Katja – Zoo Mix

So something I learned recently is Katja is the same brand as Katjes but with a different name. Katja is the name used in the Netherlands, while Katjes is used in Germany. Interesting stuff. That also means that the makers of this Zoo Mix are the same ones who made the much beloved Fred Ferkel gummies I had not too long ago.

Another fun fact, but the company that owns Katjes is also responsible for creating an age old, and equally beloved gummy snack named Percy Pig in the UK, specifically under license for Marks & Spencer. A quick glance at some images of Percy Pig and I can confidently say it’s identical to the pig gummies I had previously, so I’m a little shocked I am only finding out about all this now. It’s like when you’re but a young child and realizing that your favourite snacks are all owned by the same one or two companies. It’s a little sobering to think about, until you decide to gloss over it in favour of stuffing your face with more sweets. As I am about to do as well.

All of this was to say that today’s item is a relatively safe bet in terms of trying out alternative formats for the gummy. The Zoo Mix is called that because it has three different flavours, one of which is essentially Fred in a different shape. More specifically, there are cola monkeys, lemon tigers and raspberry elephants.

The flavour of each of these is quite on point, with the exception of the elephants, which I’ll get into. The cola one is a good balance between tart lemon and soda flavour, and hits that cola note perfectly. It also doesn’t leave a weird lingering after taste so that’s a plus. The lemon is more of a lemon sorbet than lemon fruit, which is great because I’m not crazy about sour stuff too much. It’s got a nice peel flavour to it without being too tart, and is overall not too artificial. The elephant is my favourite, but also perplexing to me – it’s some sort of raspberry, grape, berry hybrid and I can’t seem to put my finger on it. It’s ever so slightly floral, but largely got a distinct sweet berry quality you expect from a strawberry gummy.

The texture is not quite airy or foamy gummy, and it’s almost like a very dense marshmallow. It’s got a soft gummy section in the ears, but apart from that it’s largely soft, chewy and light. The pieces do tend to be a bit sticky when it’s fresh, so I let it sit out for a while to dry out a bit and I prefer that texture more. Unlike Haribo, these don’t necessarily get harder, but just a little less sticky and wet, for lack of a better term.

Overall these are another win, and I look forward to getting these again. Katjes is definitely one of my top gummy brands at this point. Being vegan is just the cherry on top as that means more people can enjoy these delightful treats.