Crispy Fruit??

Crispy and fruit aren't exactly two words that go together, which is why I stopped mid-aisle of the grocery store to take a closer look. Crispy Green Crispy Fruits came in an assortment of flavors and were kind of on sale (2 for $3). So why not? I tossed the pineapple and apricot into my cart.

It's all fruit -- nothing added but it's like eating fruit candy. Or, more appropriately, space fruit. It's similar to astronaut ice cream -- Crunchy, airy and sweet, except this is bursting with fruit flavor.

How is this possible? According to their website, the fruit undergoes a "sophisticated freeze-drying process... leaving behind the true essence of the fruit in a light and crispy texture." The website also boasts the product was listed as one of the "100 Tastes You Must Try in 2007" by Food & Wine mag.

Are you sold yet?? Because now that I've reeled you in, I'm going to dispense the bad news. The fruit comes in the smallest package I've ever seen. And when all's said and done, those little packages only produce maybe half a handful of these treats. $1.50 (on sale, mind you) for that?? This must be one mighty expensive dry-freezing process..

Then I read more from the website ---it takes about more than 10 pounds of fresh fruit to produce 1 pound of freeze-dried fruit because water makes up 80-90% of fruit weight. Ahhhh.. There we go..

The crispy fruit is a lovely notion but I may have to wait until the price is lowered until I allow myself to be addicted to it.

Comments

[rachel]

They are yummy! There are some other brands out there that are slightly cheaper and Trader Joe's has their brand of freeze dried strawberries-a whole tub-for about $2.

[Brianna]

I have been balking at the pricing of these little treats for quite some time now. You might try the Sensible Foods version which can be purchased by the case at a fairly reasonable price: http://sensiblefoods.com/order_online.htm
I know it sounds crazy but the corn is amazing.

[Andrea]

Thank you so much! Now I have not one but two solutions to get my crispy fruit fix! I was ready to give them up. And I can't believe that TJ has a tub of the strawberry ones for $2. I feel ripped off that I paid more than that for a handful. And, Brianna -- I'll totally try the corn, if you say it's amazing!

[ann]

ah, my two year old nephew gets freeze dried corn from his mom. that's all it is, and it's sold in the babyfood aisle. I love stealing it from him, and so I've been known to buy some for myself, so I'm pretty sold on this concept, but what really sold it to me was "kinda like astronaut icecream." was I the only person that LOVED that stuff? I was a child obsessed!

[Andrea]

I use to LOVE the astronaut ice cream. As a child, I thought astronauts were the coolest -- they got to visit space AND eat freeze-dried ice cream. Could life can any better??