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Candy lovers, take note. Any word that begins with “hema” refers to blood. Therefore, if you find a popular snack named “Hematogen” is calling your name, and you’re not a vampire, may be wise to stay away.
According to Fox News, Hematogen was a “chocolatey, chewy snack with an oddly metallic aftertaste” that was the “go-to snack for Russian kids” before the fall of the Soviet Union. It was also made with blood.
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Yup. This Soviet snack, that supposedly has the texture of a Tootsie Roll, is made with beet sugar, condensed milk, sugar, syrup, and cow’s blood. It’s perfect for that anemic friend in your life with a sweet tooth!
Sure, blood candy is bizarre, but it may not be the strangest candy in existence. Here are some more candies that might creep you out.
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Josh Helmuth is a sports reporter in St. Louis who contributes to Mandatory.
Worlds Strangest Candy
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Hematogen
Let's start with the aforementioned blood candy. We're pretty sure, while possibly normal to other cultures, if the rest of us found out cow's blood was in our Hershey Kisses, we would make a run to the bathroom. Or sneak it into our boss's Easter basket.
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Big Turk
This "Turkish delight" is a Canadian candy staple. But people either love it or hate it. It's been described as chocolate-covered Swedish Fish.
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Nurungji
Known as "burnt rice candy," this Korean candy is essentially scorched rice that mimics the taste of burnt popcorn. Yum.
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Wasabi Kit Kat
You bring the soy sauce, we'll bring the ginger. In Japan, you can get a Kit Kat that is wasabi flavored.
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Rakovye Sheiki (Lobster Necks)
Another Russian treat, these guys are hard candies that have a caramel-lobster flavor filling.
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Ika
In Asia, people love squid. Why not cover squid in chocolate and call it i
nka?
