My Secret Love for Grape Candy
Look at all this grape candy! It's awesome!
Last week, as I went up to the register to pay my bill, I looked into the candy cup on the counter for a lollipop. There they were: six or seven Blow Pops, all grape! I smiled secretly to myself as I pocketed one, thanking my lucky stars that almost no one else on earth loves grape candy. I considered doing the other customers a favor by taking all seven and forcing the check-out lady to replenish the strawberry, cherry, and watermelon reserves.
When you are little it’s natural to want to fit in, but there is one way, especially around Halloween, in which it’s quite convenient to be a bit different. As a grape child I would sit around with my friends after trick-or-treating and they would all have to divide my pinks and reds, but I would return home triumphant with a pumpkin full of purple—a purple that no self-respecting, naturally occurring grape would ever wear to save its skin.
We grape-lovers are a niche market, true originals, dealing with a dying breed.
Did you know that in 1972, General Mills unleashed Sir Grapefellow, a grape-flavored breakfast cereal based on the personality of a British World War I air ace? He crashed shortly thereafter into breakfast oblivion and the eBay auction afterlife. Welch's grape soda, launched just after Sir Grapefellow in 1974, is comparatively so unpopular that no diet version has been made available (yet there is Diet Coke with Lime), and Welch's does not even list it on its website. Apparently ashamed, it has licensed the purple pop to Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.
Well, Grapers, I say have no shame! As I write this I am sipping a Purple Cow (grape soda and vanilla ice cream float). My arteries do not pump red, and my veins blue. My blood, and heart, are purple throughout!
This year for Halloween I am going to great lengths to bring back all the grape candies I have loved, to recreate that purple pumpkin. A few great kids will take some, but at the end of the night after my little purple trick, I expect to have plenty of treats left over for myself. And that’s just fine with me.
Here are a list of my five all-time favorite grape candies and some other that I would love to find and try, or to whom I give honorable mention for still managing to be produced.
Grapers, unite! Are you out there? What are your favorites? What have I missed here?
Top Five All-Time Favorite Grape Candies
If you don't want your grape Skittles, I'll eat em!
1. Charms Sweet Pops: These WWI candies have retained their old fashioned lolli-shape, and perfectly artificial grape flavor. I had one nearly every day after school for years.
2. Jolly Joes (Grape Mike and Ikes): These were a more recent discovery. They are overwhelmingly grapey! Since Mike and Ikes generally incorporate several flavors in each box, a whole carton of just grape is inspired recognition of a great grape thing.
3. Grape Bazooka: I used to dig to the bottom of the Bazooka fish bowl to find the stale grape ones. They lose flavor so quickly, that I generally need two or three at a time for a solid fix.
4. Grape Skittles: They taste like children's Tylenol, but then again, that's why I didn’t mind Tylenol when I was young! Perfect for road trips, since no one else ever wants them.
5. Grape Heads (formerly known as Alexander the Grape): Alexander the Great, Alexander the Grape—absolutely synonymous!
A Bunch of Grapes:
Grape Nerds
Grape Rock Candy
Grape Twizzlers
Grape Zotz
Grape Now and Laters
Grape Pixi Stix
Grape Blow Pops
Grape Tootsie Pops
Grape Jolly Ranchers
Grape Ring Pops
Grape Pez
Grape Laffy Taffy
Grape Bubble Yum
Grape Bubblicious
Grape Big League Chew
Grape Toostsie Roll Frooties
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46 Comments:
Grape Ring Pops are my favorite. They're delicious and last a really long time. Oooh, and grape freeze pops.
Kerosena at 11:09AM on 10/23/08
I'm a grape fiend too! Finally I've found my purple food loving counterpart! My adoration of all things grape began in kindergarten when I determined that purple was my absolute favorite color. I religiously chewed Grape Bubblicious until my jaw ached and carefully picked out the Grape Skittles from the package. If only they still made that grape cereal - what a cool find!
Erin at 11:14AM on 10/23/08
I too am a grape candy lover!! Grape skittles are the absolute best, I pick them out of the bag and leave the rest for my nephew. aaaahhhh... grape Bubbalicious... what a wonderful friend of my past. great... now I'm going to have to go hunt for it. :)
Alm25 at 11:27AM on 10/23/08
Purple Passion (1970s version): BEST SODA CAN EVER. It tasted good, too.
http://flickr.com/photos/smokey2006/506816302/
hmcnally at 11:30AM on 10/23/08
I'm a grape candy lover too! Grape skittles are the best!
HeatherB at 11:35AM on 10/23/08
thank goodness for grape fanta in the south of the equator. i S2 grape jell-o.
sweetieBird at 11:46AM on 10/23/08
Have you ever tried making grape jell-o with grape soda instead of water? Think about it!
Kerry Saretsky at 11:50AM on 10/23/08
If you dig grape-flavored treats, you should totally check out Grape Fruit Leather. It's not quite as good as Apricot, which is my favorite, but it's pretty damn good.
crispyscorpio at 11:54AM on 10/23/08
I love grape candies... skittles especially... and now & laters... and blow pops.. but I have to be in the mood. I like the pinks and reds too, but the purples are for that extra boost ;)
feistyfoodie at 12:00PM on 10/23/08
I love grape flavored candy the most of all. Even though I don't really care for regular grapes.
jonny509 at 12:24PM on 10/23/08
I irrationally love fake grape flavor, good to know there's others out there too.
My first, and perhaps truest fake grape flavor love, has to be Jolly Ranchers. They last so long, and just have so much uumph to them.
pcrackenhead at 12:29PM on 10/23/08
My favorite medicine as a kid was Dimetapp - yummy and grapey.
faycat at 12:44PM on 10/23/08
Grape bubblicious is STILL my favorite gum. YUM.
apronless at 12:48PM on 10/23/08
I have a similar love for fake banana flavor.
feep at 12:51PM on 10/23/08
This doesn't seem that uncommon. Grape skittles are my 2nd favourite (red being #1).
But in general, grape/purple is my #2 after red, even #1 depending on the exact flavor of red.
What else do most people like second? Orange/lemon/yellow? Ew.
anysuchname at 12:55PM on 10/23/08
I am SO with you, but I take issue with your claim about "fake" grape flavor. Go out and get yourself some fresh concord grapes. You'll be amazed. That's where the flavor comes from. Except for the seeds, which are tough to deal with, these are the perfect "real" grape, because they taste just like grape blow pops (my favorite grape candy).
Phlipper at 12:56PM on 10/23/08
Mmmm...the grape Skittles always disappear first when I get my hands on them. Hooray for fake grape flavoring!
ThePontilists at 1:55PM on 10/23/08
Grape soda is probably the best thing ever invented!
I never understand the looks people give me when I make this statement in a public forum.
dove3579 at 2:00PM on 10/23/08
I'm another secret artificial grape lover! I especially love grape Now and Laters! Yum!!!
I'm glad you've given us all the chance to admit to our fondness for this flavor. Somehow, I doubt I'll be owning up to it again in the foreseeable future...
ChristineB at 2:25PM on 10/23/08
i fucking love grape
zenazure at 3:10PM on 10/23/08
Ugh, grape, you can keep it. I'd rather have the kind that grows on the vine.
Mike13241 at 3:12PM on 10/23/08
No mention of Bonkers? Weren't they grape. Love me some grape candy.
jonathankavner at 3:30PM on 10/23/08
Grapes are purple (ok, some). Purple is regal. Therefore, people who love grape and purple are royalty. Makes sense to me. I guzzle Welch's grape juice.
PerkyMac at 3:39PM on 10/23/08
I thought everyone loved grape candy! My brother and I used to fight over anything grape flavoured: popsicles, bubble gum and suckers. Yum.
blush at 3:44PM on 10/23/08
Yeah I have to say, I'm not sure where the idea of grape as a secret shameful guilty pleasure that no one can relate to comes from! I remember it as being one of the most popular candy flavors, right up there with cherry. It was always the lonely yellows and greens that I felt sorry for, not the purples!
And agreed about Concord grapes, they are amazing.
crk71 at 4:07PM on 10/23/08
Grape Tootsie pops = awesome. I get a bag of Tootsie candy every year to hand out after I pick out all of purple pops.
liwinegirl at 4:28PM on 10/23/08
I love grape as well. Grape popsicles are awesome. Oh, there's also grape Fun Dip (which is essentially like pixi stix in a pouch).
yankeesgal at 4:58PM on 10/23/08
Artificial grape flavour is my favourite flavour ever!
I grew up with FBI grape drink (I think it was a central Canadian exclusive). I couldn't get enough of that stuff. I also drank way too much grape Crush. When we vacationed in NJ, I used to buy a local grape soda that was fantastic, but I can't remember its name. I love all things grape except Welch's grape juice. It's just too natural tasting.
Now, I want to go get a grape Mr. Freeze even though the outside temp is almost freezing.
SqueezeBottle at 6:00PM on 10/23/08
hmmm, i like grape soda, but i hate grape blow pops/other grape 'candies.'
kalhendr at 6:20PM on 10/23/08
I think I just fell in love with you (don't tell my husband), maybe we can build us a big grape house. YUMMY!!!
P.S. Grape jell-o, grape juice & frozen grapes THE BEST!!
melissanelson at 7:18PM on 10/23/08
Grape is a beautiful thing! It's nice to see all these grape fanatics, but I have a question....where have grape Pop Tarts gone??? They are my favorite and I haven't been able to find them for YEARS!
VertigoDawn at 8:32PM on 10/23/08
I haven't had Alexander the Grape in a long time. That one's probably my favorite.
Jitterro at 9:55PM on 10/23/08
I got sooo excited when I walked into the local Kroger a few days ago and found Grape Faygo! I am a diabetic and you would not believe how hard it is to find diet grape soda! I still havent found a diet strawberry...
mayoxqueen at 11:08PM on 10/23/08
A grape SlushPuppy with a blob of soft serve in it = summertime heaven!
PeanutButter at 11:10PM on 10/23/08
As a kid I made these strange yet tasty PB&J sandwiches(at least to me) - Peanut Butter, Grape Jelly and the special secret ingredient - grape flavored pixie stick dust sprinkled on top. I haven't made one in years but now, I'm tempted. Anyone else out their who is willing to admit their strange chemistry and gastronomy grape-o-maniac experiments as a child?
Kimjergen at 12:40AM on 10/24/08
Artificial grape is the best!! I love grape Jolly Ranchers...mmm
Pammeh at 6:01PM on 10/24/08
i love grape popsicles. i have a box of edy's grape frozen fruit pops in my freezer right now. i also love grapeheads.
i haven't had a grape soda in many years but i bet i would enjoy it if i had one.
cybercita at 10:24AM on 10/25/08
Grape is my absolute favorite flavor.... Skittles, Air Heads (which I can't find anymore), popsicles, soda, jell-o, juice, Now and Laters, Bazooka or any gum... you name it! Grape has always been my flavor choice - and I have some of the same Halloween memories!
angieC at 12:38PM on 10/25/08
I love grape candy too!!! The best grape of all time was grape airheads. Now, I can't find them anywhere. Grape skittles are the best skittles too. Also, grape slushes are the best. Grape love.
stuffycat at 6:21PM on 10/25/08
OMG, I've always LOVED grape candy too! Grape Nerds, Laffy Taffy, Blow Pops, Air Heads, bubble gum, soda, fruit roll-ups, Jell-O, popsicles, and Pop Tarts (I thought these were still around, VertigoDawn - will have to check Kroger and Publix for them!). I love green apple and banana candy too, but grape has always been my favorite. I'm diabetic, so I haven't had these treats in years (was diagnosed in 2000), but I recall them fondly! I had found a diet grape soda a couple of years ago (I think it was Diet Slice Grape, in 2 liters) but suddenly, Kroger quit carrying it! I've looked everywhere since then for it and can't find it... :( mayoxqueen - what part of the country do you live in? Am hoping I can find the Faygo at my local Kroger (Atlanta-area, GA).
PinkCupcake at 11:36PM on 10/26/08
I grew up in Alabama, where they have the delicious Grapico. I didn't realize it was just an Alabama thing until I had Three Olives grape vodka and club soda and said, "This tastes like Grapico!" I got weird looks, but if you like booze and grape flavor, you should try it. Yum!
brittj8585 at 5:13AM on 10/27/08
Nobody mentioned chewy sweet tarts! When a girlfriend and I were kids, we would split a pack. I would get the grape and green apple (my other favorite flavor!) and she would get the pink and yellow.
Check out:
http://www.candywarehouse.com/purplecandy.html
dailyprandium at 12:03PM on 10/29/08
GRAPE MENTOS!!! I love grape mentos! I can only get them at this japanese (members only) store now.
BannanerzZz at 2:09AM on 10/30/08
This is my issue but with lime. I love lime everything. Make it green!
JerzeeTomato at 8:31AM on 11/01/08
WOW... You have no idea how big my obsessions for grape flavored things is.. I get so excited just to see grape candy... When i went to Japan on a trip for two weeks... EVERYTHING WAS GRAPE FLAVORED! the swirl soft serve ice cream.. instead of vanilla and chocolate swirled.. it was vanilla and grape swirled. it was simply amazing... I was also grape woman once... a Grape super hero complete with shiny purple spandex... ha.
lucinda12090 at 1:08AM on 01/29/09
Thank you for this post! It made me smile from ear to ear. I just found Batman themed Airheads at Target yesterday, which included a grape flavored bar. I was thrilled beyond belief and trying to find an excuse to go back so I can buy 10 bags of Airheads just to get the one grape!
vmh1015 at 8:43AM on 08/26/09