Marilyn's Photos - July 22 2026 - Grandpa Flavours

 

I saw this expression - "Grandpa Flavor" -  it is American pop culture slang to describe foods, drinks or scents that feel old-fashioned and reminiscent of older generations.  These include things like black licorice, sarsaparilla, root beer and rye bread.  There is butter pecan, black walnut, pistachio and dark, bitter coffees.  For Candies and treats the grandpa flavours are rum raisin, marzipan, molasses, and Werther's Originals.  Finally there's strong, sharp cheddar cheese, sardines, and pickled vegetables.  This cupboard full of foods doesn't seem too appealing to me. On the other hand, consider each one.  The first item is black licorice and that's a favourite Dutch treat, especially if it is salted. It is known as zoute drop.  It gets its intense savory-sweet profile from ammonium chloride rather than table salt.  And there are varieties that are "double salt" so considered even better. What about root beer?  It definitely is from a great-great-great Grandpa era.  Root beer is made using the root bark of the sassafras tree or the sarsaparilla vine.  It is a old drink, originating in the 18th century as a type of beer that was brewed.  A key component of sassafras is safrole, and was banned in 1960 when it was found to be carinogenic so it is made with artificial sassafras now.  It seems odd as it was used throughout the 18th and 19th centuries for its medicinal qualities by both indigenous and colonial inhabitants. But I think of Werther's Candies as being the grandest of the grandpa flavours - they are beloved by old people - grandpas and grandmas alike.  I see the little shiny packages in the rooms at Albright Manor when Millie and I visit.  Sometimes Millie launches under a chair or book case and I know what she's seen - an unwrapped Werther's waiting for her.  Werther's firmly cemented its reputation as a grandpa item with its television ads in the 1980s and 1990s.  And it is commonly referred to in obituaries as the candy given out to one and all by the deceased.  Even my own father turned into a Werther's grandpa when he got to long-term care. I wonder if Werther's will catch up to us. Too bad this house wasn't on the garden tour with its traditional garden entrance. To me it looks like it belongs in England. Very stately. Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.com