Mexican Candy
I'm Mexican and I grew up in Los Angeles, so it's safe to say that I'm quite biased, but until quite recently I never met anyone who disliked Mexican candy. I did grow up with Mexican kids who ate it regularly and actually shunned American candy, but I thought for the most part, there was nothing to really dislike about the stuff.
Fast forward quite a few years and I have a white, southern boyfriend completely unfamiliar with anything Latino. It's been really fun teaching him about and feeding him the food of my culture, but when it comes to candy he just doesn't get it. It's so bad in fact, that when I sent him a care package filled with my favorite Mexican candies (Tamarindo, Mazapan de la Rosa, Pulparindo, saladitos) and he tried one, he spit it out and said it was gross. He also had to "dare" some of his buddies to try the extra "weird" stuff like the saladitos and Pulparindo.
I'd always assumed that people loved the juxtaposition of sweet and sour/spicy and sweet- apparently not.
So, who loves Mexican candy? If you hate it, tell me why..
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11 Comments:
Central CA girl here. I like the tamarind. And I know this isn't candy exactly, but I love dried mango con chile. I have to ration myself or risk a tummyache later.
buffy at 11:57PM on 11/13/08
love it! I've also tried to convert people, and have been for the most part successful. Mango con chile is a big hit! Actually, the lollipops (suckers?) covered in chile (esp the watermelon ones) are a favorite. Love the spicy salty sweet combo!
blankplate at 7:32AM on 11/14/08
I'm intrigued...I have never tried Mexican candy. I wonder where I could get some in Atlanta?
juliebugsmama at 9:46AM on 11/14/08
The Mexican candy I've tried, I've like very much; it hasn't got the generic flavour of mass-market candies in the US and EU. Particularly, I can eat virtually unlimited quantities of anything involving tamarind in any form.
mongoose at 9:57AM on 11/14/08
My in-laws live in Mexico, so we travel there at least once a year, and I absolutely love the local market where they sell candy and all kinds of fabulous foods! Not candy, but the jicama with lime juice and chile powder is one of my all-time favorite treats.
In terms of sweets, I'm definitely with buffy on the tamarind, and the dried mango con chile. I had helado that was cucumber-chile flavored - sweet, spicy and soooo refreshing and delicious! I'm pregnant now and that's ALL I want... I want one right now... :)
CookiePie at 10:37AM on 11/14/08
My husband loves Mexican candy -- he buys them when he gets a hankering for them.
One day ~10 years ago, my husband coaxed me to try a lollipop that I had seen him enjoy, saying I would love it. I was horrified and threw the lollipop at him after one lick, while he laughed initially and was angry later, because I had wasted the lollipop as it bounced off his shirt and fallen to the ground. He knew I wouldn't like it. I don't remember what it was, but it was hot and salty (no comments from the peanut gallery).
Tamarind soda is great. I love the tamarind candies from Thailand my friend would give me while we were in school. I've yet to try the Mexican version of the hard candy, but I'm sure it's similar. The candy tastes just like the soda.
Cassaendra at 10:49AM on 11/14/08
I love tamarind-just-about-anything, and most of the Mexican candies I've had.
Except the awful, awful creation that are (is?) saladitos. I have friends that enjoy them, something I will never understand. :)
EastBayAnt at 2:02PM on 11/14/08
I like Mexican candy, except for tamarind-flavored stuff. The best are the fruit-flavored lollipops with chile.
beth1 at 3:36PM on 11/14/08
I love the goat milk caramels called Obleas...I think. So decadent!
orinky at 3:41PM on 11/14/08
Thank you for mentioning de la Rosas! I'm addicted to them and they are HARD to find in NYC! And sometimes when i say "de la Rosa" to the store clerk I get a blank look. How do I say "ground-up peanut marzipan candy, best on the planet" in Spanish?
eleeb at 5:18PM on 11/14/08
I grew up in Tucson and have eaten my fair share of Mexican candy. Some of the stuff I LOVE and some of it I can't stand, but ohhhh how this brings back the memories. Saladitos (!), Lucas, de la rosas, that lemon-lime Lucas, and those watermelon lollipops with spicy Lucas all over them... wow. Blankplate, I love those, too!
I just had a flashback to elementary school and kids getting their Lucas taken away in class, and rumors (truth?) of high levels of lead/other chemicals in Lucas.
pearl at 6:40PM on 11/14/08