Kids treated to freeze-dried candies

Exclamations of excitement, surprise and occasionally disgust filled the multipurpose room in the library last Thursday as a group of teenagers conducted a blind taste test of freeze-dried candy. 

Becky Iwen, the Sweetwater County Library System's Youth Services Manager, organized the taste test as one of the activities for the weekly Teen Thursdays program. Iwen owns a freeze dryer that she bought for her family to make food for backpacking. After buying it, she saw people on the internet talking about freeze drying candies. Iwen tried it out, and even sold some of the candies at the farmers' market during the summer. 

Iwen remembered doing an Oreo taste test for Teen Thursdays a few years ago and how much the teens enjoyed it, so she figured doing a freeze dried candy taste test would be fun. The activity was done as a blind taste test, so teens closed their eyes to taste each of the 14 different freeze dried candies, then wrote down their guess of each candy's brand and flavor. Freeze dried candies being tasted included treats like Skittles, Milk Duds, High Chews, Airheads and different flavors of Jello. At the end the group went through each candy together and points were given for correct guesses. The teens then got to pick out their favorite candies to take home, getting more candy depending on how many points they earned. 

Teen Thursdays are held at the Sweetwater County Library every Thursday from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. and are open to teens in the sixth through 12th grades.

The program alternates each week between open hangout time and more structured activities. This month's upcoming activities include an "Art Attack" day, when teens will modify famous works of art Oct. 14, and a Halloween party on Oct. 28. This month is also "Teentober," and teenagers can get a scratch-off ticket when they check out books and movies with the chance to win instant prizes or a $50 Amazon gift card.