Cartridge Candy

Cyrus Wakefield

War... what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, I don't have to say it again. On the other hand, wartime treats can always be fun. I picked up this particular snack in the gift shop on the Plains of Abraham, in Quebec City. One of the bloodiest wars in Canadian history was fought there and many died. Now you can roller blade, walk your dog, and purchase cool treats where hundreds lost their lives. History's fun!

The idea of this snack is that it looks like the pellet ammo pack from a Civil War gun. Some might say that a candy designed to look like an instrument of death is a little macabre, others call it educational. Let's see if it "blows me over". ... Wow, that was tasteless, even for me.

This candy gets an A for clever, right off the bat. At first I thought I'd get a mouthful of little pellets, but when I opened it, nothing came out (insert look of disappointment). Then, a gumball fell out followed by a bunch of powder - slightly sour powder too. A bit of historical accuracy never hurts, and they loved sour candy back in days of yore, right? The other great thing is since most gumballs, this one included, tend to lose their flavour really quickly, all the extra powder lets you re-fuel and enjoy it for another 2 minutes. Nothing better than a clever candy that uses its historical design to strengthen its flavour. I just wish the gum had even a little more staying power in the first place.

Chew time: 3 min