C’mon.Everyone who’s able to tolerate sugar has tried popping candy of one sort or another. By the pool, after you shelled out your hard-earned allowance. After a bit of Trick-or-Treating. Maybe even sharing a few packets after finding some at the local mart. They’re fun, and while the tastes weren’t much to remember (more “green” and “red” than “apple” and “cherry”), it brings back memories of a time when candy was The Important Thing. So these Chinese candies were a delightful surprise to find in my review pile.
The packaging is absolutely adorable, with the packet topping off with plastic “flames” that make tearing into it easier than the usual rectangular jobby – look at that picture, isn’t it adorable? Then, what’s this? Little individual packets within! Just big enough to hold approximately a teaspoon of the popping stuff. Fancy, and schmancy. I’m already impressed.
I’ve gotta admit that I don’t really know much about the taste of lychee. I know my dad loved those canned-in-syrup things, but I’ve never partaken. So let’s just say that these rocky bits taste like what I’d imagine a syrupy semi-sweet fruit would taste like if a ton of sugar was added to it, and then got pop-ified. The packets give you just enough bang for your tastebud buck without overstaying their welcome. I usually dumped a packet into my mouth in about three tips-o-the-packet, but what’s it like when an entire packet hits your mouth, you cry? Never say I didn’t do anything for you my dears. It’s not an exponentially stronger pop, more like more pops in more places. And the amount doesn’t overfill your mouth, it’s just right, like Goldilox’s porridge.
As I decided to write this up immediately after I’d devoured some spicy peanuts, this was a sweet palate cleanser that balanced out the earlier nutty heat. But I’d limit any indulgence to a packet or two at any given time. Not that it’s too much sugar (though it probably is), but because these popping tidbits are best savored, letting them pop and jump on your tongue. More than a couple of packets, and you could feel the urge to chew, and you don’t want to take away the main selling point of these candies. You’ll want to sit back and enjoy this posher version of those ice cream truck candy favorites, remembering the good ol’ days, when our greatest worry was where we were gonna come up with the next bit of change for a wee candy packet of fun
