Local Favorites
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 11:20Some people are lucky to live in sweet cities. Cities like Chicago that seems to have a candy factory on every corner like Ferrara Pan, Brachs, Charms, Peerless and of course Wrigley. But Los Angeles has their fair share. Plenty of candy is manufactured here, including Sees (Culver City), but it just feels like we don’t have that “hometown candy” like so many other cities.
First is Christopher’s Big Cherry. Made by the Ben Meyerson Candy Company (best known for their Sunkist Fruit Gems) the Big Cherry is a milk chocolate and peanut lump with a cherry fondant and maraschino cherry center. Sold in a shocking pink package, mine was purchased at the Farmers Market, but I’ve seen them at Bristol Farms and some liquor stores that carry a large selection of candy.
Though called Big Cherry, I found it to be more about the peanuts, which provide a good balance to the overly sweet center. It’s not my favorite candy in the world, but certainly gets points for being unusual. Originally known as “Cherry Thyme”, it was first made in the 1940’s. There are some other versions of this found in other areas, including the Twin Bing (Palmers) from Souix City, Iowa and something that I haven’t been able to track down called a Cherry Smash.
Next is the Cup-O-Gold made by Adams-Brooks, a true family business that dates back to 1932 in Los Angeles. Adams-Brooks is best known for their P-nuttles (toffee peanuts) but it turns out that Cup-O-Gold was once one of the top three candy bars in California.
Cup-O-Gold is like a giant Reese’s cup - taller, wider and with thicker chocolate. This chocolate is slightly darker and has bits of toasted coconut in it. The filling in the cup is gooey marshmallow. The marshmallow, instead of being plain foamy sugar, has a wonderful honey taste to it that reminds me a bit of See’s Scotchmallows.
I’m always on the prowl for other new candy experiences. Anyone know of any made in Southern California that I can pick up at the store?
By cybele (see more of her posts). You can find more of cybele's writing all about candy at her own website Candyblog.net
Jonah says:
July 27th, 2005 at 11:45 am
Reed’s Ginger Candy is made locally by the company who makes the excellent Reed’s Ginger Brew
SoCalorie says:
July 27th, 2005 at 3:10 pm
There are probably a bunch of candy makers doing Latin-flavored sweets but I have yet to develop a taste for dulce de leche, tamarind, chile and lime and chamoy out here so I don’t know them by brand or name.
MaxMillion says:
July 28th, 2005 at 10:17 am
Several months ago I saw a show on the Food channel highlighting all kinds of cool sweets and candies. One was tongue tattoos, kinda like those wafer-thin breath mints that melt in your mouth. But these left a little “tattoo” on your tongue. I hunted all over the internet and couldn’t find them anywhere.
Anyone have any suggestions?!
Greg says:
January 8th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Hey, Cybelle.
In your article on the “BIG CHERRY” candy bar, you mentioned that you were having trouble locating another similar candy named, “CHERRY SMASH”.
Well, I believe what you were looking for is actually named “CHERRY MASH”, and here is the place to find it.
http://www.sweetnostalgia.com/chermascanba.html
Thanks for an enjoyable blog.
—Greg
AT says:
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:44 am
You’re right, it is Cherry Mash. I actually have a wrapper right here in front of me. the label says, Chase Candy Company, St Joseph, MO 64503. Chase’s Cherry Mash