andes, the Nips and the Roca.

Andes Mints.
As someone who doesn’t get too excited about milk chocolate, these really are a great chocolate/peppermint, nonetheless. I (consciously) chose not to include it in my round-up of peppermint patties last month, only because I figured it didn’t really count as a “patty,”per se. But they certainly do deserve a mention. They’ve been around since 1921, when my grandma was only five years old. She would buy these by the box. And, by the box, we would eat them. Some restaurants (the REALLY classy ones, of course) offer these on the little tray with your check at the end of the meal….soooo much more rewarding than the standard starlight peppermint.

Coffee Nips.
Do most little kids enjoy the taste of coffee as I always did? I loved coffee ice cream, anything mocha and would sometimes sprinkle Folger’s crystals onto my ice cream. What my grandma might have thought of as her one “adult” candy that was safe from my absconding ways was, in fact, not. Safe, that is. I still love Nips, despite their filling-extracting capabilities. They are just so creamy and sweet and coffee-y. One day in 7th grade, my friend Sarah and I bought a bag of them at Dari-Mart, the little market across the street from our junior high. Having eaten about ten or eleven apiece during 6th period French class, I can tell you, with certainty, that these are NOT made with decaffeinated coffee. I think Madame Fernandes suspected we were on speed that day. Or had forgotten to take Le Ritalin.

Almond Roca
Oh, the Roca…another acceptable use of milk chocolate. My grandma lived in Tacoma, Washington, home to Brown and Haley. They are, of course, the maker of all things Roca - as well as the famous Mountain Bar. Almond Roca was first created in 1923; again, just a few years after she was. For inexplicable reasons, I have NEVER toured this factory. Having been to Tacoma at least 150 times in my life, I have no idea why not. Just now, at this very moment, I have mentally planned a visit to honor the next anniversary of her passing. Or, better, her birthday – since this will come sooner!

I am surprised when people have never heard of Almond Roca, but I suppose this is because it is still somewhat regional. It is more special (i.e: expensive) than a standard candy bar, so getting to eat it was indeed a rare treat. These were the crème de la crème in my book, better than the Andes, better than the Nips. Unwrapping a Roca log from its GOLD FOIL (ooh, la la), I would bite into the little chocolate and chopped almond-covered log of crumbly, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth toffee.

Heaven.

Which is, undoubtedly the eternal dwelling place of any woman who so consistently and unconditionally shared such lovely, lovely treats with her grandchildren.

P.S. My own mom gave us candy, too. I don’t want to give the impression that she didn’t show us the same love. (Candy IS love, right?) Next year, I’ll tell you all about the Necco Wafers, Jordan Almonds and marshmallows-under-the pillow after naptime. I love you, too, Mom!

Andes Mints and Almond Roca photos provided by Google Images.
Coffee Nips photo provide by Candyfavorites.com