Pastiglie Leone Violette

These purple candies have what my husband describes as a “chalky” taste — I would characterize it as sweet but not too sweet, floral, and kind of old-timey. If you, like me, are a person who finds old lady scents “fancy,” then this is the candy for you. Perfect in its paper wrapper which reveals a little yellow cardboard box; there is no greater pleasure than opening a desk drawer and seeing a few unopened boxes waiting for you. Once released from the paper wrapper, the cardboard rapidly loses its shape in a bag or a backpack, sending the tiny pastilles flying, which is itself delightful — so fun to find and eat the runaway candies from the bottom of a tote bag. For me these are like better Mentos: odd, liminal candies that you could daintily eat just one of but are so fun to slam — for example, as a gradual reward for focusing on work.