Callard & Bowser Licorice Fans Rejoice
Fans of Callard & Bowser's (now discontinued) Licorice Toffee can celebrate. Your search is over. Oatfield (an Irish chocolate and confectionary manufacturer) makes a black licorice candy just as good as the Callard & Bowser original.
Groovy Candies, Licorice International and other sites are among the vendors selling these licorice toffee treats by the pound. If you liked the original Callard & Bowser black licorice toffees, you'll love the Oatfield variety.
posted by Erik Eckel at 7:22 PM
37 Comments:
Question: Was the Callard & Bowser licorice toffee individually wrapped in a silver and black diagonally striped wrapper and rectangular in shape? I can't remember the name of the product, just the wrapper and wonderful taste. I've been trying to find these, but can't.
Thanks,
Richard
Yep, that was it....a very sweet/buttery flavor and creamy texture. Even I, who considers black licorice to be the "liver of candies" was a huge fan of Callard & Bowser!
I bought some of the toffee you said was as good as Callard and Bowser licorice butter toffee and it was not the same in texture or taste. Nope! There is not a replacement for that great confection.
I used to put the Callard & Bowser's licorice in the freezer before I ate it. When bitten, it would shatter into many tiny pieces, then slowly develop it's flavors as it warmed while being chewed. I doubt anything could quite replicate it.
PS - I like Louisville, KY. I lived in Evansville, IN, for a while, and made many trips to Louisville. Nice place. Nice people.
I'm a few years late to the party here, but it's worth noting that Walker's NonSuch Licquorice Toffee is an even better replacement for Callard & Bowser- though there are some differences. Walker's has the perfect buttery texture, but it also has hints of ginger, which give it a slightly different flavor. I like it more than the Oatfield's, but it is not a perfect stand-in for our extinct confection.
So ... I am wondering what became of Callard & Bowser's original recipe? If they went out of business, you'd think they would have sold the recipe to another company. Doesn't seem right that so many fans of the licorice toffee are left to suffer!
:( sorry to hear the licorice I loved in the 80s is no more...took a long time to remember the name. thanks for suggesting alternatives; I will give them a try.
Yes - Those were the original Callard and Bowser Licorice Toffees - I ate them throughout grad school and remember the box shape and wrapping as exactly what you describe
Oatfield's had better be what you said Erik!
I just returned from my uncles funeral. He was 93 and on the table was a bowl of his favorite candy. I thought it was Callard & Bowzer but it was a round disk about about qn inch across with a white center. It was just in cellophane. It was delicious. Is this the same?
Callard & Bowser was purchased by Wm. Wrigley & Co. from Kraft in 2004. Callard & Bowser currently manufacture Altoids brand mints. Anybody want to start a campaign to bring back the licorice toffees???
I am working on an Oatfield licorice as we speak, and no, it is not as good as the Collard and Bowser. The Oatfield is a bit gritty and soft like a Kraft caramel, (the square ones wrapped in clear plastic), and the flavor, though similar, is not the same. The Oatfield is sort of between the C&B taste and the taste of one of those black licorice pipes. I am going to try some other brand, but the C&B was the absolute best!
Hi - I stumbled on this page in my search for what happened to Callard and Bowser and wanted to relay this link: https://www.yahoo.com/food/make-black-licorice-right-now-96726582703.html
I was trying to make old fashioned black liquorice for my Mom, and this turned out very similar to my fave toffee instead. I didn't have whole wheat flour, used unbleached instead, and didn't have unsalted butter, used regular and omitted the salt. SO HAPPY the results unexpectedly gave my back my old favorite candy! AND really easy and inexpensive! You can do this!
This appears to be an old string but I have to pass on what I feel comes close as possible to C&B. I've tried Oatfield and Walkers, which are ok but recently discovered J. Morgan's Old English Licorice and I love it. J. Morgan's is from Utah.
As Seneca says : "Habere eripitur, habuisse numquam." ...one can take what you have, but never what you have had.
If they sell C&B for the same price as they are getting for J. Morgan's Old English, they'd probably still be making it!
6/2015 It is wonderful to see that others remember Collard and Bowser's liquorice toffee. For decades now I've considered myself a bit of a one off on this. Back long ago no one I knew was willing to try the stuff, fearing a black liquorice that would bit back leaving you with a black tongue. But oh what a disguised treasure it was that small rectangular black and silver striped foiled flavor bomb. It resembling coal tar pitch until split, then the ragged edges took on a dark olive green that hinted at all sorts of corruption within. But if you took the plunge you were embraced in a flood of buttery anisette that you could never shake, that would stay with you, with me now over 40 years.
I remember when a time, some 45+ years ago, my grandfather lived in a small two room house next to the railroad tracks and only a few blocks from our house. I used to go visit him and he would sometimes take me fishing. He was quite old to me, but as kind as a person could be. He always made some eggs when I came over and we sat at his table. He had only one luxury in life, a box of Callard & Bowser Licorice in the silver and black wrapper. Like someone said above, they weren't black, but a very dark olive green. After the eggs were eaten, we would sit and talk. Eventually he would pull out a licorice and we would have one together, but only one. I loved those candies and always wondered if it was just me. Many years later, the name came to me and I started looking for them and like you all, my search led me here and many other places, as well. It is a bit surreal that so many could have been affected by a strange little candy square and that each can describe the flavor in such detail. I even wondered if it only had this unique effect on me because of the tender age and the association with my Grampa, whom died in a rest home near where we lived. I loved him and now I have many grandchildren of my own. My hope is that I leave as positive a lasting impression on them as he did on me.
Loved this licorice. Tried to find it and discovered this page. I will try J Morgan.
I make a Black Licorice Caramel that many people love and reminds them of the old fashion candies. Soft buttery black licorice. I own a small Cottage Food Operation called Snugglebug Sweets. I would be happy to ship some out to anyone. 1/2 lb for $10
Send me a message snugglebugsweets@gmail.com
That was Goetzes out off Baltimore MD. Aka Bullseyes
I have always wondered where to get this. I have wnt to several ole timey stores hoping to find. It brings such fond memories of my Grandpa and I. We were able to buy it at Churchill supermarket. Oh how I miss this candy. I wish so much to have a box of it one more time. Best ever black licorice!
Yes, it needs to come back in the stores. People need to have a taste of paradise. No other compares!!
I am surprised no one mentions all the other wonderful Callard & Bowsers toffee flavors. Each had its own smoothness and slightly firm outside. Butterscotch was amazing and once tried no other butterscotch would ever satisfy. Chocolate had a depth of true chocolate flavor no other toffee has. I think it was Rite Aide where I last saw them in the early 2000s, though I grew to love them long before that.
Oh how I loved those CB licorice candies and miss them. Not a fan of licorice other than these. I don't understand whycompanies discontinue great products. Used to buy tgem at an independent pharmacy in Evanston vack in the 1980s. I also recall butterscotch,and toffee but the licorice was my favorite. I can still remember the flavor and texture of the candy. Yum - I want a box right now.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I love your post and your story about your Grampa. Thanks for sharing.
I used to use Callard and Bowser licorice toffees to make my licorice icecream. Delicious. Have been trying to find these toffees for a long time. Didn't realise they have stopped being manufactured. Will see if I can find the Oatfield licorice toffees, but I live in Bunbury, Western Australia and I don't think my chances are very good!. Kerry J
Richard, I am forever trying to find these too.
Licorice Caramel Recipe
Ingredients
Vegetable oil
¼ cup water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup (one stick) butter
1 teaspoon coarse ground sea salt
2 teaspoons pure anise extract
Black food coloring paste (available at cooking and baking specialty stores, or online)
Directions:
1. Prep the pan:
Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to drape over 2 sides, then brush the paper lightly with a mild, flavorless vegetable oil (like corn or safflower oil).
2. Boil the sugar:
In a deep saucepan, combine 1/4 cup water, the sugar and corn syrup and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the mixture is a warm golden brown. Don't stir -- just swirl the pan. It should be ready at about 225°.
3. Heat the cream:
In the meantime, in a small pot, bring the cream, butter and 1 teaspoon of salt to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and set aside.
4. Finish the caramel:
When the sugar mixture is done, turn off the heat and slowly add the cream mixture to the sugar mixture. Be careful -- it will bubble up violently. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook over medium-low heat for until the mixture reaches 248 degrees F (firm ball) on a candy thermometer.
5. Add the flavoring and color
Add the anise extract and the black food color and stir in.
6. Fill the pan.
Very carefully (it's hot!) pour the caramel into the prepared pan and refrigerate for a few hours, until firm.
7. Cut the licorice caramel.
When the caramel is cold, pry the sheet from the pan onto a cutting board. Remove the parchments paper, cut into small squares. If it is difficult to cut, brush your knife blade with a small amount of vegetable oil.
8. Wrap the candies.
Cut glassine or parchment paper into 4-by-5-inch pieces and wrap each caramel individually, twisting the ends. Store in the refrigerator and serve the caramels chilled. I gave them as gifts in gift bags unrefrigerated, and they were fine!
Enjoy!!! https://www.facebook.com/CallardandBowserLicorice/
I Loved the butterscotch as well. Never have found a substitute for it. Is there one out there that I’m missing?
I love your description and agree wholeheartedly
Wonderful site.
My father discovered these back in the 60's and we both loved them. I made sure he had a box in his Christmas sock till he passed in 91. Sad that the company sold and takeovers discontinued making.
Iĺ sign any petition to bring the back.
blackkats4@gmail.com
Yes
They were wonderful. I loved that licorice so much I contacted Callard and Bowser to buy the recipe under license. The company lawyer refused.
Have just come across these comments whilst trying to find, you’ve guessed it - Callard & Bowsers Licorice Toffees. Like everyone else I was sorely disappointed to find they are no longer available, they were so delicious.
But maybe there is hope yet - I have been told there is a manufacturer in Holland (Gustavs) who makes licorice toffees/caramels as good as C & B’s. I haven’t tried them yet, still trying to find out how to purchase them either in the UK or direct from Holland but I will let you all know the outcome once I’ve tried them.
I have thought about these for years!!!! and found this site and it makes me so happy but sad that thy are no longer available. It brings back memories of my mom and I'm 70 now and still remember exactly what they looked like. I loved this brand and nothing has ever compared to it. Thanks for all the wonderful postings from everyone. I tried a couple times before but I guess I didn't describe it exactly and nothing came up. My ex is from Holland and he loves the salted licorice which I hate!!! We would get packages from Holland of all kinds of licorice. had no idea they were so popular over there Thanks for the laughs and memories!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home