WHY AREN'T YOUR PRODUCTS AS SWEET AS OTHER CANDIES?
Most candy in the world either uses sugar or high-intensity "alternative sweeteners" that cause digestive problems or are artificially made. This includes allulose, maltitol, sorbitol, and even stevia for some people. These ingredients can also provide a "prickly" flavor that we find off-putting.
Koochikoo's tapioca base provides about 60-70% as much sweetness as cane sugar. Our candies create a soft, honey-like texture that coats your mouth and basically tricks your tastebuds into thinking it's sweeter than it actually is. After about 30 seconds in your mouth we doubt you'll even notice the difference!
IS KOOCHIKOO REALLY SUGAR-FREE?
We're all about transparency, so the truth is there is a tiny bit of sugar in our candies. Less than a half a gram per serving which rounds down to 0 according to US FDA regulations. Achieving a truly "zero sugar" option without compromising our clean ingredient values is something we continue to research.
WHAT IS TAPIOCA STARCH?
This ingredient is an isolated starch derived from the cassava plant root. It has the added benefits of being low calorie compared to sugar and a prebiotic which aids in digestion.
WHAT IS A PREBIOTIC?
Prebiotics are functional ingredients that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. Probiotic = introducing live bacteria to your gut. Prebiotic = providing food for the existing bacteria.
DO YOUR CANDIES CAUSE CAVITIES?
While Koochikoo doesn't actively combat cavities, the significantly lower sugar content does not cause them as quickly as sugar candies.
DOES YOUR CITRIC ACID COME FROM CORN?
Yes, our citric acid is derived from corn grown in the USA and is compliant with USDA Organic (meaning no GMOs) and Kosher OU regulations.
WHERE ARE YOUR CANDIES MADE?
Koochikoo is manufactured in India. We invested in building India's first (and we think currently only) USDA Organic certified candy factory.
WHY DON'T YOU MAKE THEM IN THE USA?
Honestly we'd prefer this. But as a small company, we don't currently have the funds to build our own production facility in the USA. When we started the company we contacted several co-manufacturers and they were not interested in producing an organic, sugar-free candy. "It's too niche," they said. "There's not enough demand," they said.
Koochikoo has grown every year since we started. Their loss!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DOES ORGANIC MEAN?
Organic means no chemicals, pesticides, or other artificial ingredients are present at any point in the supply chain. It also means 95% of the ingredients are certified organic and there are no GMOs. This is important not just to reduce the toxins we ingest, but also to protect the Earth.
IS KOOCHIKOO HALAL?
Yes! While we don't currently mark our packaging as Halal, we are Halal certified by UK Cert.
IS KOOCHIKOO KOSHER?
Yes! All of our products are certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union.
IS KOOCHIKOO VEGAN?
Yes! All of our ingredients are plant-based.
WHAT ALLERGENS ARE IN YOUR PRODUCT?
None of the US FDA's Top 8 Allergens are present in Koochikoo. That means no milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat (so no gluten), or soy.