SUPERMARKET SLEUTH: Ah, nuts, chocolates and licorice bits, too

— Asher’s Chocolates is one of the oldest family-owned candy companies in the United States. It was founded in Philadelphia by Chester A. Asher in 1892, and today it’s being run by third and fourth generation family members.

I recently tried some of Asher’ssugar-free chocolates, sold at Wal-Mart. They’re available in four flavors - Vanilla Caramels, Creamy Cocoa Truffles, Pecan Caramel Patties and Caramel and Marshmallows. The candy is sweetened with maltitol, a sugar alcohol, and comes in 3-ounce, resealable bags that sell for about $2.

For more about Asher’s products, visit ashers.com, where you can shop online or take a virtual tour of the factory.

NATURAL NUTS

Yumnuts Naturals is a line of dry-roasted cashews that come in chocolate, Cajun, honey, toasted coconut, sea salt and chili-lime flavors. They contain no added oils, preservatives or artificial ingredients, and are really quite tasty. The nuts are dry roasted slowly, and the end result is a light, crisp snack that’s not over seasoned or greasy.

You can only get them online at yumnuts naturals.com. A four-pack of 5-ounce bags costs about $20, and while you’re there, you can register to be a Yumnut and receive company news, maybe even some goodies.

LICORICE ANYONE?

If you like licorice, you are probably in the minority these days. I remember getting it in my trick-or-treat bag when I was a child, and my father always ate it so it didn’t go to waste. It is still available, mainly it seems, in jelly beans and long string versions. Natural Vines sells licorice in original black and strawberry flavors in bitesize twists that are sweetened with molasses and pure cane sugar, with no artificial ingredients.

The licorice is sold at Albertsons, Safeway and Smiths stores, or you can order online at candycabinet.com. It sells for about $3.50 for an 8-ounce bag in stores, or about $14 for a six-pack online.

Product suggestions? Tips? Email:

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Food, Pages 35 on 09/01/2010

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