Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Starbucks Assorted Gum Drops

Starbucks Assorted Gum DropsI was in Starbucks over the weekend, which is pretty rare for me. In this instance I was waiting for a coffee drink I was picking up for The Man, so I looked around at the gift offerings, snacks and candy. It’s rare for me to double back, wait in line and purchase something after I’ve already ordered but here I was, doing just that.

In the case of these Assorted Gum Drops it was a no-brainer. First, they were only one dollar. I had a buck (and no sales tax). Second, they were all natural and came in four flavors: Tangerine, Pineapple, Raspberry and Watermelon.

How often do you see pineapple or watermelon gum drops? I don’t see them often enough, that’s for sure.

Of course I hopped back in the car and put them in the center console and promptly forgot about them until Monday at lunch. I feared they would be a melted blob ... happily even though the car interior was well over a hundred, they looked exactly like the moment I purchased them. Firm and distinctly separated.

Starbucks Assorted Gum Drops

They’re little gum drops. They range from the size of a green pea all the way up to a garbanzo bean. Since they’re a bit artisan (which is code for inconsistent) they varied quite a bit. For some reason all of the pineapple ones were about half the size of the watermelon.

The texture is firm, but not as hard and clingy as something like Dots. They’re also not quite as sticky as jelly candies like Spearmint Leaves.

I chose my bag poorly and most of them were watermelon instead of pineapple and tangerine which I fully expected to love.

Pineapple - were nearly clear. They had a firm bite, they weren’t quite a jelly or pate de fruit. Sweet and fragrant, they’re not tangy and not quite jammy either. It tasted more like a really subtle coating on a candied apple. I was sad to see that I only got four in my package.

Watermelon - these light pink pieces didn’t smell like much, but biting into them they were definitely watermelon. And not that fake watermelon flavor that Jolly Ranchers come in. They had a tangy bite as well, and maybe even a little hint of bitterness towards the end (something that seeds can do sometimes). They were refreshing.

Raspberry - was a dark red. They were quite deep and sweet with a little woody essence of the seeds. It tasted like boiled berries, not quite as fresh and clear as some fruit pate I’ve had.

Tangerine - these were nicely done. Not quite as tangy as I’d hoped but a good blend of juicy sweet and zesty.

Since Starbucks has a reputation for being absurdly expensive, I was pleased overall that these broke that stereotype. It’s a nice portion for one person or to share. The flavors probably go best with an iced tea instead of coffee. Unfortunately the label says that they’re made in a facility with wheat, eggs, soy, nuts and dairy ... so it’s not the perfect substitute for those who can’t touch the rest of the stuff in the pastry case.

I’d love to see a spice version which would go great with coffee or most teas.

Related Candies

  1. Gourmet Gumdrops
  2. Napoleon BonBon
  3. Mike and Ike Italian Ice
  4. Harry & David Fall Leaves Fruit Gels
  5. Kasugai Pineapple Gummy
  6. Judson-Atkinson Sours
  7. Organic Surf Sweets
Name: Assorted Gum Drops
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Starbucks
Place Purchased: Starbucks (Laguna Woods)
Price: $1.00
Size: 1.5 ounces
Calories per ounce: 93
Categories: Jelly, United States, All Natural

POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:32 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. Oh, saw these a couple of weeks ago and never bought them, I thought they looked pretty and sometimes thats all it takes for me!  I’ll have to try them. Also, I saw some really pretty gumdrops in the same colors at Whole Foods in Santa Monica I’ll have to research and see if they are the same.

    Comment by Kimberly on 8/19/09 at 11:40 am #
  2. HA! Just clicked on your Gourmet Gumdrops link, I think these might have been the gumdrops I was speaking of. raspberry

    Comment by Kimberly on 8/19/09 at 11:45 am #
  3. I’ve never been to a Starbucks, (I’m not a big coffee drinker) but I’m going to visit the one a few blocks from me to pick up a package or two of these gum drops. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Comment by Gregg on 8/19/09 at 1:01 pm #
  4. If you haven’t picked them up, the jelly beans are even better.

    Comment by Samuel Erikson on 8/20/09 at 2:50 am #
  5. These look similar to the pectin drops that Peets have been selling. I really enjoyed them, and they are consistent in shape. Don’t remember the flavors, but they were more natural - not too many bright colours or chemical flavs.

    Comment by wxgirl on 8/20/09 at 6:51 am #
  6. I am in the same boat as you not often frequenting Starbucks, but I too saw the new addition to the menu (much to my happiness because I just plain love sugar!!!) and the fact that the candy infront of me is actually aptly has the same name as my conpany!!! GumDrops…..unlike yourself I didn’t take the plunge to purchase the candy…but I tell you what I am definitely going to go and check it out after your detailed analysis…love IT!!!

    Comment by Shanda on 8/21/09 at 12:42 pm #
  7. Tried the gumdrops a few weeks ago.  Have since been back and purchased 5 more packages!  They are absolutely delicious! Unfortunately not every Starbucks has them in stock.

    Comment by ashlei on 8/21/09 at 3:44 pm #
  8. Maybe I just got a bum pack, then! Because when I bough these a couple of weeks ago, I though Starbuck’s gumdrops had such a weird, unpleasant aftertaste that I ended up throwing half the bag away…oh well. I’m glad to know that everybody else enjoys them :o)

    Comment by Captain Hummingbird on 8/29/09 at 8:35 pm #
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