If It Ain't Broke.....

There seems to be a growing trend in the snack world, and I, for one, wish it would stop.  I’m referring to ‘seasonal’ flavors.  The worst variant of this, in my opinion, is seasonal flavors of seasonal treats.  Case in point:    

                           

candy corn disguised as s’mores.

Who doesn’t love candy corn?  It’s always been one of my favorite fall treats, sometimes mixed with peanuts for a sweet/salty taste, but just as good straight from the bag.  So why mess it up?  Now, I didn’t care for the s’mores flavor of these, so right there it’s got a strike.  It didn’t taste like s’mores at all. There wasn’t even a hint of chocolate flavor,  so that’s another strike.  Why bother changing the flavor of something if you can’t get it right?    Not to mention: to me, s’mores is a campfire treat, and camping is a summer activity.  Yet these babies didn’t hit the shelves, here at least, until September. So again, I ask:  why bother?

Now, s’mores is not the only “new” variety of candy corn available this fall.  This one was also offered:

The flavor of these was good, but again, not all that “pumpkin-y” to me.  I thought they tasted a lot like a molasses cookie.  Which brings me to my next point: okay, these taste good, but if I’m craving pumpkin (or molasses cookie, for that matter) wouldn’t it make more sense to just get a pumpkin treat?  There is no shortage of pumpkin flavored bakery this time of year.  Muffins, cookies, bars with rich cream cheese frosting…..so really, why would I buy fake pumpkin flavored candy when I could have a real pumpkin treat?

The candy corn division at Brach’s is not alone in their quest to screw up perfectly good candy.  M&M’s and Hershey’s Kisses have been offered in seasonal flavors for a couple years now.   When I see them, I buy a bag to bring into the office so we can try it and complain about how we really wish the candy companies would just leave well enough alone.  I have yet to find a seasonal variety that is really, really delicious.  Which is probably a good thing, because most of these are a “one and done” offering, meaning, next year they’ll be replaced with a different variety.

Now, chips are a whole ‘nother story.  I don’t buy a lot of chips, but a couple years ago Dortios came out with a cheeseburger flavor that I brought home for Walker.  I made the mistake of trying one, and, omg, it was nummy!  Tasted JUST LIKE a Big Mac, right down to the hint of pickle.  I think I ate most of that bag, and bought several more before the “limited time only” ran out.   I really wish they would bring those back, but it’s probably better for me if they don’t.  These, on the other hand, are just icky:

The real kicker, though, is the Oreos.  Apparently, the Oreo folks caught wind of the candy corn situation, and decided to offer up their own solution:

Sigh......