Guava gummies pack burst of tart flavor

Guavas are native to Mexico, so it’s no surprise that this delicious, dense fruit gummy comes from south of the border. Handmade from guava pulp, citrus pectin and cane sugar, Guava Delights are a great option if you can’t get through the day without something sweet. The strong, tart guava flavor packed into just one of the 43-calorie treats will surely satisfy your craving. I just discovered Guava Delights, specially priced at two 4-ounce bags for $3, at my neighborhood Foodland.

—Christie Wilson

Sriracha sauce spices up beef jerky

I use Sriracha sauce on just about everything, from meat to fish to tofu. And beef jerky is a favorite snack, too, especially for its spicy taste and chewy texture. So not surprisingly, I like Country Archer’s Sri­racha Beef Jerky. It leaves a lively after­taste in your mouth long enough to please your taste buds, but not so long that you have to drown it with beer, though I’m sure that would be good, too. It’s available in 3- and 5-ounce sizes at the Kaheka and Wai­pahu Don Quijote stores for $5.95 to $9.95.

—Steven Mark

History book covers British invasions

English historian Stuart Laycock covers more than 1,000 years of British exploration, aggression and empire building in entertaining style with "All the Countries We’ve Ever Invaded (And the Few We Never Got Round To)." Of the 193 United Nations member states, it turns out England has attacked almost all of them at least once (Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Monaco and Uzbeki­stan are among those still on the to-do list). Americans will note that although Laycock views things from a British perspective, he acknowledges frankly that "some of the things we have done around the world are self-evidently wrong."

Even if you missed it when it was first published by History Press in 2012 or last year’s reprint, this book is worth seeking out as a great introduction to a big slice of world history for intelligent kids and adults alike. It’s available in hardcover ($20), paperback ($16) and Kindle ($11) editions at amazon.com.

—John Berger

Carry Jerry around on your back

If you love Minions, you’ll enjoy this huggable, plush backpack of Jerry from "Despicable Me 2" by Accessory Innovations. He comes with all the right details: squishy goggles over googly eyes, shy smile, denim overalls and stringy hair. The 13-inch-tall backpack is designed more for carrying Jerry around than toting items; a zippered back pocket is just big enough to hold a cellphone or a few tiny toys. Order it from amazon.com for about $15 and your child will be ready for the new "Minions" movie coming to theaters in July.

—Nina Wu

Homespun recipe satisfies a love for lilikoi

I’m not usually big on fruit butters, but this Christmas my friend (and co-worker) Leila Fuji­mori gave me a jar of homemade lili­koi butter that I just love. It’s light and creamy, with sweet lili­koi flavor. One taste and I wanted to use it as a filling in my layered cakes, in tarts and to dress up cheesecake. But, alas, I possessed only 10 ounces, and it was quickly disappearing. Leila shared the recipe for her Lili­koi Curd, similar to the lemon curd served with scones at high tea, which she found in the Braden Family Cookbook at bradencook­book.com/lilikoi__curd.htm.

—Michelle Ramos

5 Things We Love is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.