Chew on This

I was never fond of ginger - fresh ginger, cooked ginger, even the pickled pink ginger slices that grace delicious sushi rolls. Despite all the known benefits of ginger, for example, in aiding digestion and suppressing nausea, I just never enjoyed the distinct taste of this spice... until I discovered the Ginger Chew in my coworker's candy bowl. Being the adventurous eater that I am, I tried the candy and to my pleasant surprise, loved the ginger flavor in this chewy candy form! 

Ginger People's Original Ginger Chews are made of cane sugar, ginger, and tapioca starch. "Two chews contain 40 calories, 0g fat, 0mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate and 10g sugars." Each chew is lightly coated with what looks and tastes like confectioners sugar. Though it starts out sweet and  mild, the chew can become quite spicy as you put more work (and saliva) into breaking down the candy. I've found there to be variations among different batches. There were a few that tasted mild, while those from another bag were noticeably spicier. (And there were no mentions on the bag of spiciness levels.) For someone who doesn't like the taste of pure ginger, I have never not been able to tolerate the flavor of a ginger chew. 

If you are looking for a milder version of the ginger chew, I'd recommend the Peanut Ginger Chews. The peanut flavor adds a nice sweet, nutty flavor to balance the spiciness of the ginger. The other available flavors are Spicy Apple and Hot Coffee. I would try both of these flavors, however I have only seen the Original at Trader Joe's (for under $2 for a 3oz bag).

I love the mouth workout that I get from these ginger chews, but when I don't feel like having bits stuck in my back molars, I have the GinGin Candies - also from Ginger People. These are round button-sized hard candies that, to me, taste slightly milder than the original Ginger Chews. It's another great alternative to the chew if you want to try out a ginger candy!

This weekend when I was in NYC, I found another brand of ginger chews while browsing a convenience store for a snack. The brand is called Chimes, and from the variety of different flavors including Mango, Orange Citrus, Original Refreshing Ginger, Lively Peppermint, and Creamy Peanut Butter (like Ginger People!), I picked out the Mango chew. I would never think to combine the tropical sweetness of mango with the spice of ginger, but it is absolutely delicious! I had to exercise some self-discipline to save a few chews along with the original packet. 

 

This 1.5oz packet was $2.49 which is a lot more than Ginger People's ginger chews. But then again, everything in NYC is expensive...

I'm curious to try the other flavors by Chimes, especially the Original to see how their chew compares with Ginger Peoples'. Sadly, the nearest store that sells this brand is still pretty far away. 

Since the discovery of ginger chews, they have accompanied me on international flights and weekend trips. I love them as a travel companion, a healthy alternative to candy, or as a little pick-me-up at the end of the day.