2025 Journal + Kaffre talks Candy #88:

Greetings Journal-readers!

First, I'd like to apologize for not posting a journal in a few months. I don't really have any excuse for the lapse save my own procrastination. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or worry I may have inavdertently cauused and as recompense please accept a double-sized installment of Kaffre talks Candy.

November and December were... pretty normal with nothing out of the ordinary happening. I was mostly just busy with holiday preparations (though we didn't really *do* much of anything). Most of the money I typically use to get myself something was taken up by my Definitive Edition Ars Magica book which, combined with all the extras, taxes, and shipping was more expensive than I expected, but I did grab a WWF plushie expending my collection with another feline: a lion! Also, not to worry, my gift budget for family was unaffected!

In early January, I contracted a nasty respiratory infection which left me all, but incapacitated for the first half of the month - stupid asthma! Fortunately I've since recovered completely and will hopefully be feeling better as we enter the Year of the Snake!

February, a new fastfood place opened at the mall, Amaya Express, reactivating my mission to eat something from every franchise there. It was my first encounter with quick-service Indian food and I thought it was pretty good. Beyond that, the month was has been pretty ordinary apart from the heavy snowfall and unseasonable cold we got during the midpart of the month, but which is now mostly melted away.

Anyway, I guess that's it for this journal. Apologies again for lengthy hiatus and I promise to do my best to ensure that the next journal is, more or less on time!

And now...

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Kaffre talks Candy #88:

Name: Cheetos Smoky Barbecue
Manufacturer: Frito-Lay/Lotte
Size: 82 gram bag
Where Purchased: Asian Market
Description: Consists of an extruded corn snack similar to cheetos, but yellow.
Opinion: A Korean product I decided to sample on a whim. The flavour isn't really like anything I would describe as 'barbecue', sporting a sweet, yet smoky garlicky flavour that was nevertheless reasonably pleasant but also a bit unusual to my palette. Overall, I thought this product was OK, but I don't think I'd buy it.

Name: Chips Ahoy Chewy (Hot Cocoa)
Manufacturer: Christie
Size: 281 gram package
Where Purchased: No Frills.
Description: Consists of soft-baked chocolate chip cookies except that the cookies themselves are a bit darker than usual, have a chocolate filling and have marshmallow-flavoured chips. Flavoured to taste like hot chocolate.
Opinion: A limited edition holiday snack I got a chance to sample. Although slightly stale by the time I got to try them, these cookies actually do an impressive job replicating the rich, warming taste of hot chocolate which I'm guessing probably involves the addition of some sort of milk flavour to distinguish them from 'regular' chocolate. I actually don't care for marshmallows in my hot chocolate, but that's more of an issue with texture (I dislike bubble tea for the same reason) and they don't bother me at all in cookie form. Overall, I liked these cookies and would probably buy them again, but do wonder if they wouldn't wear out their novelty quickly.

Name: Dorito's Spicy Tropical Fusion
Manufacturer: Frito-Lay
Size: 210 gram bag
Where Purchased: Freshco
Description: Consists of triangular tortilla chips with a slight brown colouration from the flavouring agents used.
Opinion: A limited edition (and I believe Canada exclusive) flavour developed by chefs Minh Phat, Siobhan Detkavich, and Andre Bhagwandat and incorporating red chilli, pineapple, and jerk seasoning. The flavour seems petty authentic too which is a bit unfortunate for me. The chips have a pleasing flavour that is sweet and spicy (but not too hot) with a definite hint of pineapple. Unfortunately, I'm not the biggest fan of 'jerk' seasoning finding it's 'smokiness' to be rather acrid and unpleasant, but here the sweetness of pineapple helps cut through the worst of it. Overall, I thought these chips and would consider purchasing them again...

Name: Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda
Manufacturer: Pepsico.
Size: 591mL bottle
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Consists of a dark brown carbonated beverage.
Opinion: An item I spied at random and decided to sample. The flavour is very much what it sounds like bearing the characteristic sweetness and vanilla overtones of cream soda while also unmistakably tasting like Dr. Pepper. While definitely weird at first, this item grew on me very quickly. Overall, I liked the item and would buy it again, but I don't really know whether I like it better than regular Dr. Pepper (or cream soda).

Name: Kit Kat Chunky (Choco Extreme)
Manufacturer: Nestle
Size: 42 gram bar
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Consist of a chocolate flavoured Kit-Kat chunky wafer topped with a small amount of chocolate and then enrobed in more chocolate.
Opinion: An interesting product I decided to snap up on a whim. This item definitely delivers on what it promises, having a substantially richer, chocolatey taste than the standard Kit-Kat, but there's not really much to say about it. Overall, I liked this product and would consider buying it again, but at the same time, I'm not really sure I prefer it to the standard issue Kit-Kat Chunky.

Name: Lay's Holiday Table Chips (Jerk Chicken)
Manufacturer: FritoLay
Size: 220 gram bag.
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Consist of special potato chips with a slight orange cast.
Opinion: A limited edition product I decided to grab, these chips are flavoured to taste of 'savoury blackened chicken with peppery jerk seasoning'. As promised, these chips do deliver a sweet, smokey, and peppery flavour reminiscent of jerk seasoning. The flavour itself was pretty pleasant and while definitely on the spicy side, weren't too much for me, but jerk seasoning has this... acrid aftertaste (possibly from the roasted hot peppers) that I really dislike and it is present in these chips. Overall, I thought these chips were OK and while I won't be buying them again I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to those who enjoy 'jerked'.

Name: Lay's Holiday Table Chips (Tikka Masala)
Manufacturer: FritoLay
Size: 220 gram bag.
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Consist of special potato chips with a slight orange cast and darker flecks.
Opinion: A limited edition product I decided to grab, these chips are flavoured to taste of tumeric, cumin, and tomato puree. In practice, the taste is a bit like barbecue in the sense that they combine heat, sweetness, and a tomato-y flavour, but mellower with a sort of creaminess. Overall, I enjoyed these chips and would definitely consider buying them again, but I also don't really think I'll miss them too much.

Name: Lay's Holiday Table Chips (Turkey Dinner)
Manufacturer: FritoLay
Size: 220 gram bag.
Where Purchased: Dollarama
Description: Consist of special potato chips with a slight orange colour from the flavourings used.
Opinion: A limited edition product I decided to grab, these chips are flavoured to taste like 'slow-roasted turkey, herb-infused stuffing, and rich, savoury gravy' which is both oddly specific and rather vague and correspondingly actual taste is difficult to describe they do have a savoury herby taste that superficially reminds me of the bouilion taste of 'roast chicken' chips, but perhaps a bit richer and less salty. There was the slightest touch of 'heat' as well which I assume was meant to be for the gravy. Overall, I liked these chips and while the flavour was a bit generic they still pretty tasty and I would definitely consider buying them again.

Name: Mint Maltesers Mini Reindeers
Manufacturer: Mars
Size: 59 gram bag
Where Purchased: British Isles Shoppe
Description: Consists of 5 individually-wrapped malted-milk candies shaped a bit like cartoon reindeer and then coated in sweet mint-flavoured milk chocolate.
Opinion: A limited edition holiday item I wanted to sample. These candies offer a sweet and creamy mint-chocolate flavour while retaining the wonderfully crunchy texture and sweet malty flavouring of Maltesers which to my mild surprise actually paired quite nicely with the mint. Overall, I liked these candies and, although perhaps a bit expensive for what they are, I would definitely consider purchasing them again next Christmas if available.

Name: Oreos, Coca-Cola with Popping Candy
Manufacturer: Christie, Brown & Co.
Size: 303 gram package (24 cookies).
Where Purchased: Freshco.
Description: Consists of normal 'oreo' sandwhich cookies except that one half of the 'sandwich' is red and marked with the Coca-Cola logo and the creme centre is perhaps a bit thicker and has pink flecks in it.
Opinion: A limited edition product that I got for my birthday. This product was an interesting one in addition to the classic sweet and crunchy taste of Oreo cookies there was also the unmistakable taste of Cola (though I wasn't quite able to tell if it was from the 'cookie' part or the 'creme' part) while the 'popping candy' in the centre provided an understated 'fizziness' reminiscent of carbonated beverages. Overall, I liked this product and would definitely consider buying it again. It it was very weird at first, this product grew on me quickly and honestly, even if it hadn't I think I'd still be impressed by the creativity....