Les Candy Raisins est arrivé!

Manna came down from the skies this afternoon. Well, really it was a box that came from the UPS truck. But what was inside the box was pure heaven, that's for sure!
Because of all the excitement about the possible discontinuation of Candy Raisins, I decided to order some before it was too late. And some licorice snaps too. Funny, when you are sitting at the computer and placing the order, 7 pounds is pretty much an abstract number. Once a big-ass box full of SEVEN POUNDS OF CANDY lands on your desk, reality starts to kick in. WTF am I going to do with all this candy!??!?
After my initial shock, I popped one of the candy raisins in my mouth.....mmmmmm.... just as good as I remembered. That weird perfumey flavor. So nice and fresh and soft. I ate about 10 pieces and I was done. I passed the bag around for my co-workers to try. One guy said he'd had them before. Later on at home, Dale ate a few and he too said he'd had them.
So now I have only 6.5 pounds of candy to deal with.

Save The Candy Raisins!

OH NO! The end of Candy Raisins, the weird candy beloved by Milwaukeeans?!?! Say it ain't so! As my cousin said..."Not candy raisins AND Brett Favre!".
The New England Confectionery Co., is closing its Pewaukee-based Stark Candy Co. in May. The Pewaukee facility is the only place in the nation (and I assume, planet) that makes Candy Raisins. The parent company has not indicated if they will continue production in their Massachusetts facility, so understandably, people are sounding the alarm.

A Wisconsin guy, Gary Radke, even set up an online petition to persuade New England Confectionery to keep the Candy Raisins.

I like candy raisins. I haven't had one for a while though. Back in the bad old "non-PC" days, we called them "Indian Raisins". I do not remember them being available in individual packages...it was the kind of candy you'd get at a store with a candy counter. Back then, the Sears on Forest Home Avenue had a nut and candy counter and maybe (just maybe) if we were good, my sister and I would get a dime to get some candy or nuts. Candy Raisins would have been one of the choices. Woolworth's or Quality Candy were other places where they were available. My dad likes them and I remember more than once giving him a bagful as a birthday gift.

For those of you unfamiliar with Candy Raisins...let me explain. They are small and chewy--about the size and the consistency of a gumdrop. Now that I think of it the color is a pretty unappealing tan. They do not taste anything like a raisin. Other writers have described them as soapy tasting or with a light ginger taste. I would say they have a flowery taste, almost perfumey. Sort of like the bergamot flavor of Earl Grey tea. I agree, they are "love-it-or-leave-it" candy. I know for sure Dale will say it is another candy for people who don't like candy.


Here's what "The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel" had to say about the whole thing.

I have already seen a successful resurrection of my favorite Licorice Snaps, so I have a good feeling that Candy Raisins will survive too.

After I go sign the petition, I think I'll order a pound or so for old time's sake. I wonder if the magic will still be there?