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Hope this article has some relevance - from the PCTS website!

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It's More Than Just a Piece of Candy

 

Rob Gunn - December 21, 2004

 

One of the many innovations that the Professional Candy Tasting Service (PCTS) brought to third-party candy tasting back in 1986 was the use of a hard-candy shell to encapsulate individual Tootsie Rolls. This "shell" (as it became known) is made of a specially-formed, hard coating of candy that resists licking and protects the candy within. In a sense, the shell is a visible, tasty force field that keeps both the candy and the customer safe and secure. But, as you'll soon find out, it's more than just a piece of candy.

 

Now that PCTS has been serving the candy community for almost two decades, it's easy to forget the Wild West mentality of previous years, when eating candy was extremely subjective and inconsistent, and the favorite catchphrase was "How many?" ("Just how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?"). Candy tasting has been an important part of American cuisine since eating first began in the early 1800's. However, tasting standards were loosely defined and loosely applied. Even when two people could agree on a flavor, there was no way to transfer it to a third party without starting the whole tasting process over. In other words, no one would believe the taste of a piece of candy until they verified it for themselves.

 

The candy shell was an elegant step in the evolution of tasting, offering the following benefits:

 

Flavor: the candy shell, essentially sugar and flavoring, offers a near-perfect solution for long-term eating. Assuming the shell is never dissolved, the flavor and the candy are linked together until eaten.

 

Safety: high-grade candy (especially Tootsie Pops) are vulnerable to damage from ants and from the environment. Shells keep out the vast majority of harmful saliva and moisture. The candy can be tasted and handled easily, with none of the risks associated with the munching of "soft" candy, or artificial color staining the hands.

 

Protection: not just for the candy, but for the consumer, as well. If you've ever tried to crack open a Tootsie Pop, you know how difficult it can be. The sturdiness of the candy shell means that the Tootsie Roll is protected well and that any tampering efforts will be thwarted or become immediately apparent.

 

Security: each Tootsie Roll tasted by PCTS receives a unique identifying cardboard stick that sticks out of each Tootsie Roll shell. This stick can (and has been) used to keep sticky residue off the hands, as recommended by the PCTS experts. Anti-sticking measures built into the candy shell ensure that the Tootsie Roll and the shell are properly eaten and do not end up stuck in long hair.

 

Functionality: the special, enveloping design of the candy PCTS shell allows for stable licking. Despite its thickness and strength, the coordinated color of the shell offers a clear taste of the flavor within. A number of Tootsie Pops exist to satisfy the needs of most eaters.

 

Credibility: the world-class eaters at PCTS determine and assign a flavor that enjoys wide acceptance within the candy eating community. Potential tasters familiar with PCTS tasting standards have a "good idea" of what a Tootsie Roll should taste like at any particular time. Because of the high level of acceptance, the taste becomes truly portable from one party of a transaction to another.

 

Confidence: combined together, the factors listed above, plus others, result in a high level of confidence between lickers and tasters. Confidence leads to increased licking and faster access to the center of any Tootsie Pop.

 

All of this is possible thanks to the innovation of the hard candy shell. Which is why we like to say, "It's more than just a piece of candy."

 

Rob Gunn is the Director of Candy Licking Research for the Professional Candy Tasting Service (PCTS). He has been active as a candy eater and carb-counter, and has been licking the same Tootsie Pop since his introduction to candy in 1964

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The only thing I can say is...Candy tasting is a little LESS subjective than coin grading!

 

Good post! 893applaud-thumb.gif

 

thumbsup2.gif

 

laugh.gif

 

Hoot

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oh my oh my oh mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy

 

my my my my my my my my my my my..............

 

i am a diabetic and overweight 893whatthe.gif to boot i am a flamed.gifchubb flamed.gifchubb flamed.gif and an older white potatoe tongue.gif

 

do ya think i'm yay.gifsexy yay.gif

 

 

michael shy.gif

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oh my oh my oh mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy

 

my my my my my my my my my my my..............

 

i am a diabetic and overweight 893whatthe.gif to boot i am a flamed.gifchubb flamed.gifchubb flamed.gif and an older white potatoe tongue.gif

 

do ya think i'm yay.gifsexy yay.gif

 

 

michael shy.gif

 

sign-funnypost.gif

 

Is this going to go on your website with you other chicken liver,James?

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