Starburst Jelly Beans: FaveREDS

"The reason bad things happen to you is because
 you're a dumbass." - Reginald "Red" Forman

Whoever invented FaveREDS is a genius. The whole concept isn't unique to Starburst, since Mike & Ike Red Rageous is a similar idea, but the first person who sat there and said "let's put a bunch of awesome flavors, some of the best flavors, and create new flavors, all together and name them something relating to...their color" deserves an award, a parade, and maybe even his or her own holiday. I'm not even being facetious. I'm sitting here trying to write a review while shoveling handfuls of these beans into my mouth.

Starburst Jelly Bean FaveREDS take this concept to another level. Cherry. Watermelon. Strawberry. Bam. That's it. That's all you need. Each is delicious and the watermelon is scrumdiddlyumptious. Stop reading this blog and go get yourself some right now.

Starburst Jelly Beans: FaveREDS

Similarity to traditional beans: 8.3 - They are small and the outer shell is distinct, adding a crunch. When comparing this to traditional jelly beans, they are not a perfect match, but that *pop that occurs when you bite into one is unmatched by any other jelly bean. It is without doubt a crunch that is the most subtle crunch you can get from a candy shell. Words can't describe it, I won't continue to try, it is amazing.

How taste compares to original candy: 9.5 - They are the Starburst fruit chew flavors in bean form. Not only that, did I say they are AMAZING! The strawberry is smooth and oh-so-good, just like the pink fruit chews that are possibly one of the best candies ever. Seriously, half the bag is gone and I need to hide it right now or it might be an all jelly bean dinner tonight.

Overall taste: 10.0 - Perfection. Great flavor and the combination of flavors is...yes, amazing. There is no rogue flavor you shy from and they can all be eaten with the same fervor. These are a must try for every candy connoisseur and those who just like Starburst will find a new way to satisfy their palates for the delicious fruit taste.

From left to right: Cherry, watermelon, strawberry

From the company: Serving size 1/4 cup - 140 calories, 0g of fat, 34g of carbs, 27g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Hawaiian Punch Jelly Beans

"How 'bout a nice Hawaiian Punch?"
"Sure."

The Hawaiian Punch Jelly Beans were bound to fly under the radar, what, with all the other amazing flavors of jelly beans out there. This shouldn't have been the case since growing up Hawaiian Punch was probably the most sugary of the beverages bestowed on American children and I should expect some serious sweetness with these beans. Second, they are made by Brachs, who delivers quality beans every year.

Even after opening, they still seem to fly under the radar. They are not amazing and there isn't a strong flavor. I haven't had Hawaiian Punch in years so the ability of the bean to replicate their liquid counterparts is difficult, however based on my memory, Hawaiian Punch was very, very sweet and these are not. It does not make the beans bad by any sense, rather it makes them forgettable. There is a sourness to a few of the flavors that makes them something to try but definitely not a repeat purchase.

Hawaiian Punch Jelly Beans

Similarity to traditional beans: 7.5 - Since they are Brachs, they do imitate traditional beans quite well outside of the fact that they are smaller than traditional beans. Their shells are distinct from the inner core of the bean and one thing I really like about the beans is their color. The majority of them are spotted and look like little dinosaur eggs, which is fun and possibly a great way to add variation to a child's Easter basket.

How the taste compares to the original candy, or in this case, fruit juice: 7.3 - Again, it has been a while since I've had Hawaiian Punch so I'm basing the majority of this review on the red beans, the fruit punch ones, since Hawaiian Fruit Punch is a flavor few of us can forget. As a child, it was so sugary it bordered on sour (if that is possible) as it stained the inside of your mouth and gave your lips a cherry glow. The beans do a good job of mimicking classic Hawaiian Punch flavors in a subtle way, which is good since eating such a strong flavor would be much more difficult than drinking it.

Overall taste: 7.0 - These jelly beans are not a must try unless you really love Hawaiian Punch. These beans have a mild taste and speaking from experience, do not stand out as a must try. The flavors are a bit mild but the real appeal these beans offer is their style. They seriously look like little dinosaur eggs!

From left to right: Fruit Juicy Red, Lemon Berry Squeeze, Green Berry Rush,
Mango Passionfruit Squeeze, Berry Blue Typhoon, and Orange Ocean

From the company: Serving size 25 pieces - 140 calories, 0g of fat, 36g of carbs, 30g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Mike & Ike Jelly Beans

         Did Mike and Ike call off the feud for Easter?       

Readers of this blog will (hopefully) know that one of my favorite candies is Mike & Ikes, specifically the cherry ones. I was extremely excited to see the Mike & Ike Jelly Beans and that might be an understatement. Looking at the bag in the store the one thing that stood out was that the jelly beans included a grape flavor, which means this could be a combination of regular Mike & Ikes and Jolly Joes....?

Well it is and it is absolutely glorious. A few friends have commented how Mike & Ikes were sort of elongated jelly beans, so making Mike & Ike flavored jelly beans seems like a no brainer. The flavor line-up for these beans includes the regular Mike & Ike flavors in addition to a pineapple flavor, something new to me. Before I even attempt to review these, I just have to say these beans are a must try for any Mike & Ike lover.

Mike & Ike Jelly Beans

Similarity to traditional beans: 8.0 - The beans are small but the consistency and layering is spot on with traditional beans. The shape of individual beans is less egg shaped and there are many that have flat bottoms. I can't really say more about the appearance because these beans are Mike & Ikes and could be square and I'd still crave them. They are not the traditional jelly bean consistency, but close enough to warrant a high score.

How the taste compares to the original candy: 9.6 - I can't rate this any higher. The cherry is the cherry from the regular Mike & Ikes. The grape is the Jolly Joe flavor. The rest, all almost identical to their non-seasonal candy counterparts. The rating is so high because not only are the flavors so good, they throw in the grape and the pineapple, which isn't bad at all!

Overall taste: 9.0 - I'm biased but I think any candy aficionado would agree there are few jelly beans out there that duplicate their classic taste more than these. I love Mike & Ikes so I do love these. They are not overly sweet, they have a great consistency, and can be eaten by the handful or individually and still pack an amazing flavor.

From left to right: lemon, pineapple, cherry, strawberry, grape, orange and lime

From the company: Serving size 23 pieces - 140 calories, 0g of fat, 36g of carbs, 27g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Swedish Fish Jelly Beans

                                                                                                

Having pounds of jelly beans in your house is dangerous. Since buying all the beans, I've had to replace four bags: two Starburst, Life Savers and a Mike & Ike. Despite breaking into those bags prematurely, I did not touch the bag that was possibly the most anticipated, the Swedish Fish Jelly Beans, for the sole reason that I was not sure I could find another bag. When I came across these, they were the last bag in the section.

Getting right to the beans (because when I ripped open the bag I dug in for a handful) there will be three areas for comparison and rating for all beans: similarity to a traditional candy bean, how the taste compares to the original candy (do Starburst beans capture the essence of Starburst flavor?) and lastly, overall taste.

Swedish Fish Jelly Beans

Similarity to a traditional bean: 6.0 - The beans are small, but that alone isn't the reason for this score. The shell is thick for the size and sort of merges into the jelly center, rather than there being a defined border. I feel the shell, in traditional beans, can typically be removed carefully with the teeth. The Swedish Fish beans however, do not completely feel that way.

How the taste compares to the original candy: 8.0 - This is exactly, if not better, than expected for flavor. True Swedish Fish are a category of their own, with the only argument being which size is the best. With that said, the beans really do capture the cherry sweetness in a completely different form.

Overall flavor: 6.9 - I want to give this a seven, I really do, but there is just something about these that make me feel like I won't finish the whole bag in one or two sittings. The bag is a bit large, but my candy binges are larger, and when I crave a candy or find something new and totally delicious (see Mike & Ike Fruit Twists) I lose control. I don't feel that about these but that's not to say I dislike them. They just haven't won me over.

Despite his appearance, the guy on the right tasted delicious

From the company: Serving size 33 pieces - 150 calories, 0g of fat, 37g of carbs, 27g of sugar, and 0g of protein.

Is This Too Many Jelly Beans?

Each holiday brings holiday candy and candy lovers must take advantage and indulge while the offerings are available. Jelly beans, the classic Brachs ones, are what I grew up on and the cherry beans are some of my favorite candies. In a recent trip to buy some I saw a wide range of jelly bean brands and figured some blog time should be devoted to this seasonal legume.

I've known about other brands for a long time and definitely get my fill of Starburst jelly beans every year. But now there are multiple flavors of Starburst and this year I was exposed to Mike & Ike jelly beans for the first time! Over the next few weeks I'm going to sample a selection of jelly beans and hopefully find a clear best bean (although as we saw with Cream Soda Week, I'm not very good at crowning a winner so don't expect one. Plus, I'm biased. I just love the Brachs red ones, of which they now make an all red bag!).

"Well, I hope you also carry a spare bowl of candy beans."
- Gob Bluth

The jelly bean line up consists of:
Brachs Classic Jelly Bird Eggs
Brachs Tiny Jelly Bird Eggs
Mike & Ike Jelly Beans
Lifesavers Jelly Beans
Hawaiian Punch Jelly Beans
SweeTarts Jelly Beans
Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans
Swedish Fish Jelly Beans
Gold Emblem Jelly Beans
Starburst Original Jelly Beans
Starburst FavReds Jelly Beans
Starburst Crazy Beans


I can't even say which I'm most excited about...Swedish Fish? Brachs Tiny? I couldn't help myself and already dipped into the Mike & Ikes and they were awesome. This is going to be tough.

Mountain Dew Kickstart

      "Custom built bike doing 103, my heart, my heart,     
Kickstart  my heart!" - Motley Crue

I'm not one to drink coffee, or really eat anything for breakfast besides a sugary cereal, so my exposure to anything breakfast beverage related is limited. With Mt. Dew launching Kickstart, I may have possibly found a morning beverage of choice. But first, let me just be honest. I drink soda whenever, which includes for breakfast, or even before dawn.

Mt. Dew's Kickstart won't revolutionize my life but despite the company not really calling the beverage an energy drink (the labels read "energizing orange citrus" and "energizing fruit punch"), my guess is that the market that Kickstart targets is the same that drinks the large energy drink containers (of which Kickstart shares the same size - 16oz). What I reeeally like so far before even getting a taste is that each can only contains 80 calories, so if this stuff is delicious, IF Energizing Orange Citrus is reminiscent of Livewire (one can only hope), then maybe I will have to become a regular consumer. We'll take each flavor on its own and give a mini-review, since in reality, this isn't soda, it's a morning beverage.

Orange Citrus

                                                                       

Before I say anything I have to say it's good. There is no hint of whatever makes energy drinks taste like they do. The overwhelming flavor is the orange citrus and I'm reminded more of orange juice instead of soda. The label does say it contains 5% juice. It has a good bite and that alone gives me a little jolt of energy. With all the positive to say about the drink, I must divulge my negative thoughts. It feels a little filling; like 16 oz is going to be a struggle to put down. The beverage also "feels" sugary, meaning there is an aftertaste similar to soda compared to a juice.It is not overly sweet but has a solid flavor for orange and depending on how I feel in a little bit, we'll be able to see if this breakfast beverage upholds the claim of being energizing.

Fruit Punch

                                                                      

The red liquid pouring from the mouth of the can is unmistakable: this is fruit punch. Prior to having the fruit punch flavored Goya soda during La Semana de Gasoesas, I'd never really had a fruit punch flavored soda beverage. The odor is not strong and honestly, the flavor is not too strong. Fruit punch makes my lips/mouth smack, almost pucker but not in a sour way. Fruit Punch Kickstart has 50% of that which I guess can be preferable if one is drinking this in the morning. Like the Orange Citrus, it is sugary but not overly sweet.


The important thing about this beverage is the nutritional facts. As I mentioned before, there is only 80 calories per can, but the rest of the stats stack up like this: Orange - 80 calories, 0g of fat, 21g of carbs, 20g of sugar, 0g of protein, 100% DV Vitamin C, 80% DV Vitamin B6: Fruit Punch - 80 calories, 0g of fat, 20g of carbs, 19g of sugar, 0g of protein, 100% DV Vitamin C, 80% DV Vitamin B6).

Not bad for a carbonated beverage from the makers of Mt. Dew. Oh, and I didn't really do anything active following imbibing these beverages, and I drank them at night, so their ability to "kickstart" my day could not really be measured.

Jones' Supports Breast Cancer with Special Flavor

"Your credit card called. They wanted to make sure you're
the one buying all the cream soda in bulk." - Kenneth
to Liz (30 Rock)

Jones' released pink cream soda this past October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read more about it here. Personally, I'm ecstatic. When I did my cream soda review I did not have any Jones' Cream Soda, and since Cream Soda Week I have tried it and I like it. It's different, a little mild, but it has this bubble bite and a weird ability to feel colder than you'd think when it runs across the tongue. Think the way mint cools the mouth, HOWEVER, there is no mint flavor. Please don't let me confuse readers by saying mint because I do really enjoy Jones' robust range of flavors and it is fully creamy and smooth.

Getting back to these special editions, the reason this makes me so happy is that (if you didn't read the link above) is that a portion of the profits from soda sales will be donated to an organization determined to raise breast cancer awareness among young people. Kudos to Jones for doing this and showing that soda companies bring more to the community than delicious beverages.