by Gabriella Vigoreaux
As candy enthusiasts, we get our fair share of international sweets here at the Epi office. (You have to hide me away from green tea Kit Kats.) No one quite does candy the way Mexico does, though. Mexican sweets toe the line between sweet, spicy, salty, tangy, and, um, did we say spicy? They are more than just candies, but full on flavor explosions that you can't really stop yourself from eating -- every bite is an adventure. We encourage you to think about this as you ponder you candy selection for the upcoming holiday, whether you are celebrating Halloween or Day of the Dead. Take a look at some of our favorites and you'll see what we mean:
1. Mazapan
De la Rosa Mazapan is a peanutty marzipan candy that will probably remind you of something your grandmother would eat. It's delicious though. Think of it like a Reese's cup without the chocolate coating.
2. Cacahuates Japones
Literally translated to Japanese peanuts, these crunchy little morsels are actually quite popular in Mexico and closer to a bar snack than a candy. The salty, crunchy shell coating makes them rather addicting.
3. Pulparindo
Mexican people are all about the sweet-and-sour tamarind fruit in their candies, whether in lollipops or pulp-like sweets like this one.
4. Vero Mango
A sweet mango hard candy gets covered in a spicy chile-lime dust. Take a cue from us and attack this thing head on. If you lick off the spicy coating trying to get to the center you might singe your tongue off. Take a bite instead so you get all the sweet and spiciness together in one delicious flavor medley.
5. Carlos V Chocolate Bar
Was any chocolate bar ever so regal? This one, made by Nestle, is named for Carlos V, Holy Roman Emperor who is known for introducing chocolate to the courts of Europe.
6. Manita de la Suerte Lollipops
We don't know what's better, the adorable fortune teller gypsy on the package or the fact that each of these lollipops comes with your very own Spanish fortune.
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7. Revolcaditas
Ok so there's a lot going on here. We've got hard candy filled with watermelon caramel and then dusted with, you guessed it, chile-lime dust.
8. Duvalin
So this is basically Mexico's answer to eating Nutella with a spoon. A gooey hazelnut cream is placed next to another gooey vanilla cream and you eat it with a spoon? Not really sure but we can get down with it because this is basically a frosting packet.
9. Obleas con Cajeta
Oblea means wafer and cajeta is caramel made from goat's milk and together they made a sandwich cookie sent from the gods.
10. Vero Elotes
Who doesn't love a strawberry-flavored lollipop shaped like corn?
OH, and don't forget the sugar skull cookies! No Day of the Dead celebration is complete without them.
You can make your own if you're crafty or purchase them online from various retailers, but we like the ones from Dean and Deluca.
All this insane candy is available at Amazon or MexGrocer.com.
Photos Courtesy of Amazon and MexGrocer.com