Extra Dessert Delights Lemon Square

When it comes to lemon bars, "Go big or go home" is what I would say if I ever said things like that. Nothing is more disappointing at a bake sale than a lemon bar without enough zest. Take whatever the recipe calls for and double it, unless it's a really good recipe. Then, you probably only need a little extra.

The newest Dessert Delights flavor from Extra to hit shelves in my area is Lemon Square. Although some Dessert Delights flavors miss the mark, Extra always nails the packaging. The bright, sunny yellow and bold text caught my eye immediately. But what about the taste?

The gum smelled very lemony, with a hint of buttery shortbread. That's some pretty impressive chemistry. When chewed, the gum tasted like very sour lemon with powdered sugar, and I couldn't taste the crust without using my imagination. The lemon was nice and zesty and didn't taste like cleaning chemicals.

Unfortunately, the flavor was only strong for about a minute, then it faded to something like cotton candy. The gum was soft at first, but it firmed up as I chewed, and after about three minutes, I didn't want to chew anymore. That initial flavor is great, and it definitely tastes like a lemon square, but enjoy it while it lasts.

B-

Extra website

Extra Dessert Delights Rainbow Sherbet

Even though they are all interesting, I have yet to really love any flavors from Extra's line of Dessert Delights. I adore how they approach Willy Wonka territory, but like Mr. Wonka himself, there's always something that just seems a little bit off.

Rainbow Sherbet actually didn't have that odd note, and I really wanted to like it. The bright pink packaging is gorgeous, and I've always loved rainbow sherbet (especially when mixed with cream soda, Sprite, or ginger ale).

The gum smelled tart and very fruity, but in a nondescript way. While chewing, I could taste lime and raspberry, but mostly, it was just a little sour. The gum didn't have much orange to it, but maybe that would have overpowered the other flavors. It did indeed taste like rainbow sherbet.

This gum might set a new record for short-lived flavor; I got around 2 minutes. The chew was firm and not very bouncy, and the gum itself was a bit dense. Though I enjoyed the flavor, I tend to just gnaw through entire packs of gum when the flavor dies out so quickly, so my jaw would thank me not to buy this gum again.

B-

Extra Gum Website

Extra Key Lime Pie Gum

Sugar free gum knows no limits these days. This Key Lime Pie gum didn't show up at my local grocery store at the same time as the Mint Chocolate Chip and the Strawberry Shortcake, but it's probably the oddest of the three flavors.

Once I sample a gum flavor and take pictures, the rest of the pack usually goes on the corner of my desk, both to save my jaw and to share with my coworkers. It doesn't seem like the Key Lime Pie gum is a big hit, at least not compared to the other two Extra Dessert flavors.


The scent and taste were pretty much a dead ringer for key lime pie, but there was something about the cream element that was just a little too sour for me. It didn't stop me from enjoying the gum, but the delicate balance of citrus and cream that didn't translate here. The taste was another Willy Wonka experience, because I could have sworn I sensed a graham cracker crust, along with tart and acidic key lime and that bizarre cream sensation.

The lime and cream didn't play as well here as the strawberry and cream in Strawberry Shortcake, but that weird sour note did eventually go away, and I didn't notice it as much the next time I tried a piece. The flavor faded to a very mild, sweet lime gum pretty quickly (maybe after 2 minutes), and it became a little tough to chew. Still, this was another fun dessert experience from Extra, but not my favorite of the three flavors. Extra gets extra points for trying something different.

B-

Extra website

Extra Strawberry Shortcake Gum

Whether you prefer Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), or Roald Dahl’s classic novel, you’re certainly familiar with the iconic blueberry scene. I’ll admit it – as a child, the scene was a little intense.

The thought of an all gum dessert seemed very futuristic when I was younger, but with the advances in food science, it seems like Extra has just about taken us there. The new Dessert Delights line of gum definitely reminds me of Willy Wonka, with flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip (review soon) and the flavor reviewed here: Strawberry Shortcake.


The scent was typical of strawberry gum, floral, and slightly artificial. The first bite was very juicy and reminded me of how Strawberry Shortcake (the doll) smelled. Then, as the flavor developed, I tasted touches of cream. Here's the Willy Wonka part: maybe it was my imagination, but I swear I could taste angel food cake flavor in there, too.

Unfortunately, the flavor weakened dramatically after just a minute or so, but the angel food cake flavor hung around longer. The gum also got a little hard at this point seemed to make my jaw tired after about five minutes. Still, the flavor was complex and the experience of chewing a dessert gum was pretty cool. Thankfully, I haven't shown any signs of turning into a strawberry...yet.

Check out another review at Gum Alert.

B+

Extra website

Extra Fruit Sensations Strawberry Banana

I don't know that it's fair for me to rate strawberry banana flavored things, because I'm just not keen on banana flavoring. Sometimes the strawberry mellows it out, and if it's very authentic, then I have no problems at all, because real strawberries and bananas actually taste great together.

This gum was not very authentic. The first taste has the strong tingle of cherry-flavored liquid medicine, and I really want to call it Cherry Pepto Bismal or a cherry throat lozenge with a liquid center. It's not strawberry or banana. In any case, it's a tangy red flavor. I guess at least it was a strong flavor, though it's not really a plus here. Once that dies down, it's got that stale, rotting banana taste of Bubbleyum chewed too long.


This gum was not sensational. Two other friends tried it and neither went wild, but I know some people like the taste of cherry medicine. If not, pass on this one.

D

Extra Website