August 1, 2005
candy comparison
A couple weeks ago, I realized that I had, in my possession, two foreign candies that were very similar. So I tried a taste test. I ate one after the other.
Here's what I had:
Brand | Company | Style | Flavor | Country
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Sugus | Kraft Suchard / Arcor | carmelos blandos | frutilla | Argentina
Kau Früchtchen | Storck | kau bonbon | kirsch | Germany
Both are what might be described as fruit chewies. In fact, Sugus looks like Starburst (the candy, made in the States, by M&M/Mars). Kau Früchtchen looks like a piece of taffy (except it's harder or more chewy).
I'd have to say that I liked KF a little better than Sugus. I don't know why the former seemed more flavorful. Could it be because it was bigger, and could reach more tastebuds on my tongue? Could it be because its cherry flavor was stronger than the strawberry flavor of the latter?
I couldn't find much info. about KF. The Storck website had no mention of the brand. I haven't, yet, been able to find out the brand's history.
Sugus was made by Arcor, under license from Kraft Suchard. Recently, the latter sold Sugus and other candy brands to Wrigley. I suppose the new brand owner will maintain the same arrangement with Arcor, but I really don't know.
Does anyone know the backgrounds on these candies?
I will keep searching for more information. (Perhaps, later, I will discuss my familiarity with these confections and how I came to acquire them.)
Sweet dreams!
Posted by raacluse at August 1, 2005 8:36 PMI came across the mention of sugus candies in a novel called Shadow of the Wind. I thought they were hard candies based on the description in the book. Interesting that they are similar to Starbursts. Thanks!
Posted by: Dona at August 20, 2005 7:33 AMwhere did you get the sugus candy?
Posted by: michelle at May 17, 2006 8:19 PMI got the candy from my sister, who'd visited Buenos Aires. She brought back a sampling of sugus and another confection or two. Some of the flavors were new to me, and there was also a large size (about 2X or 3X) that looked almost vulgar.
I'm sure the variety would seem normal to someone from Buenos Aires, but my standard are the small, harder, slightly tangier Swiss-made ones of my youth. (I've no idea if they still make them the same way in Switzerland.)
Posted by: raacluse at May 18, 2006 9:17 PMThe Sugus candy was common when I lived in Hong Kong in the 1970s. It was then made in Switzerland.
After returning to the US, I could find them in Chinatown shops. I still have some from a visit to Hawaii a few years ago, but they don't taste the same. They harden with shipping, I think.
In Hong Kong, they were sold in tins during Chinese New Year and I guess storing in tins helped keep them fresher. They were also soft, but not melted. Here, they are hard and the flavors aren't as juicy. Pus, they seem too sweet for me now. Just one is enough for a sugar high and crash!
I was also looking for the history and the Sugus I have now are labeled Kraft. Kraft sold the brand to Wrigley in 2005 (so mine are old... but kept in plastic vacuum sealed for a while.) All I can learn is that they are marketed in China and Viet Nam now, as well as Hong Kong.
HK was a duty free market as a British colony, so many European brands were common there. Some have only recently become widely popular in the US.
In the 1960s in the US, we used to buy M&M Fruit Chewies. They would be sold at school functions, where we could buy only a few at a time. The taste was very fruity: orange, lemon, cherry, grape, lime. (I think) I always missed them.
I've learned that Starburst is made by the same company: Mars/m&m. Starburst tastes so artificial. I can't stand them.
I stumbled onto a similar candy a few years ago, called Mambo. I'm not sure where it was made, but I thought it was Germany. They had a nice flavor, but were too soft and mooshy. And not a fresh fruit flavor - just better than Starburst.
Sugus didn't use a lot of strong dye and the other candies have un-natural colors.
Later, Sugus also had a mint flavor which had a sort of aftertaste, but was interesting.