Ep 11. Wild & Crazy Candy

Unwrapped is a food-based television series that investigates the making and history of popular snacks, drinks, and other food products. The show educates viewers about the science and art behind the creation of tasty treats and explores the cultural significance of various cuisines. In season 21, the show returns with exciting episodes, including episode 11, named Wild & Crazy Candy.

In this episode of Unwrapped, host Marc Summers takes the viewers on a sweet journey to explore the unusual and quirky world of wild and crazy candy. The episode showcases several candy brands that have taken candy-making to new heights by introducing flavors, textures, and shapes never seen before.

The episode begins by exploring one of the most unusual candy brands in the world, Hotlix Candy. This brand specializes in producing candy with real insects inside them. The show takes us on a tour of their factory, where we see different kinds of insects being prepared to be embedded in lollipops, hard candies and even chocolate-covered ants. We learn how these candies are made and get a chance to see people trying them out for the first time.

The next segment of the show is dedicated to a popular candy brand, Jelly Belly. While Jelly Belly is known for their delectable jelly bean flavors, this episode explores their weirder specialty candy lines. We learn about their BeanBoozled assortments, where identical looking jelly beans can have either good or horrible flavors such as toothpaste, rotten eggs, and barf. The show also delves into their Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans which are authentic replicas of the infamous candy from the Harry Potter series, that features flavors like dirt, vomit, and grass.

The episode then moves on to showcase a retro candy brand that was once popular in the 70s and 80s, Poppin’ Rock Candy. They’ve recently been making a comeback with their signature candy that pops and crackles in your mouth. The show explores the science that goes into creating this candy and how they use an edible acid called malic acid to make the candy react with saliva and create the popping sensation.

Next, Unwrapped takes us on a trip to the exotic world of Japanese candy with the brand Kracie Popin’ Cookin’. This brand is famous for their DIY candy kits that allow people to make realistic replicas of food using candy compounds. The show takes us through the steps of making their sushi-making kit and we see how their candy powder transforms into realistic-looking rice, salmon, and even a tiny soy sauce bottle.

Finally, the episode concludes with a segment on the brand Vidal Candies, based in Spain and known for their oddball selection of gummies in the shape of various body parts such as ears, eyeballs, and even teeth. The show takes us through their manufacturing process and explores the curious minds responsible for coming up with these unique shapes.

In conclusion, the Unwrapped season 21 episode 11, Wild & Crazy Candy, is an entertaining and informative episode that introduces viewers to the world of quirky candy. From insects in lollipops to candy sushi, the episode showcases the innovative and unconventional ways candy can be made and enjoyed. Anyone with a sweet tooth or a curiosity about food science will find this episode particularly captivating.