Lovely Organic Vegan Candy

Lovely Candy Company has released a new line of organic, vegan, gluten-free candies, and they sent me a few packages to review. I'll never say no to free candy! I'm not a huge candy eater, but I do like to keep some in my purse for those times when 1) I need to wake up (candy is great for driving long distances or afternoon pick-me-ups at work); 2) I need to freshen my garlic breath; or 3) I'm hangry and there is no food to be had.

The package Lovely sent included their Lollipops, Hard Candies, Chewy Candies, and Gluten-Free Licorice. They also sent some gelatin-free gummy bears, but they were made with honey, so I couldn't eat those.

I especially loved the Hard Candies. They come in Original (grape, apple, and cherry) and Tropical (lemon, pomegranate, and mango). Since they're individually wrapped, they're perfect for stashing in my bag, and they last a long time in your mouth. Great for driving! These are organic and made without artificial colors or flavors.

I'm also a big fan of their Cherry Licorice. I love Twizzlers, but they're loaded with artificial stuff and corn syrup. Plus, they contain wheat flour, which means gluten-free folks get left out (I'm not gluten-free, but I think it's great when companies make products that everyone can eat!). The Lovely red licorice is bite-size and chewy with a light cherry flavor. It's perfect. 

I didn't try the Original Licorice because I'm a black licorice hater. I have a hard time with anise or fennel as well (although I can handle limited amounts of fennel seed or fresh fennel cooked into a dish). Anyway, Paul is a diehard black licorice eater, and he was very impressed with the Lovely version. He liked the chewy texture. His mom tried it as well, and she's already placing an order on their site for more.

The Chewy Candies are like vegan Starburst! And they're free of artificial flavors and colors. They're made with real fruit. The texture is chewy and still soft enough not to pull out any dental fillings (of which I have many!), and they're bursting with flavor. These come in strawberry, cherry, and lime. 

And finally, there are Organic Lollipops. These are also free of gluten, gelatin, artificial ingredients, and high fructose corn syrup. They're very much like the hard candies but on a stick, which is sometimes more fun to eat!

These come in mango, strawberry, grape, and pomegranate.