Thursday, June 30, 2005

Christopher’s Big Cherry is Big Peanuts

Name: Big Cherry
Brand: Christopher’s (Ben Meyerson Candy Co.)
Place Purchased: Los Angeles Farmer’s Market
Price: unknown
Size: 1.75 oz
Calories per ounce:
Type: Chocolate/Fruit

I had no idea there were made right here in Los Angeles. I also didn’t know that the Ben Meyerson Candy Co. is also behind all those Sunkist candy treats. It only makes sense then, that they’d have a big chocolate covered cherry in their repetoire. The primary curiosity of this candy, as Amy pointed out, is that the first ingredient on the label is not chocolate or cherries, but peanuts. Then sugar, corn syrup, CHERRIES and four items later is Cocoa. Hmm, might not be real chocolate on the outside.

It certainly smells nutty. Peanuts and cherries sound like a good combo. The wad is pretty big, picture a lumpy golf ball. Maybe it’s a bit bigger than that. It smelled chocolately and nutty and sweet.

I really should have taken a photo of the inside, because that’s the most interesting part. Inside is a bright pink cream - yes, pink like the package ... maybe brighter. The outside shell is thick and soft and the inside is well, thick and softer. There, far at the center was a dark, plump, red maraschino cherry.

I’m not overly fond of cherries and when I have chocolate I prefer the real stuff. The combo of peanuts and cherry cream was pretty good though a tad sweet without allowing the flavors to come through.

Rating: 5 out of 10 (because I don’t like cherries that much).

POSTED BY Cybele AT 11:37 am Tracker Pixel for Entry     CandyReviewAdams & BrooksChocolatePeanuts5-PleasantUnited States

Comments
  1. Again, I have to ask:

    Is this something you can/should pop in your mouth whole or bite? For some reason, I always want to know that!

    Comment by russ on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  2. Cybele's avatar

    It’s an interesting question. I’m wondering how I should format my reviews in the future.

    Maybe in addition to the calories and size info there should also be an estimated number of bites.

    Anyway, the big cherry is about the size of a golf ball ... maybe a little bigger. And lumpier. Definitely a three or four bite thing.

    Comment by Cybele on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  3. unless you are a pig

    Comment by crispin on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  4. This is my favorite candy.  In order to eat it with minimum mess, I turn it upside down and take bites along the edge at 45 degree angles.  That leaves me with a chocolate/peanut cup of pink goo.  I LOVE it!

    Comment by Michelle on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  5. Wait a minute.  Isn’t this just an imitation Cherry Smash?  Or is Cherry Smash just an imitation this?  Someone has to be living a lie here.

    Comment by Kirsten on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  6. Cybele's avatar

    Kirsten, I think you might be right. Also, there’s another cherry candy called the Twin Bing that’s pretty much the same thing.

    I’m guessing it’s all just regional versions of the same idea.

    Comment by Cybele on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  7. This tasty is excelent, been eating them for years. Everything else must be an imitation from this because I first laid lips on these when I was around 5 years old and I am almost 42 now.

    Michele, your way is about the only sane way to eat one. I sometime go a bit more from the side so that I get more peanuts in the initial eating.

    Comment by Bruceski on 12/31/69 at 4:00 pm #
  8. Thanks for all the comments guys! I especially like the one about showing graphics of the inside. I might make that change! The ingrediants as stated are correct. Lot’s of peanuts! Big Cherry unlike Twin Bing or Cherry Mash actually has a cherry in it! Those others are just a semi dry filling. I would suggest several bites if you want to avoid a dry cleaning bill.

    Brendan Kelley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ben Myerson Candy Company

    Comment by Brendan Kelley on 2/02/06 at 8:57 pm #
  9. Hi, I’m in Austin Tx and have been eating this candy for years. I have a hard time finding it in the area. I feel lucky when I do run into it and buy it in bulk. I’m looking for a local store that carries it close to my house. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

    Comment by Denise on 7/09/06 at 10:08 am #
  10. “...smelled chocolately and nutty and sweet.” Yep! and May I add that this also is how it taste. I agree with Michelle—My fav also and i eat it upside down too for “minimum mess.” I like it cold (but not frozen) even more.  The taste is a combo of nut and sweet wth a hint of chocolate. The sweet is very sweet and that is why it has been my fav for—maybe fifty years? for some it may be way to sweet but when you got a sweet tooth this is the candy bar you need because one of these will do the trick. Otherwise you might eat several of any other candy bars before your sweet tooth is sastified and then you would crash.
    Enjoy.

    Comment by Bert on 11/05/06 at 6:55 am #
  11. I am the New Orleans area. The store that I used to by the Big Cherry Cansy went down during Karina. Ca you please tell me where I can buy some.

    Comment by sharon on 3/07/07 at 4:43 pm #
  12. I’m lucky that were I work they sell Big Cherry candies in the candy section. The only bad thing is they only order around 50 of them and they sell out in about a week, then don’t restock for another 3 weeks. I buy around 13 of them whenever they restock. I love this candy smile

    Comment by Rekedda on 7/27/07 at 1:24 pm #
  13. This has been the most informative candy blog I’ve encountered, A+ to whoever’s idea this was.  I have been trying to find out the name of Christopher’s Big Cherries all day, this webpage was a sanity saver.  Thanks!  smile

    P.S.  Anyone ever try Palmer Candy Co. (Sioux City, Iowa) Twin Bings?  Also a very old candy, same outside as the big cherry, but the inside is more of a chewy cherry taffy.

    Comment by Andrea on 8/07/07 at 6:56 pm #
  14. DENISE! in austin tx there’s a candy store on south congress called big top i think? they usually have these as well as cherry mashes (better i my opinion0

    Comment by morgan on 1/27/09 at 4:54 pm #
  15. if you live in southern california stater bros. market sells these,packaged in a six pack box.
    I think these are a little better than the cherry mash candy

    Comment by monte on 10/30/09 at 7:28 pm #
  16. There is another candy bar made by the Idaho Candy Company (maker of the Idaho Spud bars) called Cherry Cocktail. It also has a maraschino cherry covered by crushed peanuts in chocolat.

    Big Cherry, Cherry Cocktail, Twin Bing, and Cherry Mash are all variations of cherry goo covered in chocolate and peanuts, all distributed regionally, so many people have never heard of any of these. It’s seem odd now that Mars, Hershey’s, and Nestle’s haven’t bought out one of these or developed their own competitor.

    Comment by Dr. J. on 12/31/10 at 9:58 am #
  17. Where can I purchase the Big Cherry candy bar locally. I have not seen them in years and I always talk about them and miss them so much

    Comment by Stella Miranda on 9/14/11 at 4:17 pm #
  18. You can buy Big Cherry’s at Cost Plus. Maybe on their website as well. In So Cal, they are not hard to find.

    Comment by Laurie on 5/02/14 at 9:26 pm #
  19. I like to think of these as similar to the Idaho Co.,‘s Idaho Spud—-an unusually shaped candy piece that’s NOT a candy bar and made apparently by a less discussed company (Christopher, and now Adams and Brooks of P-Nuttles fame). Everyone probably knows the candies, but (familiar story) no one actually says the name (as with Hershey’s—they’re the BIG brand)..I don’t think that anyone that I KNOWS, for that matter, even buys these..I love the names of these smaller “Piece” candies.

    Cherry. Cup of Cold (also from A&B). Idaho spud. . There’s candy boxes, candy bars, candy bags, then these individual candies in one wrapper. Haven’t had these for a long time..

    Comment by SteveCarras on 5/08/15 at 7:33 pm #
  20. I had one of those today…looks like something that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer might put on his nose….a good ad catchphrase, if they ever get AROUND to an AD on the radio/telly/etc. would be BIIIIIG Cherry. Mine I bought at Liquor Mart,a local store (they, among other old timers have Chic-o-Stick, and if you look REAL close, NECCOS!)

    Comment by SCarras on 7/05/15 at 6:32 pm #
  21. PS Since when the blog start on New Years Eve 1969, going by the first few dates? smile

    Comment by SCarras on 7/05/15 at 6:33 pm #
  22. Hey Brendan Lelley, nice to have you here, I enjoy Big CHerry candies..to everyone, very interesting comments..


    Michelle, you have a very interesting way of describing eating a Big Cherry!

    Dr.J….I believe Hershey’s makes a Cherry Blossom type candy which seems similiar (YouTUbe has at least one video on it).
    \
    Russ (at the top)..just chew the candy!:)

    Comment by SCarras on 7/05/15 at 6:38 pm #
  23. Christopher’s was a top end caterer and confectioner in Downtown LA with five candy stores with refrigerated cases in the twenties but actually started in the 1880’s. I don’t think this is representative of the quality of his products. I have a box that looks exactly like a See’s candy box, but with Christopher’s on it.

    Comment by Franklin on 6/08/16 at 3:05 pm #
  24. I am buying Christopher big cherry with no cherries in the middle I am a dissatisfied customer

    Comment by Peyton smith on 12/07/16 at 2:57 pm #
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