Sugar-free delights.

• Position: What's New? Winter Gear & Food Fest - Brief Article

Valentine's Day looms but a few weeks away, meaning that wives, moms, and sweethearts can anticipate an outpouring of chocolates from their loved ones. What, though, do diabetics and, for that matter, those watching their weight have to look forward to? Despite the spate of articles citing chocolate's health benefits (including in "Your Life" on p. 8 of this issue), it remains a hazard for those categories of people. Sugar-free candy has been available for quite awhile, but its ingredients have left much to be desired insofar as bitter aftertaste and, for many, digestive upset. Now, we are pleased to report, some confectioners seem to have whipped the problem.

Country Fresh Fudge from Country Fresh Food & Confections, Inc., Oliver Springs, Tenn., is a revelation not only for the fact that it's 100% sugar-free, but because it accomplishes this without sacrificing taste. The quartet of flavors--chocolate, chocolate walnut, vanilla, and peanut butter--are a treat to the palate without being cloyingly sweet, as fudge often is. What's more, the texture is rich and creamy, not powdery, crumbly, and/or waxy, and there's no bitter aftertaste. The explanation probably lies in the sweetener, Splenda, which is actually derived from sugar, with all of the dangerous qualities removed.

The fudge is so delicious, we commented to Country Fresh that it's a shame that those who do not seek a sugar-free product probably won't get a chance to enjoy it. Much to our delight, we were told that the company also manufactures regular fudge, and we found the chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter equally delicious, albeit with a greater calorie count. Moreover, Country Fresh markets a chocolate jalapeno fudge under the Scorned Woman brand that is quite an experience in its own right, as the initial chocolate taste is followed by an explosion in the mouth as the jalapeno kicks in. For those who revel in spicy food, Happy Valentine's Day.

A wider variety of sugar-free candy...