I was surprised to learn at the candy fair (ISM Cologne) last week that Panda Liquorice is the #4 brand of licorice in the United States (Twizzlers, Red Vines and Good & Plenty come in ahead). What was surprising and pleasing about this little tidbit is that Panda makes all natural licorice, the real stuff with real licorice extract and no artificial colors or flavors.
Their newest introduction at the show is their Panda Blueberry Liquorice. It features a very short list of ingredients: molasses syrup, wheat flour, blueberry puree, citric acid, natural flavoring and liquorice extract. The package they gave me as a sample is 200 g (7 ounces) and features a gusseted bottom so it stands up and a zipper top to make it easier to reseal it to keep the candy fresh.
The pieces are striking in that they smell like blueberry pie: a bit like jam and a little like a fruit Danish. But they’re also quite light in color, like little caramel nibs instead of what I was expecting which would have been darker purple.
They’re very soft and have a light, easy chew. They’re not dense at all and have a tart and sweet blueberry flavor. Because of the wheat flour in there, there’s more snack satisfaction going on than candy. They’re satisfying but also feel more like little cookies than a licorice chew. The molasses keeps them from being too sweet, though the licorice extract does give it a little bit of a lighter tea-like sweetness than a straight sugar candy might have.
They’re considered vegan and have very little fat in them, so the caloric load is only 88 calories per ounce. Though I like blueberries as a fruit, a chewy candy made with blueberries isn’t quite the same thing. These would be fun as a trail mix addition (mixed with pretzels and nuts and maybe a few chocolate chips) but I don’t see myself eating them straight in one sitting. I’m sure there are other folks, though, who have been looking forward to a realistic blueberry candy like this.
Related Candies
- Natural Vines - Black Licorice
- Panda Soft Herb Licorice and Licorice Cremes
- Marich Black Heart Licorice
- Wonka Squishy Sploshberries Gummies
- Kookaburra Licorice
- Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks
- Panda Bars
Name: |
Blueberry Liquorice |
RATING:
- SUPERB
- YUMMY
- TASTY
- WORTH IT
- TEMPTING
- PLEASANT
- BENIGN
- UNAPPEALING
- APPALLING
- INEDIBLE
|
Brand: |
Panda Licorice |
Place Purchased: |
Samples from Panda at ISM Cologne |
Price: |
retail $2.49 |
Size: |
7 ounces |
Calories per ounce: |
88 |
Categories: |
All Natural, Candy, Panda, Chews, 7-Worth It, Finland |
I bet they’d sell better with a blueberry color. I think you’re right, they could work well in a mix and I’d buy them for the smell alone.
Am a Red Vine girl, but Panda is an excellent licorice in a class of its own.
Panda is my go to licorice. I always keep a bag in a drawer at work for those days when life is just a bear.
I hope I can source the blueberry somewhere local ... it will remind me of home (New England) where we sally forth and gather them with gusto in late summer.
I love the raspberry and cherry flavor logs that Panda sells, hope I can find blueberry soon. My favorite licorice, I eat it at least once a week!
Hope to find them in a Holland & Barrett near me soon. I like the raspberry variety very much. Chewy yet sweet.
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