In this New York Times story about energy drinks and their relation to risky behavior behavior among adolescents, one commenter says something rather interesting about "gateway candy." In his opinion, the kids who like the crazy, ultra-hot, ultra-sour candy grow up to be the risk takers and drug addicts, while the sedate chocolate and caramel lovers become the solid citizens. He's kind of joking, but it's kind of true.
In fourth grade, my friend Alex and I would make pilgrimages to the Toot Sweets in Northgate Mall, where I discovered the painful pleasures of holding an Atomic Fireball in my mouth as long as I could, the cinnamon heat filling my sinus cavity and making my eyes water. Not long after I got heavy into Warheads, eating so many the inside of my mouth would peel and I wouldn't be able to eat for days. Then I'd do it all again a few months later. In middle school, my friends and I would actually snort Pixy Stix and Kool Aid powder at parties to get a "sugar high" (incredibly gross, doesn't work).
And yeah, I grew up to be a rock climbing, speeding ticket-getting, "oh, I'm not really worried about malaria" kind of risk taker.
So what about you - what were your favorite candies as kids, and do you think your choices predicted your adult personalities?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-29-2008 @ 10:36AM
fns said...
I don't remember much as a kid. The extreme sour didn't exist them. The best I could get was lemonheads. My favorite today, and I have my neices involved, is the Mexican candy with all of the chili powder involved. My absolute favorite is sticky watermelon flavored candy covered in a salty hot chili mixture. Once the chili mixture is gone I throw the candy away. Trechas Foods puts out a chili powder for fruits and vegetables but I and my nieces just eat it straight. I do like it on cantaloupe though.
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5-29-2008 @ 4:08PM
Vanilla_pod said...
I would be an outlier then - I had sour candy. Give me my caramel, my pralines, my chocolate and my favourite - almond butter! YUM. Anything with those in become my favourites...
And I spin fire, unicycle and skydive. Assume what you will. (I also knit. And play D&D)
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6-03-2008 @ 12:58AM
bouv said...
I loved the sour warheads as a kid, but they have toned them down IMMENSELY in recent years. I remember "back in the day" (ie, the mid-90's) it would actually take a full minute for the CRAZY sourness to go away, just like the bag said it would. Then in the late 90's it went to like 30 seconds, and then later to like 10 seconds of sour.
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