I recently took a trip back down to my family's homestead in Southern Pa. Quite Nostalgic! I can remember buying a candy called Teaberries at a small mom & pop store when I was a kid. So I went to look for them while I was there. Well, there store is still there, but it has turned into a Shur Save and only sells all the same prepackaged stuff I can buy at Walmart. Now that leaves me wondering.... does anyone know of Teaberry candy? I've looked at all the candy websites but only found the gum - not even close! The candies are like small BB's, only red in color. I would love to be able to find some...

-- Mary (zoots25@hotmail.com), September 29, 2001

Answers

Oooooo! I'd like to know how to make Teaberry candy too! I've never had it, but used to get the gum as a child. We have lots of teaberries around here. My girls love to pick them and chew on them when we go for a hike in the woods.

-- Nancy in Maine (Paintme61@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

I have only found the gum also. It's pretty tasty to me....the real candy is better?.....bring it on!

-- Jason (AJAMA5@netscape.net), September 29, 2001.

What are teaberries and where do they grow?

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), September 29, 2001.

DW, I couldn't find a photo of the berries, but picture the flowers as red berries when you go here: http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesGS.asp?curGroupID=11&sear chText=teaberry&curPageNum=1&recnum=WF0155

I don't know if this link will work as it's so long, but I looked up Teaberry at www.enature.com

The teaberry plant grows very low to the ground, only 3" high at the most. Teaberries are pulpy and have a very mild mint flavor. Almost like a wintergreen flavor. They grow everywhere around here in central Maine. They are so plentiful and it would be great if I could just find a recipe for the candies. I'm still looking Mary!

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

Actually, teaberries are wintergreen. They also have salicates (sorry for bad spelling..a chemical like aspirin's active ingredient) for pain relief. Did you ever find your tongue goes a bit numb after eatting too many teaberries? Wintergreen flavoring was made in the old days by packing a jar with leaves (i think..please don't try this) and pouring whiskey in the jar to cover.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 01, 2001.

You can buy teaberry candy here:

http://4grannys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PLST&Store_Code=4C

-- fairlea (longyear@shentel.net), October 01, 2001.

Thanks to all who took the time to reply. Fairlea, I'm checking that website you gave me... doesn't look quite like the same candy I remember, but I'm going to give it a try. I'll let you all know in the future how it is. Candy really is a wonderful thing for the kid in us!!

-- Mary (zoots25@hotmail.com), October 01, 2001.

I have been looking for the teaberries also. Used them on sugar cookies. My uncle used to get them in a country store in Harrisburg, PA, but has not been able to locate for several years. If anyone knows where they can be purchased, please e-mail me. Thanks and good luck.

-- Shirley Falk (shirley_falk@kerrgroup.com), November 26, 2001.

My grandmother always picked up the teaberry candy in PA also. She used them on cookies called "Birdies" something like a ginger snap. The important difference vs cinnamon candies is that teaberries didn't melt in the oven. You put them on the cookies prior to cooking. We just made these cookies Sunday in the shape of reindeers with a cinnamon candy for the nose. But they look like they have a runny nose. I would buy 100 pounds if I could find them. Dan

-- Dan (dashton2@pacbell.net), December 14, 2001.

Wow! I cannot believe this page came up. I have been sent on a holiday mission by my step-mom to locate Teaberries on the internet to buy. We cannot find them anywhere either! we are using the last of our stock to make icecream tonight here in central Pa. They are used in our family on sand tart cookies during the Christmas season as well. e mail us if you find a site. we've run out.thanks a lot!

-- Natalie Beckwith (xnewdealx@aol.com), December 28, 2001.

I live in Central PA. I have been looking for teaberrys...wanting to make home-made ice cream. I have called all over trying to find them. All the stores tell me the company who made the teaberry candy has gone out of business!!!!!!

-- Di (jenjulie@sunlink.net), February 02, 2002.

they were made by The Sunbury Tobacco company which went out of biz years ago.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), February 02, 2002.

About 6 or 7 years ago, my parent's brought me a bag of Teaberry candy from Pennsylvania. If memory serves me correctly, the store they purchased it at is called Bectel's. I know the next year they ordered me a box of the candy...5 lbs. But about 2 years ago, we tried again and the store no longer offers them. The were like little, red BB's and the store used them in their ice cream. I wish I could be more helpful and if anyone finds them, let me know!

-- Courtney Zepeda-Hawkes (cszepeda@netscape.net), February 24, 2002.