Sugar Savvy

As a candy enthusiast, I am just enamored with confectionery. As much as I love trying as many new kinds that I can, there’s a few types of candy that I find myself returning to just because I love it that much. I can’t narrow it down to a specific candy bar or brand, but I can narrow it down to some categories.

1. Chocolate: I love this stuff in all its forms: dark, milk and white. From KitKats and Milky Ways to single origin 100% cacao bars, I’ll gladly inhale chocolate in any way that I can get my hands on it. Depending on my mood and the type of chocolate I’ve aquired, it’s fun to munch or savor slowly. Put simply, I can’t get enough of chocolate.

2. Black Licorice: I didn’t always enjoy black licorice. I remember my Dad being the only one in the house that’d eat it when I was a kid. His appreciation of it inspired me to give it a try in recent years and, to my surprise and delight, I really enjoyed it! My current favorite ways to enjoy it are Good ‘n Plenty, Groitten, and my newest find, with the help of Cybele, Schoolkrijt.

3. Nougat: This is another confection that I witnessed my Dad enjoying as I grew up. He’d get some as a gift every Christmas and always enjoyed it so much. I’m not picky as to the kind of nougat I’m having: whether it’s a fancy torrone from Europe or a Big Hunk, I’m always elated for the chance to eat it.

4. Fruit Jellies: My first try of this type of candy was back a few years ago when I tried the Whole Foods brand fruit gems. Also called “Pates de Fruits,” you can find several different varieties out on the market. There’s something about the way they look with the granulated sugar coating and the intensely colored jelly underneath. The texture is always heavenly, dense and firm but still soft to chew. And the flavor? So incredibly intense: it’s like biting into the real fruit but with 50 times the concentrated flavor.

So what are your favorite candies? One of the best things about sweets in being able to share them!