<\/p>\n
You might be getting ready to celebrate \u043a\u0430\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u041f\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0445\u0430<\/strong> (Catholic Easter) this Sunday in which case you are probably too busy to read a long-winded post. So let\u2019s keep it short and sweet. Let\u2019s talk about \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b<\/strong> (candies).<\/p>\n What are some of the Russian alternatives for the candies you usually buy around Easter holiday? (If you don’t like candies, then may I interest you in other Russian sweets<\/a>?)<\/p>\n Let\u2019s begin with the traditional \u0434\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span><\/strong> (dragee). The word \u0434\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span><\/strong> might sound similar to \u0434\u0440\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (to tremble). Sure, a little \u0441\u043b\u0430\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (someone with a sweet tooth) might indeed \u0434\u0440\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043e\u0442 \u043d\u0435\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (tingle with impatience) at the sight of this candy while his parents might \u0441\u043e\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (shudder) at the damage sugar does to their child\u2019s teeth. However, the words are not related.<\/p>\n \u0414\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span><\/strong> is just a generic name for a small roundish candy, such as M&Ms, Jelly Beans, chocolate covered almonds or multi-colored glazed raisins known as \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/span>\u0435 \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (sea pebbles). Just as Jelly Beans or Skittles, \u0434\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span><\/strong> do not come individually wrapped into \u043e\u0431\u0451\u0440\u0442\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (wrappers). Which is a major time saver.<\/p>\n Next up is \u043b\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0446\u044b<\/span><\/strong> (sugar candy) which can be \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0435<\/strong> (on a stick) or not. Some are made as \u0434\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span><\/strong>, but they usually end up sticking together into a shapeless blob and are best avoided. For some reason, \u043b\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0446\u044b<\/span> \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0435<\/strong> look especially\u00a0irresistible\u00a0to children (and even some adults). Maybe that explains the other use<\/a> of the phrase \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0435<\/strong>. When in Russia, try to find and enjoy traditional \u043b\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0446\u044b<\/span> \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0435<\/strong> (sugar candy on a stick), for example a translucent red \u043f\u0435\u0442\u0443\u0448\u043e<\/span>\u043a \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0435<\/strong> (rooster on a stick).<\/p>\n Another word for \u043b\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0446<\/strong> is \u043a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c<\/strong>. Well, at least it\u2019s the candy industry term for \u043b\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0446<\/strong>. But when we talk about \u043a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0438<\/strong>, we usually think of candy that\u2019s made with melted sugar and molasses. Oh, and it usually has some kind of \u043d\u0430\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (filling) inside, including fruit-, berries-, cream- and liqueur-based ones. And it’s never on a stick. And it’s always shaped like a \u0431\u0430\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0447\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (short thick stick). So it’s pretty much nothing like \u043b\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0446<\/strong> in my book. \u041a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (little caramel candies) are usually individually wrapped in colorful \u0444\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (wrappers).<\/p>\n By the way, these simple paper wrappers became the gateway into the world of \u043a\u043e\u043b\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0446\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (collecting) for many children.<\/p>\n Another type of \u043a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c<\/strong> is \u0438\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441<\/strong> (taffy). Do not confuse it with the flower \u0438<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u0441<\/strong> even though the candy got its name after this beautiful flower. \u0427\u0435\u043c \u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0448\u0435 \u043c\u044b \u0441\u0442\u0430\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043c\u0441\u044f, \u0442\u0435\u043c \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u044c\u0448\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u043c \u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0438\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (The older we get, the less we want to have taffy). This stuff will pull your \u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (dental crowns) right off, I tell you!<\/p>\n Finally, let\u2019s talk about \u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b<\/strong> (chocolate candies) or \u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (chocolates). There are so many to choose from! First, there are \u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0438 \u0441 \u043d\u0430\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u043e\u0439<\/strong> (filled chocolates), such as \u043f\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0438\u043d\u0435<\/span><\/strong> (pralines), chocolates filled with fruits or liquor, or light crispy \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0444\u043b\u0438<\/strong> (waffles) covered in chocolate. Each chocolate candy is wrapped in a beautiful wrapper, sometimes two or three (an inner wax paper one, a middle foil one and an outer one with a picture or a design).<\/p>\n Then there are \u043d\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0442<\/strong> (boxes of chocolates) of all shapes and sizes. Russians buy them as small gifts (yes, even if a box is a giant lavishly decorated one), tokens of appreciations, so to speak. But here\u2019s a hint: if you prefer substance over looks, have a discerning taste, and don’t care for the “life is like a box of chocolates”\u00a0spiel,\u00a0 forgo the flashy oversized boxes of pralines for a modest box of \u041f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u044c\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span><\/strong> (lit: Bird\u2019s Milk). Don\u2019t aim for looks, but do make sure to check whether it\u2019s fresh. The delicate mousse inside these chocolate-glazed candies won\u2019t spoil, but it will crystallize which will affect the taste.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s it for today.<\/p>\n One more note – if you plan to visit your local Russian grocery store and buy some candies, read the wrappers first. Here are the proper names of some of the most popular and most nostalgia-inducing candies – \u041b\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430, \u041c\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u0421\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435, \u041a\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0428\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430, \u0413\u0440\u0438\u043b\u044c\u044f<\/span>\u0436 \u0432 \u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0435, \u041a\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0430-\u041a\u0443\u043c, \u041a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430, \u0411\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430.<\/strong> If the name on the wrapper sounds close, but not quite the same, it means that the manufacturer most likely did not follow the original recipe or quality standards. Also, get familiar with what the images on the classic candy wrappers<\/a> should look like. If the name matches, but the image is not the same, it\u2019s a \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (fake).<\/p>\n Finally, buy extra candies and invite your Russian friend for \u0434\u0435\u0433\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (tasting). Your friend will surely let you know how the candies you bought measure up to the classics of his\/her youth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You might be getting ready to celebrate \u043a\u0430\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u041f\u0430\u0441\u0445\u0430 (Catholic Easter) this Sunday in which case you are probably too busy to read a long-winded post. So let\u2019s keep it short and sweet. Let\u2019s talk about \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435\u0442\u044b (candies). What are some of the Russian alternatives for the candies you usually buy around Easter holiday?…<\/p>\n