Looking for a memorable Valentine’s Day treat for your friends and loved ones this year? We recently had a chance to stop at Bobb Howard’s General Store (581 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park) for some reminiscing and to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Check out some of the cool treats we love.
Clark bar: This is a real milk chocolate bar, shaped sort of like a TWIX bar. It is a chocolate-covered, peanut butter crunch filled candy bar. The filling texture reminds me of a Butterfinger bar. My daughter helped me sample of some the goodies and gives it a thumbs up, but would not recommend it for people with braces (she still had her braces on when we tasted this candy).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Bar
Flying saucers or UFOs: I remember these well from when I was a kid. These are in packs of four at Bobb Howard’s. They are a wafer candy with sprinkles encapsulated. Put the whole wafer in your mouth and let it melt to reveal the sprinkles, like a confession wafer at church. It’s almost tasteless. My daughter said it’s like eating packing peanuts.
https://www.astrasweets.com/en/product/ufo/
Mallo cups: milk chocolately with a whipped cream center. This candy comes as two pieces, packaged similar to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. It is gluten-free. Reminds me of marshmallow-filled Easter candy with a coconutty flavor.
https://www.boyercandies.com/mallocups-2.aspx
Bit-O-Honey: It’s an almondy honey taffy texture. Similar to a Mary Jane.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit-O-Honey
Ice Cubes: quick melting chocolatey pieces, individually wrapped. Shaped like an ice cube and melts just as quickly. Don’t leave this in the warm sun for even a second.
https://candy.fandom.com/wiki/Ice_Cubes
Nik-L-Nip: Wax forms shaped like a soda bottle. You bite off the top tip of the wax bottle and suck the syrupy juice (like syrup from a freeze pop) out of it. Comes in a pack of four. The wax is chewable. You chew the wax like bubble gum. Although it’s non-toxic, don’t swallow it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nik-L-Nip
Necco: since 1847. Original paper wafer. Still in the original wax paper roll. Assorted flavors. Chalky little quarter-sized wafers. My favorite flavors are green (lime) and black (licorice). Made in Mexico.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necco
Regal Crown Sour Cherry hard candy: since 1953, individually wrapped. Made with real juice. It’s in a packed roll like LIFE SAVERS and are meant to be savored. The sour cherry ones have a prominent cherry flavor.
https://www.iconiccandy.com/our-history/
Red licorice shoestrings: nice, fresh fruity, strawberry flavor. Packed with four laces. You can ball it up and gobble it up in one swoop, braid it, tie it or stretch it out and nibble it like a piece of long spaghetti. Bobb Howard’s is very fresh and pliable, not stale.
Sugar Daddy: milk caramel pop (lollipop). It will definitely rip your fillings out, but it is irresistibly delicious and satisfying.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Daddy_(candy)
Sky Bar: four flavors wrapped in milk chocolate. The Sky Bar was made by Necco for 80 years, from 1938 until March 2018. Sky Bar Confectionary took over the bar in 2018, made in Massachusetts. I’ve never seen or had one. It is four different candies in one chocolate bar. The flavors are subtle. Reminds me of the chocolates that come in an Advent calendar.
https://www.skybarcandy.com/about
Bonomo Turkish Taffy: bar form. “Smack It, Crack it” is the slogan, hold the bar in the palm of your hand, strike it against a firm surface to break into bite sized pieces. Let the candy melt in your mouth. If the candy is soft, harden it in the refrigerator for one minute before cracking. If you love taffy of any kind, you will love this. The flavor is rich.
http://www.bonomoturkishtaffy.com/Vintage-Retro-Candy_ep_46-1.html
Wack-O-Wax: wax lips. Play now, chew later. Made by Tootsie Roll. Imported from Canada. Refined wax, sugar, wax, flavor and color. Make a funny face with your wax lips. When you are done playing with it. Break off a hunk and chew it like bubble gum. It has a mild flavor.
https://www.tootsie.com/candy/wack-o-wax/
Double Bubble: single piece of bubble gum. If you peel it open carefully, there is a comic inside, the most important thing about this candy.It’s a classic. Classic bubble gum flavor. It’s not good for a lengthy chew. Chew it long enough to get the flavor out and then grab a fresh piece.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubble_Bubble
Malt balls: four giant dark chocolate covered malt balls. I never loved malted candy as a kid but as I got older, I began to appreciate the flavor. It might be one of my favorites from Bobb Howard’s.
https://oureverydaylife.com/malted-milk-ball-history-12189530.html
Teaberry bubble gum: refreshing flavor. Five sticks of gum. It’s minty, but pleasantly medicinal tasting. Not long lasting, good just until you chew the flavor out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark%27s_Teaberry
Pop Rocks: comes in a variety of flavors, little single packets. Made in Spain. It’s a science experiment. Fun candy for real daredevils. Pour the whole packet in your mouth at once for a jolting surprise. Or sprinkle the little “rock” sparingly on your tongue to get the full experience. Once they get wet they sizzle and pop. Don’t chew it. Just let it sit on your tongue and pop. It’s an incredibly weird and surprising experience. When we were kids we would pour the entire packet in our mouth, and then we would walk around with an open mouth toward each other and let the rocks pop at each other. Weird. I know. Still makes me laugh thinking about it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Rocks
Visit www.bobbhowardsgeneralstore.com to place an order or stop by the general store to pick up your basket of treats, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
