Candyland
It’s Valentine’s Day, and while I hope I’ve given you plenty of inspiration over the last few weeks to gift your sweetheart, I thought it might be nice today to focus on something sweet altogether. I recently came across This Charming Candy over on Etsy and fell hard and fast for their artisan lollipops, so I decided to do some investigating to introduce all you CGG fans to the brand.
First, you might be asking yourself – artisan lollipops? Really? To which I say: really. The company started with Susan, one half of the dynamic duo behind This Charming Candy, and her love for baking and cooking – but also her realization that you don’t always have time to whip up a batch of blueberry muffins or a pitcher of root beer floats on command. Thus, she teamed up with her long-time pal Kate to start crafting lollipops for grown-ups; little indulgences that capture fantastical flavours like their wildly popular salted caramel, richly roasted hazelnut coffee, or sophisticated tangerine clove.
Since the initial brainwave, the gals’ business has been booming as they roll out new flavours (inspired by cookbooks and cooking whims alike) and put together cute themed packages like ‘Breakfast Tray’ or ‘Spice Rack’.
They’ve also got their hands full with their custom, wedding-oriented party favours. Order 96 pops with the initials and flavours of your choice and give wedding guests a sweet treat to suck on while they listen to the speeches. Or work with Susan & Kate on creating a custom order that’ll suit a family reunion, company conference, or other special occasion where a lolly will liven things up.
Of course, you know I’m a cost-conscious type and so are Susan & Kate – this is a totally cost-effective gift idea. Prices start at $13.48 CDN for an eight-pack of a single flavour, or a variety pack so you can get a taste for the good life. And if you happen to be one of those folks that’s still scrambling for a Valentine’s idea, the girls are totally here for you: show up empty-handed to dinner tonight, but promise your sweet that you’ve signed them up for a six-month lollipop subscription for $75.50 that’ll let them try every flavour under This Charming Candy’s rainbow.
Salivating yet? Good, because I’ve got some exciting news for you. First, Susan & Kate have graciously offered to give all of my readers (yes you) a 10% discount on your purchases from them starting today until February 21st. All you have to do is enter the code ‘CAGIFTGUIDE‘ when you go to make your purchase.
Second, the gals have also offered up some of their wares for you to gamble to sample: namely, one lucky winner will one of their Celebration Time gift sets, featuring two suckers each in Birthday Cake, Cherries Jubilee, Bubble Gum, and Root Beer Float (their most popular seller at the last Canadian craft show they attended). Interested? Read on to enter:
1) Visit the This Charming Candy shop and leave a comment below on which flavour gets your tastebuds tingling the most, until midnight on February 29th, 2012.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around March 1st to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry Time: Giving a shoutout to my subscribers today: if you already subscribe, remind me in the comments and you’ll earn a bonus entry. If you’re a newbie, subscribe today (just click on the ‘Gift Me Please’ button on the top righthand column) and you’ll also earn a bonus entry.
Canadian Gift Guide 
Hard to choose!… But I would say Salted Caramel. I have always wondered what that tasted like, sounds delicious. I love salt and love caramel… Seems I could not go wrong with this flavor! hahah
Pistachio- marshmallow sounds devine and addictive.
The Sweetened Grapefruit would be my kind of flavour. Love citrus flavours and smells.
Maple sugar would be my favourite!
I love maple sugar.
I’d like to try the Charm School Dropouts or the Salted Caramel.
I am all over sweetned grapefruit! Hell ya!
The sweetened grapefruit flavour is the one that sounds the very best!
I subscribe to your emails!!
salted caramel for sure!
I would have to pick salted caramel.
I subscribe to your emails
Cinnamon-Cherry, aka Red Hot Love! Sounds delicious! Also i subscribe!!
I would have to choose sated anise! My mouth is watering already…..
Blueberry Muffin sounds cool for me!
Bonus – I already subscribe.
Cherries Jubilee, hands down!
Salted caramel sounds wonderful.
Birthday Cake sounds sweet and yummy!
I’m an email subscriber.
Thanks.
Pineapple Heaven!!
I’d love to try the triple berry.
Already a subscriber.
Grapefruit looks so soso good!
mmm, hard to choose. I think I would love the Maple sugar
pineapple heaven
salted caramel 4 sure
Blueberry Muffin and I subscribe.
The salted caramel sounds delicious! ( I am already a subscriber!)
Definitely the Happy Birthday Cake flavour!!! Sounds so delicious..
dalleykt at live dot ca
I already subscribe to CanadianGift Guide.
dalleykt at live dot ca
I think I would really like the sweetened grapefruit flavour
I am already a subscriber
salty caramel is my fave!
OMG…….I love the looks of these…..wow, the Salted Caramel would be amazing:)
Love, love. love, love these!!! Salted caramel sounds super!
Salted caramel sounds the most interesting to me!
My mouth is watering just thinking about the root beer float lollipop!
Guava Colada!
Woww! cute.
Would love to try salted Caramel. I’m also subscibing today!
Hazelnut coffee sounds even more delicious as a lollipop.
Salted caramel, salt and sweet together how can you go wrong
mmm Birthday Cake!
Yumm…Cherries Jubilee
Guava Colada sounds so yummy! The packaging is so cute.
Mmmm pistachio marshmallow. I ❤ candy so no real preference but that one sure sounds good!
Maple Sugar! MMMM!
I am a subscriber!
I am a subscriber to your blog: christina(dot)dragan(at)utoronto(dot)ca
Lately I have cravings everything pineapple! So my first pick would be pineapple heaven!
Mmm! Very tough decision here, but tI think the maple sugar one would be lovely.
Would love to try birthday cake 🙂
I’m gunna have to be a real Canadian and go with maple sugar . Sounds delicious !!
maple sugar would be yummy
Pistachio Marshmallow!
Birthday cake sounds good!
Birthday cake!!
Maple Sugar sounds to die for
I would love to try Maple Sugar – a truly Canadian flavour.
Birthday Cake and Maple Sugar both sound so good it would be a real toss up.
The sweetened grapefruit sounds interesting. I just clicked the gift me button!
I would have to go with maple sugar!
I would love the try the Pineapple Maven the most.
I am a current subscriber.
Defnitely Salted Caramel or Pistachio-Marshmallow!
I am a Canadian Gift Guide subscriber.
I am a subscriber. It has to be the salted caramel.
Would love to try the salted caramel!
I love maple sugar.
Pineapple Heaven sounds divine! Yummy!
I can’t pick just one! Salted caramel, pineapple heaven or pistachio marshmallow all sound delicious!
Oh my, they all sound and look pretty yummy-If I had to pick I would say I’d love to try the Salted Caramel and Root Beer Float flavors. Or all of the others too… 🙂 Thanks so much for the chance to win!
I would like to try Sweetened Grapefruit.
I would love to try the pineapple heaven. It sounds heavenly.. lol
Would love to try the hazelnut coffee
Salted Caramel sounds really delicious.
(I’m already a subscriber.)
Salted Anise sounds wonderful-hopefully it would be yummy like Dutch licorise!
Definitley the sweetened grapefruit!
Cinnamon Cherry for sure!
Birthday Cake!! Yeah I want this one please
If I HAD to choose JUST one….Salted Caramel!
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN SOUNDS HEALTHY!!!!! Yum!!!
Oh my gosh, how can I choose, anything fruity, anything anise, it would be great
Love these! Salted Caramel please!
oh my! I would have to say my favorite would be the tangerine clove! My what creative flavours! they all sound so delicious!!!
MMMMMM, sweetened grapefruit would be so yummy for my tummy!! 🙂
I think Salty Caramel, but they sound yummy!
Bubble Gum would be amazing!
(I just subscribed)
I would love to try Peaches and Cream or Truffles♥
Pistshio marshmallow
Birthday cake sounds delish….although, it would be fantastic to try them ALL!!!!!!!
Mmmm…they all look so yummy!!! I have to say, though, the thought of the salted caramel makes my mouth water just thinking about it!!!
I also subscribed to your email list.
Ummm the pineapple heaven…..
These Gourmet Lollipops sound amazing – would love to try them ALL! Since I am a coffee – lover I think Hazelnut Coffee would be an interesting flavor for sure, thnx for the opportunity!!!
salted caramel
sweetened grapefruit sounds delicious!
I love anything caramel flavoured so my favourite would be salted caramel.
I think I would have to say the first flavour that popped out to me was salted caramel… but then the tangerine clove started calling my name, and I must say that one is particularly intriguing!
I would really love to try the Sweet Tangerine Lollipop
The pistachio marshmallow sounds like the best of all. They should put them out as hard candies as well!!!! That would be soooooooo awesome!!!
Blueberry muffin, yum. I’m salvating…
They all sound yummy! my first pick would be Sweetened Grapefruit.
MMM salted caramel sounds good.
Although the combination sounds unusual I’d really go for the Salted Anise Lollipop.
I’m an email subscriber.
I’m a licorice fan
I think that the maple sugar would be really really tasty–I love anything maple 🙂
It would have to be Pineapple Heaven 🙂
I subscribed to your email 🙂
salted caramel for the win!
Birthday Cake sounds really yummy!
My kids would love the bubblegum for sure.
sweetened grapefruit : )
The blueberry muffin looks so good.
Hazelnut-Coffee sounds good to me
subscribed by email
I would love to try the Tart Pluot (plum apricot) flavour.
I am an e-mail subscriber.
I think birthday cake would be awesome!
I am a subscriber, thanks!
i would love to try the cinnamon….. mmmm!
🙂
Salted caramel!
Watermelon-Basil sounds interesting!
I’m stuck between Blueberry muffin and Birthday Cake I love both so much ! What a great idea for combinations, very creative!
Maple sugar gets those juices flowing for me
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I subscribe to your emails
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
February 22- I visited Candyland and my favourite flavor is Bubblegum.-el03ro
Vanilla-cardamom sounds like a great flavour combo.
I love sweet and salty, so it would have to be the Salted Caramel. Yum!
Root Beer Float!
Pineapple Heaven….If I really have to choose only one!!
Pistachio marshmallow sounds amazing!
Rootbeer float sounds AMAZING.yum!
Even the name of the Tart Pluot (plum apricot) flavour makes my mouth water, so I’d love to try it for real.
I’m already a subscriber.
How am I even supposed to choose a favorite!! They all look so yummy! I think that the one that gets me salivating the most though is Root Beer Float… or Bubblgum!
megnate at telus dot net
Wow…what a variety!I have to go with the hazelnut-coffee…yummmm
salted caramel
To be honest I’m a root beer kinda girl, It takes me back in time to when my dad would make his own and the bottles would explode sometimes lol! But it was so nice on a hot humid. Isn’t to pop open a frothy, ice cold root beer! Yummy!