When I was a kid in Brooklyn my Aunt ran a corner candy store and I was allowed behind the counter to test try some of the goodies sold in big plastic containers…what's the expression, "as happy as a kid in a candy store" ? Well that was me….so there are quite a few old fashioned candies I remember fondly…some I can't get anymore or shouldn't for one reason or another, like Bonomo Turkish Taffy boy, I used to love that chewy confection, which my dentist today wouldn't approve of.

But just recently, while I was in Physical Therapy, Sandy, one of the sweetest ladies who seems to help run the place, kept a big jar of candies on the counter for those of us who liked to reward ourselves for all the work we had just done…one such candy was called Laffy Taffy…the first time I had a piece it was Banana flavored, which I liked but wasn't overwhelmed with, then, one day, I found a Strawberry flavored piece which was truly reminiscent of the Turkish taffy I so fondly remembered…when I mentioned that I really liked that strawberry piece, she would always save them for me…some days I would find a few pieces sitting next to my purse in the cubby hole where I kept my things.

Each piece is a small thin rectangle about 3 inches long and has 32 calories…it's texture is quite like most taffy's only not quite as hard to bite into as a regular piece of salt water taffy…since I'm someone who seems to like to play with my food, I enjoy stretching it out to its fullest length before biting into it then just let it melt in my mouth...that seems to prolong the eating time too, since I take little bites not wanting to destroy any of my dental work, something I didn't have a problem with when I was younger.

Each piece has the corniest joke inside the wrapper...really silly things like "what do you call a cow with a twitch? "Beef jerky", or "what is labor day"? "That’s when mommies have their babies"… Yup, truly silly, but kids must love them…the flavor though is pretty good, the banana tastes like banana and the strawberry really has a berry flavor without a chemical taste from too many artificial flavors or additives…though it is made with artificial flavors and colors, so eating too much is certainly not a good thing

A little History

Laffy Taffy is manufactured by Nestle Company under the Willy Wonka Candy company label… they make 5 flavors but I've only tried the two I mentioned…They call it Laffy Taffy because of the chewy taffy consistency and for the jokes included on each wrapper… People from all over send in these jokes to be used and are certainly happy when theirs is chosen.

The Willy Wonka Candy Company uses licensed materials and characters from the books by Roald Dahl. Laffy Taffy was one of the candies featured in the movie of the same name. In the movie, Wonka, played by Gene Wilder, holds a candy out to viewer, to invite them into the factory, it is supposed to be this particular taffy.

Though certainly not a candy to be eaten too often it is a tasty nostalgic treat and one I do enjoy now on occasion, when I can find it. Not as an easy task, which, in a way is a good thing, and my teeth will thank me for not eating Laffy Taffy too often. Though I did find it selling on few websites, so far I have refrained from ordering any.

All in all, Laffy Taffy is a good tasting chewy treat but I can't give it a glowing 4 star review for the artificial ingredients and colors used, but it does warrant at least 2 1/2 stars for it's innovative way of combining fun with candy…just be careful if you have bridgework in your mouth.


5 pieces contain:
160 calories
2 grams of fat
27 grams of sugar
36 grams of total carbs



My other candy reviews
3 Musketeers
Marzipan Chocolate Covered bars
Chuckles


This "small" little candy is part of The Best Little Write-off ever hosted by dianapinions..

Recommended: Yes