Our Kind of Halloween Candy: Lollipops That Grow All Sorts of Plants
Prefer to trick-or-treat from the comfort of your kitchen table? Candy companies up and down the West have you covered.
Thomas J. Story
Amborella Organics lollipops are more than just delicious. They’re an opportunity to connect with your kids in the garden.
Amborella Organics lollipops may look like any typical version of the popular candy, but they’re far from it. You can plant the biodegradable stick in the ground to grow the plant or herb that inspired each flavor, from Baby Blue Eyes to mint. The Sage and Marshmallow lollipop, for example, can be planted to grow sage. A Lavender and Lemongrass flavor produces lavender.
The goal, co-founder Taylor Clarke says, is to encourage people to “think about the things they consume a bit differently, and get into nature and have a relationship with plants.”
The idea for the ’pops came from Taylor’s husband, Brennan Clarke, who was inspired to re-create summer memories of growing tomatoes in a balcony garden with his grandmother. As an adult, he noticed that the bulb and stem of flowers in his own garden looked like a lollipop. The California couple then developed the technology for a seed-bearing stick and recipes for the vegan candy, which are made with plant-based dyes and are gluten-, dairy-, nut-, and soy-free, Taylor says; the seeds are non-GMO.
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The couple wants “generations old and young to have that same experience in the garden with someone they love,” Taylor says.
All of the lollipops are made in San Clemente, Calif. To plant the stick, it must be laid horizontally and covered completely with a layer of topsoil. “Water generously” every day, Taylor says, and make sure it’s exposed to the sun. The stick, which is made of recycled paper, will begin to decompose and release the seeds. It can take up to 12 weeks for germination, Taylor adds.
More into chocolate or caramel? Here are a few other Halloween candy options from makers across the West:
Trick-or-Treat with Candy Made in the West
Honey Mama’s
Courtesy of Honey Mama’s
These chewy cocoa truffle bars are as decadent as the packaging is cool, with flavors ranging from Oregon mint to lavender rose and ginger cardamom. They’re meant to be “nourishing,” as founder Christy Goldsby writes online, with no refined sugar, soy, eggs, dairy, gluten, or grains.
Little Flower
Courtesy of Little Flower Candy Co.
From hand-cut marshmallows to sea salt caramels, Little Flower Candy Co. is creating simple yet artisanal desserts. Order online or stop by the cozy cafe and bakery in Pasadena, Calif. You can grab all sorts of candy to go, from gummy worms to jelly beans.
Woodblock Chocolate
Courtesy of Woodblock Chocolate
This family-run “bean-to-bar” company roasts its own cacao in Portland to create a wide range of different types of chocolate. You can bite into a bar, scoop some out of a jar, or nibble some nibs for a chocolaty snack.
This Came from the 2021 Waters of the West Issue—Read It Here!
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