George and Mitch dig in to some spooky sweets this Halloween, so you don't have to.
When it comes to lollies, not all sugar-spun treats are created equal. And while you may recall dairy counters packed with inoffensive jet planes, milk bottles and Liquorice Allsorts, the treats your kids could bring home in their Halloween candy haul may be far from classic sweets.
A round up of what's on offer from various food stores around Auckland has been taste tested by initially willing - later extremely regretful - candidates George and Mitch to find the lollies you should definitely avoid this Halloween - unless you have more of a penchant for tricking than treating.
Some of the obscure lollies put to the test this Halloween.
Here's what our brave taste testers dared each other to trial, so you won't have to.
An extremely salty, chewy "coin", while this may appeal to real liquorice aficionados, again, it wasn't palatable to George.
George's second sample confirmed his hatred for liquorice.
3. SKELETON HEAD CANDY
• From Countdown
Dubbed a D grade Chupa Chup, these lollipops, while not overly tasty, are built for longevity. So don't try cracking into them with your teeth like George did.
If you go for a ghost lollipop, you'd be wise not to bite it.
4. YUMU DURIAN CANDY
• From Tai Ping Trading House
Our taste testers made the mistake of assuming these were "butter ball" candies. They soon learnt they are most definitely not.
In fact, the chewy yellow candies are made from Durian, a South East Asian fruit denounced for smelling like rotting flesh but considered a delicacy by many.
Not so for Mitch, who dubbed it "the grossest thing" he's ever eaten.
Mitch couldn't get rid of his Durian candy fast enough.
5. GOLDEN MONKEY BROWN PLUM SUGAR
• From Tai Ping Trading House
According to George, this lolly looks like "a little poo". Off to a great start, then.
And it turned out its appearance was a warning: George couldn't stomach this one either.
Matcha or green tea flavouring has become a popular addition to everything from coffee to ice cream. But after sampling matcha chocolate, George and Mitch concurred it's time to put an end to the trend.
7. POOSCH
• From an Auckland dairy
A welcome addition after a string of horrendous tastings, Mitch declared he was "all about the Poosch", a bubble gum similar to what you'd find on a Bubble O Bill ice cream.
According to the packet, the spiders are "grown for human consumption". The taste? "Salty, crunchy and dusty". These were quickly dubbed the scariest "treat" out this Halloween.
