Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Hershey’s Lancaster Caramel Soft CremesMilton S. Hershey is one of great entrepreneur stories of the 20th century. Hershey always wanted to be a confectioner. He was apprenticed to a candy maker as a child and then later tried several times to make it on his own. He focused on caramels and small wrapped sweets, peddling them on a cart pushed around the streets. While working in Denver for another confectioner, he learned a new recipe for boiled sweets, a caramel that was extremely stable as well as delicious because of the use of milk in addition to butter. However, even in Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City ... each of these companies failed. In 1886 he returned home, in debt but still convinced that his new caramel recipe he learned in Denver could succeed. He convinced family members to invest once again and this time was the right time. He created the Lancaster Caramel Company which flourished. He built this little enterprise into a full factory business by the turn of century, employing over 1,300 people and then sold it off for a million dollars in order to fund his new venture, the Hershey Chocolate Company. Hershey’s is finally introducing their own line of caramels, under the nostalgic name of Lancaster. The new Lancaster Caramel Soft Cremes’ package looks nostalgic. What’s inside, though, is unlikely to be anything close to what Milton Hershey used to make in copper kettles. The package says “His [Milton Hershey] original caramel recipe is the inspiration for Lancaster Cremes. The ingredients tell the story of a modern confection:
Though I was a little disappointed to see the use of things like palm kernel oil, tocopherols and high fructose corn sweetener, I was more disappointed at the price for such things. Kraft Caramels are usually about $2 a bag on sale and contain similar ingredients but not the premium price. But, I was willing to give these a try. The little nuggets are glossy and soft. They don’t smell like much, but have a beautifully soft and chewy bite. The chew and dissolve is impossibly smooth and rich, with good flavor notes of caramelized sugar and butter. It’s like a soft version of Pearson’s Nips. (I could imagine these as fantastic in coffee flavor.) It’s not a completely stiff caramel chew, like a Storck Chocolate Riesen, but much smoother than the soft bite of a Kraft Caramel. As much as I wanted to hate these for their divergence from Hershey’s original simple ingredients, they are quite good. The texture, the consistency and overall not-too-sweet profile is really ideal. I begrudgingly love them. They come in two other varieties: Vanilla and Caramel and Vanilla and Raspberry. Honestly, I plan to quit while I’m ahead. If they come up with chocolate or coffee flavored ones, I’ll give those a go. Oddly enough, the Lancaster Caramels are made in Canada, not Central Pennsylvania. Also, they’re not Kosher and there are no other notations on the package regarding nuts, wheat or eggs though the ingredients list dairy and soy as ingredients. Related Candies
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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Where are these candies made ?
Gregg B. - The package says Canada, but does not specify their factory. However, Hershey’s owns several facilities, including their newest purchase, Brookside.
Does Hershey have a facility in China? If so could it (Lancaster) be made there?
Gregg - Yes, Hershey’s makes candy in China.
I’m not sure what you’re asking. Could it? Sure, they can make them in China for the Chinese marketplace. Generally, Hershey’s makes their American confections in North America, either in the US, Canada or Mexico. I don’t foresee Hershey’s making their candy in China and importing it to the US ... but never say never.
I tried the version that was swirled with a cream component. Greatly disappointed; they were blah. On your recommendation, I’ll try the regular.
The best candy I have ever tried in the US!
I’ve tried the Vanilla and Raspberry before, and it was delicious.
Yes Cybele, I think you know what I’m asking! I think your candy is made in China! With lead paint! Gregg B
I was looking forward to these, but was didn’t find them very special.
One of the best caramels I’ve tried is L. Frances Caramels. They’re a little expensive (3 for $1), but they use better ingredients. You might find a display of them at the checkout of CVS or Walgreen’s pharmacies.
Well worth searching out.
http://www.lfrancescaramel.com/store/home.php
http://www.outofdebtagain.com/2008/11/l-frances-caramels-best-caramels/
http://www.sugarpressure.com/2010/03/checkout-line-caramels.html
I was really disappointed by the Lancaster Caramels. First the price was excessive, and they were not any better than any other commercially produced caramel. I much prefer the Werther’s soft caramels, See’s caramels, and the chocolate covered caramels from Trader Joes! For the price they charge they can afford to use a lot more than 2% butter. What about just Sugar, Butter, and cream! Love the blog. mg
I don’t expect these will be around in 125 years. We did not like the taste at all. I offered a few to my mother. She tried one, raspberry I think, and complained that she could not get rid of the after taste and gave the others back to me. The soft texture is nice but that is the only good thing that I can say about either the vanilla (with little true vanilla taste) or the raspberry creme. Sorry I wasted my money.
More than the pricey Caramel Soft Cremes themselves, I’m intrigued with the bouncy little 1930s jazz number playing in the background of the Lancaster TV commercial… What IS that tune?
The song is ‘Racine’ by Noir York
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HHCH85O
http://manamanarecords.bandcamp.com/track/racine
http://www.beatport.com/track/racine-original-mix/5044566
http://www.beatport.com/track/racine-original-mix/5143930
Don’t know what songs are sampled, but might be something by Django Reinhardt
You also might enjoy this mix—
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uNYOF2RGgk
Or perhaps this song using the Optigan—
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc-jxjgF0ko
The elements of the above tune were also used in a Chrysler commercial—
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq4WWnmZaBA
Here are some alternate mixes—
‘Swing That Thing’ (12” House Mix) by DJ Luciano
http://www.amazon.com/Swing-That-Thing-House-Mix/dp/B00B251N4E
‘The Go Getta’ by Mr. Kazzmatic
http://www.goldenbeavermusic.com/album/id:834614750/The_Rebirth_of_Electro_Swing
Maybe someone knows the original sample.
Yummy!
I don’t remember what bag count I am on now since my first purchase of these yummy, soft, chewy creations.
The cashier @ the Grocery Store remarked how good they were!
They are!
I like to eat them alternating with a bite of a good apple.
I have not tried the other flavors, the perfectly sweet, slightly salty Soft Creme Caramels are my favorites.
8 oz. of delicious Caramels to a bag…perfect for that Caramel craving.
I see they use High Fructose Corn Syrup, which I do try to avoid.
I will be backing off of these for that reason.
I am goin to look for
No High Fructose in my future Caramels.
For some very good reason I am sure…I missed that.
Several, to some bags later here I am.
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How can I order some of these?
Your local WalMart should carry these or other grocery store Chain.
enjoy!
Absolutely delicious
I have seen these in stores for over a year and have been tempted to try them. Wow, Milton Hershey recipe Caramel! The Caramel that started him in making candy.
Then looking at the bag I did notice the phrase, Inspired from his original recipe. That right there shot down my hopes.
Well today I went in the store, saw them and said what the heck.
Good caramel. the more you eat, the more you enjoy. But really nothing special about them. The first few I ate were okay, then I hate some chocolate and a few minutes later ate a few more and to me the flavor of the caramel was better after I ate chocolate. I did not have any chocolate or flavor in my mouth, but I seemed to like them better.
I will eat the bag but after that, don’t think I will anymore. I think I like the hershey caramel in the hershey chocolate covered caramels better than these. Out of 1 to 10, I give them a 6.5.
Well, I broke down and purchased a bag of high fructose, had an unpleasant after burn. It actually activated my acid reflux. I now know that they are made in Brookside in China. The candies had that fortune cookie type paper around the pieces!
Milton Hershey would have used pure cane sugar and not ethanol!
do you have Goetz raspberry caramel cremes? I want some!!!
Gregg B. - I think you’re confusing Hershey Lancaster milk candies (the popular Chinese version of this U.S. candy) with White Rabbit milk candies. White Rabbit are the candies with the rice paper and they were indeed recalled in 2008 for Melamine contamination. But using alcohol sugars in candies is incomparable to using melamine contaminated milk.
It’s also worth noting that Hershey China uses imported milk in their Lancaster candies so they are much less likely to be affected by the milk contamination issues in China.
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