Friday, May 26, 2006

Airheads

I know this sounds really weird, but I’ve never had Airheads before. It’s not that I shunned them, but they really never entered into my field of view at all. Sure, they’re on the racks at the 7-11 and in assorted bags at Target, but I didn’t quite know what they were, and they never really peaked

piqued my curiosity. But I’m probably alone in that and I probably should remedy it.

image

So imagine my delight when I came home from work and found a box of candy from Perfetti Van Melle (the company that makes both Airheads and Mentos). I’ve been corresponding with Pete in Marketing, but we’d never talked about sending me anything. I can only guess that I’m on a list because of my registration for the All Candy Expo. That is the BEST MAILING LIST EVER!

What was even more fun is the timing of one of their co-marketing pushes - a tie in with the new Pixar/Disney animated film, Cars. (The movie premieres today at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway and gets its full release on June 9, 2006.)

image

This packet of 6 Airheads bars has the regular flavors: Watermelon, Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Mystery White and also includes two new flavors - Mater Punch and Burnt Rubber. Okay, that last one doesn’t sound that good to me.

So, Airheads are planks of a chewy, taffy like substance. I’d always thought they were like LaffyTaffy or TangyTaffy, but they’re really not. Airheads are about 5” long and about 1” across and pretty thin.

Airheads are soft and pliable and have an easy chew that has a slight, sugary grain to it. They’re very flavorful and not unlike Mentos in their texture (also made by the same company). What’s nice is that it’s not sticky like I expected. There’s no worry about pulling out fillings.

Watermelon: juicy and tart. A little bit on the chemical side of the flavor, but it aroma is nice and sweet.

White Mystery: it tastes rather like green apple to me. Tart and fruity with a little floral note to it.

Cherry: sweet and tart with a strong dark cherry/woodsy flavor to it. Of course it’s not my favorite flavor, but I ate the whole thing. Imagine what cherry fans would think.

Blue Raspberry: surprisingly more complex than I thought. It’s got a nice tart and sweet thing going, but also a really good floral balance for the fruity berry flavors.

Mater Punch: Mater is one of the characters in Cars, he’s a rusted out tow truck, and I think Mater is short for ToMater ... maybe he used to be red. I was hoping he’d be tomato flavored. No such luck. He’s fruit punch flavored. Heavy on the citrus and whatever that “fruit punch” flavor is, it’s tangy and sweet but the smell is definitely chemical in origin.

Burnt Rubber: Yeah, I had no idea what to expect for this flavor - I was kind of hoping they went Bertie Bott’s and actually made a burnt rubber taffy. The bar was dark purple, almost black, but it was quite obvious that it was grape. It was like a sweet & chewy grape SweeTart.

Overall, the Airheads that I tried were pretty cool. Summer is tricky for candy, especially in SoCal where chocolate starts to get dodgy even in May. Taffies and other sugar candies are a good way to make it through summer with tasty treats that can stand the heat.  The one flavor in their repertoire that I’m more interested in that wasn’t in the mixed bag is orange, so I’ll pick that up at some point. I don’t see myself buying these very often, but I wouldn’t turn one down.

Mentos has come out with some Sours that I suspect are rather similar to Airheads fruity flavors, so I’ll report back on that soon.

Related Candies

  1. Topps Blue Razz Wazoo
  2. Now & Later
  3. Twizzlers (Strawberry)
  4. Topps Baby Bottle
  5. Dubble Bubble Fluff
  6. Airheads Xtreme Sour Belts
Name: Airheads: Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, White Mystery, Mater Punch & Burnt Rubber
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Airheads (Perfetti van Melle)
Place Purchased: samples from Perfetti van Melle
Price: $.99 (msrp)
Size: 3.3 ounces
Calories per ounce: 110
Categories: Chew, United States, Perfetti van Melle

POSTED BY Cybele AT 6:31 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. I have always liked airheads, but never buy them very often for some reason. I really like blue raspberry. I think I’ll have to get the Burnt Rubber one to try next time I’m feeling a need for some fake grape.

    Comment by g on 5/26/06 at 6:43 am #
  2. I actually managed to trick three of my friends with vomit flavored Bertie Bott’s when they first came out (the first two each joined my conspiracy after first being victims).  The results were as funny as you might imagine.  The funny thing is that I never tasted one…I isolated those based on the flavor guide and saved them for the prank.

    Burned rubber…yuck.

    I think the best flavor/scent thing that I’ve ever seen was when Crayola had some markers in an outdoor scent collection a few years ago.  One of them was “Campfire”, which was pretty real, and another was “Calamine lotion”, which was perfect.  I was already too old for markers or I would’ve had them just to sniff the calamine one.  Yes, I perpetually had a blue dot on my nose from Mr Sketch markers when I was in elementary school.

    Comment by Dave on 5/26/06 at 9:28 am #
  3. Cybele, I was thrilled that you finally tried Airheads. I tend to only eat chocolate candy so I’m not a fan of these types of candy but my son just loves them! I told this story once before but now that you know what Airheads are, I will tell it again. I was wearing a vanilla perfume and my son, who was 7 or so at the time, said, “Mom, you smell like an Airhead!”  Charming. smile

    Comment by Suzanne on 5/26/06 at 1:01 pm #
  4. I LOVEEE white mystery flavor!  Weeee!  It’s odd that you made the comment they tasted to you like green apple, because I usually hate green apple candies (save Jolly Ranchers).  Odd.

    I also like that Airheads are low cal, but you’re right- pretty thin. 

    Is it weird that I enjoy grainy sugar texture?  Cos I definitely do. =)

    Comment by kirsti on 5/26/06 at 2:16 pm #
  5. I have to admit, that even with 4 kids, I have never had Airheads either .. and I also have to admit that, after reading about them, I will probably not try them .. not because you made them sound bad, just because now I know they really aren’t my kind of candy .. too much tart .. First time visitor and I love this blog!
    Thanks for the info!
    mamak

    Comment by mamakraft on 5/26/06 at 2:22 pm #
  6. Ooh, I really like Airheads.  I think White Mystery is kiwi strawberry—they had a contest when it first came out to guess the flavor and my best friend won some candy with that guess.

    Comment by eliza on 5/26/06 at 4:58 pm #
  7. There’s a little trick I learned growing up with Airheads.  Take an end with each hand, pinching the ends with your thumbs and pointer fingers, with your thumbs on top.  Then move the Airhead in a see-saw fashion, slowing bringing each end of the Airhead together.  Then you end up with a nice bite sized Airhead.

    Comment by Marvo on 5/26/06 at 9:38 pm #
  8. Kind of nitpicky - but it’s “piqued my curiousity.”

    I love love love this blog.

    Comment by Emily on 5/27/06 at 3:34 am #
  9. Airheads are fat-free and have only around 60 calories, and take a while to chew, so they’re pretty good for that reason. They’re also really fun to play with. When I was little everyone would take their airhead, still in the wrapper, and just kind of hold it by one end and swing it back and forth- the airhead would kind of move towards the other end, eventually forming an airhead ball.

    My favorite flavor is strawberry, and they also make a green apple flavor.

    Comment by Tristyn on 5/27/06 at 6:06 am #
  10. Cybele's avatar

    g - I’m not sure if the sell the burnt rubber separately, but they should keep the flavor in their mix.

    Dave - some of the Bertie Bott’s weren’t bad. I rather liked grass, black pepper and soap. I did not try any of the grosser flavors.

    Suzanne - it’s still a cute story!

    Kirsti - half of candy is texture ... the graininess reminds me of Sugar Babies.

    mamakraft - welcome! I know what you mean, they’re not really a grown up candy, but that’s what I’m hear for. To eat things so you don’t have to!

    eliza - I think that might be it! It was definitely a “green” fruit in there. Hee!

    Marvo - I used to do that with my salt water taffy in reverse! I’d roll it out and then flatten it into a bar.

    Emily - doh! I looked at it and knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t figure it out. All better now!

    Tristyn - yeah, I thought for a treat, one or two of these bars are a good option for calorie counters. Intense flavor and a good chew.

    Comment by Cybele on 5/27/06 at 7:53 am #
  11. Hey - don’t forget the coupon for free Airheads:
    http://candyaddict.com/blog/2006/05/18/free-airheads-coupon/
    It doesn’t expire til the end of 2006! You can print a bunch out and have free Airheads for the year!

    Brian

    Comment by Brian on 5/28/06 at 9:13 am #
  12. Don’t know if you’ve seen this site but I was fooling with it today. Here is your site info…

    <div 1px solid #cccccc; background-color: white; width: 115px; text-align: center; padding: 0 0 10px 0;”>http://static.flickr.com/23/25822676_789bf55448_t.jpg
    <span 11px;”>My blog is worth $150,732.18.</span>
    <span 10px;”>How much is your blog worth?</span>
    http://technorati.com/pix/tech-logo-embed.gif</div>

    Comment by Eliza on 5/29/06 at 2:47 am #
  13. I enjoyed the characters in CARS when I saw it in March.  I was thinking about all the different product tie-ins they could do, but I never thought that Airheads would be one. 

    (Tow Mater was my favorite character!)

    Comment by :: jozjozjoz :: on 5/29/06 at 6:31 pm #
  14. I googled Airheads and found your blog, lol, because after trying a couple of my son’s, I found myself wondering: What ARE these strange things??? I have to say, I’m not a fan. Too sweet-tart for me, and the texture kind of weirds me out. Bleh. Thin, a little sticky, but not in a nice cushy taffy kinda way. I grew up eating Laffy Taffy…ummmm, banana. Now that was the stuff, lol. Just chewy enough to have substance, not stiff enough to break teeth. BTW those Bott’s Beans were a hoot-who knew they’d actually taste disgusting???

    Comment by Jillian on 6/06/06 at 2:03 pm #
  15. Cybele's avatar

    Eliza - yeah, the offers at that price are just ROLLING in! (It’s crazy how they figure these things out.)

    Joz - I saw Cars themed Pez at the Candy Expo! Cute ... but it’s Pez, so it’s not a lot of candy.

    Jillian - yeah, I figured if nothing else on this blog I’d be able to tell you what your kids are eating so you don’t have to try it!

    Comment by Cybele on 6/13/06 at 12:27 pm #
  16. The “White Mystery” Airhead is an interesting topic. Machination is probably the best word to describe the duplicty. Our group which can be found on Myspace is ardent in unearthing the surreptitious, vexed uncertainty. If you feel as though you can aid us, or have speculation please join us in our mission.

    Comment by Matthew Biscontini on 7/03/06 at 9:40 pm #
  17. Airheads has a normal grape flavor. Not sure whether you can buy them single or in packs.

    Comment by Trish on 11/11/06 at 6:59 pm #
  18. anyone know what the Avatar (the Last Airbender- the cartoon) airhead flavor is supposed to be? I think it’s peach. There’s another promotional 6 pack for Avatar: The Last Airbender out- the only pack they sell at my University Store. It has the same original flavors and then two specially flavored Avatar flavors. They’re both the same flavor and have a orange-peach color. Taste like artificial peach, but it could be something else.

    Comment by Trish on 11/21/06 at 12:38 pm #
  19. Does anybody know a trick with an airhead where the airhead puffs up? For some reason I remember something like this from when I was a kid, but I can’t remember how to do it. PLEASE HELP, my brother doesn’t believe me!

    Comment by Joy Whitt on 12/25/06 at 5:40 am #
  20. Joy Whitt, Yes actually you just leave it in your mouth for 20 seconds and the airhead puffs up. Now a question for everybody. Im looking for Avatar the last airbender airheads and Im 12 years old. I get Nickelodeon magazines. The magazine said that they were limited time. Are they still in stores? Here is what the page said. You’ll flip for airheads. 6 bars artificial flavored candy. Limited time special flavor!!! Avatar flip book inside! Katara Reverse whip, Appa belly flop, zuko flaming fist, and aang air scooter.you can visit http://www.airheads.com for anothere code. you can create your own avatar secret scene at http://www.nick.com/avatarscenes. You can use this special code:——. Add this code to the one found on the back of your flipbook to supercharge additional features in the avatar secret scene creator! If you want to get the secret code its GYATSO.

    Comment by Atalia on 1/07/07 at 10:58 am #
  21. PATRIC STARR LOVES AIRHEADS AND HOCKEY CARDS!

    Comment by BILL KLINE on 2/20/07 at 7:39 am #
  22. i love airheads eat them every day i cant live with out them lol

    Comment by autumn jostmeyer on 3/08/07 at 9:02 am #
  23. The white mystery flavor is….kiwi

    Comment by alex lizz and canvas on 3/30/07 at 5:24 am #
  24. what is the mystery flavor ??

    Comment by MARY ANNE on 3/30/07 at 5:25 am #
  25. tell me what the code for aang air scooter please im going crazy!

    Comment by daniella on 5/03/07 at 1:59 pm #
  26. Pina colda

    Comment by Nick Schneider on 6/18/07 at 11:39 am #
  27. what flavor is mystery airhead

    Comment by markos on 9/11/07 at 7:56 am #
  28. I know 2 codes for the Avatar airheads.  There’s GYATSO and SMELLERBEE but I don’t know the other ones.  PLEASE help me!!!

    Comment by Chris on 9/23/07 at 8:04 am #
  29. The avatar codes I have are

    Gyatso

    Smellerbee

    Azulon


    These unlock all but the momo & toph, if you put 2 codes in at once, you earn even more images. Does any one know the others?????

    Comment by Bobby on 9/26/07 at 2:46 pm #
  30. I need the last 2! I NEED THE TOPH & MOMO! get your asses of your shoulders and gimme!

    Comment by Steven on 9/26/07 at 2:49 pm #
  31. Hello!

    I am contacting you because I am working with the authors of a book about blogs, and I’d like to request permission to use the photograph you have posted in this book.  Please contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and I’d be happy to give you more information about the project.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

    Sincerely,

    Matt

    Comment by Matt on 10/10/07 at 8:15 am #
  32. Yo matt guy, we don’t know if you can use the pic. you’ll have to contact the site formaly
    and not post on the blog.

    P.S

    To everyone: I also NEED Avatar codes! Help!

    Comment by Jackson on 10/28/07 at 2:50 am #
  33. the ones i know r gyatso smellerbee azulon miyuki and if u combine them u answer more!!!!

    Comment by summer on 12/19/07 at 9:08 am #
  34. To end this avatar stuff, all the codes are as follows.

    Gyatso
    Smellerbee
    Azulon
    Miyuki
    Joo Dee
    Sand Bender

    Comment by Anomynous on 2/06/08 at 1:58 pm #
  35. if u enter all of these codes at once you get toph and momo!

    Gyatso
    Smellerbee
    Azulon
    Miyuki
    Joo Dee
    Sand Bender

    Comment by kelsey on 5/07/08 at 11:12 am #
  36. Avatar the last airbender, he will rise above you all in the four nations, lol…

    ok all those codes work, but problem, no one nos the last code!


    Im not sure if it has something to do with sozins coment but im tryen everything
    !!!!!!!!

    Comment by avatardude$$#!@# on 7/19/08 at 7:34 am #
  37. OMG sozins coment tonight!

    E1 who sees this site go to http://earthbender.om/earthbender/EB/index.htm

    or eartherbender.com

    Comment by avatardude$$#!@# on 7/19/08 at 7:36 am #
  38. This is a favorite candy of mine; I like the flavors and the quality of the chew—plus they just taste different than anything else I know of out there.

    Comment by doug on 7/27/08 at 6:18 pm #
  39. I?ve just discovered a new Airheads product while at Stop & Shop: Airheads Pops. That?s right, lollipops. They come in the same flavors as the classic package of Airheads, minus White Mystery, unforntunately. So that means Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Apple. They are spherical in shape (balls, not oval/oblong) and roughly the size of a Dum-Dum pop- these are small pops, good size for kids-maybe as a Halloween bowl candy? The sticks are made of plastic- no drooly, wet, dissolving sticks and paper bits in your mouth. I?ve only tried the grape so far- tasty and similar to the Airhead original. Although there two rather large bubbles in my pop. Not sure if it was the one pop, as I?ve only had one.

    Comment by Temperance on 10/07/08 at 9:19 am #
  40. I just picked up a 6 pack of airheads at Wal-mart for under a buck. The flavors are White Mystery which is delish, Slammin’ Sour, Flaming Hot, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Watermelon.

    The Slammin’ Sour is green and tastes like a Lemon/Lime - almost like a sour candy Sprite.

    I haven’t tasted any of the rest yet.

    Comment by Michelle on 10/10/08 at 3:28 pm #
  41. i love bananas and bananas split have yall ever consider making a banana and banana split flavor airhead

    Comment by shaketha harrold on 10/30/08 at 11:49 am #
  42. If u spend time to look at this boring page u have to be bored!!!!

    Comment by Shania on 11/14/08 at 6:37 am #
  43. COOL!!!! I really want to try those i LLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE blue rasberry and watermelen!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!

    Comment by Margaret on 1/14/09 at 1:23 pm #
  44. I rather adore airheads, but I never had them much when I was younger. But I think I’ll be having more of them in the near future.

    Comment by Jen on 3/11/09 at 8:39 pm #
  45. my neices told me if you shake the packets of airheads long enough that the candy changes shape.

    And that of course everyone knows it. So I am sitting here trying to shake a watermeleon packet of air heads

    Comment by Dawn Marie Hanaphy on 4/13/09 at 7:38 am #
  46. you should have a grape and banna flavor!!!!!!!

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

    p.s I llllllllllllllllove your candy!!

    Comment by statia on 4/18/09 at 12:02 pm #
  47. haha i always loved airheads but i would like an orange flavored one but i rarely buy them i dont know why i dont but their good i have a mystery white one here anyways i want an orange airhead

    Comment by candything on 5/22/09 at 11:45 am #
  48. what are the codes to avatar secret scene creator

    Comment by asdsdsadsadasd on 6/19/09 at 8:05 am #
  49. other then america… where else can i buy airheads, i’ve been finding them around taiwan and australia, but i cant see it!!
          PLEASE HELP!

    Comment by MARK LIU on 8/23/09 at 9:44 pm #
  50. I LOVE THE BLUE RASPBERRY IS MY FAVVVVVVVVV:)<333333333333333333

    Comment by Morgan on 12/30/09 at 12:12 pm #
  51. i love the flaming hot it taste sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good

    Comment by dominic on 1/07/10 at 4:26 pm #
  52. the mystery flavor is gross!!!!!!

    Comment by chad on 2/17/10 at 3:38 pm #
  53. yummy airheads are my favourite candy ever i onley had cherry,blueberry and watermellon
    i love them all . i’d say


            it’s the best candy in the world

    Comment by erven6789 on 9/26/10 at 8:36 am #
  54. the air heads i eat are good even watermelon . but they need to add bette flaver the blueberry. i hate cherry and orange. strawberry is the best.

    Comment by channing on 2/17/11 at 5:38 pm #
  55. strawberry is the best i know that they should put grape and mango or other fruit.
    well they should put peoples favorite or people could vote better but it have to be fruits not nasty stuff.

    Comment by alondra on 5/15/11 at 7:33 pm #
  56. The only candies my daughter eats are purple airheads and x=treme srtrawberry airheads.  What can I buy that would substitute these, since they are no longer made.

    Comment by arnold lopez on 10/08/11 at 9:15 am #
  57. I loved airheads as a kid, and after this past Halloween I bought several huge bags of them for 70% off. I am hooked all over again. I eat like 20-30 of these mini airheads every day. I’m a candyholic. White mystery, pink lemonade, blue raspberry, and watermelon are my favorites.

    Comment by adam on 12/01/11 at 1:35 pm #
  58. I LOVE blue raspberry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by Lauren on 1/12/12 at 8:29 am #
  59. The Mystery Flavor is WHITE CHERRY PEOPLE!!!! It really isn’t that hard if you ever had a White Cherry Icee!

    Comment by Richard on 5/08/12 at 12:37 pm #
  60. I AM DA #1 AIR HEAD LOVER IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by tori on 9/05/12 at 8:59 pm #
  61. tow mator you dumb ass hes a TOW TRUCK not a red tomato

    Comment by asdasdad on 3/10/13 at 5:42 pm #
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