Claeys Horehound, Sassafras, and Root Beer Set 3 Pack (1-6oz Bag of Each)

I ordered these for a prize for our museum's scavenger hunt. They were well-packaged and arrived in a timely manner. I cannot comment on the taste because I am giving them away and haven't tried one.

Claeys since 1919 are powder sugar coated hardtack candies that can double as a throat lozenge, in particular the horehound herb flavor. Anise vs Red Anise is same, (just changed marketing); it seems its flavored with the common regular Anise, not Star Anise. JacksCountryStore was very quick in everything! I spoke with them they were very pleasant, and very very prompt in all communications.I’ve tried nearly all the flavors. I know of these flavors:* Natural Horehound Herb (Horehound Herb has natural throat soothing benefits & is a cough remedy) (the bitter extract from leaves of an aromatic Eurasian plant w/many white flowers), add sugar and its a tasty candy or tea.* Natural Lemon* Natural Peppermint (leaves of a green herb/mint, it has purple &/or white flowers).* Natural Anise (seed from an aromatic Mediterranean herb)* Sassafras (a tree root w/interesting flavor... a delicious deciduous eastern North American tree). This makes for a really great iced tea.* Green Apple* Wild Cherry* Root Beer (originally a carbonated beverage flavored primarily w/sassafras – but having a very different flavor once process and other ingredients are done)* Cinnamon (inner bark of an Asian tropical tree)* Watermelon (a melon w/Red, Orange, or Yellow eatable inner sweet watery flesh, originally from Africa)* Licorice (root from a blue flower)I remember 1st having these long long ago. It seems (pertaining to many) the flavors are not as strong as they used to be. But still some of these are rather rare flavors for nowadays, so it is nice they still exist. The flavor is still plenty strong enough to know what it is for sure, but will not be intense or overwhelming (like I wanted it to be); and the cinnamon even seemed tame, unless you eat too many at once. Normal people only have one at a time. Make sure you brush your teeth well when done, its not good to let sugar sit on your teeth.My only real complaint is, that like most food producers, they no longer use the original 1919 ingredients, and the ingredients include unwanted things, and its not non-GMO. For example they now all (I think) include Corn Syrup. Brown flavors include Caramel Color. Red flavors include Red Dye #40; rather harmful ingredients. I’d be much happier with just organic cane sugar and the given essential oil flavoring (in organic); I don’t think anything else should be needed, not even coloring. I want even my candy to be as healthy as possible. But this is up to Claeys to change, and me to buy less until they change. JacksCountryStore seems to be good people, I’d like to visit their actual store if I’m every nearby. Candies arrived fast considering they shipped U.S.P.S. from far west coast, and I’m on the far east coast.I don’t know who sells it, but also look for Horehound Herb – Herbal Tea; I bet it’d be good mixed w/regular tea too. But if you are fighting a cold, avoid the caffeine or it will run your immune system down after the short spike; and then it will take longer to recover.Also a trick to opening the package. From backside at top, pull carefully on middle flap (to left unless they change the fold). This usually opens just the top area to access candies w/out destroying or cutting package. Then I fold top and use a small binder clip to seal it back up. But if you have ants you may need to seal it more air tight. Enjoy.

So I'm coming at this, after trying the "YumEarth Organic" hard candies. That's my base level.So on the back of the packaging for each candy type, you get a story. And that's the fact, that this candy has been around since 1919. A wonderfully long time.WELL I didn't bother to look at the ingredient list before purchasing. I was like "Old fashioned hard candies" my mind went to cane sugar, goodness.. SO, the candy has CornSyrup & dyes I discovered after actually buying. Things I don't care for or want. Cornsyrup is literally in everything.. I've managed to cut it out of my diet by 90% at least. More would be better.Cornsyrup as you may know, was invented in Quote:"Commercial production of corn syrup began in 1964. In the late 1950s, scientists at Clinton Corn Processing Company of Clinton, Iowa, tried to turn glucose from corn starch into fructose, but the process was not scalable."Source: Google searchAnyways, the flavor of the candy is alright. Its nothing to write home about. The corn syrup doesn't help. Theirs definitely a taste difference, after eating a piece compared to YumEarth brand.. where the flavor lingers on the tongue.If you don't mind the extra calories and ingredients that don't need to be their at all. Then this is the candy for you.

Good quality hard candy that arrived quickly. As shown in the picture, the sassafras and the root beer contain artificial ingredients but the horehound does not have the same labeling. The candy is not individually wrapped inside their 6 oz bags. The candy isn't over sweet which I liked and you can truly taste the difference in flavor among the three. I can see how these candies would also be great for minor throat discomfort without having to take a medicated lozenge. It's an excellent candy that would appeal to a more grown up taste. I would recommend the product.

I couldn't believe my luck that Amazon carries these. I had used them as a child and now I have them again. They do more for my coughs and sore throats then any other medication out there. The rootbeer is so great tasting and the others are bringing home the past. Not of being ill, but getting these from my grandma.

I thought the flavors of the sassafras and root beer candies would be stronger. They are OK but I probably wouldn't buy them again.

LOVED all the flavors reminds me of my grandma she only had these Claeys hard candies at her home!

Only problem found is some of candy has air pockets. Not a fan of candy like that. Except for the money to get high quality.