PASSIONATE RATIONS

I have these occasional thoughts about opening up a place called “World Candy.” I’d import the top-selling candies from every country on the planet and house them on brightly colored shelving laid out on an enormous world map by country of origin. Eat your candy AND learn geography.

Come on. Admit it. Your kids would love it (and so would you).

I have Japan to thank for the idea. My visit there introduced me to green-apple Hi-Chews by Morinaga & Company (a stick of yumma-licious individually wrapped taffy-like candy). These were a gateway drug, opening my world to the myriad wares of the Meiji candy company. So much for the glory of the Meiji imperial reign, but there are worse tributes.

Meiji produces these itty-bitty fruity jelly beans called “Poifull” with a curious, but satisfying springiness to them as you chew. The Japanese treatment of fruit flavors in their candies far outshines anything I’ve found in the U.S. And have I mentioned the great names they apply to their sweets?

Meiji also has these little candies that are reminiscent of M&Ms in how they look, but the chocolate covers a center of gummi candy (peach flavored or strawberry or…. There are several). I forget what these are called, but they are outrageously good.

Since candy has the deep connection to childhood, and I think back fondly and often to the candies of my kid-dom, I thought I should provide a public service by making sure the candies of EVERYONE’s childhoods could be found in one place. Right here in America. A sweet melting-pot of a store.

Maybe we could all get along better if we shared our candy.

Now, if only I knew a capital venture firm and anything at all about the import/export business….

Anyone?