Flavor: The packaging of this Canadian gum boasts "It still tastes like soap!" and yes, yes. It certainly does taste like soap. However-- it's not terrible. The flavor is hard to describe, somewhere between a Choward's Violet, a Clove, and black licorice. We were requested to review this gum some time ago, and just got our hands on some as Christmas gifts (thanks Sandy!), and to be honest I'd been dreading doing the review. I can't say that this is my new favorite or anything, but I certainly can see it being an acquired taste. Downside is that the flavor fades really quickly - really quickly.
Texture: Here's where it all goes downhill. I don't know if we got stale packs or something, but it starts off way too hard and it stays way too hard. Too hard to chew for any length of time, if even at all. It's like the gumballs in the little machines at the supermarket that you begged your mom for a quarter to buy when you were 7 years old, only to find yourself at the dentist the next day because you cracked a molar. Not a good texture at all. It's a pellet gum so there is a candy shell, but the rest of the gum is so hard it might as well all be the same makeup.
Overall: This was a fun gum to review if only for the anticipation and the novelty of it. If I were Canadian I certainly wouldn't buy and try this again, but as a Gum Girl by trade it was absolutely worth the chew. I thank our friend for requesting this gum, and Sandy for seeking this out and picking up a couple packs for us. The gum itself really probably only deserves 1 gumball, but the "It still tastes like soap!" on the packaging made me smile enough to throw an extra one in there.
Rating: oo (two gumballs)
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11 comments:
thank you for featuring my favourite gum (yes, I live in Canada). I love it despite all of the problems you've identified. the soap flavour is sooo yummy!
Keep up the great work!
I agree this gum rocks. It's actually quite addictive!
Agreed. As a Canadian and now living in the US I love this gum. An acquired taste for sure but it is so different from anything else. A couple pieces and you'll start to like it.
I have never been able to find it in the US, no matter where I look. I was recently in a retro candy store in Los Gatos, CA and once again asked the clerk if he had ever heard of it...and guess what? Nope, another dead end. Back to the internet to order. Heh.
As a Canadian, I get the urge every now and then to taste this classic !!!!!
DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would rather chew this when I get in trouble and have to eat real soap. Sounds soooooo grosss!
It's definitely a strange flavour... I detected a hint of anise or fennel in it, but one of my colleagues at work said no... though I really can't find anywhere reliable online that says what the "secret formula" might be! Oh well.
Overall, it really is horrible gum. I have no idea why it seems to be so popular. Perhaps it's like how English pubs serve terrible food and keep getting away with it. Perhaps people like to punish themselves for some sin or other by chewing it. I suspect no one will ever know.
I have been craving this gum since I moved back to Canada 9 years ago. I am delighted to find out that it is still available, and will look out for it in Ontario!
The flavour is either rosewater or lavender.
Also, awesome gum. chewing on some at this exact moment!
I think most buyers of the 'new' Thrills have never chewed the original because it is a very, very poor imitation of the original. I used to buy the original at the Garfield News stands in the TTC subway for a nickle. Chicklets used to be a dime. Yes it did taste somewhat like soap, but it was a pleasant taste. The 'new' Thrills that I bought at Bulk Barn, for almost $1, only resembles the original in colour. The pellets are smaller, harder, and taste absolutely terrible. It seems that they gave it an extra soapy taste for a yuk factor and took away the nice rosewater/soap taste. The flavour lasts but 10 chews. What a waste of effort to bring Thrills back into the market. Thanks for nothing Tootsie Roll.
I used to buy this as a kid, in Ontario (Canada) maybe 50 years ago. The gum tasted good for a few moments only, and was dry and flavourless after that. But I just loved the colour of the original Thrills. What colour was that called - a fuschia/purple ?
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