Clam Chowder-Flavored Potato Chips

Japanese-based Koikeya is now offering potato chips with a clam chowder flavor.

Looking at the packaging, it's obvious that this is New England style. Can't tell you if they're offering a Manhattan variety.

I wonder what kind of dip goes best with these? Tartar sauce?

Read rest of entry

Equal Exchange Mini Dark Chocolate Bars

Word is out that Equal Exchange Inc. is coming out with a miniature, bite sized variety of its dark chocolate bars.

The West Bridgewater, MA-based company will be offering individually wrapped "organic" 0.16 oz. (4.5g) "bite-sized Swiss chocolates" that are said to have a 55 percent cocoa content.

All of their products are made from Fair Trade Certified cocoa from cooperatives in the Dominican Republic and Peru, and Fair Trade Certified sugar from cooperatives in Costa Rica and Paraguay.

Read rest of entry

TastyKake Doublicious Pastries

Tasty Baking Company of Philadelphia, PA is now offering a new line of cakes under their TastyKakes brand.

New "TastyKake Doublicious" was conceived by taking the company's existing Butterscotch Krimpets and Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes and making them doubly-delicious by doubling the amount of icing on the Krimpets and doubling the amount of peanut butter filling on the Kandy Kakes.

For folks who can't take that much richness and carbohydrates, the company is still offering the single-shot varieties, which accounted for the company's top two best selling products in 2004.

Both products are already making their way onto store shelves across the USA, retailing for $3.79 each.

What, can't find them in stores? Check their online store.

Read rest of entry

Nirvana Chocolates - Funny Bunny

Just in time for Easter, comes Funny Bunny, the latest seasonal offering from Wellesley, MA-based Nirvana Chocolates.

It's a hollow Belgian chocolate figurine with white accents, weighing 3.6 ounces and stands 5 inches tall.

It joins several other of Nirvana's Bunny-themed chocolate products.

Read rest of entry

Guido Gobino Giandujot Tourinot

From Torino, Italy-based chocolatier Guido Gobino, comes Giandujot Tourinot.

They're described as little nuggets of pure gianduja, consisting of a rich, creamy paste of roasted Italian hazelnuts and sweet chocolate.

Distributed to the USA by Market Hall Foods of Oakland, CA, you can buy them from them online.

A 250gm box as pictured sells for $30.00.

Read rest of entry

Cocoa Nuts Barre

From San Francisco, CA-based Cocoa Designs, comes Cocoa Nuts Barre.

It's a chocolate bar offered in Cacahuete and Noisette varieties. The Cacahuete variety is a handmade creamy peanut praline butter covered in rich 73 percent Venezuelan chocolate. The Noisette variety is a handmade creamy hazelnut praline butter covered in Venezuelan chocolate.

The Barre is packaged in a 2.6 oz. (75g) foil wrapper in a paper sleeve. Both varieties sell for $6.25 each from Cocoa Designs.

Read rest of entry

Honey Roasted Citrus Almonds

The newest offering from Henderson, NC-based Peanut Roaster, Inc. are these Honey Roasted Citrus Almonds.

Available in either Orange or Lemon-Lime varieties, the company starts with the finest, freshest almonds available, dips them in honey and them lightly roasts them to a crispy perfection. Then, they coat them with a fruity confection that imparts the subtle flavor of orchard-fresh citrus fruit.

Sold 12oz cans, you get three of them for $24.95.

Read rest of entry

Hint Mint - Green Tea

Fans of Hint Mints and its art-deco styled tins might be interested in knowing that there is a new Green Tea variety in the works.

Folks will soon be able to take green tea to their pockets, and wow their friends.

Read rest of entry

Half-Size Signature Chocolates by Rena

Valencia, CA-based Chocolates a la Carte is now offering new Half Size Chocolate novelty pieces under the Rena brand.

The Half Size Dino Egg (5.5 oz.) is filled with 3 dinosaurs, while a Half Size Easter Egg is filled with 1 1/2 oz. of jelly beans. There's also a Half Size Carousel (5.5 oz.) filled with 3 oz. of jelly beans,, and a Half Size Acorn filled with 3 squirrels.

The gourmet chocolates are foil wrapped (the Carousel has none) inside a clear plastic wrapper tied with a bow.

Read rest of entry

Dreamy Mallows

New from Scottish-based Lees of Scotland, Ltd. are these "Dreamy Mallows".

They're available in the USA from British Wholesale Imports, Inc.

Described as a marshmallow topped cookie with raspberry filling drenched in a fudge coating, the cookies are sold in an overwrapped 7.5 oz. (212g) box.

Read rest of entry

Bellagio Sipping Chocolate

Bellagio Sipping Chocolate is new in the USA from Monrovia, CA-based Caffe D'Amore, Inc.

Described as "an exquisite bittersweet drinking chocolate inspired by centuries of European tradition," the Sipping Chocolate has a velvety-smooth finish, and is made with pure ingredients including 100 percent pure cocoa powder and chocolate liqueur. It has no trans fat no hydrogenated oils.

The beverage mix comes in 1 oz. (28g) packets and sold singly or in a reusable, refillable, metal 9 oz. Tin. A Sip & Dip Gift Set. The gift set contains two 1 oz. packets of Sipping Chocolate and two Biscotti with a tote.

Read rest of entry

Color-A-Cookie

Plainview, NY-based Color-A-Cookie is offering a line of cookies that come with color markers.

The Cookie Coloring Kits contain a cookie and four non-toxic food coloring markers. Kids just color in the drawings, and start pigging. No baking required.

Through a licensing agreement with Universal Studios, the cookies come in a variety of characters, including Curious George, Superman, Disney Princess, Mick & Friends, Kim Possible, Family Guy, Kong, and Winnie the Pooh.

Read rest of entry

Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme White Chocolate Dipped Cookies

Hershey's latest addition to their Hershey's Cookies line is "Cookies 'n' Creme White Chocolate Dipped Cookies".

The cookies are apparently infused with white chocolate creme and chocolate cookie bits, according to the package copy. Available in the USA in an overboxed, laminate-wrapped 7 oz. (198g) plastic tray priced at $2.00.

There's apparently also a "Milk Chocolate Dipped Cookies with Caramel" variety of Hershey's Cookie expected soon.

Read rest of entry

Gilliam Candy Company - Old Fashioned Sticks

Gilliam Candy Company (now a division of King Leo Candy) is offering this old fashion style tin of candy sticks.

Produced in Mexico, they're available in the USA in a 12 oz. (340g) tin containing individually wrapped candy sticks in 12 different flavors. The natural and artificial flavored candy sticks come in Peppermint, Sour Apple, Tutti Frutti, Strawberry, Root Beer, Passion Fruit, Peaches & Cream, Lemon, Blueberry, Tangerine, Cinnamon, and Watermelon.

Stamped as kosher parve, the suggested retail price is $2.99 each.

Read rest of entry

Chocolate Covered Tortilla Chips

San Francisco, CA-based Native Kjalii Foods, Inc. introduced its "The Chocolate Chip", chocolate covered tortilla chips.

They start with tortilla chips made from "organic white corn", cover them up in dark chocolate, and sprinkle them with nuts, seeds, and light coating of cinnamon. The nuts and seeds comprise of pumpkin, almonds, and sesame.

Read rest of entry

Chick Chocolates - Survivor Chick

The newest variety to the line of Chick Chocolates is "Survivor Chick".

Manufactured by Seattle Chocolate Co., it consists of white chocolate and raspberries covered by a layer of dark chocolate.

Sold in a 1 oz. (28g) box containing three pieces, twist-wrapped in pink metallic foil, and printed with the breast cancer insignia pink ribbon. 100% of the profits raised from Survivor Chick are donated to breast cancer charities. All of Chick Chocolates benefit charities.

Chick Chocolates candy contains all natural ingredients and are kosher certified.

Read rest of entry

Peanut Roca Buttercrunch Toffee

Tacoma, WA-based Brown & Haley is coming out with a new variety to its world famous line of Roca branded confections.

Honey Roasted Peanut Roca Buttercrunch Toffee consists is sold in a 3-piece, 1.2 oz. (35g) laminate wrapper; a 5.8 oz. size, a 4.6 oz. canister, an 8.8 oz. oval tin and a 16.3 oz. tin.

The suggested retail prices are 99 cents, $2.99, $3.99, $6.99 and $7.99, respectively.

Read rest of entry

Fruitfusions Dessert Pudding Logs

New Fruitfusions "ready to serve hot or cold" Dessert Pudding Logs are produced in Australia and offered in the USA by Newcastle's Pudding Lady Pty. Ltd.

Sold in tall, round 800g tubes, the varieties include Double Chocolate Bliss and Original Fruit Fusion, along with "no gluten and minimal sucrose" Mango Madness with Macadamia and Orange, Apple Frenzy with Pecan and Ginger, Apricot Mayhem with Almond and Brandy and Very Berry Heaven with Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry Flavors. Each tube is said to serve 8 to 10.

The Double Chocolate Bliss variety pictured here is described as a double dose of chocolately heaven, a blissful blend of rich, smooth, dark chocolate mixed with a splash of Australian brandy.

All FruitFusions varieties are pre-cooked and ready to serve immediately.

Not sure when you can find these on store shelves, but the manufacturer sells them online.

Read rest of entry

MI-DEL Gluten-Free Cookies - New Varieties

Liberty Richter Inc. announced recently that it introduced three new varieties to its line of MI-DEL gluten-free sandwich cookies.

The new varieties are Royal Vanilla, Chocolate Mint, and Double Chocolate.

Often dubbed as the "gluten-free Oreo", MI-DEL offers folks with wheat allergies a way to enjoy in the popular American treat. They're made with 100 percent natural ingredients with no trans fat.

Read rest of entry

Andes - Mocha Mint

Tootsie Roll Industries will soon be offering Andes Mints in a new Limited Edition Mocha Mint flavor.

The product literature describes it as a creamy blend of rich coffee flavor with the refreshing taste of mint. Each piece is fin-sealed and presented in an 8.5 oz. (241g) gusseted stand up bag with a suggested retail price of $2.99.

Read rest of entry

Trader Joe's Papadums

New from Trader Joe's are these Papadums.

It's described as a traditional Indian delicacy, made from lentil or bean flour and black peppers. They are thin, spicy, crispy wafers, and are usually the size of a tortilla.

Trader Joe's dropped the size down to a chip and are offering them in two flavors, Tandoori Masala, and Yogurt and Dill.

A 5 ounce bag sells for $2.49.

Read rest of entry

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Roasted Pistachio Toffee

New from Trader Joe's is this tub of Dark Chocolate Roasted Pistachio Toffee.

The specialty food retailer says it's a twist on a classic confection. They start with toffee made with real, creamy butter and encase it in dark chocolate. Then each piece is coated with crushed roasted pistachios.

Available at Trader Joe stores in a 7.5 oz. clear plastic tub with a suggested retail price of $3.99.

Read rest of entry

Wegman's Chocolate Covered Peanuts

Wegmans Food Markets is now offering these chocolate covered peanuts.

They claim to use only "super extra large Virginia peanuts", and that only the top 2% of peanuts harvested make it into these cans.

Available in all Wegmans Food Markets (store locator).

Read rest of entry

Thinsations Thin Crisps

Kraft Canada is launching a new line of snacks called Thinsations Thin Crisps under the Christie brand.

It's the latest addition to their "Sensible Solution" suite of products. Thinsations contain zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and 2.0g or 3.0g fat per 23g pack.

The thin crispy cookies come in Oreo, Honey Maid (cinnamon grahams) and Chips Ahoy! varieties.

Read rest of entry

Pretzel Pete - Sour Cream & Habanero

Pennsylvania-based SB Global Foods, Inc. is coming out with a "Sour Cream & Habanero" flavor with their line of Pretzel Pete pretzel nuggets.

Label copys says these bite-sized nuggets pack a hint of sour cream and a wallop of habanero. They are available in 56g bags, 125g bags and 250g boxes and are expected hit store shelves in March 2006.

Read rest of entry

Color Xploder - Gourmet Lollipop

California-based Cima-Mex Inc. (dba Cima USA), has a new lollipop out called "Color Xploder".

It's marketing gimmick is that it paints your mouth and tongue with a deep color. The company claims that it has a secret delicious flavor. It comes in red, blue, green, and purple swirling color varieties.

Cima-Mex Inc. is the same company known for the Yummy Lix lollipop used in fundraising activities.

Wow Fundraising is selling Color Xploders.

Read rest of entry

Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

Peet's Coffee & Tea is offering these Chocolate Raspberry Truffles.

Described as a tantalizing treat for the sophisticated palate, these little demons combine tart raspberry flavoring with sweet dark chocolate. Inside you'll find a creamy raspberry truffle.

Handmade exclusively for Peet's.

$6.00 per 8oz bag.

Read rest of entry

Dale & Thomas Popcorn - New Varieties

Dale & Thomas announced new flavors last month to their line up of gourmet popcorn.

Buffalo Wing (pictured), Bleu Cheese, and Honey Mustard are the new additions. So far, you can only purchase them as a combo from their Sports Fan Tin.

The Sports Fan Tin comes in 2, 3.5, and 6.5 gallon sizes.

Read rest of entry

Choc Pix Tasty Girls

Choc-Pix Tasty Girls is belgian-white chocolate, with a molding of three naked girls.

But that's not the gimmick. When you shine some light on it at the right angle, the molding reveals the same image but in photographic form.

There is nothing added to the chocolate bar to make it do this. Rather, a very intricate texture is carved into the surface of the bar, so that light reflects off it in such a way to produce the photgraphic image.

£2.95 from Boys Stuff

Link (NSFW)

Read rest of entry

Laoshan Cola

This cola is manufactured by Chinese-based Qingdao Laoshan Mineral Water Co., Ltd.

This company is not affiliated with Coca-Cola. In fact, there is already a trademark dispute going on between the two companies.

This is not a new product, however it's now available in a new 500ml plastic bottle. Laoshan Cola has actually been in production since 1905. It's also said to be infused with beneficial herbs. But then again, Coca-Cola was once infused with a well-known beneficial herb too.

Read rest of entry

Snoop Dogg Foot Long Hot Doggs

Snoop's brother, Bing Worthington, claims that there aren't any celebrity hot dogs, so why not put Snoop Dogg's name on one? The new venture was reported in the Boston Herald back in November and the Snoop Dogg Hot Doggs should have hit store shelves in January.

Snoop Dogg isn't the only rapper trying to mark his spot in the kitchen. Other rappers have appeared on a variety of chips called Rap Snacks which can be purchased on their website www.rapsnacks.com. Flavors include "Master P" Platinum BBQ, "Lil Romeo" BAR-B-Quin With Honey, "Stat Quo" Sour Cream & Extra Cheddar, "Murphy Lee"Red Hot Ripplets, "Pretty Willie" Salsa Cheese, and "BBD" Back At The Ranch.

Read rest of entry

Leconte Popping Chocolate

Chinese-based confectioner COFCO Leconte Food Company Ltd. is marketing a new novelty called "Popping Chocolate".

When you break the chocolate piece in half, it makes a popping sound. The product literature doesn't explain much, so I don't know how it does this.

Each candy is individually wrapped in laminate and presented in a 70g plastic rack display bag.

Read rest of entry

Liqueur-Filled Foil Bags

Sometimes wandering around the Internet aimlessly finds you some cool stuff, like these liqueur-filled foil bags.

These are novelty items that combine a small amount of flavored liqueur. I personally like the "Drinking Lizense". It unfolds to reveal a comical identification card authorizing you to take a drink.

The liqueur varies from product to product, but the one above is a blend of vodka-lemon-liqueur and vanilla-cream-liqueur.

German-based Rotstern GmbH & Co. KG. has a bunch of others like this. Take a look at them all.

Read rest of entry

Hiya Conversation Starters - New Flavors

Rosemount, MN-based Webb Candy is coming out with some new flavors of their Hiya Conversation Starters.

New flavors include Raspberry, Spearmint, and Lemon. Hiya mints have the unique gimmick whereby you upload a digital photo of yourself when placing an order so that they can print it on the package label.

Hiya is also now shipping its mints in a new plastic jar.

Read rest of entry

Anthon Berg - Chocolate Liqueurs

Danish-based confectioner Toms Gruppen A/S launched a new line of liqueur-filled Premium Dark Chocolates under its Anthon Berg brand.

It's a co-branded line that contains branded liqueurs. Among the varieties are Galliano, Malibu, Jack Daniels, Drambuie, Countreau, VSOP, Southern Comfort, Grand Marnier, Stali, Ballantine's, Ricard, Camus, and Cutty Sark.

They come in two box types, a seven piece gift box (100g) and a fifteen piece gift box (235g).

Read rest of entry

Chevalier - Obsession Caramel

Quebec, Canada-based Patisserie Chevalier Inc. is now distributing this new caramel variety of its Obsession cake line.

It's a yellow cake topped with caramel, then topped again with whipped cream, and then the whole thing dipped in chocolate.

It looks very much like the "Caramel Mariannes" that the company has been selling already. I'm not sure of the difference. This product doesn't have the word "Marianne" on it, but looks to be exactly the same thing.

A box of 6 cakes sells for $2.49 CAN.

Read rest of entry

Chocolate Ladybugs

Legau, Germany-based Rapunzel Naturkost AG is selling these bags of chocolate ladybugs.

The company actually calls them Schokolade Glückskäfer, what Germans refer to as "good fortune bugs".

Containing all organic ingredients, they're marketed in 100g bags. The company recommends them as gifts or table ornaments.

Read rest of entry

Konpeito

Konpeito is a japanese-style candy, almost entirely made of sugar.

Growing up with a Japanese mom, I ate a lot of this stuff as a kid. But in Japanese cultures, this stuff is folk art. If you can imagine the Jelly Belly now achieving cult status, and being subjected to every known flavor and concoction imaginable, that's the konpeito in Japan.

In traditional sense of konpeito, it's all about telling a story of love, or tragedy, or celebrating the essence of something, like a flower, a dew drop, or a sunset, but all the while retaining the simplicity of sugar candy. The more extravagant and complex you can build the story, color and flavor, the more exciting the product. Traditional konpeito is not eaten without the presenter telling its story.

There is also commercial konpeito, sold in bulk, with common colors of red, orange, green, purple, but often tasting only like sugar.

Anyways, Japanese food maker, Hidemi, Inc. has paid homage to this unique Japanese folk art with a line of traditional konpeito with several varieties. Pictured here is Konpeito Sakura.

The Sakura is the cherry blossom, the favorite flower of Japan. To the Japanese, it exemplifies everything good with Japan, its beauty, purity, and nobility. The cherry blossom has poetic and romantic meaning, much like the rose in western cultures. This particular variety of konpeito captures the color of Sakura, and even some greenish hues to resemble the leaves and stems. It perhaps has a taste that reminds you of the cherry blossom scent.

Read rest of entry

Jelly Belly Sport Beans - New Flavors

Jelly Belly Sport Beans will soon be available in two new flavors.

Berry Blue and Fruit Punch will accompany the current orange and lemon lime flavors.

The energizing Jelly Beans are presented contain 120mg of electrolytes, plus 10% of the recommended daily value of vitamins C, B1, B2, and B3.

Read rest of entry

Kellogg's Poptarts - New Flavors

Kellogg's Poptarts are now available in two new flavors.

Double Berry is blueberry and strawberry flavored filling with blueberry and strawberry icing swirls.

Apple Strudel is apple and cinnamon filling with swirled icing and crumbly topping.

Read rest of entry

Mary's Soy Poppers

Mary's Soy Poppers are new from Chinese-based HongTeng Peanut Co.

They're described as 100% organic soy nut snacks packed with Omega-3. The snacks are produced in China by HongTeng Peanut Co. and are offered in the USA in a 2.5 oz. (71g) bag, along with 2 oz. and 5 oz. canisters.

The flavors include Lightly Salted, Honey Bar-B-Que and Hot Wasabi. The labels are flagged, "100 percent organic flax - Low fat." They are non-GMO, and supposedly made all natural ingredients.

The URLs given to me didn't work at the time I posted this:

http://www.marysoy.com/
http://www.hongtengpeanut.com/

Read rest of entry

Mary's Soynuts Crunch

Mary's Soynuts Crunch are new from Chinese-based HongTeng Peanut Co.

Available in the USA in 1 oz. (28g) and 3.5 oz. (99g) packages, the flavors include Bacon & Cheese and Lime & Chile. They're made with 100% organic soy nuts, oven baked, and trans fat free.

Product copy also says that it's "all natural". It also has a pretty long ingredients list, and just about everything appears to be "natural stuff", though I'm not sure what "maltodextrin" and "silicon dioxide" is. Though I imagine everything is natural, since everything on Earth is made of "star stuff".

And while it may contain 100% organic soy nuts, it also contains wheat flour, which may very well account for much of the bulk.

The URLs given to me didn't work at the time I posted this:

http://www.marysoy.com/
http://www.hongtengpeanut.com/

Read rest of entry

Blue Bell Ice Cream - New Flavors

Blue Bell Ice Cream is now offered in new Hot Chocolate variety, and will soon be offered in a Chocolate Brownie Overload variety.

Hot Chocolate Ice Cream combines creamy milk chocolate ice cream loaded with miniature marshmallows, dark chocolate shavings and a rich marshmallow sauce swirl.

Chocolate Brownie Overload is a luscious dark chocolate ice cream containing chocolate peanut butter brownies, flakes of dark chocolate, roasted almonds, chopped pecans and walnuts surrounded by a caramel sauce and a whipped topping swirl.

Both products are sold in a round, 1/2 gallon (2 qt.) carton.

Read rest of entry

Orange Marmalade Cheese

North Downs Dairy Company of Kent, England is now shipping this new product to the USA.

Pilgrims Choice "Wensleydale Cheese with Tiptree Marmalade" is co-branded product described by the company as two ancient traditions blended together form an exquisite dessert cheese.

The dairy company blends in Wilkin & Son's famous Tiptree marmalade when making their Wensleydale cheese to give it a unique flavor. They recommend it with biscuits, or a glass of champagne.

North Downs also offers Wensleydale cheeses with apricots, cranberries, and blueberries. They also have a cheddar with English Ale and Mustard, and a cheddar with Elderberry Wine.

Read rest of entry

Sugar Bowl Bakery Bites - New Varieties

San Francisco-based Sugar Bowl Bakery added some new varieties to its line of Bakery Bites cookies.

Varieties include Cranberry Granola Bites (pictured), Crispy Blueberry Bites, and Java Chips.

Presented in clear plastic, resealable square tubs, priced between $5.99 and $7.99, they're identified with a kosher dairy seal. The cookies contain no trans fat, and are made with all natural ingredients.

Read rest of entry

Friendly's Forbidden Chocolate Light

Friendly's Ice Cream is now shipping a light variety of its Forbidden Chocolate.

Stamped "Smooth Churned" and "All Natural Flavor" on the carton, its sold in 1.75 quart cartons in the USA. There is also a vanilla variety of the same ilk.

Friendly's operates a chain of Americana-style restaurants along the Eastern seaboard.

Read rest of entry

Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy - Original Replica Box

James' and Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy of Atlantic City, NJ, has introduced their famous Salt Water Taffy in an Original Replica Box.

The box is exactly like the one used by resort tourists in 1885 when Joseph Fralinger opened his first candy store on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Available in 1 lb. and 2 lb. sizes priced at $6.99 and $12.99, respectively, the boxes are filled with an Assortment of Fralinger's original salt water taffy in 16 flavors.

Read rest of entry

Holy Chocolate - New Varieties

Campbell, CA-based Mar Toma Enterprise is now offering its Holy Chocolate Hot Chocolate Mix in new Amsterdam (dark and semi-sweet - 42 percent cocoa) and Swiss (light, creamiest chocolate for traditional tastes) varieties.

The Amsterdam variety is described as a creamy and distinctive Dutch cocoa, with real milk & real cocoa. That's real pasture cow's milk, free of added hormones (rBST) and antibiotics (no creamers or additives). There's also no salt or preservatives.

The suggested retail prices are $12.00 for the 12 oz. can and $1.75 for the single-serve bag.

Read rest of entry