# What's your culture's version of circus peanuts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 31, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247 "2026-01-31T22:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/81 "2026-02-02T21:17:30Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Disappointing when you try to crack open the “shell”. Hohoho, prepare for one disappointment after another with these things. The texture is that sort of crumbly plaster foam of breakfast cereal marshmallows. Same tasty flavor, too! > [@MrDibble](#): > > which were filled with peanut butter Those seem familiar, in a 1980s Midwestern USA way. Do they stick together in a lump? The filling was well short of peanut butter, probably a defatted grime from peanuts that failed USDA inspection for animal sillage. > [@hogarth](#): > > are two different candies (the powdery disks and the fruit roll-up Good pics, the little firecracker looking ones are what I tried. I guess I should try them again with the idea they aren’t supposed to be crunchy. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/82 "2026-02-02T21:20:18Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > An above-average confectionary for me, but, yeah, not one to trade your soul or family for, or whatever it is that happens in the books, There’s also the detail that the Narnia books are set during the time when wartime rationing was still in effect in the UK. So a kid in a time when sugar was scarce would probably do a lot more for some Turkish Delight than a modern day American with ready access to all sorts of sweet confections. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/83 "2026-02-02T21:29:53Z")
That’s true. Also, the Turkish Delight was enchanted to make him want more. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/84 "2026-02-02T21:37:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Yep…and with the tired Narnia “jokes”. Every. Single. Time. It’s right up there with ‘A bay leaf, for whatever that’s supposed to do’ and ‘British people eating like the bombers are still flying overhead’. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/85 "2026-02-02T22:09:13Z")
No way am I clicking on a link with a cartoon Mr. Bean disguised as a Turk telling me how to make disgusting candy. It just can’t end well. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/86 "2026-02-02T22:12:01Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Circus peanuts still sound better than South African sweet peanuts, which were filled with peanut butter. There’s no way circus peanuts can be better than whatever South African sweet peanuts are. The picture there looks pretty good to me, and the description of being filled with peanut butter even better. There’s few snacks more perfect to me than a spoonful of peanut butter, whether of the natural kind or the sweet-and-salty hydrogenized peanut spread kind. Every single one of my favorite confectionaries have a peanut butter (or peanut) layer to them. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/87 "2026-02-02T22:31:12Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I like licorice allsorts too! I think because they’re like fancy Good ‘N Plenty. > > I love candy corn. Peeps and Circus Peanuts are ok. > > I really like most candy. Let’s hear it for the proud crappy-candy fans! I can’t eat more than a few pieces of candy corn, but I enjoy them when I do. Yeah, I am not really a fan of Peeps or Circus Peanuts, but I certainly don’t loathe them. I can’t eat chocolate (allergic), but I’m pretty nonjudgemental about other forms of candy, though naturally they can’t all be favorite (that’s peppermints, ginger chews, and lemon drops, pretty much). I also won’t turn down a piece of ribbon candy, Turkish delight, or salt licorice. Oh, and Necco wafers. > [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@MrDibble](#): > > > > Circus peanuts still sound better than South African sweet peanuts, which were filled with peanut butter. > > There’s no way circus peanuts can be better than whatever South African sweet peanuts are. The picture there looks pretty good to me, and the description of being filled with peanut butter even better. Honestly I was thinking the same thing. If someone’s baked and enjoyed peanut butter cookies, for example, I can’t see why they wouldn’t be up for trying a cute little sugar shell filled with a bite of peanut butter. Now I want one. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/88 "2026-02-02T22:55:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Circus peanuts still sound better than South African sweet peanuts, which were filled with peanut butter. Yuck. I’ve had a similar candy to the sweet peanuts pictured, I thought they were pretty good (but I like circus peanuts, too). If nothing else, they make a lot more sense than circus peanuts. They’re peanut shaped, colored and flavored. That’s far more sensible than “orange in color, banana in flavor, and peanut in shape.” ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/89 "2026-02-02T23:00:48Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > How much of the hatred of licorice allsorts is just hatred of licorice of all types? It’s a polarizing flavor. People usually either love it or hate it. I like licorice, but I know people who despise it. I dislike black licorice, but I don’t mind Licorice Allsorts because (a) the licorice flavour is so mild and (b) they remind me of Christmas (which is the only time we ever bought them). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/90 "2026-02-02T23:02:41Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s right up there with ‘A bay leaf, for whatever that’s supposed to do’ and ‘British people eating like the bombers are still flying overhead’. And the “clever” observation someone makes at every Passover seder: “If Hillel invented the sandwich, why isn’t it called a Hillel?” ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/91 "2026-02-02T23:26:38Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Since we’re here fighting ignorance, those hard little candy ball blue things are _nonpareils_, a venerable decorative confection well known to bakers and candy makers. Jazzies in the UK, according to my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/92 "2026-02-03T00:00:06Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > (b) they remind me of Christmas A Saskatchewan tradition! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/93 "2026-02-03T00:12:39Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > Jazzies in the UK, according to my wife _nonpareils_ are just the tiny round decorations that can be used on cakes, cookies, candies, etc. Jazzies seem to be chocolate discs with _nonpareils_ embedded on their surface-in the US we have a candy called Sno Caps with white _nonpareils_ topping the chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/94 "2026-02-03T00:38:35Z")
We had licorice allsorts at any time of year. I still like them. And I guess I’m one of the 50% that like Hallowe’en molasses kisses. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/95 "2026-02-03T00:59:12Z")
No way it’s 50%, even if Pres says so. Trading candy on All Saints Day, no one would take them in any quantity for anything better. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/96 "2026-02-03T05:31:15Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Do they stick together in a lump? The filling was well short of peanut butter, probably a defatted grime from peanuts that failed USDA inspection for animal sillage. Yes, and that’s an accurate description of the texture of the filling. > [@pulykamell](#): > > Every single one of my favorite confectionaries have a peanut butter (or peanut) layer to them. Again - yuck. When you grow up with peanuts as a savoury thing, anything with peanut+sweet is a little weird, but I can have panned peanuts or a candy bar with peanuts and not be weirded out now. But these - the shell is brittle and breaks into sharp shards, the outside gets sticky and they lump together, the filling is grainy… they’re just nasty. Circus peanuts are at least marshmellow-y and hence inherently better than any hard candy. > [@Kimstu](#): > > If someone’s baked and enjoyed peanut butter cookies, Yuck. > [@scabpicker](#): > > If nothing else, they make a lot more sense than circus peanuts Wonka wept. Candy doesn’t need to make _sense_. They’re just sweets, not logic puzzles. > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > _nonpareils_ are just the tiny round decorations that can be used on cakes, cookies, candies, etc. Jazzies seem to be chocolate discs with _nonpareils_ embedded on their surface Those can _also_ just be called _[nonpareils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpareils#Chocolate_nonpareils)_. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/97 "2026-02-03T05:38:30Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Circus peanuts are at least marshmellow-y and hence inherently better than any hard candy. Well, it’s not really a normal marshmallow texture. I like them, but they’re weird and chalky for marshmallows. I’d even be in the group that would say they are better when their outsides have had a chance to dry out and become even more weird and chalky. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Wonka wept. Candy doesn’t need to make _sense_. They’re just sweets, not logic puzzles. Hehe, ok. I can agree with that. Again, I eat them. But circus peanuts seem to be intentionally challenging as a concept, unlike other confections. Maybe they’re the noise rock of candy. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/98 "2026-02-03T05:54:04Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > they’re weird and chalky for marshmallows I’ve had them - they were like SA [marshmallow fish](https://www.dreamstime.com/marshmallow-fish-popular-south-african-sweet-standard-party-treat-marshmallow-fish-simple-delicious-old-school-treat-image262066895) or [marshmallow mice](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/fb/f4/47/fbf4475e0211a399335d02fc015065c9.jpg) or that kind of thing to me, as opposed to “normal” marshmallows. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/99 "2026-02-03T13:26:51Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I remember my sister having a foreign exchange with a French girl in the late 70s, who came to stay with us. We gave her parma violets - a sugery sweet which literally tastes like pot pourri or soap, and she thought they were the most disgusting things she’d ever eaten ‘Ugh I’m eating flowers’, she proclaimed in excellent english. Canada has Thrills chewing gum which even says on the package “IT STILL TASTES LIKE SOAP!” Another unpopular item to receive at Halloween. [![](https://www.vmcdn.ca/f/files/via/images/columns/thrills-gum.jpg) ](https://www.vmcdn.ca/f/files/via/images/columns/thrills-gum.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247/100 "2026-02-03T13:46:12Z")
I remember these (@Treppenwitz’ licorice candies)from my youth here in the states. My grandparents supplied them. I loved them, back then. I haven’t seen those in a few decades though, so not sure how I would react to them today. Circus peanuts are ok in ones 🤓 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-cultures-version-of-circus-peanuts/1027247.md?page=6)