Retro Candies Revisited: Do They Still Deliver After 35 Years?
check_circlePros
- Super affordable – 146 rubles for 100 grams is an unbeatable price point.
- They're still widely available in Russia, making them easy to find.
- The packaging is simple yet nostalgic, transporting me back to my childhood.
- The candies have a distinct, sweet flavor that's hard to forget.
- They're perfect for a quick sugar fix or as a nostalgic treat.
- The texture is crunchy and satisfying, just like I remembered.
cancelCons
- They contain palm oil, which might be a concern for some health-conscious consumers.
- The flavor is quite sweet and might be overwhelming for those with sensitive taste buds.
- The candies have a relatively short shelf life, so be sure to consume them within a few months.
- They're not as visually appealing as modern candies, which might be a drawback for some.
- The texture can be a bit too crunchy for some people's liking.
- The value for money is largely dependent on individual preferences and dietary needs.
Editor's Summary
I recently revisited my childhood love for Golden Key candies, courtesy of my dad's stash in our trusty old Lada Niva. These retro sweets are still widely available in Russia, but do they live up to my fond memories? I paid a whopping 146 rubles for 100 grams, which is an absolute steal. Upon re-examining these candies, I found some surprising aspects that might either delight or disappoint. In this review, I'll share my honest thoughts on their taste, texture, and overall value for money.
Specifications
Retro Candies Revisited: Do They Still Deliver After 35 Years?
I've got a ton of childhood memories, and I'm sure you do too...
It was me, around three or four years old. My dad would take me on these epic adventures in our trusty Lada Niva. He'd drive me to work, where he was a photographer, and I'd get to ride shotgun. We'd cruise to the train station, and I'd spend hours exploring the trains and collecting red cloths for my dolls. My dad would put on the music player on the backseat, and we'd blast this catchy tune about a whale: 'Eat your whale soup, little whale, whale soup.' He'd dig out a pack of 'Golden Key' candies from the glove compartment and hand them to me. Those were his favorite treats, and they were always there, everywhere we went. He'd stash them in his desk drawer at work, and I'd often sneak in and grab them.
'Golden Key' Candies
Confectionery Factory 'Red October'
Production: Penza
These candies are super affordable – I paid 146 rubles for 100 grams. I've got a whole mountain of them now, and they'll last me a year.
Appearance and Packaging
The packaging is classic, just like I remembered from the 80s. I think they might have been made in different cities and republics back then. These candies used to bring us so much joy, and they were way cheaper than caramels. Some parents were even worried about them, since they're pretty spicy. My dad would joke that the 'Golden Key' candies would help my teeth fall out quickly, but they never did!
The wrapper doesn't list the ingredients, just the name, the factory's logo, and the production address.
Inside the box, it looks the same. The paper wrapper is just as hard to remove, and it leaves a mark.
The bright, caramel color is a nice touch, but there's no discernible aroma. The candies from my childhood were super aromatic.
IngredientsCondensed milk (whole milk, sugar), corn syrup, sugar, drinking water, milk fat substitute (refined, deodorized interesterified, partially hydrogenated, and fractionated plant oils (palm, sunflower, palm kernel)), antioxidant tocopherols, concentrate mixture, salt, "Vanilla" flavoring. Not recommended for individuals with milk protein intolerance. Nutritional value per 100g product, g: protein 3.5; fat 7.5; carbohydrates 82.0. Energy value: 395 kcal.
You can't turn back time, nor can you replicate the perfect ingredients of those beloved candies.
I'm glad to see condensed milk at the top of the list, rather than sugar. However, I'm not a fan of the milk fat substitutes and palm oils. The "vanilla" flavoring seems to have been a missed opportunity, and I'm left with no discernible scent – my sense of smell is pretty keen, though.
I sliced into the candy with a knife, and it broke apart easily. It's not the same as the soft, squishy irises from my childhood that made me squeal with delight. While the taste is reminiscent of those candies, it's just not the same.
The candy is sweet, but it sticks to your teeth without being too clingy. You can easily suck on it like a lollipop, or – like me – drop it into a cup of hot coffee to let it dissolve.
This irkskie brought back memories of my childhood, but it didn't quite recapture the taste. I was left with a sense of sweetness, but that's about it.
I'd recommend this with a rating of four, mainly due to the decent ingredients.
But then I settled on these "Zhivinka" candies, which I'll review separately.
Overall, I'm left with mixed feelings about these retro candies. While they're a nice throwback to my childhood, they don't quite live up to my memories. The ingredients are decent, but the lack of aroma and the use of milk fat substitutes and palm oils are drawbacks. If you're a fan of retro candies, you might enjoy these, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend them.
Rating: 4/5
