Do you remember Violets?

Cafe Society
1

I am infusing olive oil with lavender I’ve had growing in a pot for years. This prompted someone to wonder at cooking with lavender instead of just smelling it. Which reminded me of this candy from my youth-- Chowerd’s Violets. The very first curiously strong mint that I ever fell in love with.

The wiki on itsays it was first made in Manhattan. That got me wondering if Violets are a local candy. And if there are any local candies that I am not aware of because I’m not local to where they are sold.

So, do you remember Violets?

2

Yep. I had some recently, and when I was young. I can’t remember who I got them from recently. They’re not everybody’s taste but I liked them. I’ve never been anywhere near New York and can’t remember where I got them as a kid, but I’ll bet Cost Plus World Market has them now.

I haven’t had the other flavors to my knowledge, though.

3

My husband got some from somewhere, sometime within the past 15 years. (How’s that for vague?)

4

If you were a teen who smoked only “Violets” made you parentproof! They covered everything.

5

I’m in Wisconsin and we had them here. (Maybe we still do, I never really paid much attention to them).

6

Never had them, so I can’t remember them. On the other hand, “creme de violette” is apparently the hip new thing with cocktail aficionados. I can’t understand the appeal of something that tastes of violets, but that’s just me.

7

I get them regularly from Cost Plus. My kids think they’re disgusting.

8

The main (read: people outside of one bar have heard of it) cocktail using violets is the Aviation. A local hipster bar features it prominently.

9

Yup. I’d sort of like to try one just to see what it’s about, but the base spirit is gin, and I generally avoid the liquid pine trees.

10

Pine AND violets? Now that’s some strong flavorin’!

11

Chowerd’s Violets are marginally less overwhelming than Sen-Sen. That such products were even brought to market indicates that our ancestors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries had powerfully bad breath.

12

Juniper, not pine, dammit! You could probably sub it for vodka, if you want to be a philistine…

Talking about strong flavor and germane to the OP: you can infuse vodka with lavender. Most infusions take steeping your substance for weeks or months. Lavender I’ve heard you’re only supposed to steep for minutes, or else it can get strong-tasting.