Monday, July 23, 2007

Dots

imageDots are one of those candies that I see a lot at stores, but I rarely see anyone buying them or eating them.

Originally they were made by a company called Mason, who also made Black Crows (a licorice gumdrop). Black Crows were introduced in the 1890s, but Dots came along a bit later in 1945. What’s fun about Dots is that they’re gumdrops, but they don’t have that sugar sanding on them. The Mason company was sold to Tootsie in 1972, but some folks still call them Mason Dots (even the Tootsie site refers to them on their nutritional data page).

They’re sold in a few different sizes, the regular single sized box, a fun size (often in assortments of Tootsie products) and the “Movie Box”. I have to say that the movie box I picked up last week makes these look darn appealing. And taking the candies out of the box, I was pleased that they really do look like they do on the box.

image

Dots come in five flavors that are supposedly random in the box:

  • Strawberry (pink) - lightly floral and fruity, kind of like cotton candy.
  • Cherry (red) - you know, cherry flavor with that light bitter aftertaste of Red 40. Not bad, I didn’t pick them out of the box but actually ate them.
  • Orange (orange) - nice round orange flavor, rather sweet with a slightly bitter zest that comes a little later.
  • Lemon (yellow) - wonderfully zesty, but then a mellower flavor with a very slight tartness.
  • Lime (green) - a light lime with both the zest and light tangy note ... as with many lime things, it’s a little too much like bathroom cleaner.
  • This box had a clear plastic overwrapper, so these were fresh. The Dots were soft and easy to chew. Of course they’re also kind of sticky, not in the way that threatens fillings, but big lumps will get stuck on the sides of my teeth. I’ve had my share of stale Dots and they’re really not a chewable food.

    Overall, they’re a nice candy. They don’t really thrill me much, but I had these sitting on my desk for several days and did actually eat them. I don’t see myself buying them for any reason though. If you’re a Dot lover, please testify to their enduring greatness.

    Each Dot has about 12 calories and no fat (it’s all sugar, baby).

    There’s no gelatin in these (that’d make them gummis) so they’re suitable for vegetarians and vegans who eat white sugar.

    Related Candies

    1. Tootsie Roll Mini Chews
    2. Chuckles
    3. Swedish Aqua Life
    4. The Real Jelly Babies
    Name: Mason Dots
      RATING:
    • 10 SUPERB
    • 9 YUMMY
    • 8 TASTY
    • 7 WORTH IT
    • 6 TEMPTING
    • 5 PLEASANT
    • 4 BENIGN
    • 3 UNAPPEALING
    • 2 APPALLING
    • 1 INEDIBLE
    Brand: Tootsie
    Place Purchased: Dollar Tree (Harbor City)
    Price: $1.00
    Size: 6.5 ounces
    Calories per ounce: 92
    Categories: Jelly, United States, Tootsie

    POSTED BY Cybele AT 6:28 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

    Comments
    1. I adore Dots. I’m a gummy fanatic, but as I get older the texture of most gummies has started to make me feel nauseous after a few (I blame 5 lb boxes of gummy worms). Dots are one of the few gummies I can still polish of the whole box of.

      Comment by Rose on 7/23/07 at 7:24 am #
    2. Dots always remind me of young movie-going experiences. I only remember having them at Saturday matin?es, but quickly learned that they were far superior to Milk Duds as a candy to throw in a dark theatre. Every bit as accurate, but with much less mess.

      Until I read your review, I had no idea anyone actually ate them.

      Comment by Russ on 7/23/07 at 7:30 am #
    3. I also adore dots.  I try not to buy them too much now to preserve my teeth, but I still get the big box every year in my christmas stocking.  and then eat them in about 30 minutes. 

      Don’t try the “new” (?) yogurt dots.  not nearly as good.

      Comment by nan on 7/23/07 at 7:34 am #
    4. I love Dots, I’ve been a fan of them since I was a little kid. To me, it’s a good movie snack because it doesn’t usually make you feel sick, like eating chocolate candies sometimes can. I was glad to see this review (I visit your blog daily), because it seems to me most people haven’t really tried Dots, or heard of them.

      Comment by Hannah on 7/23/07 at 12:15 pm #
    5. I had a box of Dots at the movies just yesterday! I love ‘em.

      Comment by Kim on 7/23/07 at 12:17 pm #
    6. I always loved these in my Halloween candy.

      Comment by Elizabeth on 7/23/07 at 12:57 pm #
    7. It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve had dots.  They’re a great, mild (but sticky) candy!  I’ve seen the tropical version at Walgreens, but never gotten around to trying it… maybe I will now.

      Comment by Justin on 7/23/07 at 2:15 pm #
    8. Dots are one of my favorite candies of all time! I think they’re a really great movie candy, personally. I’ve always wanted to try Black Crows- I imagine they must be a little like good licorice jelly beans, yeah?

      Dots do limited edition flavors sometimes, but they’re never any good, in my experience.

      Comment by Tristyn on 7/23/07 at 4:34 pm #
    9. Dots are my hands down favorite candy. I usually eat the yellow, half of the orange, red, and finally the pink. After that I throw away the green and whatevers left of the orange. for some reason those two colors make me kind of sick. At any rate, try the tropical flavored ones, they’re WAY better than the original.

      Comment by Shelby on 7/23/07 at 5:06 pm #
    10. I love dots like few other candies, but I’ve always been partial towards gummy candies like gummi bears and worms and the like. I really enjoy the flavor of the dots as well, though sometimes I wish they were a little more vibrant in flavor. Still, I love these candies!

      Comment by Magda on 7/23/07 at 5:17 pm #
    11. One year I got “fun packs” of Dots to give away for Halloween candy. But the “fun packs” only had like 3 or 4 Dots in them - maybe 2? How could that be considered fun?? Never again.

      Comment by Tricia on 7/23/07 at 5:41 pm #
    12. I forgot I liked Dots till last halloween - I swiped most of the mini boxes out of our candy basket! I did buy a big box of them about 4 months ago (blame pregnancy cravings!) but they weren’t as good as I remembered them at Halloween.

      Comment by Erin on 7/23/07 at 5:46 pm #
    13. They are EXCELLENT for gingerbread houses, look HERE!

      Comment by justJENN on 7/23/07 at 8:28 pm #
    14. Dot’s are good when and only when they are fresh.

      that said i love dots. they have this great consistency and are free from the nastiness of fake grape flavor.

      the lemon and orange ones are my favorite, but i like to eat them in groups of twos and threes to mix their flavors up :3 and i always enjoyed getting the fun sizes for halloween

      Comment by Erica on 7/24/07 at 2:50 am #
    15. I LOVE THOSE!

      Comment by Alyssa on 7/24/07 at 5:45 am #
    16. Dots are my favorite candy.  I get a large-ish box about once a month.  They are still one of the few candies that I can polish off in one sitting without making me feel overly ill. 
      I love Dots.  Not just for movies to me.

      Comment by Paul on 7/24/07 at 5:51 am #
    17. I love Dots the best.  They’re really good frozen.

      Comment by Liee on 7/24/07 at 8:31 am #
    18. I LOVE DOTS—my absolute favorite candy. I get boxes of Dots and birthday presents. They are the best. Just enough sugar and flavor for a little boost. I am not a big fan of the newer flavors but love original dots!

      Comment by Franki on 7/24/07 at 10:20 am #
    19. DOTS are fantastic!  I stock up on them when I find them so that I always have a box around.  They’re a comfort food for me.

      Comment by Jenny on 7/24/07 at 3:22 pm #
    20. I am also a fan of DOTS although I needed some reminding about their chewy lusciousness.  Definitely a favorite movie treat.  And there’s always some left in the box for enjoyment at home.  I too pick them out of the Halloween candy basket…after the chocolate is gone.  Better than the sugar coated gum drops and I will actually eat all the flavors.  Hooray for DOTS!

      Comment by Jo jo dancer on 7/25/07 at 5:03 am #
    21. I finally understand what you’ve been saying about the bitterness of cherry flavors (and the dyes). Only almost all the Dots were bitter to me. And the cherry here tasted like bitter almond. Really weird. I usually love cherry, fake or real, but this was disturbing.

      Comment by Kate on 7/26/07 at 10:34 am #
    22. I’m not a huge candy eater - but Dots are up there on my list of guilty pleasures.

      Comment by tanya on 7/31/07 at 4:06 pm #
    23. I have been a Dots lover since I was a kid. I am now glad to say I have my grand daughter getting into the Dots mode. I even buy her the Dots clothing, lip gloss, sandels, etc.

      I can’t keep Dots in the house - stomach yes, house no. People give me boxes of Dots for my birthday and holidays. I keep them in the freezer. Makes eating them take a little longer.

      I like the originals, I don’t care for the Tropical, and realllly do not like the coated Dots. They are sour.

      Enjoy.

      Comment by Tom on 8/07/07 at 7:16 am #
    24. dots are truly an amazing candy. they make me happy. they are gummy and squishy and don’t come in licorice flavor. has anyone tried the yogurt dots? where can i get them??

      Comment by zoe on 8/10/07 at 9:27 am #
    25. zoe, you’re so right, they are AMAZING! i’ve had the yogurt dots, and i’m a big fan.

      yay dots!

      Comment by kenny on 8/10/07 at 9:29 am #
    26. I LOVE dots and jujyfruits.  However, I feel the flavor formula for dots has been changed.  They have a much more synthetic and peculiar taste, also sweeter, than formerly.

      Comment by Sally on 8/20/07 at 8:34 am #
    27. I bought a box of yogurt dots the other day and they are so yummy and really good. The yogurt tastes like strawberry and cream. I love Dots!!!

      Comment by Trish on 10/21/07 at 11:13 am #
    28. Dots do come in licorice flavor, but not in the regular Dots box.

      Licorice dots are packed as a single flavor in a box named “Black Crows”. The history of that name is as good as the dots.

      But I still prefer the regular dots. Frozen.

      And of course they are great when it comes to making a gingerbread house colorful. On the roof, and as a fence.


      Tom

      Comment by Tom on 10/23/07 at 1:05 pm #
    29. to whom this may consern. i need to no who to contact. i got the minni dots at walmart and some of the boxes were empty. who can i contact. can you please help me. thank you. cathy heischman

      Comment by cathy heischman on 11/04/07 at 4:17 pm #
    30. Call or write the company at:
      Tootsie Roll Industries is located at:
      7401 South Cicero Avenue
      Chicago, IL 60629
      (773) 838-3400


      I called them once. Still a family company.

      Comment by Tom on 11/14/07 at 1:39 pm #
    31. THANK YOU TOM FOR THE HELP. ALICE HEISCHMAN

      Comment by cathy heischman on 11/14/07 at 8:46 pm #
    32. Your welcome Cathy / Alice.

      Have a nice holiday season.

      Tom

      Comment by Tom on 11/25/07 at 3:32 am #
    33. I Love Tropical Dots Gumdrops!  They are the absolute phee-nom bomb! I always buy their 8.5 oz boxes whenever or whereever I can find ‘em. Great fruity tropical taste and smooth jelly gumdrop texture. The best!

      Comment by Nate on 4/24/08 at 3:07 pm #
    34. I just saw Dots elements at the grocery store today…

      I bought the earth one because pomegranate sounded intriguing.

      But green tea sounded like crazy… cinnamon and wintergreen might be interesting…

      Any thoughts?

      So far… not impressed with the small handful of flavorless dots that I’ve eaten so far… I’m chalking the first impression up to that I shouldn’t have eaten it after the Snickers special edition bar for Indiana Jones…

      But my second and third tastes are still less than impressed.

      Maybe I should have gone for the green tea after all….

      Comment by Mione on 4/27/08 at 8:22 am #
    35. Dot’s came out with a pomegranite flavor this year and i bought a box, and have looked around and can’t find them…......are they still making them?

      Comment by Michelle on 6/05/08 at 8:27 am #
    36. Dots rule. I am 49 and I’m pretty certain that Dots were my candy of choice whenever at a movie. I also like the Tropical Flavored Dots but prefer the original. Texture = perfection IF the box is wrapped in plastic, which seems to be the case here. I am going to buy us some, oh yeah!

      Comment by Julie on 6/11/08 at 2:01 pm #
    37. okay we have a debate going on at work.  Several people say that there use to be black dots (black crows?)mixed in with the regular box of dots years ago. Does anyone know about this?

      Comment by Mary on 6/16/08 at 8:21 am #
    38. my son is getting married next aug and the theme for there weddings is dots the candy .Sarah wants to wear flip flops under her gown we saw dots flip flops last summer at walgeens and now we cant find them can you please tell us where we can get a pair all the tables are going to be done in dots also the wedding cake thank you
      Debbie the mother of the groom

      Comment by Debbie Lacko on 6/27/08 at 2:22 pm #
    39. I tried the wintergreen and green tea Dots today. The mont ones were alright, not as strong on flavor as I would like, but the green tea ones tasted vaguely like green tea, but mostly like stale candy cigarettes.

      Comment by EJ on 6/28/08 at 4:08 pm #
    40. I am a DOTS fanatic.  When I have them, I almost always have a movie-sized box and eat the whole thing.  A movie-sized box is over 700 calories, so I enjoy them no more than once a month, but they’re my main candy.  I think they deserve a “10” on the candy scale.  I cannot imagine a better candy.

      Comment by John Harrington on 7/01/08 at 7:15 am #
    41. Does anyone know why they discontinued the Wild berry Dots? They were so good!

      Comment by Trish on 7/03/08 at 3:03 pm #
    42. Love the wintergreen Dots from the Elements line.  Saw them at World of Value store, which I take it to mean they didn’t sell well (think Big Lots type store).  There’s no mention of them on the Tootsie Roll web site.  I bought, but haven’t tried yet, the green tea and the pomegranate ones.

      Comment by Mike on 7/04/08 at 9:39 am #
    43. I LOVE DOTS and do buy them from time to time. Don’t know why I haven’t tasted the licorice ones as of yet, perhaps it could be do to the fact that it might give me acid backup.
      Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing some other ‘versions’ maybe (chocolate, vanilla, etc.), even if only for a ‘limited’ period in time.

      Comment by Bea K on 9/01/08 at 10:46 am #
    44. I also love ‘Dots’ but wanted to know if there’s anyone out there that remembers a ‘special’ kind of candy by the name of ‘Crazy Mixed Up Kids’? No, I’m not joking, this was an actual candy sold here in Brooklyn, New York during the 1970’s, and they were ‘extremely’ popular.
      The candy came in a square box with children on the carton, and there were many different colors (purple, yellow, white, etc.), and it had a marshmallow like flavor.
      If there’s ‘anyone’ out there who remembers them, can you please let me know? Thanks.

      P.S.  If you know who the manufacturer was that’d be a great help as well.

      Comment by Jeanne on 9/01/08 at 10:59 am #
    45. Dots are too distracting to make a good movie theater snack for me.  When I eat Dots, it has to be in a certain order.  Green, to get them out of the way because I don’t like them.  Yellow for the same reason.  Oranges and Pinks are intermixed, because I like both those flavors.  And reds are saved for the end, because I love them.

      Comment by Rita on 10/02/08 at 7:55 am #
    46. I have a dot addiction. I need dots like a thug needs crack. I’m sorry to admit that I have a way of picking the perfect box by giving it a slight squeeze.. if it is nice and soft, then mmmmmm.. those are the fresh ones! I ain’t messin with the tough ones, no matter how bad my withdrawals are. I’ll only be left with an even stronger craving for fresh dots! I only like the red and pink ones. Where can I go straight to the “dealer” and get a big box of fresh red and pink ones?

      Comment by The Tiffster on 11/07/08 at 7:13 am #
    47. Jeanne I remember the Crazy mixed up kids, we bought them at the local comic book store every Sunday after Church.  I will always remember the taste.  awwww memories.  I don’t know the manufacturer.

      Comment by Teresa Caldwell on 1/06/09 at 6:38 pm #
    48. I love dots.  I love tropical dots and original, but not the hot ones or the crows.  I used to be addicted and had to wean myself off of dots.  I cannot buy a box without eating the entire box that day.  I absolutely loved Wild Berry dots because I love gummy type candies and I love sour candy mixed with sweetness.  I have not been able to find Wild Berry Dots in years and would love to purchase a large supply if anyone knows where to get them?  Can anyone tell me if you can still buy them?  Also, I would like to try to pomegranite dots if anyone knows where to get them?  Help!!  Thanks!

      Comment by Amanda on 1/21/09 at 5:46 am #
    49. Dots are tasty, but I get a strange headache every time I eat them. My husband recently bought a BIG box of them, so I poured a bunch of them into a baggie to take to work. For 3 days, I couldn’t pin point why my head was hurting when it dawned on my that it only happened shortly after snacking on Dots. The headache is different than any I’ve had before - and I’ve never had any issue with other candy. Does anyone know anything about this? Hmmmm…..it’s weird.

      Comment by Jenny on 2/11/09 at 5:11 pm #
    50. I’m so happy to find this site. I did a google search for “didn’t DOTS used to come in black licorice?” I’m writing a personal essay featuring DOTS and how I hated the licorice one and the dreaded experience of popping one by mistake in my mouth in a dark movie theater. I’m wondering if the original box design had black dots on it as well…

      Comment by Marian Morgan on 2/20/09 at 5:50 am #
    51. One more thing… When I ate DOTS as a kid there was no strawberry flavor which to my mind gives more credence to the possibility that there was indeed black dots included in the original box…

      Comment by Marian Morgan on 2/20/09 at 6:03 am #
    52. My coworker teaseas me for eating dots for breakfast.

      Comment by Vega-Hall on 3/21/09 at 5:36 am #
    53. Have you reviewed Tropical Dots?

      Comment by Whit on 3/22/09 at 6:05 pm #
    54. I could never figure them out (why my daughter liked them so much?) Till I ate some with some popcorn at a movie theatre. They complemented the salty popcorn so well and kept the husks from getting stuck in my mouth when I got to the bottom of the popcorn box as most theatre popcorn does with me. I got hooked on them and now love them (except the green ones which I agree taste like bathroom cleaner!) I ALSO LOVE TO KEEP THEM IN THE FREEZER!!! They really taste great with a harder consistency that I like…. TRY IT!

      Comment by William Chargin on 5/11/09 at 5:28 pm #
    55. Please bring back Wild Berry Dots, they were soooooo good!!

      Comment by Kim on 5/22/09 at 4:01 pm #
    56. DOTS: On sale two for $5.50 or $2.75 each… get them while there in stock….. NR 8

      Comment by Doug on 7/08/09 at 8:33 pm #
    57. YES! Replace the GREEN SLIME ONES WITH WILD BERRY!!!!!!

      Comment by William Chargin on 7/08/09 at 8:50 pm #
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