Who doesn't like Mike and Ikes? You? You? Perhaps You? Wait, you don't know what a Mike and Ike is? Have you not been in a movie theater in the last 50 years? Not to mention the fact that they have existed in a number of varieties since they arrived way back in 1940. Since they are nearly 70 years old, you are probably wondering why I should be writing about them now. That is easy enough to answer. Candy maker Just Born has just introduced a mix of flavors to welcome the Fall season. Enter the Autumn Medley.
Mike and Ike's are a jelly bean-like candy that take away the seasonal stigma of that type of gummy candy and make it a worthwhile year-round treat. They are larger than your average jelly bean, but have the same heft and feel. They have a not-too-hard coating around just the right amount of chewy fruit-flavored jelly. They are sticky, but not to the point of causing much filling danger (unlike the dreaded Jujyfruits; you need to suck on those things forever to get rid of the danger). The flavors tend to the tangy side and have a pleasant bite on first chew and a lingering aftertaste (one that blends well with a swig of Cherry Coke or root beer). The big thing is choosing the right flavor combination, but that is not what we are here for.
Autumn Medley comes in a suitably adorned package. The bag has warm Autumn shades along with a scarecrow and a few pumpkins. It certainly gets me in the mood for some cool-weather chews. Then I noticed the flavor lineup. The listing made me do a double take, followed by a "Huh?" Not exactly the kind of reaction you would expect for a candy lover and a bag of sweets.
What had me acting all strange? What was it that kept me from devouring the bag immediately? It was the listing of cherry, orange, strawberry, and lemon as the flavors. Really? Who thought that combination screamed Autumn Medley? My guess is that it has more to do with the colors than the flavors. The yellow, orange, and two shades of red do mirror the better palette of Fall leaves.
Article comments
1 - Big Geez
I had to comment on this one -- I have a secret(?) weakness for Mike and Ike's. Have not spotted the variation you describe though, so maybe it's regional. I had some a while back that were "Hot and Spicy" or something like that -- some very hard to describe flavors. And don't forget "Tropical Typhoon".
2 - Christine
Chris, I don't care for Mike & Ike candy but my teenager daughter and all of her buddies do!! I'll have to tell them about the new flavor.
3 - Dexter Fishmore
Aw, dude... you're not honestly suggesting that we combine Mike & Mike's with Cherry Coke, are you? I dig both of those things separately, but that is a whole lotta sweetness to ingest together.
Very good piece!
4 - Elvira Black
As Travis Bickle said in Taxi Driver: "I'll take the Ju Ju B's--they last longer." Seriously? though, I think they could have done more with the autumn mix like you say, but in advertising the "presentation" is everything, no?