Edible candles, tomato jam and 10 other food and drink products to try this month

This month, you’ll want to get products like pulled cream candy, drinking vinegars, edible candles and instant coffee for kids on your to-buy list.

Chocolate candles

Let Them Eat Candles makes chocolate celebration candles in tapers and balloon shapes that you can light and then eat. The flame burns out in about a minute, and then it’s time to nibble on the chocolate, discarding the wick. Another plus: No more inedible wax candles melting into your cake.

$11.95 for a set of three 4½-inch tapered candles. Available at letthemeatcandles.com.

Zero-proof rum. (Courtesy of Alicia Ramirez/Philters)

Zero-proof spiced rum

Alcohol-free spirits are having a moment, and Philters has entered the market with four options that mirror the flavor profiles of rum, gin, mezcal and whiskey. We’re loving Ruhm, Philters’ take on rum with a hint of spice. It’s perfect for zero-proof versions of a rum Palmer or a rum and Coke.

$39.95 for a 25-ounce bottle. Available at philters.com.

Pulled cream candy. (Courtesy of Ruth Hunt Candy Co.)

Pulled cream candy

Pulled cream candy might not be well-known outside the state of Kentucky, but Ruth Hunt Candy in Mount Sterling and Lexington has been making Blue Monday bars since the 1930s. Dark chocolate covers the candy bar’s pulled cream center for a treat that will get you through any blue Monday.

$26.25 for a box of 24 bars. Available at ruthhuntcandy.com.

Drinking vinegars from Stone Hollow Farmstead. (Courtesy of Alexandra Stone)

Drinking vinegars

Stone Hollow Farmstead in Shelby County, Alabama, produces four varieties of drinking vinegar, all made with a base of organic apple cider vinegar and flavored with ingredients grown on the farm. You might expect a drinking vinegar to be mouth-puckering, but these are gently tart and truly delicious.

$18.50 for an 8-ounce bottle. Available at stonehollowfarmstead.com.

Bird-friendly coffee from Birds Georgia. (Courtesy of Birds Georgia)

Bird-friendly coffee

Campesino Organic Coffee of Americus has partnered with Birds Georgia to produce a bird-friendly coffee blend, made with beans from small organic farms that are aligned with the Smithsonian Bird Friendly program, which promotes preservation of critical habitat for birds and wildlife. The coffee is grown in the shade of canopy trees that provide vital resources for migratory birds.

$15 for a 1-pound bag. Available at birdsgeorgia.org/coffee-and-chocolate.html.

Dip and spread. (Courtesy of La Terra Fina)

Dip and spread

La Terra Fina produces 15 dips and spreads. One of the most popular flavors is Southwest fiesta, which includes black beans and corn in a mix of cream cheese and Greek yogurt seasoned with chili powder and garlic. You can enjoy it as a dip or use it as a spread in a burrito bowl or on enchiladas.

$4.99 for a 10-ounce container. Available at Kroger. Information: laterrafina.com

Instant coffee for kids. (Courtesy of Kiid Coffee)

Instant coffee for kids

David Sanborn, who has a 7-year-old son, Ethan, founded Kiid Coffee, based in Alpharetta, to provide children with water-processed, decaffeinated instant coffee. It’s loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Our young neighbors loved all three creamy flavors.

$14 for a 2.75-ounce pouch that makes 12 servings. Available at kiidcoffee.com.

Tomato Jam from Woodhill Cottage. (Courtesy of Woodhill Cottage/Will Dickey)

Tomato jam

Deviled eggs, sandwiches, roasted vegetables, grilled proteins and macaroni and cheese all are so much better with a dollop or two of tomato jam from Woodhill Cottage in Birmingham. The chunky jam is a delicious combination of spicy, savory and sweet — you might be tempted to eat it right from the jar.

$15.95 for a 14.5-ounce jar. Available at woodhillcottage.com.

Energy drinks. (Courtesy of Dole Packaged Foods)

Energy drinks

Dole has entered the energy drink market with Energy Delight. The company’s mango-strawberry and citrus sunrise flavors start with a base of pineapple and other juices, green tea extract and B vitamins, but no added sugar. Each can has 80 milligrams of caffeine and your recommended daily dose of vitamin C.

$4.99 for a pack of four 8-ounce cans. Available at Amazon and Kroger. Information: dolesunshine.com/us/en

The children’s cartoon character Pete the Cat is coming aboard to help Jittery Joe’s with its coffee and hot cocoa mix. (Courtesy of Mark Babcock/Jittery Joe's)

Cocoa mix from Athens

Jittery Joe’s of Athens has paired up with children’s character Pete the Cat to offer a cocoa mix that’s a blend of Ecuadorian cocoa powder, powdered milk and sugar — just right for a topping of marshmallows. As Pete would say, “It’s all good!”

$17.99 per 16-ounce canister. Available at jitteryjoes.com/products/pete-the-cat-cocoa.

Koginut winter squash. (Courtesy of Row 7 Seed Company)

Koginut winter squash

The koginut is a squat, ribbed winter squash that looks like a cross between a butternut and a pumpkin. Row 7 Seed Co. at Whole Foods Market offers them, and the flavor and texture are outstanding. When roasted, they’re so sweet there’s no need to embellish, though you can go savory with olive oil and coarse salt.

$2.69 per pound. Average weight per squash is 1.75 pounds. Available at Whole Foods Market through end of January. Information: row7seeds.com

A Texas take on table ketchup. (Courtesy of Lacey Culton)

Texas-style ketchup

Black Gold ketchup from Southernaire Market and Deli in Nashville is a Texas-inspired combination of tomatoes, chipotles and balsamic vinegar, and is named for the deep rich color it takes on as it ages in the bottle. It’s delicious on everything from fries to scrambled eggs.