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Thursday 19 August 2010

Hershey’s

Hershey’s is the biggest producer of chocolate in North America. It was first called the Hershey Chocolate Company. Milton S. Hershey formed the company in 1894, and today the company’s chocolate bars are household names worldwide.
Located in Pennsylvania, Hershey’s has the largest chocolate production unit in the world. Its workspace measures up to 185,806 square metres. There are subsidiary plants in Canada (Ontario) and California (Oakdale). It also has production units scattered over the US as well as two others in Mexico and Brazil.
The products in the ever-popular range are available in many sizes and flavours including the famous Cookies ‘n’ Crème and the popular Milk Chocolate & Almond. Other popular lines are Mr. Goodbar, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Payday. Other candies include Jolly Rancher and Twizzlers.
Hershey’s remains one of the world’s most popular confectioneries on the market. Yum!

Gobstoppers

Gobstoppers, known as jawbreakers in the United States and Canada, are a hard type of sweet or candy. They are normally round in shape, and are produced in various colours and sizes.
The word ‘gob’ is a slang word in the United Kingdom and Ireland for mouth.
In most cases, gobstoppers or jawbreakers are made into different coatings, with each of these coatings melting to reveal the ne layer and even taste, until you finally reach the centre.
The best way to consume jawbreakers is by licking or sucking. They are so hard that they cannot be bitten without putting your teeth at risk. This is the main reason why they are known as jawbreakers in the United States and Canada.
Children like them a lot because it takes such a long time to finish gobstoppers. The bigger versions such as Globestoppers can take days to finish. Commonly sold by weight, they are packed in jars and sold in candy shops.
The production process is known as spanning. Sugar or anise seed are heated and coatings of these are constantly deposited on one another to get the desired size. Flavouring and colouring are also employed.

Gift Ideas

You have come to the right spot. Your search has landed you in the best place for gift ideas for every event of your choice. If your intention is to save some money and be ingenious with your present then look no further.
Here at weluvsweets.com we offer an incredible array of gifts for all occasions. How about a carton of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Fudge, or a London Bus full of yummy toffees? For the sugar free devotees we can even offer a chocolate fondue set.
There are so many forms of unique gift ideas from this site that you are spoilt for choice. This will help you find something for whatever occasions you may need to find a present for. There are equally many gifts ideas that will evoke a feeling of memorabilia whenever the recipient thinks of it.
The important thing is for you to find what you are looking for and here at weluvsweets.com you will discover amazing and memorable gift ideas that will help you find perfect presents for every event imaginable.

Galaxy Chocolate

Galaxy Chocolate is a very popular chocolate in the United Kingdom and Ireland, manufactured and marketed by Mars. In some parts of the world it is known as Dove.
The makers explain on their website that the taste is created due to the way they slowly roast the cocoa beans, mill the chocolate twice, select all the ingredients with love, and carefully blend them to make the smoothest and creamiest chocolate one could ever experience.
Consisting of different forms and sizes, as well as the standard bar, Galaxy Chocolate is also available in Kingsize, Cookie Crumble, Hazelnut and a combination of Hazelnut, Raisin and Almond.
Mars has always been interested in the production of sustainable cocoa that is why you can now find a small symbol of a frog on the packaging. This tiny fellow is the symbol of the Rainforest Alliance and now all Galaxy chocolate bars across the UK & Ireland will carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal.
This means that they source cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. The Rainforest Alliance helps thousands of farmers around the world gain the tools and techniques necessary to protect the wildlife, the environment, and the rights and welfare of their workers and their families for now and for future generations.

Fudge

What is fudge? This is a form of confectionery made from a heated mixture of butter, milk and sugar at a degree of 116 °C, it is then cooled and moulded. Other ingredients can be blended into the mixture to give an assortment of taste, flavour, as well as colour. Common examples are chocolate, maple syrup, cream, rum & raisins, vanilla and even Jack Daniel's Whiskey..
In Canada and the United States, hot fudge is usually taken to mean chocolate smeared on top of ice cream. It has nothing to do with the ordinary fudge enjoyed in the UK.
Fudge dates back over 100 years and was formulated by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, whilst studying at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Word of this wonderful new recipe quickly spread through other women’s colleges and soon became a popular addition to the world of confectionery.

Confectionery

Confectionery is simply defined as a range of food substances with high sugar contents. Today, this will also include items with synthetic sweeteners. A confection has many guises, depending on the area where it is consumed.
For example, it is known as candy in the United States, sweets in the United Kingdom and lollies in Australia.

In different parts of the world where the English language is used, confectionery is referred to in many ways. In the UK as well as most countries within the Commonwealth, an everyday name for it is sweets. Other informal names include goodies and yum yums. These names may differ from region to region.
They are commonly called lollies in Australia as well as in New Zealand. In North America, the word candy is frequently used, but this will exclude items such as pastry. Also, sweets and treats are sometimes used.
Items such as chocolate, candy bars, lollipops and candy floss are generally inclusive. But these will not take into account items that can be consumed with the use of cutlery such as cakes, puddings or biscuits. Most Americans do not include these as candy.

Other forms of confectionery are hard sweets (from hardened sugar), called boiled sweets in the UK, jawbreakers, rock candy, drops and candy canes. When blended with nuts, they are called brittle.

Jelly candies refer to sugar mixed with starch such as gum, gelatin, jelly beans, jujubes, Turkish Delight, gumdrops, etc.

Chocolate Bars

Many people will go for a dark chocolate bar in preference to milk chocolate, although a good number of people will also prefer the latter, perhaps, because of its sweeter taste. It is true that personal taste is always taken as a first choice for most consumers but one thing is clear, a lot of people prefer dark chocolate for health reasons. However, a good number of consumers will always want to be swayed by just the taste and will choose their chocolate bars accordingly.
Why do people give preference to dark chocolate? Research has revealed that it contains flavoniods and epicatechin both of which are said to have beneficial properties.

Studies carried out at San Francisco School of Nursing at the California State University suggest that these ingredients also had properties that would benefit cardiac care. This was instigated by the American Cocoa Research Institute. Dark chocolate was served to twenty-one consumers, broken into two groups. One group consumed chocolate bars with flavonoids amounting to 1.4 ounces daily and the other did not. After a fortnight, each group was tested for the dilation of blood vessels and it was found out that people who ate flavonoids experienced superior blood circulation.
From these tests it became evident that flavonoids help reduce the risk blot clots which is one of the major causes of heart attacks. This is another reason why consumers will prefer dark chocolate. However, a simple consumption of chocolate bars without some required physical exercises will not perform miracles. You must also consume dark chocolate modestly. Remember that they are equally full of sugar and fats that may have negative effects when eaten unreasonably.

Chew Bars

Chew bars are an enduring and popular confectionery produced in long thin packaging.
They come in many flavours but perhaps the two most popular are the  Black Jack and Fruit Salad bars manufactured by Barratts. Both flavours are also made in mini chew formats, either loose in pick’n’mix stores, or off the shelf stick packs, but the chew bars remain ever popular.
Other bars that have a strong appeal are the Wham series manufactured by Miller McCowan. These appeal to those who like a little kick with their candy, offering sour flavours such as sour apple, sour cherry as well as the original raspberry. Another of their lines is the Highland Toffee chew bar that remains popular with young and old alike.
Refreshers are also available in the chew bar format in three scintillating flavours, the original, strawberry and swizzelberry, and are stalwarts in this field
For the brave there is the Toxic Waste Nuclear Sludge Sour Apple Flavour chew bar…not for the faint hearted!
Whatever your favourite flavour, chew bars are definitely a great way to get your candy fix.

Cheap Sweets

This is for chocolate and sweets lovers out there. Does your sweet tooth crave for chocolate or something sweet? Do you often wonder where to buy them? Then, there is a place for you to buy branded chocolates and cheap sweets at seriously discounted rates.
In the USA there is a chain of stores called the Russell Stover Factory Outlets where you can purchase cheap sweets galore. In their stores you will find all the chocolates and sweets you desire at prices you won’t believe.  
In fact there are over 50 Russell Stover Factory Outlets in the USA, including one in Iola, Kansas, situated on the aptly named Marshmallow Lane. In store the prices range from a penny to a dollar.

Russell Stover Factory Outlets have countless candies in store for all tastes and age groups. There are milk bars, dark chocolate, creams, caramels, nuts and cherries. For those who are worried about their health, there are also sugar-free and low-carb sweets. Simply, there are cheap sweets for one and all.
There are always special offers and promotions and you can often items in the middle of the year for the forthcoming Christmas and Halloween seasons that are heavily discounted from the original prices.
There are outlets in the West, far North, East and South Eastern regions of the United States. There are many

Caramac

Caramac
Caramac is a product made of caramel by the Nestle Company. Originally created by Rowntree Mackintosh in 1959, it derived its name from the Cara in caramel and the Mac in Mackintosh.
Packaged in a distinctive red and yellow wrapper, the bar itself is pale yellow in colour. It is made up of sections that have thin layers so that each layer will blend on your tongue. Each piece is stamped with the word Caramac.
The secrets behind this product are the ingredients. The ingredients are sweetened condensed milk, butter, flavourings, and sugar. If you are familiar with McVitie’s Gold Biscuit bar you will know that these two products are pretty similar in taste.
The product was released as a limited edition Kitkat Caramac bar in the UK in 2005. Many people liked the taste of the Kitkat Caramac bar so, it returned again during 2007. Aside from the Kitkat Caramac bar, a Caramac Easter Egg was also produced during the 1980s and 1990s.
 The ever-popular Caramac bar remains a firm favourite with all confectionery lovers of all ages.

Candy

Candy
Sugar candy means a piece of sugar, a coated sweet or sugar with a shiny coating. It is the combination of refined sugar, water, flavourings (added artificial substance to food) and colorants.
Candies have a variety of colours and shapes to attract people of all types of ages. Some candies are small and others are big in size. Some have a sweet taste while others are salty and sour to taste. There are Hershey’s bars, Jelly Beans, Nerds and many other forms of candies to name a few.
In the North America, candies have been a delicacy. There are many varieties to choose from. There are bars, chocolates, marshmallows and more. These are all put in one category which is candy.
Sweets are a popular name for candies outside North America. In the land down under, Australia, candies are divided into two types. These are chocolates and lollies. Thus, the word lollipop arose and its meaning cover sugar candies on a stick. Candy floss was the term used in United Kingdom while it is fairy floss in Australia. While in North America, cotton candy is the name commonly used. 
Candies are formed with three ingredients. The ingredients are sugar, water and milk. Sometimes only two are used. The sugar is melted and mixed with the milk or water to make a syrup mixture. Then, it is boiled under extreme heat to caramelize. Depending on the heat, different forms and textures of candy are produced. This last stage is based on the sugar content.
The shelf life of candies depends on where you are going to keep them. When they are left under extreme heat they melt. When stored in a cool and dry place, they last for more than a year.

Cadburys Chocolate

Cadburys Chocolate
Cadbury was created 200 years ago when John Cadbury began his line of work in the world of chocolate by opening a grocer’s shop in 1824 where he began selling coffees and tea. Attempting to improve the taste of the drinks, he began selling cocoa and drinking chocolates too.
In 1831, John branched out and opened a factory to manufacture his own drinking chocolate and cocoa and by 1842 there were 15 varieties to choose from. Later, his brother joined the company that John had established. After years of taking care of the company he eventually retired leaving a company that is now a household name in most parts of the world.
After John created Cadbury, he began establishing a school for his employees. He also created a distinctive perk for his workforce by way of making medical benefits available for his staff.
Today, Cadbury is the world’s leader in milk chocolate, although sales declined during World War I, they have since gone from strength to strength as John subsequently refined the manufacturing process of his chocolates which was evident with the improvement in the taste and the number of varieties. Soon, the sales increased rapidly and the range of Cadbury chocolates now contains such stalwarts as Dairy Milk, Fruit & Nut, Crunchie, Fudge, Picnic, Star Bar, Flake, Boost, Double Decker, Bourneville, Wispa and Twirl.

Bubble gum

Bubble gum

Bubble gum is a kind of elastic chewing gum that can be manipulated by chewing enabling the user to eventually blow a bubble out of it. Bubble gums come in many different colours or flavours. However, the traditional colour is a light shade of pink that is flavoured with the oil of wintergreen. 
Fascinatingly, bubble gum was accidentally invented by Walter. E. Diemer in 1928. He worked as an accountant in the Fleer Chewing Gum Company in Philadelphia. In his spare time, he had a crazy pastime of experimenting with different types of chewing gum. In 1928, he discovered a gum that was less sticky than a chewing gum that could be blown into a bubble. 23-year-old Walter recognized the possibilities of this special gum. One day he took five pounds of it to a grocery store and the gum sold out in a single afternoon.
The Fleer Chewing Gum Company soon picked up on this idea, and sold it by the name of Dubble Bubble. The Dubble Bubble was so successful that it sold over a million and half units in the very first year. The first Bubble Gums were pink because it was the only food colour available at the factory. However, Walter never patented his invention and consequently never received any royalties. After his death in 1998, his wife told the media that old Diemer was never happier than when he was organizing bubble blowing contests for his kid’s friends at his home.
The Guinness world record for blowing bubble gum is held by Susan Montgomery Williams of Fresno, California. Susan Montgomery Williams broke the record twice, once in 1979 with a bubble of 17 inches or 43.18cm and again in 1996 with a bubble that was 23 inches or 58.24cm.

Bon Bons

Bon Bons
Bon bon is derived from the French word bon that means good. Bon bon is traditionally a chocolate or truffle confection, usually used as a dining table centrepiece. The term bon bon is also colloquially used to describe the traditional French idle housewife, who sat and ate bon bons all day while her husband was busy at work.
This popular sweet is available in many flavours including strawberry, sour raspberry, apple, mixed fruit, toffee, vimto, lemon and many others.
In America the term Bonbon has assumed a completely different meaning than the traditional French bon bons. Bonbons in the US are the trademarked name of a sweet product produced by Hershey’s. This sweet dish is a frozen confectionary, made up of vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate. This type of Bonbon is also sold through a tube outside movie theatres and should always be eaten quickly before they melt. They are also sold in buckets in the States.
There is also a very popular called the Oreo Bon Bon. These bon bons require 1 packet of original Oreo cookies, 18oz of cream cheese, 2 packets of almond bark and ½ cup of salted pretzels. Start by lining 2 large cookie sheets with aluminium foil spread with non-stick cooking spray. Then place the Oreo cookies and the pretzels together in a zip lock plastic bag and crush them to make crumbs. Then place the crushed pretzels and Oreo cookies in a bowl of softened cream cheese and blend them thoroughly. Use a scoop spoon to make balls out of the mixture.
The next step is to melt the almond bark as per the microwave instructions and then dip each scoop into the liquid…delicious!. You can also use chocolate dip instead of almond.

Boiled Sweets

Boiled Sweets
Boiled sweets are hard confectioneries made by boiling sugar and then crystallizing it, and is the same product that is known in the Unites States as candies. Sweets can be chocolate based or non-chocolate based; and the non-chocolate candies can be of the boiled sweet variety. Non-chocolate candies can basically be of two types, hard candies and soft candies with the difference being the degrees of crystallization (or boiling) of the sugar. Soft sugar candies are also known as fondants. Fondants are used to make fancy candies like chocolate creams.

Sweetmeats are the earliest known confectionery. Sweetmeats have existed for a long time in Asia and Middle East and date back as far as the ancient Egyptians. Candies were presumably discovered in order to curtail the bitter taste of medicine. This is the reason why before the 14th century, confectioneries were made and sold chiefly by physicians. The boiled sweet favoured by mediaeval physicians was called sugar-plate, a sweetmeat composed of the ingredients rosewater, white sugar and gum dragon, together made into a paste.

Marzipan is one of the earliest surviving types of confectionery in Europe. The process of making marzipan involved hard nuts such as almonds, made into a paste and finally blended with sugar and the white of an egg. This confectionery, made in the Middle Ages was often stamped with epigrams and moulded into fancy shapes.

One of the earliest form of boiled sweet originating from England was a sugarplum. They were made of boiled sugar and became popular in England in the 17th century. However, the production of boiled sweets as we now know them did not become extensively popular until the 19th century. The display of British boiled sweets at the National Exhibition of 1851 stimulated manufacture in other countries, notably France.

Aniseed Balls

Aniseed Balls
Aniseed balls are traditional aniseed oil coated hard round sweets, a bit like gobstoppers or jawbreakers, and are usually sold in the UK. They are also found in New Zealand and Australia. These hard balls last in the mouth for a long time and they have an anise seed core that can be crushed. The core is used for forming layers of candy around it, although other methods exist, for example using a sugar grain.
The whole seed is then surrounded with layers of hardened candy. They can be bought by weight in traditional sweet shops in the UK and Ireland.  They are dark brown in colour and they have a strong liquorish flavour.
In a recent poll of confectionery fans, aniseed balls were voted the best childhood memory of confectionery in the UK. As a result they are making a resurgence in popularity in British sweet shops, along with chocolate mice and sherbet pips.
The recent Waitrose Great Sweet Revival campaign captured the votes of more than 2,000 people and the results made it clear that aniseed balls are as popular as ever. Waitrose confectionery buyer Matthew Jones said: "We received a fantastic response to our campaign so I think our new retro sweets will be as popular with children today as those who remember tucking into them in decades past."
It seems that longevity is the key to picking a favourite treat as 'sucky sweets' made up more than half of the top 10 which also included bonbons and liquorice torpedoes.

American Sweets

American Sweets
In the UK, the tradition of Halloween is relatively new. Only a decade or two ago, British children at the time of the transition of October to November were seen approaching people with  ‘a penny for the guy’, the guy being a life sized dummy of a man, crammed into something like a shopping trolley or a pram. The guy alluded to Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the British Parliament in the 17th century, and whose effigy is now burnt on 5th November, known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night.
Nowadays, Halloween is also widely celebrated in the UK on October 31st along with Guy Fawkes Day on 5th November. These two festivals fall at the time of two major Catholic and Pagan Celtic festivals, All Saints Day on 1st November and the Pagan Celtic festival, Samhain.
The Halloween tradition was until recently far more popular in America than in the UK, but nowadays British kids also celebrate Halloween by going from door to door asking the time honoured question, trick or treat? The treat invariably comes in the form of confectionery, with American Sweets making an appropriate way to give the celebration an authentic feel.
Consequently, the candy stores in the UK now stock American sweets, some depicting small witches, vampires, pumpkins and ghosts especially for Halloween. Some examples of the most popular American sweets 
follow.
The first name that comes to mind is Hershey’s, the flagship of American candy. Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme and Hershey’s Kisses are both delicious treats.  Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme is a white chocolate bar with chocolate cookie bits and Hershey’s Kisses are delicious chocolates individually wrapped in unique foil twists, ideal for the little Halloween guests on your doorstep.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

White Maltesers

Is seems that We Luv Sweets has secured somewhat of a coup. White Maltesers have been in short supply and rumours have abound that the makers of these fantastic white chocolate, honeycomb treats will not rerelease the product until Christmas! We Luv Sweets is happy to announce that we have a great supply source for White Maltesers and, notwithstanding unforseen events, you will be available to purchase these great treats at We Luv Sweets throughout the year. So whether you have a wedding cake to make or if you just want to scoff them straight from the packet, White Maletesers are here now.