Today, Kevin and I are excited to sample a wide range of Forbes Candies, known for their chewy and soft taffies. We have an assortment that includes hot cocoa, winter mix, vanilla peanut butter, cotton candy, creamsicle, caramel apple, watermelon, blue raspberry, and maple flavors. Each bag was priced at $1.29.
The Forbes Family has been perfecting their saltwater taffy recipe for over 90 years. Crafted on the coast, each small batch is cooked over an open flame in large copper kettles, then stretched to chewy perfection. Made in Virginia Beach, Virginia, these taffies are a family tradition filled with sea breeze and sunshine. Each bag contains five servings, with five pieces (29 grams) totaling 100 calories.
Flavor Breakdown:
Hot Cocoa & Winter Mix: The hot cocoa flavor stands alone, while the winter mix includes peppermint stick, chocolate cocoa, and festive eggnog. We wanted to compare the chocolate cocoa from the winter mix to the standalone hot cocoa.
- Hot Cocoa: Has a hint of Tootsie Roll flavor, but overall, it's creamy and sweet.
- Winter Mix: The peppermint stick, chocolate cocoa, and eggnog flavors blend well, though the peppermint can be overpowering.
Vanilla Peanut Butter: This flavor reminds us of those hard peanut butter candies with stripes, but much softer. Opinions were mixed; the peanut butter flavor was strong, but some preferred other flavors.
Cotton Candy: Visually appealing with vibrant pink and blue swirls, this flavor is sweet with a subtle aftertaste of cotton candy.
Creamsicle: A delightful combination of orange and vanilla, making it one of our favorites. It's creamy with just a hint of orange.
Caramel Apple: This flavor has a faint apple essence but lacks a strong caramel or apple taste. It didn't quite meet our expectations.
Watermelon: This flavor is reminiscent of childhood treats like Jolly Rancher sticks. It’s full-on watermelon, though not overly sweet.
Blue Raspberry: Kevin, not usually a fan of blue raspberry, found this flavor to be balanced and not too strong.
Maple: This was a standout for its nutty, almost burnt flavor, similar to Maple Nut Goodies. It became a favorite for its rich, distinct taste.
Texture and Overall Quality:
We were impressed by the consistent softness of the taffies. Unlike some saltwater taffies that can be hard and sticky, Forbes Candies' taffies are remarkably soft and easy to chew. Despite our initial concerns about buying them at a discounted store, the quality was excellent.
Top Picks:
- Kevin’s Favorites: Eggnog, cotton candy, and watermelon.
- My Favorites: Maple, creamsicle, and blue raspberry.
Each flavor offered a unique experience, and none of them got stuck in our teeth, which is often a concern with taffy. At $1.29 a bag, these taffies are a fantastic deal and well worth trying.
If you ever visit a tourist town and see these taffies being made, take a moment to watch the mesmerizing process. Have you tried Forbes Candies? Let us know your thoughts!
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