Company: Panda Liquorice
Rsp: £1.98
Competition: Liquorice Allsorts, Fruittella Liquorice
The sell: The company hopes the combination of liquorice and blueberries will tap into consumer demand for healthier snacks and superfoods.


The consumer
When I opened the packet there was a lovely smell of blueberries, and the product retained a liquorice flavour while also giving a clear blueberry taste. They are quite moreish and not very chewy, which I liked. I also appreciated the fact that all the ingredients are natural. I found it to be a welcome change from conventional sweets and like that its not all sugary, yet still satisfied my sweet tooth. Five stars (out of five)
Michelle Davies, HR Consultant, Ipswich

The expert
This product tasted better than it smelled it had a quite unpleasant burnt aroma. The taste of blueberries and liquorice were both evident and complemented each other without being overpowering. The texture, however, was reminiscent of dates and not as smooth as I would have liked. I'm not keen on the packaging either - it is too dark and very dated. Having said that, I did enjoy the taste. Three stars
Tina Hird, trading controller, Spar

The Grocer
I was looking forward to this with interest and some trepidation. I like my liquorice strong and simple - with nothing but a little salt - added so a fruit-flavoured variant took me out of my comfort zone. Having said that, Panda does a nice job with its blueberry liquorice.

The texture is soft without being too chewy, and the blueberry adds fruitiness without being sickly. The blueberry was a little strong for me but could be just the ticket for someone who likes but doesn't quite love liquorice. Four stars
Julia Glotz, fresh food editor