Trader Joe’s has been stepping up their introduction of classic candies lately. They have their gourmet versions of Milk Duds and Dutch Mints. I was quite shocked and delighted to see these Trader Joe’s Candy Coated Licorice a couple of weeks ago.
The box has a great, comforting design on it that conveyed everything I needed to know about the product. It’s licorice, it comes in pastel colors and it’s candy coated. But the really appealing part of this product for many people will be that it’s made without artificial colors or preservatives and contains no animal products. (It is missing the Trader Joe’s vegan symbol though I can’t find anything on the list of ingredients that would be considered non-vegan, except perhaps titanium dioxide, which is neither animal or vegetable, it’s mineral.)
If you were afraid that natural colors would be muted and bland, let me allay that fear. These are bright - a deep purple, bright yellow, brilliant orange and a clean white.
The candies are short little pieces, squat and with all the candy coating, rather rounded. They reminded me a bit of the Wiley Wallaby Outback Beans, made by Kenny’s Licorice. However, these have a few key differences. First, they’re made in Mexico and Kenny’s is made in the USA. Second, the Kenny’s had a rather soft shell to it. The Trader Joe’s Candy Coated Licorice is quite crisp.
The shell is thick and very crunchy. As with many natural or artificial colors, some taste different from others. The purple and orange candies have a light violet floral note to them. Otherwise the candy is all about sweetness, licorice and molasses. The candy shell provides a long, sustained sugar zap while the center is quite soft and has a slightly doughy chew. The molasses is a little bitter, smoky and woodsy. The licorice is light and sweet with a hit of anise as well as a grassy note of fresh fennel.
They’re a lot more affordable than the new Panda Candy Coated Licorice, which is also slightly different as the shells are flavored.
As much as these have going for them, first they’re dirt cheap at 99 cents for a 6 ounce box, I can’t say that they’re my absolute favorite candy coated licorice of all time. For me there’s too much shell and not enough intense licorice flavor. But the texture mixes are balanced very well. I’ve eaten three boxes so far, so these are definitely my go-to munching licorice. But I’d like an Extra Licorice version, maybe that has a little hint of anise in the shell itself.
Related Candies
- Panda Candy Coated Licorice
- Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Mints
- Goetze’s Licorice and Double Chocolate Caramel Creams
- Trader Joe’s Jelly Beans & Citrus Gum Drops
- Wiley Wallaby Outback Beans
- Sugar Coated Fennel
- Boston Baked Beans
- Good & Plenty (Fresh from the Factory)
Great review, as always. This is awesome that TJ’s is going into the “retro” candy arena…Good & PLenty’s are one of my all time faves…
I love these, partly because my favorite part is the candy coating, and also because there are no bugs in them! Yum!
Great review and though I don’t really read blogs I’ve bookmarked this one. I’ve been fixated on TJ’s Candy Coated Licorice since seeing them for the first time a couple weeks ago. Yeah Trader Joe!
These candies rock, they’re so much better than the traditional good & plenty’s AND love that they’re all natural ingredients. I’m totally hooked.
Thank you TJ’s for another awesome and addicting product - please don’t discontinue them ever!
I am addicted to this candy! I always loved Good n’ Plenty, but this is far and away the best coated licorice candy I’ve ever had! I just bought 6 more boxes today! Bottom line: DELICIOUS!! I don’t know what I’ll do if these are discontinued!
I love these! And I love that the box is packed full and only 99 cents! My brother discovered a new way to eat them. I’d been contently munching them down, but he told me he likes to suck on them. it’s hard to resist chewing them, but it’s worth it, especially the orange ones. They taste a little weird at first (I think it’s the annatto orange coloring), then they develop this wild spiky texture that goes on for a long time… Try it!
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