Monday, January 9, 2006

Figamajigs

I heard about these last October. When you think about it, it’s a natural idea - combine figs and chocolate to create a candy. I’m all for wholesome candy, there’s no reason that healthy ingredients can’t be combined to create something tasty. And don’t worry, they’ve done it here.

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Chocolate Covered Fig Bar: Before you try these you might want to ask yourself if you like figs. The first ingredients in the two bars is figs, then sugar, then chocolate. The fig center isn’t at all like a Fig Newton, there are no identifiable seeds even. Instead it’s a moist, soft and chewy center with a good fresh, figgy taste. There’s also a hint of raspberry to it. If the seeds of a Fig Newton always bothered you, this might be a good way to get the fig taste without the fig texture.

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Chocolate Covered Fig Bar with Almonds: This one was actually my favorite. It’s the same fig bar as above with almonds mixed into the center. The combination of fig and almonds is a natural and the texture added by the nuts gives it a little crunch and nutty taste. Almonds also add their own nutritional benefits, a dash of protein and a little fiber in their own right. I don’t know how much attention you pay to calories, but as a chocolate candy this bar has the lowest calorie/ounce rating that I think I’ve profiled yet. That means you feel like you’re eating a lot (that’s what fiber does for you), so there’s the munching satisfaction, but not actually whole lot of calories. The bars feel substantial, but they are smaller than your typical 1.75 ounce candy bar that we’re accustomed to with Hershey’s, Nestle & Mars.

Figamajigs are billed as healthy candy as they provide both high fiber (4 grams per bar), small amounts of calcium and iron in addition to the antioxidants inherent to both figs and chocolate. The Figamajig website provides more info about these health benefits and the full story of Mel Lefer, the creator of Figamajigs, who invented the bars in a search for a healthy snack that would satisfy.

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Candy Pieces: These are really pretty candies. I saw them on the website and I thought, there’s no way they’re that cute. But they are. They’re large dollops of fig centers from the bar, covered in chocolate and then covered in a candy shell. The shell is crunchy and sweet and the center has a good balance of chocolate and figs (more chocolate in this ratio, it seems). They’re actually quite a bit sweeter than the fig bars, and I don’t know if I could eat a lot of them in one sitting for that reason. But, if I were making a trail mix for snacking in the car, out whalewatching or on a hike, this is the perfect format. In fact, if I were going to make a trail mix, it would be a combination of mini pretzels, chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered nuts (I prefer cashews, but I know almonds are better for me) and some plain almonds. It gives you a good mix of sweet, salt and of course the creaminess of the chocolates. It also has a good balance of sugars to proteins so you don’t get a sugar high and crash ... the proteins moderate the processed carbs and give you lasting and satisfying energy. I can’t wait for them to be sold in bulk at Whole Foods or maybe in tubs at Trader Joe’s. If I have one complaint it’s really that the little colored candies have no name. Really, what am I supposed to call them?

When the time comes for me to choose between a Luna Bar and a Figamajig, I’m totally going for the Figamajig. (Sorry, I’m not going to pick a Figamajig over a KitKat though.)

Name: Figamajigs
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Figamajigs
Place Purchased: samples from manufacturer (available online)
Price: $1.49
Size: 1.41 ounces
Calories per ounce: 92-106
Categories: Chocolate, United States, Nuts

POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:30 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. This is a test comment.

    Comment by cybele on 1/09/06 at 12:14 pm #
  2. Is there any way you could add your ratings back to your RSS feed?  Thanks!

    Comment by eecue on 1/09/06 at 12:57 pm #
  3. Man I jumped right over to the Figamajigs website intent on ordering, but only found the bars sold in bulk boxes. I guess that’s understandable since they’d no doubt get bogged down shipping one or two bars all over the place but I’m not yet willing to commit to 15 of the things without trying them out first.

    Comment by Will Campbell on 1/09/06 at 1:19 pm #
  4. I’ve heard that Fran’s sells chocolate dipped figs. Have you (or any future readers/commenters) tried those? How do they compare? Other than the obvious considerable price difference, of course… I know a fig and chocolate lover and thought I would order her some figs from Fran’s but perhaps I should order these instead…

    Comment by Tricia on 1/09/06 at 1:55 pm #
  5. Cybele's avatar

    Tricia - I also saw that Scharffen Berger has some chocolate dipped figs (which are freakin’ pricey at $15 for 2.5 ounces) but look lovely.

    Figamajigs are not in any way the same as a regular chocolate dipped dried (or fresh) fig - but still delightful.

    My husband, who’s not fond of figs, but eats Fig Newtons actually liked these bars, for whatever that means.

    Comment by Cybele on 1/09/06 at 5:23 pm #
  6. Sounds tasty and healthier than the bacon wrapped figs I had at a party recently.

    Comment by Jodi on 1/09/06 at 6:24 pm #
  7. Thanks, Cybele - maybe we’ll send her both (no need to tackle my problem with indecision this year… :^)

    Comment by Tricia on 1/10/06 at 9:03 am #
  8. i’m wondering, how big are the candy pieces? it’s hard to catch the scale. say, in relation to an M&M or M&M peanut…

    Comment by tg on 1/10/06 at 12:17 pm #
  9. Cybele's avatar

    tg - the candy pieces are definitely bigger than M&Ms; - maybe about the size of the almond ones, but a little more rounded. Think of a slightly ovoid hazelnut.

    Comment by Cybele on 1/10/06 at 12:45 pm #
  10. ah, and whaddo you know, i’ve been on an M&M almond kick this wk. but i folo’d yr lead and ordered a box of the bars w/ almonds. i understand commenter will campbell’s reluctance to commit to a box; but i heart fig

    Comment by tg on 1/10/06 at 1:08 pm #
  11. Hm, they could call the little ones “Figamajiggies.”

    Comment by KC on 1/10/06 at 5:50 pm #
  12. A naming contest!

    ps your test comment above works fine.

    pps I’d love to have some of these—save me a bar for when I’m in town.

    Comment by Travis Smith on 1/12/06 at 1:39 am #
  13. “Figamajiggles”...that is too perfect…I can’t stop laughing:)

    Comment by Stephanie on 1/14/06 at 11:01 pm #
  14. Cybele's avatar

    Travis - you’re nuts if you think that there are any of these left.

    KC & Stephanie - I know the Figamajigs folks read this review and I also emailed them both names ... they should totally send you a box of them if they change the name.

    Comment by Cybele on 1/20/06 at 4:07 pm #
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