Princeton Magazine enlists the help of local candy connoisseurs to judge all that’s a trick or a treat this Halloween
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
While every kid loves to dress up for Halloween, when it comes down to it, it’s all about the candy – and we’re not talking about Necco Wafers here. Halloween candy has evolved into an overwhelming assortment of vibrantly colored, seasonally flavored, and innovatively shaped treats. We all know the homes that give out the best Halloween candy and those that give out soul-crushing pencils, or scarier yet, apples. So, we enlisted the help of expert trick-or-treaters to ensure your candy stays out of the “no” pile this Halloween. With an average of 7.6 years of trick-or-treating under their belts, these local kids have developed a discerning palate when it comes to Halloween candy. Below, Princeton Magazine’s official taste-testers get candid about candy.
THE JUDGES
Name: Jillian Covill
Age: 8
Halloween costume: Panda
Name: Teak Toto
Age: 9
Halloween costume: Kylo Ren from Star Wars
Name: Henry Gilpin
Age: 7
Halloween costume: TOP SECRET!
Name: Ezra Broomer
Age: 8
Halloween costume: Yoda
Name: Eli Broomer (Ezra’s younger brother)
Age: 6
Halloween costume: Hockey player
Vidal Gummy Teeth:
Initial reaction and comments on taste –
Jillian: “This actually looks realistic, and the taste is pretty good.”
Teak: “Looks awful, but it has a really sweet taste.”
Henry: “Looks gross, but the taste is a lot better than it looks.”
Ezra: “It looks like real teeth and tastes gummy-like.”
Eli: “It looks gross, but it tastes yummy.”
Would you want it in your Halloween bag? What’s your overall rating of the candy from 1 to 5 (1 being I hate it; 5 being I love it!)?
Jillian: “Yes” – 5/5
Teak: “Yes” – 3/5
Henry: “No” – 2/5
Ezra: “Yes” – 5/5
Eli: “No” – 1/5
Pumpkin Spice Peeps:
Initial reaction and comments on taste –
Jillian: “I think it looks pretty pumpkin spice-y. If there was a 10 for taste, I’d give it a 10!”
Teak: “Looks weird and tastes icky.”
Henry: “Looks cute, tastes great…a little too sweet…way too sweet to finish.”
Ezra: “It looks like a peep on a boat and tastes cinnamon-y.”
Eli: “I like Peeps. I love marshmallows! It tastes sweet.”
Would you want it in your Halloween bag? What’s your overall rating of the candy from 1 to 5 (1 being I hate it;! 5 being I love it!)?
Jillian: “Yes” – 5/5
Teak: “No way” – 1/5
Henry: “No” – 4/5
Ezra: “Yes” – 5/5
Eli: “Only one” – 3/5
Jelly Belly Sour Gummi Pumpkins:
Initial reaction and comments on taste –
Jillian: “I think it looks pretty sweet and sour, kinda like tart. [Makes sour face] That’s pretty good. Tastes like lemon.”
Teak: “It looks really cool, and it tastes delicious.”
Henry: “Looks good, but it doesn’t taste good.”
Ezra: “Looks sour…tastes sour.”
Eli: “They look cute, but it tastes way too sour!”
Would you want it in your Halloween bag? What’s your overall rating of the candy from 1 to 5 (1 being I hate it!; 5 being I love it!)?
Jillian: “Yes. Double yes!” – 5/5
Teak: “Yes” – 5/5
Henry: “Yes” – 2/5
Ezra: ”Yes” – 5/5
Eli: “No” – 2/5
CandyWarehouse Licorice Skulls:
Initial reaction and comments on taste –
Jillian: “What is this? It’s pretty ghoulish-spooky. It’s pretty hard! Pretty licorice-ish.”
Teak: “It looks really scary, but I want to throw up.”
Henry: “Doesn’t look good, but it tastes fine. Not good, not bad – different from other licorice.”
Ezra: “Looks like a skeleton – tastes gross.”
Eli: “It looks scary. I don’t like licorice.”
Would you want it in your Halloween bag? What’s your overall rating of the candy from 1 to 5 (1 being I hate it!; 5 being I love it!)?
Jillian: “Can there be a maybe?” – 4/5
Teak: “NO” – 1/5
Henry: “No” – 2/5
Ezra: “No” – 1/5
Eli: “NO” – 1/5
