The store where I usually get the Kopiko coffee candy recently ran out of the bags in the size that I normally buy. They have a huge bag available for 300 pesos, but I don't want big bags. When my nieces and nephews see a large bag of candy, they won't stop hounding me until it's gone. Their teeth are bad enough as it is and they don't need MORE candy to make them worse (they already eat candy every single day).
The store is on Magsaysay Drive, near the Olongapo City Mall, and the sign says "Circle J" outside (very similar to the Circle K stores in the US). Some of the labels and racks inside the store say "J-Mart", so I can only assume they decided to change their name at some point and didn't change all the references. Anyway, since I wanted coffee candy, I decided to buy another brand.
X.O. Coffee Candy
The X.O. Coffee Candy comes under the brand name of "Jack 'n Jill" for the candy division of the Universal Robina Corporation (URC). URC is one of the largest brand food product companies in the Philippines and they have a ton of candies under the "Jack 'n Jill" brand, including candies that resemble cough drops.
I don't know how much a bag of X.O. Coffee Candy costs. I wasn't paying attention, but it's near to the same price as Kopiko. Kopiko is made in Indonesia whereas the X.O. products are all made in the Philippines.
Ingredients
Like Kopiko, X.O. Coffee Candy isn't the healthiest candy to have around. I'll live with the consequences. The ingredients are sugar, glucose syrup, hydrogenated vegetable fat, skimmed milk powder, coffee powder, soya lecithin and iodized salt.
When I see "hydrogenated" on anything, I tend not to buy it or consume it. I've seen and eaten worse and I want my coffee candy, so I'll live with it.
The Taste Test
While a piece of Kopiko coffee candy is a little dark brown square, a piece of X.O. Coffee Candy is oval-shaped and a little thicker. Kopiko comes in bags of 150 grams (the regular size anyway) and X.O. Coffee Candy comes in bags of 175 grams, which means X.O. provides 25 grams more for about the same price.
To be honest, I can't tell the difference in taste. Kopiko is a little stronger in flavor and that's about it. I think I'll be sticking to X.O. Coffee Candy from now on, unless they run out of it as well. In that case, Kopiko is the backup treat.
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This article was originally published as: X.O. Coffee Candy — Better than Kopiko?
X.O. coffee candy is the best. It really takes out your sleepiness. It really can replace the usual coffee we are drinking. And its also really handy, you can bring it anywhere.
The very soil in which beans are grown have a distinct effect on how it ultimately tastes coffee in the end. Also available via special online coffee shops as well.
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In Australia I have had Kopiko before but have seen the other one. In fact I was looking for Kopikos just last weekend and the store only had tiny packs a bit like TicTacs in a tin. I wanted the normal ones though.
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Have to say I have never tried any before! Hmm looks like I will have to keep an eye out for these in the future I think!
Alister
I guess you'll have to visit the Philippines then. Hehe
Just curious, Kopikos don't have hydrogenated vegetable fat?
They do, but it's a necessary evil. I haven't seen a hard candy that doesn't. Oh well, it's the price we pay for what we like.
all flavors X.O. candy are great….there are at least 5 …try them all…contact Universal Robina in the Philippines
I think XO has a stronger flavor but I vote for Kopiko..I've got a sweeter tongue.
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http://www.squidoo.com/kopiko-instant-coffee-treats
I am a coffee junkie too, have you try kopiko instant coffee? I am from Malaysia, last kopiko instant coffee i bought was 5 years back, now i dont see this product around. I am referring to instant coffee not the 3 in one instant coffee. Man I tell you the taste is nothing compare to nescafe or others.. And 1 more thing that I notice, drinking kopiko would make u stay all night long without feeling sleepy. I introduced this coffee to my friends back when I was in college, they all have the same effects. I miss the taste.. wish that anyone could tell me what happen to this product.
Doe anyone know where I can buy X.O. Coffee Candies in the Houston, Texas area? Like nothing I have ever tasted before. Thank you!!