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Candy patties are in mint condition
By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published April 26, 2006
When the first-graders at my daughter's school were taking standardized tests, the teacher asked parents to donate peppermint patties. She said they have "brain boosting" ingredients.
Taster's Choice panelists are no experts on brain building, but they know their candy - and their waistlines.
We compared eight brands of the chocolate-covered mints and found the lower-fat treat to be high in quality.
The winning mint in our survey was the Weight Watchers brand $2.99 for 3.25 ounces. The Weight Watchers mints had less sugar, more fat and about the same number of calories as the other mints. If the panelists hadn't been so impressed with the taste, they said they might not have selected the Weight Watchers brand in the past. From now on, three of the four panelists said they would buy the mints. Judges gave the Weight Watchers brand 90 out of a possible 100 points.
"These are yummy, creamy and gooey," said one judge.
"They have a refreshing taste of peppermint and a sharp aftertaste," said another.
The second favorite was a thinner but flavor-packed Ghirardelli dark chocolate square with white mint filling ($2.99 for 5.32 ounces). Judges gave the Ghirardelli mints 89 points. Two of the four said they plan to buy these.
The Ghirardelli thin mints were among the highest in fat and calories, but that obviously contributed to the high score.
"This has a great, roasted taste to the chocolate," one panelist said. "It's chic, like a stroll through Golden Gate Park on your way to Union Square."
Other judges liked the crispness of the mint. It snapped when broken apart.
"This is so delicious that I want to sit and let it melt in my mouth," said a judge who gave the Ghirardelli mints a perfect score.
A sugar-free mint by Russell Stover ($1.79 for 3.5 ounces) was the third pick among our panelists.
Like the Weight Watchers brand, these sugar-free mints were higher in fat than some of their counterparts.
"They have a nice, thick chocolate coating and a squishy inside," one taster said. "They are pretty and wavy, too."
Again, two of the four judges likely will buy the Russell Stover mints.
Also tasted were: York peppermint patties ($2.99 for 13 ounces); York sugar-free peppermint patties ($1.99 for 3 ounces); Necco Thin Mints ($1.49 for 6 ounces); Pearsons ($1.97 for 12 ounces); and Junior Mints ($1.29 for 5 ounces).
Panelists were: Nan Jensen, registered dietitian with Pinellas County Cooperative Extension; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio@620; personal chef Julie Overton; and Gary Kawalec, chef/owner of Tampa Bay Supper Club in Safety Harbor. All foods were tasted blind.
RANKINGS
No. 1: Weight Watchers
No. 2: Ghirardelli
No. 3: Russell Stover
[Last modified April 25, 2006, 13:20:16]
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