Monday, February 2, 2009

Topps Blue Razz Wazoo

Blue Razz WazooThere are so many ways this review for Topp’s new Blue Razz Wazoo could start.

I could talk about the fact that this candy bar is unlike any other that I’ve ever tried.

I could talk about how it is the antithesis of most new candy bar launches: it has no extra fortification of vitamins or caffeine or omega3 fatty acids. There are no marketing tie ins, it’s barely even branded with the name of the company that puts it out. It’s not low in calories, it’s not made from 100% recycled plastic it’s not biodegradable.

I could talk about what I think a wazoo is (and dictionaries agree).

I could talk about the cultural references it brought to mind. Like Woody Allen’s Sleeper, in which his character finds out when he wakes up 200 years in the future that all the organic rice, wheat germ and tiger’s milk are inferior to steak, hot fudge and cream pies.

Mostly it made me think about the late George Carlin had a bit in his stand-up back in the 70s about blue food:

Why is there no blue food? I can’t find blue food - I can’t find the flavor of blue! I mean, green is lime; yellow is lemon; orange is orange; red is cherry; what’s blue? There’s no blue! Oh, they say, “Blueberries!” Uh-uh; blue on the vine, purple on the plate. There’s no blue food! Where is the blue food? We want the blue food! Probably bestows immortality! They’re keeping it from us! (source - watch clip)

Blue Razz Wazoo

Instead of all that, I’ll try to stay clinical.

The Blue Razz Wazoo is similar in format to a bar like 3 Musketeers, though a bit smaller. It clocks in at only 1.6 ounces and is about 4.5 inches long.

The structure is pretty easy to understand. Two layers of flavored chewy filling covered in a blue version of a white confectionery coating and then sprinkled with festive colored crunchies.

image

Those in cupcake circles may be more comfortable with the shocking appearance of this bar than I am. Unlike George Carlin, I usually suspect blue food is poison. (Because it’s made with poison!)

The bar smells like raspberry. It smells a lot. If you are looking for a way to freshen up your house and don’t want to splurge for an air freshener, pop down to 7-11 and pick up one of these. Put slices of the bar on saucers in every room in the house. The scent is actually rather nice, it has booth the floral perfume and the woodsy seed notes down pretty well.

The assortment of crunchies are fun, and they’re actually flavored too, a little tangy berry flavor to them. (The package says they’re made in Thailand, the rest of the bar is made in the USA.)

Biting into the bar, it’s a soft nougat texture with a tangy raspberry flavor to it. One layer is sweet and the other has the tart bite to it. It’s a little grainy towards the end of the chew, kind of like a fluffy AirHead. The blue confectionery coating is also flavored (or if it wasn’t when it was put on there, but the time it gets to the consumer, it’s been infiltrated by the plethora of raspberry).

Frankly, it’s not a bad bar. It’s funky looking and I can see that being a huge appeal to kids. The package design does portray the bar accurately. It’s certainly different, so I didn’t feel like it was a retread of other bars that have been around for ages.

So kudos for Topps for coming up with something original. I think the name is unfortunate. (Do they not have an internet connection at the Topps research and development facility? Or participate in English-speaking culture?) But then again, I never would have thought the Baby Bottle Pops would be such a huge sensation. I can’t see myself buying this again ... though I’ll be curious to see if other flavor variations come out.

UPDATE 3/20/2009:

Topps finally included the Wazoo on the website. They’ve also launched an advertising campaign. Here’s a commercial:

   

If you enjoyed that, or were freaked out by it, you might really like these outtakes from the commercial shoot.

For those having difficulty getting a hold of the candy, they may be a little hard to come by. According to one of my industry insiders, there have been some manufacturing difficulties that may interrupt shipping.

Sera of The Candy Enthusiast has a photo of the Wild Berriez version.

Related Candies

  1. Topps Wild Berriez Wazoo
  2. Big Bite Gummy Bear
  3. Junior Fruit Cremes
  4. 3 Musketeers Cherry & Raspberry
  5. Bratz Candy Cosmetics
  6. Gummi Lightning Bugs
  7. Rolly Pop
  8. Kinder Egg
Name: Blue Razz Wazoo
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Topps
Place Purchased: 7-11 (Vermonica)
Price: $1.19
Size: 1.6 ounces
Calories per ounce: 106
Categories: Chew, United States, Topps, Thailand

POSTED BY Cybele AT 9:24 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. i was so excited to see your review!  i just spotted the wazoo last friday at 7-11.  so there actually is another flavor variation - wild berriez. it’s not bad, and i completely agree with your review of the blue one.

    Comment by laura on 2/02/09 at 9:38 am #
  2. bettyfelon's avatar

    oh man this looks so like so much fun

    kids will love it

    me? not so much, I don’t like raspberry

    Comment by bettyfelon on 2/02/09 at 10:06 am #
  3. Nothing says delicious like “Two layers of flavored chewy filling.”

    Is there an actual food-type item in the list of ingredients? Sugar? Egg whites?

    I gaze at this in rapt horror.

    Comment by Liz/pdx on 2/02/09 at 10:07 am #
  4. This looks like something Dr. Seuss would have created! It doesn’t look appealing to eat, but we make gingerbread houses for holidays throughout the year, and there’s GOT to be a way to use these!

    Comment by Lesley on 2/02/09 at 10:20 am #
  5. So weird-I actually bought the berry one last night! I think the only way to describe it is compulsively edible; at first I was grossed out by it but then I couldn’t stop…

    Comment by Brooke Alexandra on 2/02/09 at 12:00 pm #
  6. I can see why kids would dig it. It’s colorful and whimsical looking. It does look like a air freshener bar you would put on the kitchen counter top or one of those wacky Japanese eraser I used to have as a kid. raspberry

    Comment by ian on 2/02/09 at 12:05 pm #
  7. This looks so gross.

    Comment by Shannon on 2/02/09 at 12:27 pm #
  8. I haven’t seen these yet, but then again I haven’t frequented a 7-11 in a while. These look like one of those things you’re stupid if you don’t try so that you can tell your friends you did. Thanks for the head’s up!

    Comment by Robby on 2/02/09 at 2:05 pm #
  9. Man, this looks seriously gross.  I noticed that for the photo you took a nice sharp slice of the bar, rather than your usual appetizing toothy bite…made me wonder if you were too scared to try eating it.  wink

    (Also, dang, that toxicology article is beyond depressing.)

    Comment by JJR on 2/02/09 at 2:54 pm #
  10. Sera's avatar

    Wow! I just found these on Saturday in Wal-Mart. They had both this flavor and the Wild Berriez flavor (purple colored!). Haven’t tried them yet though. raspberry

    Comment by Sera on 2/02/09 at 3:17 pm #
  11. Cybele's avatar

    Laura - thanks for the heads up on the other flavor. (Which doesn’t sound that different, though I’m sure it’s a different riot of colors.)

    bettyfelon - I think you should suggest some flavors to the company! Maybe a freaky mint version that has peppermint & spearmint layers in the center and a wintergreen coating. (In dayglo colors, of course.)

    Liz/pdx - since the ingredients listed egg whites, (along with sugar & hydrogenated fats) I’m going to say that this is some sort of nougat type product.

    Lesley - especially if they make fun size versions.

    Brooke - I agree, after looking at it and photographing it, I was worried about eating it, but it was, well, edible.

    ian - ooh, yeah! If I found this on my desk, I would absolutely mistake it for office supplies before thinking it was edible. (Maybe soap.)

    Robby - the other fun part is the little crunchies that fall off end up at the bottom of the wrapper ... so I tipped those out into my mouth. It’s like two candies in one!

    JJR - I did try the bite, but the center squished and didn’t show the discrete layers that I wanted to highlight.

    Sera - cool! I’m looking forward to seeing the photos (and I’ll leave the reviews on that flavor to you - it doesn’t sound that different from Blue Razz).

    Comment by Cybele on 2/02/09 at 4:17 pm #
  12. Wow that thing looks potent.

    Comment by SURFING PIZZA on 2/03/09 at 3:32 am #
  13. I agree with the Dr.Seuss comment.  It really doesn’t look like something we would eat…on this planet anyway.

    Comment by Pam Walter on 2/03/09 at 6:18 am #
  14. that is the scariest candy bar i’ve ever seen.

    Comment by pam on 2/03/09 at 6:20 am #
  15. Eeeeeeewwwwwww! This doesn’t look like food, I don’t think I would ever buy this candy or feed it to my child… it looks like it was made out of playdough!
    Ana

    Comment by Ana on 2/03/09 at 7:20 am #
  16. Wazoo has all the different textures a candy should have - crunchy, chew and soft. Sweet and sour and wild looking especially the blue color. Luv it.

    Comment by Fred on 2/03/09 at 11:02 am #
  17. Just looking at it kind of burns my eyes, yet I can’t look away. It contains some kind of unholy, hypnotic fascination. If I see them around, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from buying one… or maybe a case.

    Comment by Laurie on 2/03/09 at 12:57 pm #
  18. I actually found the Wild Berriez flavor first about a month ago. It’s very bright, but it’s actually pretty good. Only downside is it is VERY sweet, so it can make your throat burn after a bite. Perfect for kids or anyone who likes wacky candy. smile

    Comment by saragato on 2/03/09 at 2:40 pm #
  19. Cybele's avatar

    JJR - Here’s the bite photo:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/typetive/3256673071/

    Comment by Cybele on 2/05/09 at 7:34 pm #
  20. Aw, it’s adorable.  I might have to go try this.  It’s so pretty!

    Comment by Rita on 2/06/09 at 6:36 am #
  21. This is the best candy picture, ever! it looks insane, i love it.

    Comment by A on 2/07/09 at 5:14 am #
  22. WOW! that looks SO cool im mean ive seen some pretty strange candy bars but this! This is the most AMAZING ive seen.WOW!

    Comment by Bubbly on 2/08/09 at 2:42 pm #
  23. Its pretty cool you got to admit

    Comment by Bubbles on 2/08/09 at 2:55 pm #
  24. I cant seem to find this product anywhere.  It isnt even listed on the Topps website.  How do I find out if it is available in my area as well as nutrition info?

    Comment by Dan on 2/08/09 at 5:23 pm #
  25. I’ve been craving one of these ever since I saw it posted here the other day. It’s not something I would naturally go for, but the colors and textures draw me in. I’m going to go on a search for it saturday morning!

    Comment by Lauren on 2/10/09 at 11:27 am #
  26. This candy bar may look weird, but the taste is great,first mellow then a bang of flavor, real smooth,could be addictive. I found it at Walmart at the checkout candy section.I’m a mother of 4
    and normaly would not consider buying this,was originally purchased for Easter baskets, but they didn’t make it.

    Comment by amazonwarrior on 2/18/09 at 12:25 pm #
  27. I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find the elusive wazoo. What part of the U.S. are you in?

    Comment by shewizard on 2/21/09 at 12:51 pm #
  28. yummmmy wer cood i get 1 uv those?!!

    Comment by indie-chick on 2/26/09 at 1:39 pm #
  29. I found these at Toys R Us in the candy section when I went to buy a gift for my friend’s new baby. I got the Blue Raspberry and the Wild Berry. The Raspberry was good. It’s not something that I’ll buy again..but if you’re in the mood for something chewy and fruity, give it a try. I like that it’s easy to chew and doesn’t stick to my teeth.

    Comment by Lauren Roberts on 3/01/09 at 10:21 am #
  30. raspberry Looks pretty. I like colourful candy. And so far, I have never tried a non-chocolate flavoured candy bar. Heh. I love sweet tastes, I guess I like stuff that’s TOO sweet. XD Oh well. Kinda looks like a toy.

    Comment by Jen on 3/06/09 at 10:19 pm #
  31. Me and my son LOVE Wazoos.i love the purole and my son loves the blue.VERRRRRRY YUMMMMMY!!!!!

    Comment by Diane on 3/07/09 at 3:39 pm #
  32. I just ate one and i t was…..YUCK!!!

    Comment by Carlee on 3/14/09 at 2:53 pm #
  33. Oh my God! These things are fantastic! I was curious for awhile then tried them. They are better than anything Ive ever had before. I dont understand how they look gross? Does cake look gross to you as well? The flavors and the textures are wild, and Im a texture freak when it comes to food. I hope they come out with more flavors and more crazy candyz!

    Comment by Christine on 3/15/09 at 6:24 am #
  34. I tried Both flavors. I loved the rasberry one, the wild berri is good but a little more mellow. Definetly a funky look but once you get over that I think thier great, smooth and really fruity. They are hard to find because there’s no 7-11 in NC. Addictive!!!!!!

    Comment by Monica on 3/15/09 at 11:01 am #
  35. I bought both flavors. After seeing the commercial, I HAD to check this candy out.

    I ate the Blue Razz and Wild Berriez, finding I liked Blue Razz a lot more. Very addictive and appealing to the eye.

    I will definately buy these in the future!

    Comment by Miranda on 3/15/09 at 11:56 am #
  36. ewh.

    Comment by brii on 3/21/09 at 9:20 am #
  37. I reallllllllllllllllllly Want it it looks   YUMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYY smile

    Comment by Abby on 3/21/09 at 1:05 pm #
  38. The wazoo candy bar looks scrumpdidleicious!
    Where can I buy them?

    Comment by Riley on 3/21/09 at 3:08 pm #
  39. we tried these today, and my oldest daughter age 5 threw up while chewing the first bite.  I almost did, but managed to swallow it.  Will not buy these again!!

    Comment by Lori on 3/23/09 at 11:34 am #
  40. Im a kid and tome this looks like a candy bar revolution I wish i knew where to find one but alas the perfect candy escapes me once again

    Comment by Aaren M on 3/24/09 at 1:18 pm #
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