KC Candy ginger hard candies

       Hard candy never quite has the glamour and charisma that softer sweets like chocolates and caramels are invested with. A suave, romantic gentleman may have a fancy satin box of decadently rich chocolate delicacies tucked in the crook of his arm on February 14 to win the heart of a hoped-for consort. Giggling young teens at a slumber party may make -- and blissfully feast on -- creamy, melt-in-your-mouth fudge. Vendors at seaside funparks hawk luscious, chewy "kisses" of saltwater taffy, After trick-or-treating on Halloween, a petite princess or small superhero may smile upon finding caramels or candy corn in that little plastic jack o'lantern. But hard candy is what we suck on to soothe a rough throat, or to freshen the breath after an oniony lunch. It's what many a nine-to-fiver passes up at the office candy dish in favor of Hershey's minis or kisses. It's what  is offered to little "Caitlin" or "Owen" at banks and doctors offices to avert tantrums. It's what Grandma places in fancy glass dishes to look pretty when company comes to visit. Even candy canes at holiday time may be considered more of a tree ornament than an actual edible confection. No one ever describes a hard candy as being "rich tasting." No one ever said that a hard candy tastes "absolutely divine."
      Until now. KC Ginger Hard candies are flavored with real ginger essence, and the spiciness warms the mouth with a pleasant spark. The sweetness and the spice play off each other beautifully, and the piece is indeed rich-tasting, and it's satiny smooth, with few voids
       It may be strange to give hard candy such a rating, but
       THIS CANDY HAS BEEN RATED D (DIVINE).
 

Russell Stover Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cream Santa

Like the raspberry cream Santa I reviewed previously, this piece doesn't look much like Santa out of the wrapper -- but it does taste like the kind of candy that you'd want Santa to leave in your stocking!
 There's a rich, bittersweet note to the dark chocolate, although it doesn't have much of a melt -- but it's the filling that's the star of the piece -- a whipped frosting-meets-mousse concoction that isn't a strong mint, but rather, a fluffy vanilla "mousse" with just enough of a minty spark to make the confection delightfully delectable. It's creamy, rich, and more than a little reminiscent of the yummy, rich-tasting, melt-in-your-mouth fluffy frosting that blanketed many a cake at a childhood birthday party. I found myself scooping some of the mint "mousse" out of the chocolate shell with my finger so I could save it for last. 


This candy has been rated D (divine)

Russell Stover Cake Assortment

A mini-box of four chocolate candy squares, in red velvet, chocolate cake, carrot cake and wedding cake flavors.

The chocolate coating had a smooth, velvety melt and the fillings tasted for all the world like cake frosting, including that slight grainy crunch of sugar crystals. These little confections were basically chocolate-dipped cubes of frosting. Chocolate coated frosting! Could there BE a more scrumptious delight in the candy universe! Two of the pieces had a white chocolate coating. I don't know if it was the real stuff or the cheaper "white confection." I just know it was delicious.

RED VELVET CAKE -- No chocolate note in the filling. It tasted more like the cherry-raspberry creams you get in a Valentine box.

CARROT CAKE -- Strong spark of spice, just like real carrot cake.

CHOCOLATE CAKE -- Rich and fudgy. Chocolate to the max.

WEDDING CAKE -- Remember the vanilla buttercream frosting on cakes at childhood birthday parties? Here it is, in a little cube-shaped confection.

Tasting these candies was one of the most enjoyable candy experiences of my life. I wish now I bought TWO boxes (kicking self). This mini sampler assortment is great for gifting, whether to a co-worker, a friend, a sweetheart, a parent, or a child.

 I have no choice.
THIS CANDY HAS BEEN RATED D (DIVINE)