Hi-Chew – Mystery Transformation Mix

Another year, another strange gimmick. I say that, but I’m also fully expecting this to simply be a rehash of something else they’ve done before, just with a new sticker slapped on it. Having said that though, I can’t take the chance that it’s something new. The fear of missing something unique or new is too high for me to simply ignore this.

There’s 16 pieces in the bag, with an even split of yellow and pink pieces. The one thing I like about these bags is that the individual wrapped nature means I don’t feel the need to rush and finish the whole pouch. With the stick format, even if you store it to the best of your abilities, it’s exposed to air and slowly gets hard and firm if you wait too long. Not that Hi-Chew generally lasts that long anyways, but still.

In the yellow corner we have what smells and tastes like shine muscat, a classic flavour of Hi-Chew. As I begin to chew, the flavour shifts away from the juicy, sweet grape into a slightly tart flavour which has notes of apple before having a nice floral finish and reminding me of a lychee flavour. I’m not quite sure whether it’s supposed to be apple or lychee, but I am inclined to think lychee. The transition between grape to lychee feels more natural to me, so that’s what I’m going with. I’ve got to say the transition is short, but because of the flavours being complimentary, I think this works out quite well.

In the pink corner we start off with a classic peach flavour that is similar to the white peach flavours, and in very quick order it becomes a pineapple flavour. Pineapple is a very distinct and supposedly easy flavour to replicate, and it very quickly overpowers the peach flavour. The very short transition between the flavours is certainly interesting and exciting, but the excitement doesn’t last long enough to register everything going on. Kind of like being a deer caught in the headlights.

While I understand the idea and concept of the gimmick, I find it to be not too different from the duos flavours, and this is sort of just barely different from that. If I take that for what it actually is upon execution, it’s still quite tasty and fun flavour variety. But don’t expect it to be a true “mystery” of any kind.