Sugar High

Posted @ Feb. 01 2011 12:50PM by Lisa -

Where to Soothe Your Sweet Tooth

By Ethan Chung | Photo by Jeff Hobson

You know the feeling. Only one thing will do. Not a cheeseburger or a basket of salty fries. Your taste buds can’t be satisfied by something savory. The saccharine flavor of sweet sugary goodness is your only hope. Luckily, the South Sound is full of delectable concoctions, everything from chocolates and caramels to cupcakes, fudge and more. Here are some of the sweet places to find your sugar fix.

Johnson Candy Company
This long-time Tacoma favorite has been creating candy for local sugar seekers since 1925. The business was started by Russell Johnson, who ran a soda fountain lunch spot in the Hilltop neighborhood and bought some candy items. Well, the candy was popular so he decided he’d learn how to make it. Eventually he ditched the lunch gig and started making candy full time when he opened Johnson Candy Company, according to his son, Ron. During WWII, the elder Johnson hired another candy maker who brought with him more recipes. Ron purchased the business in the 1970s and now his son, Bill, is the third-generation lead candy maker turning out favorites such as caramel pecan turtles and homemade caramel dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with salt. “People keep coming back for more of those,” Ron said. Sweet, salty and addicting. Don’t miss out on their boxes of Valentine’s Day chocolates. 924 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.272.8504

Old Cannery Fudge Factory
Where better to quell that chocolate craving than at a furniture store? The kids will hardly complain. The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse in Sumner is full of unique finds to fill your home, and also boasts a fudge factory that’s whimsically carved from an old tree, right in the middle of the store. Old Cannery makes all its fudge on-site. Their fresh flavors include raspberry cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter, orange cream and many more, plus several sugar-free options. oldcanneryfurniture.com, 253.863.0422

Theo Chocolates
Seattle’s Theo Chocolates make a tasty statement with its incredible candy bars like fig, fennel and almond, bread and chocolate and chai tea. But the bigger statement comes from the company’s sustainable practices. Theo Chocolates is the only fully organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the United States. To get a better grasp of their process, schedule a tour of the factory. For $6, you can discover the “bean-to-bar” process at Theo Chocolates, and indulge in some tasty samples as well. Tours are available seven days a week, but they fill up fast, so make reservations (they’re required on weekends). theochocolate.com, 206.632.5100

Sugar
Have a taste for something nostalgic? Sugar, an itsy-bitsy candy store in the Proctor district in Tacoma, specializes in plenty of old-fashioned favorites like Pop Rocks, Good n’ Plenty, Bazooka Joe Bubblegum and much more. Bring your little ones here for a sugary blast from the past. proctorsugar.com, 253.759.0461

Corina Bakery
The fine folks at Corina Bakery in Tacoma are known throughout the region for their incredible vegan and gluten-free creations. With the exception of cakes and cinnamon rolls, their baked goods can be made to order gluten free. Unique cakes such as The Aztec (chocolate cake infused with cinnamon, cayenne and ginger with chocolate “butter” cream) and the lavender honey cake (dried lavender in yellow cake with honey covered in lemon-honey buttercream) are among Corina’s delectable offerings. Cupcakes, pies and other pastries are available and baked fresh daily. corinabakery.com, 253.627.5070