Chase’s Cherry Mash
An American favorite (sic) since 1918, this is the Cherry Mash which belongs to Chase and his candy company. So popular that they even have cherry mash recipes on the back (a cherry mash milkshake and a cherry mash sundae), this is a very classic looking product.
The ingredients have ground roasted peanuts listed first, with sugar, corn syrup, etc. down to maraschino cherries. So I’m not really sure what to expect from this as of yet. I’m sure being an American favourite is meant to comfort us but if anything it worries me, American tastes don’t always match up with my own.
So you open it up and there we are, a big chocolate dome thing that’s littered with chopped nuts. Inside the dome is a big pile of cherry mash stuff, with a little layer of chocolate or something just above it. It has a wet, pink look to it and a faint, pleasant cherry smell.
The taste is much stronger once in your mouth though. It’s not a bad taste but it’s a bit of a strange one. The nuts don’t add much but an annoying texture, and the cherry is a little bit overbearing. It’s kinda good, but I think you have to be in the mood for one of these and I wasn’t, so I was a bit unsure about the whole thing.
To conclude, I’d take a Cherry Ripe over this, the dark chocolate there compliments the sweet cherries a bit better. Here there are nuts which complicate things a bit needlessly, the chocolate is fairly tasteless, and the cherry is a bit too…something, but not particularly to my liking. Not bad, but not great.
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October 8th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Just FYI, these are an American favorite in the sense that maybe people used to eat them generations ago when they cost a nickel and most chocolates were similarly subpar. These days, they’re a novelty/retro candy that are hard to find and that most people in the states have never heard of.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I’ve been an American all my life and never heard of these.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:55 am
I am from Canada….I was watching a program on how differant candy was made, that is when I saw the cherry mash, never heard of this before but yet the show said that thousands are made every day. How can I get some to see if they are as good as they say ( for generations).
December 6th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I was out roving the Internet looking for links to Cherry Mash and found this review. I design the retro-styled website for the Chase Candy Company. Factory direct shipping available from http://www.cherrymash.com
Shipping only available in continental US. Sorry Brenda from Canada.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I have been eating these unique confections since I was a little boy. Yes. They are retro. Do they taste good? It depends on the person. If, say for example, you are from my area, which is close to St. Joseph, Mo. where they are made, then, yes. You will most likely like them. If you are from the Southern states, then you might like a different brand. As for the Canadians, well, if you’re close enough to the states, you might find some to try. Don’t just simply take someone’s word for it. You have to try it to know if you like something or not. Personally, I can’t remember how many times I’ve made myself sick eating too many of these Cherry Mash’s!! I’d just love to take a swim in one of their vats I love ‘em so much!! As to Bob. Been to your site. Nicely done. Might take a tour of the factory some day!! I assume swan dives into the vats are prohibitted!!
August 14th, 2009 at 2:46 am
I grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri, where the Chase Candy co factory that produces Cherry Mash is located. Some of my fondest memories are thanks to the Chase company and their wonderful confection. The Chase co sponsors a large light display every Christmas at Krug Park. Lights and displays (and Santa, reindeer, elves…) are all throughout this park. It’s a Christmas tradition in St. Joe to load the family and friends into the vehicle and drive slowly through the park. The park is large-ish, and there is always a line of vehicles winding their way through the winter wonderland. Most importantly, at the end of the drive through this winter wonderland, volunteers hand out free Cherry Mash candy bars to everyone in the car. Cherry Mash is definitely a childhood “favorite”. I live on the East Coast now, and haven’t been able to get back to St. Joe for Christmas in a number of years. To this day, 30+ years later, however, my mom still sends me a 5-lb tin collectors tin full of Cherry Mash candy bars every Christmas.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Cherry Mash candy has been a favorite treat since I was a little girl. It was always sent to us from our relatives in Kansas at Christmas time and we always one received with much delight. It has been a continued tradition ever since. I have been living in Canada most of my adult life with a family of my own and have continued to order them every Christmas for my kids (who are now in their 20’s)…by unanimous request. A Christmas without Cherry Mash candy would be a huge dissappointment…if you haven’t tried one, you’re really missing out!
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:42 am
I bought my first Chase’s Cherry
Mash today. I thought it was sort of good, but far too sweet, too much sugar or something. It is not as good as the Palmer’s Cherry Bing.
Not bad but too sweet for me.
Love the outside chocolate nut
outside.
Respectfully yours
March 4th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I have had Chase’s Cherry
Mash when I can find them. I thought it was too sweet, too much sugar or too much cherry center. They are never as good as the Palmer’s Candy Co.Cherry Bing. But I grew up in Sioux City Iowa home to Palmer’s Candy Co.and those Cherry Twin Bings.