{"id":145884,"date":"2026-03-23T11:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/145884\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T11:05:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:05:08","slug":"whats-the-buzz-about-nectar-candy-co","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/145884\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Buzz About Nectar Candy Co.?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nectar3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Natalie LaRosa and Rocky Medure are a married couple with a collective sweet tooth.<\/p>\n

Their love for candy led them down the road to business ownership in a Piaggio Ape, a three-wheeled Italian vehicle that\u2019s helping Nectar Candy Co.<\/a> create a buzz in the \u2018Burgh.<\/p>\n

Since Valentine\u2019s Day weekend, the Ape (pronounced AH-peh, which means \u201cbee\u201d in Italian) has been popping up all over the city and dispensing chewy treats imported from Sweden. The cart, which is fully operational but not street-legal, is trailered to each event site with 16 bins full of self-serve, pick-and-mix candy for $18 a pound.<\/p>\n

Samples lead to smiles.<\/p>\n

Grabbing a toothpick, I skewered everything from Strawnana Fizzy Pops, Jelly Lips and Lemon Rhubarb Logs to Fini Marshmallow Puffs and Strawberry Sour Skulls that were almost too adorable to eat.<\/p>\n

Almost.<\/p>\n

\"Nectar5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Like a lot of the Swedish treats, the pillowy, pink gummies have a satisfying chew that doesn\u2019t leave you picking your teeth after downing a dozen of \u2018em.<\/p>\n

LaRosa says she discovered the European confections while visiting New York City.<\/p>\n

Now the former nurse \u2014 who also runs a floral preservation company called Soil & Soul<\/a> \u2014 enjoys nerding out with fellow sugar-lovin\u2019 yinzers over textures and flavor profiles that differ from candy made in the United States.<\/p>\n

\"Nectar1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

The Spicy Mango Chews from Spain, although not skull-shaped, are my new snack obsession. One slice would make an excellent garnish for a mango cocktail or a fiery companion to a can of I.C. Light Mango.<\/p>\n

I imagine lounging on a patio this summer with friends and saying \u201cA round of SpICy Light Mangos for the table, please!<\/p>\n

The Ape, which is stationed at Fulton Commons<\/a> in Manchester, is out every weekend, catering everything from weddings and showers to community events. On March 28, it\u2019ll be parked outside of Spigolo<\/a>, an Edgewood coffee shop, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Nectar2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

During a spring pop-up with Mandarine Matcha<\/a> at Hazel Grey Boutique<\/a> in the Strip District on March 21, I saw a lot of people picking edible bouquets of Gummy Flowers, seasonal offerings colored with black carrot, grape and turmeric.<\/p>\n

On that day, Nectar Candy Co. had a built-in cheering section. The building next to the Penn Avenue boutique is home to the Notorious Superstars<\/a>, a competitive cheerleading team established by Chaneeka Morris and Parris Mollett-Scott in 2019. There are currently 100 athletes ranging in age from 3 to 18 in the group.<\/p>\n

And they\u2019ve got spirit!<\/p>\n

\"Nectar4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

The team was cheering on the sidewalk to raise money for their trip to the Allstar World Championships<\/a> in Orlando, Florida April 16-19. It costs $274 for each cheerleader to compete. Donations can be made via CashApp ($notorioussuperstars). Pedestrians and motorists stopped to fill collection jars with cash \u2014 and then sipped a candy-garnished matcha and bagged a few pounds of Strawberry Sour Skulls for the road.<\/p>\n

It was a sweet, springtime scene in the Steel City that, after this long, dreary winter, made me want to cheer.<\/p>\n

\u201cLife has been so serious lately,\u201d LaRosa says, \u201ccandy brings joy and moments of fun and connection with other Pittsburghers.\u201d\t<\/p>\n