'Intense flavour': Unique freeze-dried candy creations big hit in Kamloops
A Kamloops couple is trying to keep up to the demand for their freeze-dried candy after getting their business licence less than two months ago.
What started with a plan to purchase one freeze drier to be used for making dog treats, quickly became three driers working non-stop pumping out the colourful and popular candies.
Co-owner of Subzero Snack Shop, Jennica Rahn, said she found the idea on the internet and is still learning how to make the artisan treats.
“Every time we try a new brand of candy we never know what is going to happen,” she said. “The fried egg candies blew up and made a sticky mess. My husband is more of a candy eater and ironically he prefers normal candy, so I am the one having to taste everything.”
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The candies go into the freeze drier on sheets and come out looking, feeling and tasting completely different. The couple posts new creations online for people to guess what they are.
“The process turns a candy into something crunchy with a more intense flavour,” she said. “It changes the shape of the candy so people have fun guessing what it is. The gummy worms come out gigantic. A lot of people are surprised when they try them, it's something really different.”
Freeze dried Coke bottles, sour Skittles and sour keys are the top sellers.
Rahn said freeze drying candy is not a common thing and many people are curious to try it. She and her business partner and husband, Mike, have been selling their product and handing out samples at the Sahali Mall markets in Kamloops this past month.
“We are only selling out of markets,” Rahn said. “We don’t have a storefront and don’t sell online. At the markets it is go, go, go and last week we almost sold out.”
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The major flooding events that took place in the Interior and Lower Mainland last month has impacted the flow of supplies needed for the business. Rahn says she still has an order of packages stuck in Langley.
“We need packaging, labels and candy,” she said. “One of our top sellers is Skittles and there is a shortage of them right now. Mostly we are keeping up.”
Your last chance this year to get some of Subzero Snack Shop's candy creations is Saturday, Dec. 18, at Sahali Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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