Johnny Unusual Ate This - A near-weekly series of terrible mistakes

[Johnny Unusual]

Thursday

Popcorn - Churro/Popcorn - White Cheddar

Candy Depot Water

Weird but I mean, it's nice someone there can get plain water if they want it.

Robertson's Candy The "Original" Barley Toy Drops

These... don't look like toys.

Flip Phone Pop - Blue Raspberry

My old phoe!

Jelly Belly Mint Chocolate

I think there are jelly beans in it but the Scottie Dogs didn't...

Chews

These were a childhood favourite, a bit like Razzles in the "candy-to-gum" field.

Aero Peppermint

A mint chocolate week but I'm not complaining.

Pretz Salad

Does it taste like salad or good for salad?

 

[Kirin]

Does it taste like salad or good for salad?

The subtitle is saying something about the deep umami of bullion?? I think? So I'm not even sure. Maybe it's going for chicken salad or something.

Insta-edit: An official page from the maker of the product isn't really helping: https://www.glico.com/global/rd/episode/pretz/ It mostly talks about the flavor of yeast fermentation. Honestly it seems like they hit upon a flavor people enjoy and gave it an arbitrary name!

 

[Daikaiju]

Hrm. Barley sugar candy? I tried some once... Something tasted off about it.

I find most Pretz flavors to be the equivalent of Beer Nuts. Not much point to them without a drink. And I say that as someone who doesn't drink.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Popcorn - Churro/Popcorn - White Cheddar

Both were fine but I will say the churro popcorn wasn't as sweet as I was expecting. Not bad but more like "cinnamon popcorn". Of course, it's possible the sugar dropped to the lower strata of pop corn.

Candy Depot Water

Weird but I mean, it's nice someone there can get plain water if they want it.

A really good mineral water. I'm not a water aficionado but tastes better than my tap.

Robertson's Candy The "Original" Barley Toy Drops

These... don't look like toys.

Yeah, it's a barley candy. I don't get the appeal but for fans of traditional candies, worth having, I guess.

Flip Phone Pop - Blue Raspberry

My old phoe!

Fine but as far as these things go, I still don't need Blue Raspberry.

Jelly Belly Mint Chocolate

I think there are jelly beans in it but the Scottie Dogs didn't...

OK, so this DIDN'T have Jelly Beans in it. But it was a really decent quality chocolate mint bar.

Chews

These were a childhood favourite, a bit like Razzles in the "candy-to-gum" field.

I still like Chews. I guess the gag is they look chews up already but they have a fun sour flavour I like.

Aero Peppermint

A mint chocolate week but I'm not complaining.

I've had some issues with Aero bars tasting weird with different filling. The Truffle ones weren't that great. But Peppermint is a classic and a banger. It doesn't feel like chocolate covering something similar to chocolate. It feels cohesive.

Pretz Salad

Does it taste like salad or good for salad?

I don't get the theme. Tastes more like a bullion flavoured pretz as Kirin read but it's fine.

 

[Kirin]

Yeah, it's a barley candy. I don't get the appeal but for fans of traditional candies, worth having, I guess.

It occurs to me I have no idea what barley candy tastes like. If I've ever had it, it wasn't obviously labeled as such.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

It occurs to me I have no idea what barley candy tastes like. If I've ever had it, it wasn't obviously labeled as such.

It's that extra sweet old people candy. I don't know if that was a thing for you of knowing an old person with a big bowl of very sweet hard candy, it's that.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

In one week...

Kool-Aid Strawberry Lemonade

I'll be bummed if it isn't a hot summer day for this...

2 Puppy Love

More toys with a little bit of candy inside.

M&M's Nut Brownie Mix

M&M's mix bags are a good idea. I like having an assorted mix in there.

Pringles Masala Tadka

I want to like this but I am a bit worried it'll only taste slightly different than some of the various flavoured Pringles.

Basket Balls bubble gum

Bonomo Chocolate Turkish Taffy

OK, but should I whack it, attack it or hack it?

Fast Twitch Strawberry Watermelon

I figured it was probably going to be a hot day (I hope) and a near full day of work so I need and energy drink and a replenisher).

Popcorn - Sour Cream and Onion

Closing in on the end of the popcorn journey... (don't worry, a cotton candy journey comes next)

Popcorn - Orange Cheddar

I love all sorts of cheeses but Cheddar is still the best.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

M&M's Nut Brownie Mix

M&M's mix bags are a good idea. I like having an assorted mix in there.

Ooh, I'm intrigued. Never had Fudge Brownie M&M's before.

Pringles Masala Tadka

I want to like this but I am a bit worried it'll only taste slightly different than some of the various flavoured Pringles.

Oh, interesting. I've had Tikki Masala Pringles before, and really liked them! I wonder if these are similar.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Kool-Aid Strawberry Lemonade

I'll be bummed if it isn't a hot summer day for this...

Oh, forgot to have this. Will have it later today...

2 Puppy Love

More toys with a little bit of candy inside.

It's the same as the other one with a doggy. I think this is just the second line of toys

M&M's Nut Brownie Mix

M&M's mix bags are a good idea. I like having an assorted mix in there.

Pretty good together. Good mix

Pringles Masala Tadka

I want to like this but I am a bit worried it'll only taste slightly different than some of the various flavoured Pringles.

I liked it but I will say there's an.. eggy smell to it. I've smelled it in a few Indian snack foods. Not bad or rotten but it made me feel like I might have nasty fart breath later. But I don't think I did, so there you go.

Basket Balls bubble gum

More interesting than I thought. The actual gumball is about what I expected, a sort of dull sweet taste but on the inside there's a burst of sour dust. They don't quite go together but I appreciated doing something beyond what I expected.

Bonomo Chocolate Turkish Taffy

OK, but should I whack it, attack it or hack it?

I forgot to smack it. Anyway, it was OK but not particularly interesting (and I'm not sure what makes it Turkish.

Fast Twitch Strawberry Watermelon

I figured it was probably going to be a hot day (I hope) and a near full day of work so I need and energy drink and a replenisher).

I was hoping to like this more but it tasted way too sugary. I feel like you need a lighter taste for Gatorades. I wonder if they were trying to cover up the energy drink flavour

Popcorn - Sour Cream and Onion

Closing in on the end of the popcorn journey... (don't worry, a cotton candy journey comes next)

I love sour cream and onion but this, while not bad, did not excite me. I'll probably nibble away at a small bowl of it for the next while.

Popcorn - Orange Cheddar

I love all sorts of cheeses but Cheddar is still the best.

It works. I don't think I want too much at a time due to the saltiness but there's a reason this kind of flavour is a classic.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Tomorrow

Popcorn - Honey Mustard Flavoured

Really looking forward to this.

Popcorn - Sea Salt and Pepper

Simple but I suspect will be affected.

Kool-Aid Blue Raspberry Lemonade

My old nemesis strikes again. I hope I remember to get some sweetener or something before I make this or I'll have a bad time. If I boiled some honey in water, do you guys think that will work?

Pringles South African Peri Peri Flavour

Mountain Dew Summer Freeze

I was hoping to have this on a hot day but it looks like we are in for a rainy August.

Razzles

My phone was doing something weird and I think I jiggled it while it tried to slowly take a picture and now it looks like a 90s ad.

Smarties Orange Cream Pop

Yeah! Smarties! Always a treat.

Wintergreen

Looks like Chicken Bones without the interesting bits.

Cream Reese Peanut Butter

Curious how this differs from regular peanut butter.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Cream Reese Peanut Butter

Curious how this differs from regular peanut butter.

Last I tried (a long, long time ago), it didn't. Disappointingly, in fact, as I was looking for something more akin to what's in Reese's Cups.

 

[Daikaiju]

Last I tried (a long, long time ago), it didn't. Disappointingly, in fact, as I was looking for something more akin to what's in Reese's Cups.

Not enough salt?

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Maybe? I don't remember specifics that well, just that the taste/texture wasn't the same.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Cream Reese Peanut Butter

Curious how this differs from regular peanut butter.

It is fine peanut butter but I'm not sure I can tell without comparing it to other peanut butter. But I did smear it on some ice cream with chocolate sauce and it tasted fine.

Wintergreen

Looks like Chicken Bones without the interesting bits.

Pretty much. One of the better old people's candies but not exciting.

Smarties Orange Cream Pop

Yeah! Smarties! Always a treat.

This is very good. The orange-cream taste is pronounced in a good way; not cloying but not too subtle.

Razzles

My phone was doing something weird and I think I jiggled it while it tried to slowly take a picture and now it looks like a 90s ad.

I was looking forward to these. In fact, I assumed I'd had them before but I have not. They are OK but the "first candy-then gum" gimmick is a little disappointing. The candy doesn't hide that it is a gum as well as some candy gums and the taste isn't as fun as Chews. But they aren't bad either and it doesn't become bitter or weird like so many other gums I've tried.

Mountain Dew Summer Freeze

I was hoping to have this on a hot day but it looks like we are in for a rainy August.

Not bad. It did have the summer popsicle flavour but it didn't do a lot for me. That said, it does go together better than some of the Mountain Dew flavours, which tasted like the flavours where vying for attention rather than working in harmony.

Pringles South African Peri Peri Flavour

This was good but I assumed it would be spicy and instead... it just tastes OK.

Kool-Aid Blue Raspberry Lemonade

My old nemesis strikes again. I hope I remember to get some sweetener or something before I make this or I'll have a bad time. If I boiled some honey in water, do you guys think that will work?

Not bad but the more blue raspberry I taste, the less I need. I don't hate it but there are so many better REAL flavours.

Popcorn - Sea Salt and Pepper

Simple but I suspect will be affected.

A nice simple corn taste.

Popcorn - Honey Mustard Flavoured

Really looking forward to this.

This was my favourite of the popcorns. I love honey mustard and it works well in popcorn!

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Oh, I missed that you had the orange creme Smarties on there before. I liked those when I had them, I wish they were a regular thing.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Tomorrow

Maritime Madness Classic Habenero

Finally finished the Ghost Pepper but now I'm turning it down one notch.

Mountain Dew Voltage

I wanna see ya burn up!

Sour Gummi French Fries

I think these are just yellow rectangles.

Tennis Ball Gum Balls

Don't feed to your dog.

Pringles Chutney Fusion

Oh, really excited for this. I do like chutney.

Jelly Belly Very Cherry Chocolate Bar

I rather liked the mint so I expect this to be good.

Summer Smoothie Cotton Candy

My popcorn journey ends and now begins an adventure with cotton candy...

Fresh Fudge Maple

And fudge, both by Sugar Spider...

Kool-Aid Green Apple

I love green apples but I don't always like green apple drinks. Still, should enjoy it well enough. Boiling sugar into water then cooling it seems to work really well as a sweetener.

 

[Daikaiju]

Going out on a limb and guessing all the cotton candy is basically going to taste like toasted sugar, regardless of whatever is listed on the packaging.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Maritime Madness Classic Habenero

Finally finished the Ghost Pepper but now I'm turning it down one notch.

Pretty good but I think I need to try it a few more times to give it a proper review.

Mountain Dew Voltage

I wanna see ya burn up!

This was a raspberry flavour and it's fine. I think it blended well with the Mountain Dew flavour.

Sour Gummi French Fries

I think these are just yellow rectangles.

This was pretty weak. It's not only just yellow rectangles, they were TOO FIRM and DENSE for a pleasant gummy experience and despite promising being sour, it's just a slightly lemony flavour.

Tennis Ball Gum Balls

Don't feed to your dog.

Decent gum but I really respect was the mouth feel; it didn't feel funny but it put a texture on the green stuff to give it the fun illusion of eating a small tennis ball. If you are going to make something that's focused on a fun shape, you got to commit and this does it really well.

Pringles Chutney Fusion

Oh, really excited for this. I do like chutney.

This was probably the best of these recent Pringles flavours. Sweet but a few other cool tastes.

Jelly Belly Very Cherry Chocolate Bar

I rather liked the mint so I expect this to be good.

Yeah, this was pretty great. I wish I didn't wolf it down so fast but THE BEAST DEMANDED IT!

Summer Smoothie Cotton Candy

My popcorn journey ends and now begins an adventure with cotton candy...

Oh, this was pretty good. It had an orange-banana taste and was pretty pleasant.

Fresh Fudge Maple

And fudge, both by Sugar Spider...

This... was... amazing. This is shockingly good fudge. If you are ever in New Brunswick, get fudge from The Sugar Spider!

Kool-Aid Green Apple

I love green apples but I don't always like green apple drinks. Still, should enjoy it well enough. Boiling sugar into water then cooling it seems to work really well as a sweetener.

The last time I used honey in boiled water it worked but this time I think I needed to add more. A little too sour. But I can tell it would be fine.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Monday...

Strawberry Bricks

I've long liked these but I didn't know they were called "bricks".

Sugar Spider Pina Colada Cotton Candy

Pina Colada isn't my favourite flavour but I really liked the last kind. And it's a Summer drink and Summer is almost done (in theory).

Sugar Spider Monkey Business

Looks like banana-chocolate. Loved the last fudge a lot. Looking forward to this.

Pringles Hot Honey

Yummy Miama Pineapple Soda

My store has a bunch of these Yummy Miami. Anyone know if there's something specific that separates it from the crowd in flavour or backstory? In terms of the former, my tongue isn't smart enough to figure these things out.

An Dea Peppermint Candies

There's not a lot of variation in these. I'll let you know if it's a good version or not. (Note, some people abhor artificial sweetener but it rarely bothers me).

Kitkat Dessert Delights Heavenly Brownie

Despite a name that sounds like a kung fu attack from an anime, I am looking forward to this. Kitkat is generally good as long as it's not fucking with the chocolate coating too much (and even those aren't too bad).

Sour Razzles

I wasn't wild about regular Razzles but I have too more flavours to try.

Kool-Aid Jamaica

Need the right sweetener (or the right amount). First time I used honey boiled into water it worked great, the second time poorly but I think the second time it just didn't add enough.

 

[Kirin]

What the heck flavor is Jamaica?

 

[Daikaiju]

What the heck flavor is Jamaica?

Hibiscus

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Strawberry Bricks

I've long liked these but I didn't know they were called "bricks".

I like these OK. I don't really have a lot to say beyond that except that. Decent texture, alright flavour. There are better choices for soft sweet fruit-flavoured candy before this but you can do worse.

Sugar Spider Pina Colada Cotton Candy

Pina Colada isn't my favourite flavour but I really liked the last kind. And it's a Summer drink and Summer is almost done (in theory).

I think this was good but I wasn't as excited about this flavour as much as the last one.

Sugar Spider Monkey Business

Looks like banana-chocolate. Loved the last fudge a lot. Looking forward to this.

This one disappointed me. See, it really did taste really good but here's the problem: I only tasted chocolate fudge and the banana element was barely perceptible to me. Maybe it was just a weakly flavoured batch. Again, still good, but not what was advertized.

Pringles Hot Honey

This was pretty unimpressive. Slightly sweeter chips? This does little for me.

Yummy Miama Pineapple Soda

My store has a bunch of these Yummy Miami. Anyone know if there's something specific that separates it from the crowd in flavour or backstory? In terms of the former, my tongue isn't smart enough to figure these things out.

This was pretty solid. The funny thing is I thought the pineapple flavour was great, then read "0% natural fruit juice" on the label. Not big but somehow it felt proud of that. Hey, if it tastes good, sure, why not?

An Dea Peppermint Candies

There's not a lot of variation in these. I'll let you know if it's a good version or not. (Note, some people abhor artificial sweetener but it rarely bothers me).

Pretty solid peppermints. Like, not wowing but it doesn't have a strong "imitation sugar" flavour"

Kitkat Dessert Delights Heavenly Brownie

Despite a name that sounds like a kung fu attack from an anime, I am looking forward to this. Kitkat is generally good as long as it's not fucking with the chocolate coating too much (and even those aren't too bad).

Pretty great. Strong brownie taste and the dark chocolate works as a topping.

Sour Razzles

I wasn't wild about regular Razzles but I have too more flavours to try.

I ended up liking this a lot more than regular Razzles. For some reason, the sourness kind of papers over the issues I have with original flavour.

Kool-Aid Jamaica

Need the right sweetener (or the right amount). First time I used honey boiled into water it worked great, the second time poorly but I think the second time it just didn't add enough.

I actually wished I added less sweetener. I feel like Hibiscus shouldn't be oversweetened. Heck, no sweetener and it might have tasted like a refreshing tea.

 

[Daikaiju]

I actually wished I added less sweetener. I feel like Hibiscus shouldn't be oversweetened. Heck, no sweetener and it might have tasted like a refreshing tea.

Celestial Seasonings's classic Red Zinger works best with the absolute minimum amount of sugar.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

For the day after Labour Day!

Sugar Spider Bubble Gum Cotton Candy

I am not super into bubble gum as a flavour but I think that Sugar Spider will do a decent enough version of it.

Hawaiian Punch Wild Purple Smash Drink Mix

Swirl Pops

Weird that it doesn't NAME the flavour. I assume orange?

Tropical Razzles

I didn't care much for original flavour but I really liked Tropical. Let's see what happens here.

Spider Sugar Birthday Cake Fudge

Similarly to bubble gum, I kind of tire of Birthday Cake as a flavour. I'd just rather eat an actual birthday cake.

Kitkat Dessert Delight Divine Choco Pudding

Well, I do LOVE chocolate pudding (I haven't eaten it in year but @JBear once knew this).

Mountain Dew Baja Caribbean Splash

Baja Caribbean? You are just putting words together.

Dare Strawberry Marshmallows

I feel like I see these marshmallows in little cannisters that mix this and gummies.

Robertson's Candy Chicken Bones

Chicken Bones are a maritime Canadian treat, usually a Christmas yum yum. I am not a big fan but whenever I send this out just to show them "Here's an interesting Canadian food", I'm always surprised to find people seem to like them. It's a cinnamon hard candy with a cinnamon chocolate mix inside.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Chicken Bones are a maritime Canadian treat, usually a Christmas yum yum. I am not a big fan but whenever I send this out just to show them "Here's an interesting Canadian food", I'm always surprised to find people seem to like them. It's a cinnamon hard candy with a cinnamon chocolate mix inside.

I loved what you sent me!

Well, what I got to have. Unfortunately, my wife pretty much tore through most of the bag before I got to have very many of them. ;_;

 

[Daikaiju]

Got those via Festivus once. Reminded me of Chic-o-Stix

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Worth nothing, and I did mean to mention, these chicken bones aren't official ones. Official ones come from Ganong, a confection company of New Brunswick that's existed over 100 years. And chicken bones are over 135 years old, so though Ganong is the company that created them, they are a public domain candy now.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Sugar Spider Bubble Gum Cotton Candy

I am not super into bubble gum as a flavour but I think that Sugar Spider will do a decent enough version of it.

This is OK but the flavour just isn't that interesting. And I don't think it's that different than, say, cotton candy in flavour.

Hawaiian

It purple. It's... not bad, I guess

Swirl Pops

Weird that it doesn't NAME the flavour. I assume orange?

This was alright. But I find a lot of this big lollis to be a chore.

Tropical Razzles

I didn't care much for original flavour but I really liked Tropical. Let's see what happens here.

Better than regular but not as good as sour.

Spider Sugar Birthday Cake Fudge

Similarly to bubble gum, I kind of tire of Birthday Cake as a flavour. I'd just rather eat an actual birthday cake.

Again, good but Birthday Cake isn't much to me as a flavour.

Kitkat Dessert Delight Divine Choco Pudding

Well, I do LOVE chocolate pudding (I haven't eaten it in year but @JBear once knew this).

This was pretty solid. These are some decent KitKats

Mountain Dew Baja Caribbean Splash

Baja Caribbean? You are just putting words together.

Guava-y but... not special to me.

Dare Strawberry Marshmallows

I feel like I see these marshmallows in little cannisters that mix this and gummies.

These are fine. But maybe I like them more as an occasional mix with gummis in a grab bag.

Robertson's Candy Chicken Bones

Chicken Bones are a maritime Canadian treat, usually a Christmas yum yum. I am not a big fan but whenever I send this out just to show them "Here's an interesting Canadian food", I'm always surprised to find people seem to like them. It's a cinnamon hard candy with a cinnamon chocolate mix inside.

I think these might crunch easier than the Ganong ones but I'm not certain. Maybe I'll tell you around Christmas time.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Wednesday!

Spider Sugar Raspberry Jelly Donut Fudge

Excited for this.

Spider Sugar Cookies and Cream Cotton Candy

Even more excited!

Gummy Spicy Mango

Wow, this week is exciting!

Yummy Miami Strawberry

Less interesting but... I did like the last one.

Dubble Bubble

Oh.. like Bazooka Joe? But... not?

An Deas Assorted Flavours Candy

Oh... coloured candies.

Dole Tropical Splash Drink Mix

Yeah, some... not-fruit fruit juice.

Caramel Corn

HEY! THE SLUMP IS OVER. Yeah, it's not special but caramel corn is a perfect comfort food.

Mirage Quality Sticks

Wait... more candy cigarettes?

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

As I recall, Dubble Bubble was slightly more edible... well, chewable... than Bazooka Joe.

And there's no comic. No huge loss, though.