Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Molasses PopsOne of the candies I kept seeing in Philadelphia (okay, I only saw it at two different places) were Molasses Pops. Even though I grew up in the area, I still didn’t know what they were. But I was willing to take that $1.25 gamble to find out whether or not I’d like them. But it seemed like a no brainer because it looks like a dark chocolate covered molasses crisp ... or was it? This variety is by the Balsius Candy Factory in Philadelphia. It’s a stunning looking candy, with little ripples of dark chocolate on the outside. Biting into it I found out what it was, a fluffy molasses taffy. It has a nice pull to it, coming off in satiny strings. At first it was just sweet and the chocolate was the star. Then as I chewed and took further bites the molasses notes came out, giving it a deep woodsy flavor. It was smooth and not at all grainy. It’s not the neatest candy, but I really liked the combination of flavors and the light chew of the taffy portion. (David at Candy Addict tried Blasius Candy Factory’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Pop.) When I mentioned Molasses Pops to a coworker, Jennifer, she immediately asked me if the ones I’d picked up on my travels were from Wockenfuss Candies. Well, there’s another company I hadn’t heard of, because with a name like that I would definitely remember them. Wockenfuss is based in Maryland and makes other regional favorites including their own Molasses Pops, Taffy Pops and other Maryland Shore favorites like salt water taffy and fudge. So Jennifer set out to immediately rectify the Wockenfuss hole in my life and ordered three boxes of their pops and shared them with me. The Wockenfuss Molasses Taffy Pop is about the same size, clocking in at 1.1 ounces and is also covered in dark chocolate. It’s wrapped in gold foil (and if you order a whole box I can say that it’s a stunning looking presentation to see a dozen of them stacked in there). The chocolate is thicker, wonderfully tempered and smells divinely sweet and a bit like coffee. The chew is smooth and silky with the easily-melting chocolate providing a wonderful mix of flavors. Like the Blasius, it’s all very sweet that beginning but as the chew progresses it gets salty and woodsy and the molasses flavors come out. The other pop they do is the Caramel Taffy Pop which I went ahead and sampled. These are wrapped in yellow foil and covered in milk chocolate. At first it’s a very sweet chew, not quite as stiff as the molasses one but with lots more milky flavors. Then it gets rather salty, a nice change from other caramels that keeps it from getting to cloying. I have to say that this recent trip (and a taste of Fralinger’s Molasses Taffy as well) makes me miss molasses candies. I just don’t see them in my California travels as much and it’s a shame because it’s such a wonderful flavor. I give all of them 7 out of 10 Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 1:29 pm |
||||||||||||||||||
ABOUT
FEEDSCONTACT
EMAIL DIGESTCANDY RATINGSTYPE
BRAND
COUNTRY
ARCHIVES
|
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
|
I’m also originally from the Philly area and had never seen these. However, I was expecting something totally different when I saw the title because my grandmother used to make (and I have the recipe for although I’ve only made them once) molasses lollipops. But they’re more like a traditional hard candy pop… only molasses flavored. Now I kind of want to make them again.
I love molasses pops. The only place I have ever seen them is in Cape May, NJ (which is where everyone from Philly goes for the summer). I usually get one from Fralinger’s, but I definitely will have to check out the ones from Wockenfuss. Yum.
Karl Bissinger’s in St. Louis also makes a dark chocolate covered molasses pop. The molasses isn’t whipped; it’s more the consistency of chewy caramel. I love the combination of molasses and dark chocolate!
These looks so tasty Cybele! May I ask where in Philly you found there?
those look awesome
I’d never heard of a molasses pop before, but I have got to give these a try. I read Amy’s comment and since I live in St. Louis, I’ll have to pick up Bissinger’s version.
~Laura
I think molasses is a 21st century wonder food. It is good in everything. And no, I don’t work for the molasses manufacturers association! I have not seen these before but will look next time I am up in Philly.
While you can find these yummy pops in philly I think they originated at the jersey shore. You can find them in almost every fudge and or candy shop on the boardwalks. They are also called paddle pops. I am from the philly area although living in Indiana now. during our annual trip back home this summer we were able to spend a few days in Wildwood N.J. and I got myself a paddle pop. I love them and was just online trying to find a recipe. Everyone should try one they are a delicious treat.
Next entry: Rally Bar
Previous entry: Choceur Luxury Mini Chocolate Bars