Comparison: Hong Kong Frutips vs. Canada Frutips (by Nestle)

Happy Halloween! Since it is Halloween today, let's talk about a candy that has been quite popular lately.... or for a very long time (if you are in Asia).

This post isn't just a review but a comparison between Frutips available in Hong Kong and Canada.

I always thought that similar products sold in different countries should be different, due to demographics, taste, culture, etc. As someone who likes to explore different things... it can be quite an adventure to try things that are similar yet different... the differences makes it so much more interesting!

Before I begin, Frutips are chewy fruit juice candies, they are marketed as being extra soft and containing real fruit juice. They were originally called Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles  (if you are from Australia you might know them as Wonka Fruit Pastilles). Currently Nestles own them in Canada and Hong Kong (not sure which other companies are involved in different parts of the world).

For those of you who have tried one and want to the other or simply deciding which one to buy, here are the differences between Hong Kong Frutips (能得利) and Canada Frutips:

Hong Kong Frutips photo source: http://needsugarnow.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/blackcurrant-frutips/

Hong Kong Frutips:

• much chewier (harder, require more "teeth strength")
• juicy
• long lasting

Hong Kong Frutips offer 2 types of packaging, the foil wrapping (as shown in the picture) as well as the big plastic tube container (similar to the picture below). The most popular flavour in Hong Kong is Blackcurrent with sugar coating (as shown in the picture).

photo source: http://pharmacy-business.ca/2012/07/24/rowntrees-frutips/

Canada Frutips:

• dissolve almost immediately (hardly requires any chewing)
• very sweet
• very soft

It is really hard to say which one is better (all depends on personal preference). As for myself, I prefer Hong Kong's version because I like candies which are longer lasting, chewier and less sweet.

After doing some research, I find that Hong Kong's marketing & advertising for Frutips is much superb than in that in Canada , It's (probably) because this product has been in Hong Kong much longer than it has been in Canada (I couldn't even find the official site/page for the Canadian Frutips). after visiting Frutips' Hong Kong, I was shocked to see just "how big" this candy is in Hong Kong, they have celebrities promoting this candy! (Hong Kong is really serious about Frutips)

Hong Kong Frutips website: http://promo.nestle.com.hk/frutips/

also... if you are interested, please check out my personal blog and follow me around Tokyo :)