Food tidbits

By Al Sicherman

McClatchy Newspapers

Next, Welch’s no-grape?

We know that flavored water is a huge business, and that fruit drinks are another. Until now, Mr. Tidbit believes, each market has had its own list of brands. No longer.

New CapriSun Roarin’ Waters “fruit-flavored water beverage,” in 6.75-ounce foil pouches for kids, comes from the maker of the similarly packaged CapriSun “all natural juice drink blends.” The product carries a note that it contains 0 percent juice. “Helps hydrate kids,” the outer box containing 10 pouches advises, adding “Finally, a great-tasting water beverage kids will love to drink!” Mr. Tidbit agrees it’s about time someone came up with something to overcome kids’ natural loathing of plain water beverage.

Roarin’ Waters comes in at least Tropical Fruit and Strawberry Kiwi flavors, and is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup and Splenda for 35 calories (9 grams of sugar) per pouch. CapriSun’s regular 100-calorie “juice drink blends” are all about 10-percent juice.

Peanut blossoms fix

A reader passes along an interesting solution to the problem of removing the foil from Hershey’s Kisses to make the popular Peanut Blossoms cookies. (Mr. Tidbit’s previous insight was to note that Hershey’s new “Unwrapped Kisses,” designed for that purpose, cost an appalling 36 percent more than those in foil.) The suggestion: Use the slightly smaller Brach’s Stars instead. They aren’t wrapped and are somewhat fancier-looking and a little cheaper than even the wrapped Kisses.

Jell-O with swizzle stick

“Limited Edition” fever has arrived in the gelatin aisle, as has the less widespread “boozy-name syndrome.” Jell-O has three new temporary flavors: strawberry daiquiri, margarita and pina colada. All, the boxes note, are nonalcoholic.