Sugar Savvy

I’m not exactly sure how this almost slid by without a mention on this blog, but it’s only proper that the Limited Edition Elvis Reese’s be officially acknowledged on Sugar Savvy.  So here it is, a Johnny-come-lately post on a much-awaited and unprecedented genre of a limited edition candy bar.

Cybele at Candy Blog, Brian at Candy Addict and Patti at Candy Yum Yum all weighed in on the Elvis Cups several weeks ago.   At that time, I was unable to locate the elusive candy in Portland, and was forced to live vicariously through their descriptions.  Then, Cybele posted a follow-up to her original post, asking readers to report their Elvis sightings.  Earlier this week, while reading of these sightings across the country (overwhelmingly occurring at Walgreen’s, by the way), I was beginning to feel left out of this pivotal moment in Candy History.  So I decided to jump on my bike and head up to my neighborhood Walgreen’s and see if they’d shown up since I’d last checked.

I looked in the regular spots where the limited editions are typically displayed: nada.  But just when I’d abandoned all hope and was leaving the store defeated, THERE HE WAS!  Right at the cash register, Hawaiian Elvis was beckoning me forth in his purple lei.   “The King Size” (seriously, that’s what it says on the package), were $1 apiece. I bought three.

I was assuming that the cashier would share in the thrill of my triumph, but her only comment was:  “that sounds really nauseating.”  (I’d bet that the Walgreen’s employee training manual does not suggest uttering words of disgust directed at customers’ purchases, but I could be wrong…)

Brian at Candy Addict declared that Reese’s “absolutely nailed the taste of a banana”, a statement that leads me to wonder what type of bananas he’s been eating.  In other words, I don’t agree.   While the ingredients do list “banana flakes” (whatever that might be), they also include artificial banana flavoring.  Not that I expected otherwise, but I’m just saying.   I will tell you that I LOVE bananas in cake, cookies, muffins, bread, etc., but I am much less adoring of fake banana flavoring.  In fact, I really dislike it   With that said, however, because the banana layer is relatively thin and provides background notes rather than taking center stage, the usually cloying and overpowering taste of artificial banana (as experienced in a banana Wacky Wafer, for example) is instead much more subtle.  It actually kind of works here.  I’m curious to taste the non-“The King Size” versions to see how the varying ratios of banana to peanut butter and chocolate play out in regular and miniature cups.

The back of each bar is printed with what I would consider to be in the “no duh” category of Elvis trivia, such as this nugget:

“Elvis Presley served in the U.S Army in Friedberg, Germany.”

I think we all knew that.  I would be more interested to read what Elvis’s favorite candy bar was, for example.  Alright, time out: I couldn’t help myself.  I just Googled “Elvis Favorite Candy Bar”:

“Urban Legends state that the Heath bar was Elvis Presley’s favorite candy bar, and the company once sent him a complimentary case of it.”

Okay, so I guess Reese’s wouldn’t be rushing to state that fact.  But on the other hand, since they’re both made by Hershey’s, why not?

Truly, though, the genius of this bar is the very notion of it, not its actual execution.  I’m only wondering why Reese’s held back and chose not to go “whole hog” and put out a Peanut Butter and Bacon Peanut Butter Cup.  It might be slow to catch on, but I think the world is ready for it.  I know some people in Portland who certainly are (see bin 69), but I’ll save that revelation for a future post.

All hail The King!  Elvis Aaron Presley:  January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977.
Photo at top of page courtesy of Candyblog.net