Many remember the first time they tried sour candy, especially if they had an extreme reaction, positively or negatively.
People love them for various reasons, from unique flavors and mouth-puckering effects to a fondness for the overall taste and memory-inducing nostalgia.
It's like putting a little adventurous kick to a standard candy-eating experience.
Sharing the deliciousness with coworkers is an easy way to build camaraderie while discussing nostalgic memories of when you first fell in love with your favorite sour candy.
The Science Behind Sourness
Taste receptor cells, part of the taste buds of the palate and tongue, detect sour tastes. Organic acids, such as citric acid, are what you can thank for the mouth-puckering sour taste.
A pH scale is used to measure the sourness level. The lower the number is on a pH scale of 1 - 14, the higher the sourness factor. Below seven is considered acidic, while above seven is alkaline.
Some people prefer exceptionally sour candies, while others prefer options that lean toward alkaline levels but still offer a little pucker effect.
The Top 7 Most Sour Candy in the World
Toxic Waste
Chances are you're familiar with Toxic Waste candy if for no other reason than its unique packaging.
It's so sour there's a caution warning on the back that eating two or more pieces at a time can irritate your mouth. As delicious as they are, it's worth proceeding with caution.
Warheads
Most sour candies are chewy/sour, but not these babies.
Known for a huge burst of sourness from its coating that turns into sweet, Warheads Extreme sour hard candy dates back to 1975 in Taiwan but didn't become part of the American candy scene until 1993.
Cry Baby Extra Sour Bubble Gum
This gum gives you that mouth-puckered, one-eye-closed look thanks to its long-lasting super sour flavor paired with a bubble gum texture. This super sour gum is available in a variety of flavors.
Sour Patch Kids
It's hard not to love Sour Patch Kids, but then you have Sour Patch Kids Extreme, and that sour quotient gets kicked up a notch.
Kids around the country hope to find these yellow-bagged sour gummy candy in their Halloween candy stash every year.
Sour Belts
Here's another beloved sour candy. Whether they're referred to as ribbons, strips, or belts, these sour sugar crystal-coated long pieces of sour deliciousness deliver plenty of happiness.
Airheads Xtremes Sourfuls
These sour gummy candies consist of three layers of flavor: a chewy texture, vibrant colors, and a delectable sour coating that transitions into sweet. They're related to the original Airheads you already know and love.
Sour Skittles
Sour Skittles are one of the newer sour candies on the block. They made their arrival in 2000 and are easily identifiable with their vibrant green packaging.
The original colorful and fruity flavors of Skittles in the red bag date back to 1974 in the United Kingdom, but it wasn't until five years later that they made their way to the United States.
A Steady Supply of Sour at Work
If you find yourself battling sour cravings – or a sweet tooth – at work, Deskgoodies is a candy subscription service that offers a variety of cost-effective sweet and sour candy options, including two of the best sour candy selections: Sour Patch Kids and Sour Straws.
Keep the craveable popular candies in a candy bowl in a well-trafficked area of the business where everyone can share the joy.
You can even customize the candy subscription service plans you want to conveniently receive at your office every month so you and your employees always have tasty treats on hand to satisfy those midday munchies.
Contact us today and receive a prompt response within a day or two from one of our team members who take their customer service responsibilities as seriously as their love of candy.
They can help you choose the ideal plan and candies for your needs and preferences. Our easy-to-use services ensure you get the brand-name sour candy reliably delivered according to your preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes sour candy sour?
Organic acids, primarily citric acid, as a coating on the candy lead to the mouth-puckering effect you get when you eat delicious sour candy.
Is it safe to eat extremely sour candy?
Some people can tolerate sour candy better than others. Read the packaging, such as the Caution warning you'll find on the back of Toxic Waste sour candy, to determine if there are any recommendations.
While sour candies are typically considered safe to eat, ingesting them in moderation is key, as is adhering to your doctor's guidelines about food consumption.
Can sour candy cause damage to teeth?
Sour candies have a high level of acidity due to their outer coating. Over time, this acidity can damage tooth enamel.
You also want to be careful about how you chew them to prevent damage. Speaking to your dentist can allow for recommendations based on your current oral health.