Hot Shot Crunchies

Sweet heat is a difficult balance in confectionery. Too little chilli and it is a novelty that does nothing; too much and the sugar stops registering entirely. Hot Shot is built to land in between.

Freeze-drying concentrates both elements at once. The fruit sugar intensifies as the water leaves, and so does the capsaicin, so each piece delivers sweetness first and then a chilli burn that builds behind it rather than hitting immediately.

The heat is real — this is not a gimmick with a trace of pepper — and it holds all the way down the bag instead of fading after the first few pieces. Roughly half the people who try it will hand the bag back. The other half will finish it.

It sells in pairs more than any other flavour we make, because the first thing anyone does after eating one is dare somebody else to.

The 4 oz bag holds 113 g — close to three times the small bag for well under three times the price, which makes it the better buy once you know you like a flavour. It is also the sharing size: poured into a bowl it fills it, and it disappears faster than anyone expects.

Store it sealed in a cool, dry place. Moisture is the one thing that undoes freeze-dried candy — an open bag left out will slowly go soft, so press the seal shut properly and it will keep its snap.

• 4oz bag of freeze-dried spicy cinnamon candy
• Fiery cinnamon heat with sweet candy finish
• Snack Kings LLC, Linden NJ