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Savoring the subtleties of a favorite treat: candy corn
Apparently candy corn hasn't changed much in the 100 years since it was invented. The treat, made mostly of sugar and corn syrup, has a strong following too.
By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published October 25, 2006
Apparently candy corn hasn't changed much in the 100 years since it was invented. The treat, made mostly of sugar and corn syrup, has a strong following too. According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 35-million pounds of candy corn, or 9-billion pieces, are expected to be produced this year. The Taster's Choice panelists liked the most popular Halloween treat on the market and were impressed and surprised by the subtle differences in the seven brands they sampled. All four said they would buy the top choice to pass out from their front porches on Tuesday. Trick-or-treaters at their homes will receive candy corn made by Zachery $1.99 for a 20-ounce bag at Albertsons. Judges gave these candies 70 out of a possible 100 points. "These are sweet with a slight taste of maple," said one judge. "They almost melt in your mouth." How to eat candy corn was a subject of discussion during our tasting session. Some judges insisted on biting into the pieces one corn at a time. Others ate them by the handful. "These (Zachery's) have a great look, strong color and a bite-size is really a bite-size," said one candy corn lover on the panel. Local trick-or-treaters also will be receiving some Albertsons store-brand candy corn. Our judges ranked those candies second, with a score of 66 points. A 15-ounce bag of the Albertsons candy corn was $1.50. Two judges raved about the Albertsons candy corn and said they will buy it. "These are like the ones I imagine Martha Stewart would make from scratch," said one judge. The other liked the bright colors of the store-brand candy. The candy corn from GFS (Gordon Food Service) Marketplace ($6.99 for a 54-ounce bag) was the third favorite. Judges gave the treats 63 points. Again, two of the four said they would buy their candy corn from GFS. "These are big, soft and extra chewy," said one judge. Another was disappointed in the texture. He compared the candy to hardened toothpaste. Also sampled was candy corn by Brachs ($1 for an 11-ounce bag at Albertsons); Blueberry Hill ($1 for a 12-ounce bag at Dollar General); and Scary Candy Corn (99 cents for a 2 ounces from CVS). Judges' ratings Candy corn 1. Zachery 2. Albertsons 3. GFS Panelists were: Nan Jensen, registered dietitian with Pinellas County Cooperative Extension; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio@620 personal chef and mother of four, Julie Overton; and Gary Kawalec, chef-owner of the Tampa Bay Supper Club in Safety Harbor. All foods were tasted blind. Send suggestions for product tasting to Taste section, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or e-mail them to krieta@sptimes.com Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line. To read past Taster's Choice columns, go to www.sptimes.com/food.
[Last modified October 24, 2006, 15:24:50]
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