Unreal Made Red and Green Chocolate Gems Without Artificial Dyes. They’re $16.99.

Remember when holiday cookies came with candy that turned your tongue green?

Every December, someone set out a plate of cookies dotted with red and green candy-coated chocolates. You ate six before dinner. Your fingers stayed a little green for the rest of the night.

What actually happened

Unreal, the Boston chocolate brand, launched its first limited-edition Holiday Milk Chocolate Gems on Nov 10. They’re also its first red gems. Unreal says the red comes from red radish and the green from spirulina and turmeric, with no artificial dyes.

The company says the gems are certified gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified and made with Fair Trade Certified ingredients. They’re $16.99 and rolling out at Target, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Amazon and Thrive Market while supplies last. Each resealable bag holds 10 ounces, and on Unreal’s own site a two-bag pack is $33.98.

Co-CEO Kevin McCarthy leaned into the nostalgia. “Red and green chocolate is so nostalgic this time of year, and we believe you should be able to enjoy those holiday traditions without compromise and without artificial colors,” he said.

Our read: the food dye debate made it to the cookie plate

This is our read. Artificial food dyes have turned into a real dinner-table topic, and holiday candy is where they show up the most. Swapping them for radish and spirulina lets you keep the tradition without the ingredient list that made you squint. That’s an easy sell when you’re baking for a crowd.

The reality check

No artificial dyes doesn’t make it health food. It’s still milk chocolate candy, so check the sugar on the bag. And $16.99 is the company’s listed price, so the tag at your store may be a little different.

The close

The cookie plate still gets its red and green this year. This time the color comes from radishes, and your fingers might stay clean.

Sources

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