Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Napoleon BonBonHard candy has a bad reputation as being cheap and a candy of last resort. Oh sure, a little starlight mint after a garlicky meal is usually gratefully accepted when offered. But really good hard candy is out there. Some of my favorites are actually the most subtle such as the Japanese Juntsuyu and Barley Sugar Candy. But sometimes bold is just what the doctor ordered. Napoleon BonBons are definitely bold. As a kid I often got them around holidays, just a small handful included in my stocking candy. As I grew up I learned to find them on my own ... and was pretty shocked at the sticker price, especially compared to the more affordable Zotz. I don’t know when or where I got this tin. I think it was sometime in the late eighties, I’m pretty sure I bought it in Philadelphia or New York and I was probably mortified to pay something like three dollars for a little tin of lemon drops. They’re made in Belgium and the packaging features the image of Napoleon Bonaparte. I have no idea when the candies originated or their history. The tin simply says: Le Bon Bonbon Napoleon Sour Lemon. The more recent bag that I acquired through a photo shoot for Candy Warehouse says Made by Napoleon-Breskens-Holland. So even though I can’t tell you much about their background, I can review what I’ve got: Though I most often see the Lemon, they also come in Cherry, Tangerine, Lime and Pineapple. The candies are devilishly simple. Hard candy outside, and then a strip of super sour powder in the center. The powder center is often mistaken for a liquid, it’s rather cool on the tongue and so fine that it melts away instantly. It’s only before putting then in the mouth that I could really tell. (Yes, as a kid I sometimes broke them apart to create a big pile of super sour powder.)
These are insanely expensive. The ones in the top photo I bought at Miette in San Francisco last year for 25 cents each. They’re spherical and a little less yellow, but still the same flavor profile as the disk shaped lemon. The bags that Candy Warehouse sells are $7.10 a pound, and come in 7 pound bags. (Yes, at one time I had 14 pounds of Napoleon Bonbons - one of just lemon and one of the mix. I’ve eaten about three pounds so far.) I’ve really vacillated between giving these a nine or a ten. The price is a formidable obstacle to perfection, but then again, I know I bought that tin when I was in college and had staggeringly little money so they must be worth it. So there you are, another 10 out of 10. Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 6:50 am |
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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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My mother always used to have bags of the lemon variety around the house, which she liked to use as a sort of pick-me-up while she was at work, so illicit snacking on her Napoleons was a sure-fire way to get in trouble! I guess that’s why I’ll always feel kinda nostalgic about Napoleons.
I’m surprised that they’re so expensive on the American market, though. They’re a staple of supermarket candy aisles on the Dutch market (where I live), as well as in other European countries, and they’re usually priced about the same as other candies here. They don’t sell disk-shaped ones here, though, just the spherical ones, and the available flavours are a little different from the ones you listed. I’ve seen bags of dark pink ones on sale here that’re raspberry flavoured, and black licorice-flavoured ones too. I’ve never tried those, though - I always go for the classic lemon ones.
Oh, and according to the official site, whole bags of orange-flavoured Napoleons also exist… but they’re only sold in Belgium and Luxemburg. Bummer!
It’s always nice to see a 10 out of 10!
Those look quite tasty, I might pick some up when I go to EUROPE THIS SUMMER!!! *dances in excitement and joy*
i have that exact same tin, bought in the late eighties in a teeny candy shop in athens, ga. it’s still one of my favourites.
Wow, these are gorgeous! I’ll have to keep an eye out for them.
THOSE LOOK GREAT! =D
I am the Candy Specialist at a uppity grocery store and Napoleons are in my top 5 favorites for sure. I eat at least one a day! They are so under appreciated at our store that I just don’t sell that many of them. Hopefully your review will improve their PR. I was shocked at the price you got them for, we sell them for 4.99 a pound, at a healthy profit I might add.
Had to comment on this!
Bonbon Napoleon also remembers me of my youth. You made me want to buy a pack (which I have not done in years. But as said above in Belgium they are simple supermarket candies at normal prices, and always spherical.
They also exist now in a chocolate and coffee version (which I have not tasted ... the center though is not sour powder, but some liquid chocolatey-coffee thing).
They were originally a Belgium company, but now they have been bought over by Lonka (fudge) in the Netherlands.
Speaking of hard candy, I’ve been really addicted to these ones called ‘Senjaku - Hiyasyuwa Ramune Sour Fizzy Soda Candy’ They also have a cola flavour, and they’re the best cola/soda candy I’ve ever had! They have it at Amazon (http://preview.tinyurl.com/dxe6cy) so maybe you should try them
Also, the bags of mixed fruit Napoleons sold in Europe don’t include the lime flavour. Instead, they feature an apple flavour - and a very nice one, at that. It’s mild and a little tart, and not at all artificial-tasting - I really like it!
I?ve seen bags of dark pink ones on sale here that?re raspberry flavoured, and black licorice-flavoured ones too. I?ve never tried those, though - I always go for the classic lemon ones.
Now I know about these, a monster has been created! Good thing I can get them for $4.99 a pound at Fresh Market. Though someone DID go through and pick out all the delicious lime ones, curse them.
so curious! miette in sf sells these, but they are round spheres, not flattened. and they said the red is raspberry and the green is apple. mysterious! i will have to buy some again to re-taste and wonder. they are 25 cents a piece…adds up quickly!
Here (the netherlands), we also have Napoleon bonbons with licorice (yumm!), caramel, apple and ammonium chloride (‘salmiak’) taste.
Haha, I was eating Napoleons when I decided to search some background information on it.
They can be so sour ouch.
But nonetheless really awesome!
I got cola flavored as a bonus
Being from Europe is awesome but there is so many Japanese candy that looks delicious ...
One day, one day.
Teehee, I have a 1 pound mixed bag full of these and the cola ones on the way to my house (along with haribo lemon ginger gummies!) I found the orange ones online by themselves, and also some cappuccino ones… http://www.dutchsweets.com/napoleon-napoleon-orange-bonbons-p-615.html
mmmm They came! Cola is by FAR my favorite! (and everyone else in my house’s…better find a good hiding spot)
Not interested in what others think….I just want some here at my home. Love them. Lemon and tangerine. Please tell me how to purchase them.
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I found mine on amazon
Just scored some in the bulk bin at Central Market in Austin. My wife needs lemon drops to help stave off motion sickness, and I thought I’d take a chance on them at $7.99/lb (ouch!). I then had to check out the candy blog to see if they had been reviewed after trying a cherry, then a lemon, then a tangerine. . . . Best hard candy I’ve had. Next stop, Amazon.
Crack rock, crack rock.
Napoleon Le Bon Bon Bons are made in Antwerp by the Stappaerts family. I used to carry them in my Cheese shop in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. I met Eric Stappaerts in 1973 at the annual Fancy Food and Confectionery show in NY. And yes they are still a favorite of mine, when I can find them.
Mountainman nut &fruit; used to sell these from Belgium and they were in disk form. The ones you mentioned from amazon and walmart are in the round form and are not as good. The nut house shows them in the disk form but they are really selling the round type too. I have found no one selling in disk form and with all of the colors mentioned. I sure miss them and wished that mountain man would restock the originals.
loving lemon sours from Belgium !
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