Review: Smittens – vegan sweets

Smittens are the new, budget-friendly sweets from Candy Kittens, the luxury vegan brand with a celebrity boss. You know the one – Jamie Laing from Made in Chelsea. The headline here is that they’ve found a way to make these sweets about a third cheaper than their main range.

The pitch was that the quality hasn’t been sacrificed that much to achieve this price drop. I can now confirm this is true because I bought a whole box, and I’m already on my second packet.

The Sour Test

There are three flavours available: Strawberry, Blueberry and Sour. If, like me, you buy a box, you get the full set. I think flavours are easy, and sour is the challenge. Too little and sour disappoints, too much and it attacks.

So, how do the Smitten sours stack up?

Smitten sours aren’t quite as well-balanced as their big brother Candy Kittens, but hit the safe zone with a pleasant tang rather than a face-imploding experience.

While we’re testing, though, let’s note that a warning on the packet states that Smittens are made in a factory that also handles milk products. That’s good to know, but the bad news for Laing is that vegan friends have suggested this alone would put them off. I’m not even vegan, so appreciate the heads up and can continue to wolf down the treats.

Candy eCommerce

I bought my Smittens directly from Candy Kittens’ website. It was a straightforward experience. The site is a straightforward Shopify e-commerce experience, and that means it’s the most commonly used shopping software running the show behind the scenes. That reduces the risk of things going wrong. I certainly had no problems buying my candy, but, unfortunately, I think I can navigate Shopify’s checkout (thus Candy Kittens’) in my sleep.

My box of Smittens was sent out quickly. Having previously bought the Candy Kittens advent calendar, I’d certainly shop here again.

Value for Money

Unfortunately for my waistline, this is a success. This is a win from the Smittens range. In this case, I get a better deal because the price point is much more accessible. It is rare to find a vegan, gluten-free sweet that doesn’t come with a heavy “vegan tax”, so finding these on the shelf (or virtual shelf) feels like a win.

You can buy a packet of six of any one flavour for £9.60, a taster box for £4.80 or a bigger box (two of each) for £9.60. The math stacks, no discounts, but it does mean you can dabble before diving in. Prices here are from the website, but I suspect most Smittens will be sold from supermarkets.

Overall

These are hot off the shelf and worth trying. They manage to deliver the Candy Kittens experience without the premium price tag. While they might lack the intense complexity of the more expensive chews, they are a fantastic treat.

This is not my problem, but I don’t think I’ll need to treat myself to Candy Kittens anymore.