Starburst Original Fruit Chew Candy 2oz

Every candy vending machine has certain items.  It's as if there's some cosmic code that these candies have to be sold.  You can almost always find M&Ms (both plain and peanut) or Milky Way.  Snickers and Three Musketeers are also very common.  One of the ones I usually see is Starburst.  I'm sure you've seen it, too.

For those that have never actually tried them, they're little box-shaped candies that are square on two sides.  The standard flavor assortment is pink (strawberry), orange (orange), yellow (lemon) and red (cherry).  Each flavor is pretty close to what it's supposed to be.  The texture is sort of waxy and the candies are pretty easy to chew.  They're a little sweet, but not too bitter.

If I recall, the 2-ounce package comes with 12 candies, three of each flavor.  The flavors alternate, making it a little more difficult to pick out one or two flavors.  Each candy is individually wrapped, which makes it easy to share them or save them for later.  (I've tried both and neither one is all that easy, considering that I like all of the flavors.)  I've never seen any particular flavor sold individually outside of bulk-candy store.

The price is comparable to any other candy of its size.  Expect to pay around 75¢ each, give or take a quarter.  I've liked for a long time.  I remember sitting in class in high school and college eating them one at a time.  Sometimes, to maximize flavor, I'd flatten them in the individual wrappers.  (It maximizes contact with the tongue.)

I've never seen another fruit chew sold in this form, at least not in vending machines or at drug stores.  As such, it has no direct competition.  The closest thing I can think of is Skittles or maybe jelly beans.  (If you think of something, please feel free to leave a comment.)  I'd recommend these to anyone with a sweet tooth.

Chuckles Candy

Note:  This review was originally posted to my Epinions account.

How the heck do you write a review on candy? Normally, many varieties of candy are so ubiquitous that explanation is really unnecessary. Add to that the fact that most candy cost less than a dollar unless you’re buying the family size. There really isn’t much of a need to do reviews on candy. You buy a single pack, take a bite and at worst, you’re out a few dollars. Then, I came across a review for Chuckles. It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen them in a while. (Not that I’ve been looking that hard…)

It’s pretty rare these days that I take a serious look at a vending machine. Usually, they’re overpriced. When I go into a convenience store or supermarket, it’s not to buy candy. However, when I did buy candy a lot, I noticed that there are some candies that are neglected. Chuckles happens to be one of them.

When looking online, I noticed that they are available for purchase. (Just do a search on Google and you should be able to find at least one vendor.) I noticed that to save on shipping, you have to spend a lot. (Who wants to order just one package, anyway?) That leads me to another good question: How the heck do you review Chuckles? I mean, it’s a candy. You’re basically looking at oversized, flattened gumdrops that have more flavor.

For those that have never seen the package, each one contains five different misshapen gumdrops. The candies come in a three-sided cardboard tray and are wrapped in plastic. Each candy is roughly rectangular in shape and you get each of five flavors, with those flavors being lemon, lime, cherry, licorice and orange. This selection has never varied when they were more common. I’ve never seen any special holiday flavors nor have I ever seen them individually wrapped.

This is odd, considering that I seem to be the only person that really likes the licorice. (Note: The objection to licorice seems to stem mostly from the flavor in general rather than from the specific Chuckles licorice.) My favorite is the lime flavor, but lemon and orange are pretty good, too.

They’re pretty chewy, but not like gum. They have consistency similar to that of a gumdrop and are also covered in sugar the same way. The comparison to gumdrops basically differs in the intensity of the flavor, from what I can recall. They’re also pretty fun to eat, although it’s pretty quick. Each one takes no more than three bites if you’re trying to go slowly, and that’s pushing it.

Writing the review makes me want to go out and buy a pack. I don’t know why I never got it more as a kid. I think it’s mostly because my parents weren’t that big on sugary stuff. Maybe next time I’m at Publix, I look for some.