Black Currant Candy
memories
Today as we were leaving the daily infusion treatment we stopped at small import store. As we entered the store we were met by a very familiar setup, reminds me of a tiny Bodega in NYC.
It is simple in layout, two short aisles, with staples from around the world gracing the shelves. My kind of store.
As we peruse the options and are tempted by everything, and then I see it, hard candies, lined up in a row, all kinds of unique flavors, sour orange, pear and there in the middle of the row, black currant candy, and then I am 5 years old.
My mother is from England and when I was a child, we would receive Christmas bundles in the mail. They were often filled with a crocheted dress or two, a Beezer Book, and candies like flake bars, curly wurlys, maltesers and my favorite the Rowntree fruit pastiles. The pastiles if you are not familar are a cross between a life saver and a gummy. They are delish and about the third or fourth one in the roll is the amazing one of a kind, Black Currant. I have always loved this particular flavor, because it is kinda like a berry, kinda like a raisin, but yet different. It’s the beets. That is the ingredient that gives it that one of kind flavor. Who knew?
In the basket they go. Followed by some Walkers mini mince pies for Mum, HP Sauce ( IYKYK), Raspberry spread, Swedish Pancake Mix, pumpernickel bread and Irish Bangers. I could spend much more, but that is literally what would fit in my basket, (yes the kind you carry around the shop not push). It was a one basket trip as it was meant to be.
It was a lovely unexpected pitstop, like visiting an old friend and a childhood memory all at once.
Isn’t it amazing how a taste or a scent can transport you to another time?
Hope your day was amazing and that you visited a favorite memory.
