Friday, May 2, 2008

Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears

Chocolate Covered Gummi BearsThere are a few candies still on my list of “I can’t believe you haven’t tried that before!” and chocolate covered gummi bears were one of them. Once I had the Japanese version, I realized I should try the original. They were invented over 30 years ago by none other than the ultimate “if it should be covered in chocolate, we’ll cover it in chocolate” company: Koppers Chocolates.

When I was in San Francisco I found not only Koppers Milk Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears, but also the White Chocolate Polar Bears at Sweet Dish on Chestnut Street.

I’m not sure why I’ve been reticent about trying them. It might be that I was expecting a Haribo gummi bear, which are rather firm. Instead Koppers uses Swiss gummis (I don’t know anything beyond that) that they are appropriately soft.

Chocolate Covered Gummi BearsI got just a quarter of a pound each of mixed milk & polar bears to try. What struck me at first was the fact that all the white chocolate bears were the same milky yellow color. Even held up to the light, there was no indication what color the gummi bear beneath was.

What I found out later, after diligently sucking the chocolate off of enough of them for a scientific sample, is that they’re all the same color (whether milk or white covered)! Though they’re yellow, I’m hard pressed to say that they’re lemon flavored, merely that they’re a sweet & tangy mix.

The milk chocolate was pretty smooth, and very milky tasting. It melted well and didn’t have that light waxy glaze that many other panned candies have. The white chocolate was similarly milky in its taste, but not too sweet. As a combination goes, I still wasn’t completely on board with having chocolate with my gummi bears. They’re cute and easy to eat, but I think I might like them apart.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Muddy BearsTo be fair, even though Koppers invented the confectionery genre of chocolate covered gummi bears, the ones I see most often in drug stores, movie theaters & discount chains are called Muddy Bears and are made by Taste of Nature (who also makes Cookie Dough Bites) which I think is an awesome name for an unappetizing looking product.

The box features a yellow bear who is entirely too happy to be covered in chocolate. I’m not sure if he understands that once he’s sealed in his confectionery shell he’s doomed.

I’ve only seen them in the theater sized boxes. Inside the box is a cellophane pouch that holds the bears and keeps them fresh. (And makes for extra wrapper noises at the theater and probably scowly looks from me if I’m sitting near.)

Muddy BearsAs unattractive as the Koppers were, I think the Muddy Bears are even worse. But since they’re meant to be eaten at the movies based on the packaging, I’m going to guess that doesn’t matter much. (For the record, I like candy that looks the same after sitting unwrapped at the bottom of my purse, so that when I switch purses and find it down there, I know what it is ... and then I eat it.)

One of the big differences in the products is the gummi center. Muddy Bears use multi-flavored gummis. Of course being covered in milk chocolate there’s no way to know which flavor is which. It’s a benign chocolate-covered Russian roulette. Mostly I seemed to get green apple.

The chocolate coating seems a bit crumbly, not as smooth melting as the Koppers and very sweet without much of a “chocolate” taste. I can’t see myself buying these.

Candy Addict did a review last summer as well, interestingly, their photo of the box says, “The Original”, I’m guessing Koppers took issue with the accuracy and they’ve changed it to the version I have.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Meiji Gummy Choco set the bar too high. Their candies come in lots of different flavors, they’re packaged so nicely, the price is right even for an import and if you get a flavor mix, they’re color coded. But if you’re not able to get a hold of those, give the Koppers a try (you’ll probably see them in bulk bins), if the shop also carries chocolate cordials, they’re probably Koppers.

Related Candies

  1. The Simpsons Fruit Snacks
  2. Sour Gummi Bears
  3. Krunchy Bears
  4. Chocolate Covered Sugar Babies
  5. Haribo Gummi Bears vs Trolli Gummi Bears
Name: Milk Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears & Polar Bears and Muddy Bears
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Koppers Chocolates & Taste of Nature
Place Purchased: Sweet Dish (SF) & samples from Taste of Nature
Price: $10/lb & $1.29 retail
Size: 6 ounces & 3.1 ounces
Calories per ounce: 100/113 & 99
Categories: Chocolate, White Chocolate, Gummi, United States, Taste of Nature, Koppers

POSTED BY Cybele AT 8:59 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. If you are willing to give the concept of the chocolate covered bear one more shot I recommend trying The Sweet Factory’s version. The chocolate is only ok at best but they use only the clear “pina colada” flavored gummis and that makes for a tasty combination (also the bears are soft!)

    Comment by Gigi on 5/02/08 at 9:21 am #
  2. I tried the chocolate covered gummy bears last Christmas - I don’t know what brand they were, but I agree with you - I’m not completely sold on the idea. I was pregnant at the time so I was really into snacking, so I found myself keeping eating them, but I would pretty much eat all the chocolate off the outside and then eat the gummy bear. I think I’m just a purist, and plain old haribo is the way to go!

    Comment by Erin on 5/02/08 at 9:31 am #
  3. For some reason I’ve always thought chocolate covered gummi bears are pineapple flavored inside, but I’m not sure. 

    Also, I adore them, but I think Cost Plus changed to a different supplier recently ‘cause they’re bigger and not as good…

    Comment by Michaela on 5/02/08 at 10:14 am #
  4. The chocolate Koppers definitely take some getting used to.  I work in an old-fashioned candy shop and at first, refused to try them.  Then I had one and wasn’t sold.  Well if you have “just one” every time you sell them, they definitely grow on you.  The white chocolate ones are fantastically disgusting, however. 

    I also expected different colored gummi bears, but they’re just a wonderful, neutral, fruity flavor.  I’m going to go to work and eat some right now!

    Comment by Alison on 5/02/08 at 10:52 am #
  5. OMG I can’t believe they have chocolate gummy bears! You find the craziest things. Love it!

    Comment by Imani on 5/03/08 at 6:28 pm #
  6. I love chocolate covered Gummi Bears! I haven’t had either of those kinds before, but I have had ones from three smaller candy stores that were delectable!

    Comment by Pinklabrador on 5/04/08 at 7:43 am #
  7. Oh and I forgot to mention.  See’s opened a store in MI.  Its in the new Plum Supermarket in Ann Arbor.  Its free standing and you can even pick your own kind for packing.  I’m in love!!  Of course, I still live 3 hrs from AA, but at least its not as far as Cali.  Its 20$ a lb too.  Last time I was there, I bought 3 scotchmallow bars( 1.95 each).

    Comment by Randi on 5/05/08 at 12:38 pm #
  8. Have you ever tried chocolate covered cinnamon bears?  They are actually pretty good, although I can’t eat too many at a sitting!

    Comment by Dawn on 5/21/08 at 6:22 pm #
  9. Again, I’m not much of a candy eater but right now my best friend is watering over these attractive treats!

    Comment by Kay Kay on 5/19/09 at 10:14 am #
  10. I am addicted to the chocolate covered gummy bears made my the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Candy Shop.  Unfortunately, the only one I have quick and easy access to is in the Charlotte airport, although there are a few stores approximately 30 miles away.  So, one weekend, desperately craving the gummy bear, I made my own. It wasn’t the same.  The chocolate (Hershey’s) and the gummy bear (Brachs) flavor was totally different.  I am going to attempt it again using Lifesaver Gummies and baking chocolate (Godiva).  Stay tuned…..

    Comment by DeAnna on 5/21/10 at 12:59 pm #
  11. As soon as I took a bite of my first Muddy Bear I knew that they were by the same people who made cookie dough bites.  Why? They both had that same inedible chemical-tasting “chocolate” coating.  If the special part of your product is that it has chocolate…invest some money in GOOD chocolate.

    Comment by Rita on 8/11/10 at 8:30 am #
  12. Rather late to the party, but I would add that Walgreen’s has a line of chocolate-covered bears in its Nice! candies.  They are excellent!  A softer chew, sweetened with fruit juice and the bright flavors stand up quite well to the chocolate.  I believe it’s a five-flavor mix of gummis.  The Nice! chocolate is quite, well, Nice! for a store brand.  If you happen to see any, grab them while you can—I hear that they are being discontinued.

    Comment by wellrested on 7/28/14 at 11:01 am #
  13. I was not a fan of the Koppers but then I tried the kind made by Albanese. Completely different gummy, soft chewy and sweet. They are mix of flavor and completely addictive.

    Comment by Lisa on 12/17/15 at 5:35 am #
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