Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Trader Joe’s Scandanavian Swimmers

DSC_0580rbTrader Joe’s Scandanavian Swimmers are billed as soft and chewy gummy candy in sea life shapes.

They’re basically Swedish Fish.

The ingredients feature naturally derived flavorings and colorings. They come in four flavors and shapes.

The red flavor of the classic Swedish Fish is rather unique, though now duplicated by other candies and confections. It’s most like lingonberry, which is similar to a raspberry and pomegranate mix with a sprinkling of fruit punch. 

DSC_0595rb

In the case of the Red Lobster here, the berry flavors are very similar to the Swedish Fish, but has none of the bitter aftertaste of the artificial colors that the North American version have. (The actual Malaco Swedish Fish, if you can find them, use natural colorings.) The flavor here is good, well rounded, floral and lingering with a sort of fresh green note.

The Blue Dolphin is described as huckleberry flavored. I have to say that I’m at a loss to place huckleberry in my memory. In this case, the dolphin is rasbperry, with a light tangy note but much lighter than the lobster, more citrusy.

DSC_0590rb

The Orange Rockfish is orange. It’s very plain. The zest notes are pretty pronounced after the chew is over, but it was not terribly interesting. There were very few of them in my bag.

The Yellow Seahorse is mango-peach. This was a really weak flavor. The peach and mango were less than nuanced and were more like a candle scent than a flavoring. The tart bite was the only thing that kept it from being something I’d stick in a drawer to make my towel smell sweet.

The texture of the pieces varied a bit as well. The lobster and rockfish were very soft and smooth. The dolphin and seahorse had a little bit drier and stiffer chew on the outside, which was more like the classic Swedish Fish.

These are not gummi candies, which usually contain gelatin, these are just jelly candies. (Nothin’ wrong with that, it just seems like so many jelly candies can’t be happy with who they are.)

I’m not sure if anyone needed a Swedish Fish knock-off of a full flavor variety. In this case, I’d say that Trader Joe’s could just stick with the Lobsters, or even make a bunch of different red shapes and throw them in a bag.

May contain traces of peanut, almond, cashew & pecan. Also made with sunflower and corn but are gluten free. Though they don’t have the vegan symbol on them, there are no animal derived ingredients and they are Kosher. It was interesting to see that these were made in the United States, as so many Trader Joe’s candies, especially the naturally flavored sugar candies, are not.

What’s Good at Trader Joe’s also has a review.

Related Candies

  1. Candyology 101 - Podcast Episode 23 - Trader Joe’s
  2. Ts & Js Sour Gummies
  3. Swedish Fish Jelly Beans
  4. Sockerbit Swedish Candy Selections
  5. Trader Joe’s Jelly Beans & Citrus Gum Drops
  6. All Gummies Gourmet Fruity Fish (Swedish Fish knock-off)
  7. Swedish Aqua Life


Name: Scandanavian Swimmers
    RATING:
  • SUPERB
  • YUMMY
  • TASTY
  • WORTH IT
  • TEMPTING
  • PLEASANT
  • BENIGN
  • UNAPPEALING
  • APPALLING
  • INEDIBLE
Brand: Trader Joe’s
Place Purchased: Trader Joe's (Silver Lake)
Price: $2.99
Size: 14 ounces
Calories per ounce: 107
Categories: All Natural, Candy, Trader Joe's, Jelly Candy, Kosher, 7-Worth It, United States

POSTED BY Cybele AT 3:00 pm     All NaturalCandyReviewTrader Joe'sJelly CandyKosher7-Worth ItUnited States

Comments
  1. Being allergic to chocolate and nuts from a young age, I have over the years become a “gummy” aficionado. I recently tried these from Trader Joe’s and have fallen in LOVE!! I find them, like you said, very similar to Swedish Fish, but so much more fresh, and with more fruit flavor and tang—they couldn’t be better! So chewy and sticky and wonderful.

    Also, Cybele, you recently did a Haribo podcast and I was surprised to find that you may not have had my favorite, The Fruity-Fruttis. I can’t remember for sure, but I think the favors are raspberry, mango and something else—three flavors per pack. They have a marshmallow bottom (meh) a clear gummy top and are filled with an intense goo.  You must find and review! Interesting to note they have spinach in the ingredients (you could have fooled me)! I buy multiple bags at World Market but was sad not to see them the last time I went :(

    Comment by Wendy on 5/12/16 at 6:41 pm #
  2. I love Swedish fish but don’t think I ever had these lobsters..good review, Cybele. By the way, where is she? She hasn’t even had a new review (poetry!) on this blog..

    Comment by SJCarras on 1/06/17 at 8:27 pm #
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