While the majority of our time here at Savor Sweets is spent making, packaging, and shipping out our stock flavors, weekends are the time when we let loose and try new things. These experiments sometimes turn into giant, sticky messes — but even if they do, they’re still a heck of a lot of fun. We often try several times to get flavors just right. We are currently on batch number 12 of bacon candy, and batch number 8 of key lime candy. Often it’s just small changes, but we have to do it over and over again until the flavor is just right.

New flavors coming soon

Though all this testing, we’ve found a few flavors that are coming very close to being ready for prime-time. At the start of March, we’ll be running a poll where all of you will get the chance to tell us which flavors you think should stay, and which new flavors we should add to our standard stock candy. Keep an eye on our social networks and here to follow what we’re doing in the test kitchen.

Now in technicolor!

We have also started experimenting with all-natural, vegetable-based food dyes to create new colors for custom orders. The blue is still proving quite the challenge, but the red and yellow are turning out very well. The red is especially fun to play with, and we’ve created everything from red swirls to deep red and light pink. I am really looking forward to the first chance we get to create a specialty red for a custom candy order. I personally think they will make for beautiful candy centerpieces or candy bouquets. Don’t worry, though, our stock flavors will always remain dye free, with as few ingredients as possible.

The secrets of not-quite-perfect candies

One of the realities of making all hand-made candy is that we end up with small, orphaned pieces and bits of candy that we simply will not sell as good candies. We’ve started packaging up the best of those pieces to sell as not-quite-perfect candies, at a discount on our webstore. What some of you that have ordered those may have noticed, though, is that some of these orphaned pieces may look a bit different than our standard lollipops. The secret to these pieces are that sometimes, we throw pieces of test candy into the mix. New shapes, new sizes, perhaps even test flavors. If you do get some of these odd pieces of candy, keep in mind that we’re always open to feedback!

It has only been four months since we started this Savor Sweets adventure, and WOW! It is thanks to every single Kickstarter backer, customer, supporter, and taste-tester that we are able to say this has been a great few months. Now that we have gotten up and running, we’re starting to stretch out and try a few new things, all of which we would love to hear your opinion on (if you so care to share).

New labels

When we started, the black and white labels were chosen for a simple reason – it was the easiest way to get compost-safe inks. We’ve done quite a bit of research and testing, though, and the time has come — we are now transitioning to labels with color, and a little more design. These new labels will be showing up on candy orders as we run through the already-printed stock of black and white labels, so it may be a while before your favorite flavor gets a new, pretty label, but it is coming!

New Shapes?

One of our most often-heard requests is a way to taste-test flavors without having to “commit” to a full lollipop. Well, we’ve heard you, and in the next month or two, watch for bite-sized candies of all of our flavors to be introduced!

New Flavors

We promised, when we started, to keep testing and trying out new flavors. If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or G+, you have already heard about some of the flavor tests, including Bacon. We aren’t currently planning on phasing out any of the current flavors, but we will give ample warning if that is to every happen. Some of the flavors we are testing, and that might be available at some point in the future:

• Bacon. Yes, with real bacon.
• Green Tea
• Persimmon
• Champagne
• Red Wine
• Green Apple
• French Vanilla

Any of those flavors calling to you? Let us know you’re excited about it, and it may move to the top of the to-be-introduced-soon list!

New Colors

Our standard flavors will always be completely free of dyes and colors; custom colors have been requested of us a few times, though. So, we have started testing all-natural, vegetable-based dyes, and we’re starting to get some fun results. We are using India Tree dyes, which are derived from tumeric, beet, and spinach. What this means for you is that custom candy orders can now be made in a variety of colors to match your event, brand, or favorite-ever color.

Well, the temperature in Spokane is semi-regularly dropping below 40 degrees, which must mean it is winter. With holidays ranging from Solstice to Christmas to Festivus coming up, we wanted to do something special. So between now (Nov. 24) and the New Year (Dec. 31), we will have a few specials to say Thank You.

Candy to the troops

First, for every order that comes in, we will send a piece of candy to the troops overseas, even if you order just one piece of candy. It’s our way of saying thanks!

Free Shipping!

Free U.S. standard shipping on all orders over $25. To get your package by Dec. 25, please get your order in by Saturday, Dec. 17.

Super Secret Test Flavors

Now and again we will announce a very limited run (5-10 total available) of super secret test flavors. They might be for sale, they might be a free gift in your box of candy. We will announce all of this on our Facebook, Twitter, and G+ accounts, so keep a close eye out.

And most of all, have a wonderful winter!

We had to suit up to make this custom candy.

When we first hooked up with Spokane’s own SpoCOOLcrew, we figured candy, maybe a dinner-place recommendation now and again. When the crew there tried our Hababero candy, however, something else quickly began to brew. You see, there is an event called SpiceaWAR, and we both thought that some even spicier candy may be in order. So we worked with our local produce suppliers, and ordered in some ghost peppers. Project Ghost Pepper Candy was a go!

Safety first with spicy candy

We knew from making habanero candy that spicy candy comes with its own unique set of challenges. First would be the fact that making spicy candy means spicy scent getting into the air. For ghost peppers, this would mean that we would essentially be pepper-spraying the entire production kitchen. A resperator, gloves, and safety goggles kept my eyes and lungs protected, and we used the kitchen very late at night, when nobody else was around. Doing the dishes the next morning, after they’d soaked, still made us cough. Wow spicy!

It’s all about the custom candy

What we liked most about making the ghost pepper candy, though, is that it has really been one of the most challenging custom candy orders we have gotten thus far. From specialty ingredients to specialty processes and recipes, and even a special label, this candy was truly custom candy from the ground up. We love making our standard flavors, and nothing beats a tasty espresso or salted caramel candy, but custom candy gives us a chance to create just the candy that fits a particular desire. We’re even working with a few people to possibly create custom wedding candy and a flavor-matched candy. All I can say is NOM!

While we generally keep specialty-made candy for the customer only, SpoCOOL has said it’s cool with them if we offer the Ghost Pepper candy they won’t use up here on our website. We have less than 20 of these available, so order quick if you want to burn your mouth off in a sweet way!

The Spokane community is a great place to start up a company for a multitude of reasons. The connections that make up a community have always been very important to the two of us, so we’re doing our best to ensure that we sugar up the community as best as we can! In the upcoming weeks, there will be two ways you can both catch up with the Savor Sweets team and help support a great cause (and even try a custom lollipop or two).

SpoCOOL SpiceAWAR to benefit CFF

A few weeks ago, we donated a bunch of lollipops to the SpoBREWING for Cystic Fibrosis event, which benefited the Washington Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The same crew will be putting on SpiceaWAR on November 5. This event is all about anything and everything spicy. We are creating a custom lollipop for this event – Ghost Pepper! We will also have limited-edition Smoked Habanero flavor available, as well as traditional Habanero candies. In short, it’s going to be anything and everything spicy, the fun of watching spice warriors, and it’s all to benefit a great cause. Stop by and say hi!

When: November 5, late afternoon

Where: The Blue Spark, downtown Spokane

Spokane Public Radio pledge drive

Many of the gourmet candies we produce here at Savor Sweets have one big thing in common – they are produced while Spokane Public Radio is playing on the radio. Yup, we are those kind of geeks. We decided the least we could do is offer something back to SPR. So if you are one of the volunteers helping out Spokane Public Radio in their upcoming pledge drive, look for a Savor Sweets lollipop in the SPR studios. If you aren’t volunteering, then pledge, let us know you’ve pledged, and we’ll give you a special SPR member-only deal, as our thanks for supporting Public Radio!

When: Starting October 20

Where: On any one of SPR’s many stations (we especially love the Public Radio Remix on 90.3 FM).

Also coming soon: Holiday ordering deadline and packing options!

Figuring out how to make our Savor Sweets candy without corn syrup or chemical additives took us a very long time. Once we created the candy, however, we couldn’t stomach the idea of putting our ethically-sourced, carefully-made candy in oil-based packaging. Instead, we scoured suppliers to find packaging that is as sweet to the planet as the candy is to you.

Wooden plastics

The cellophane we use to wrap Savor Sweets is actually made of wood. A product called NatureFlex, the cellophane is produced from sustainably-farmed, GM-free, compostable cellulose. Innovia, the company that produces NatureFlex, strives for a zero carbon footprint from the production of NatureFlex. The “cellophane” wrapping the candy, in other words, can be composted in just about any compost bin or system, be it home or municipal.

Cotton ribbon

The cotton ribbon we use to tie up the cellulose-based biodegrable bags is just as biodegradable. It’s made by a company called Cream City Ribbon, which is based in Milwaukee, WI and woman-owned. The ribbon is made using a warp threads only, rather than woven. A water-based glue and soy-based inks are used to bind the warp threads together, which means it breaks down very quickly in a compost pile, because the ribbon shreds very easily. The manufacturing uses at least 25 percent renewable energy.

Labels and sticks

The labels are printed on 100% recycled paper, with compost-friendly inks that won’t break down into anything you wouldn’t want in your compost. The sticks are made of tightly-rolled paper that, when properly composted, will eventually break down entirely.

All together, these things do mean that the packaging of Savor Sweets costs a little bit more, but we think that zero-waste candy is worth every bit of the effort. We compost all the production waste from making the candy, and wanted to be sure that you could compost everything that was left over when all was said and done.

We’ve been asked a few times now why we have chosen to fund our startup and run pre-orders through Kickstarter. This was a decision that we made very carefully, for a few big reasons.

Kickstarter protects our customers

We think Savor Sweets is a pretty good idea, but we wanted to make sure that there were enough customers that agreed. Rather than run our own pre-orders, where customers would have to pre-order and pay right away, Kickstarter has a built-in failsafe that offers protection. We set a goal (in our case, $1,500), and customers pledge the amount they want to spend on candy. If we don’t reach our goal by the deadline, then nobody has to pay out anything. If we do reach our goal, the project is “tipped” and everyone who pledges is charged the amount on a set day. The all-or-nothing system offers an element of predicability for both us and our pre-order customers.

In short, Kickstarter protects our customers that pre-order. If we don’t enough to start up, they aren’t on the hook for a single cent.

Kickstarter provided a way to “test out” the idea

Before starting Savor Sweets, we did extensive research on what is currently on the market and what kind of niche there may be to fill. We made some educated guesstimates based on this research, but there is always an element of uncertainty. Kickstarter offers a unique way to test the viability of the idea. If we reach the goal amount, then it’s an indicator people who aren’t our friends love the idea.

So that’s why we chose Kickstarter to run our pre-orders / startup funding. That, and it’s a community of lots of simply awesome projects that we think you should check out, if you pre-order some of our sweets or not.

Spicy habenero, small-batch balsamic vinegar and organic black tea are items you might expect to see on a chef’s shopping list, not in hard candy. Andrea Parrish-Geyer and Peter Geyer of Spokane hope to change that with their new venture, Savor Sweets. The pair are hoping to fund their food startup using crowd-funding website Kickstarter, but they only have 30 days to do it.

Ranging from savory to sugary, flavors like balsamic vinegar, Chai tea, Tiger’s Ear vanilla cinnamon, even espresso using local Roast House coffee are all on the list of flavors Savor Sweets plan on launching with. They have been testing the flavors for months on friends, family, even co-workers. “I’ve tried several different flavors of Savor Sweets, and they’ve left me in a bit of a quandary: I can’t decide which one I like best!” says Steve Tarlow, one of their taste-testers.

“The biggest challenge was creating shelf-stable candy without corn syrup or chemical additives,” explains Parrish-Geyer. “We eventually settled on a recipe using organic evaporated cane juice, and will be using entirely biodegradable packaging.” In order to get the half-dozen permits and licenses as well as start-up equipment required to start producing their candy for commercial sale, though, Geyer and Parrish-Geyer are turning to an unusual form of funding. In the last two years, the service Kickstarter has helped fund 246 local-food projects across the country. The Savor Sweets Kickstarter campaign will be launching on August 5th, less than a week after the couple’s one-year wedding anniversary. Geyer and Parrish-Geyer first created an internationally-recognized Wedding Cans project to fund their wedding, and have since started Hydra Creations as an umbrella business for their stickers and decals, photography, and custom leather working.

“Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing proposition,” Parrish-Geyer explains. “If we don’t hit our funding goal, none of the donors will have to pay anything.” Rather than just asking for money, the couple plans to treat the Kickstarter campaign as pre-orders. If the funding goal is reached, the couple will ship out their first production run of candy. With only 30 days to raise $1,500 worth of pre-orders, the duo behind Savor Sweets are hoping this unusual funding source will prove a sweet partnership.

Open-license photos (click for full resolution)

These photos are available for use in any story or post about Savor Sweets, with credit given to Andrea Parrish-Geyer or a link back to this website.

Savor Sweets candy flavors range from sweet to savory, and everything in between.

Savor Sweets is a little hard candy company in Spokane, Washington.