Jr. Ellie Mayo looks at the long sour strip of candy, hesitantly dropping it in her mouth. She takes a moment to savor the flavor but then her face shares it all. A puckered look as if she took a huge bite out of a sour lemon. “That’s the most sour candy I’ve ever had!” Lollipops, gummies, chocolates: Who doesn’t love candy? The West Ottawa journalism class ranked five sour candies sold at the Holland Peanut Store.
Sour Strips
Founded in 2019, the Sour Strip candy is sour. There are over 15 interesting flavors of the strip, such as Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, and Green Apple. Sour Strips are one of the top-rated sour candies in the United States, and the company is currently trying to move worldwide. The brand from the Peanut Store is a more sour version of the Airhead Extremes.
They are an adventure when it comes to eating super thin long strips. But people have very mixed feelings about the lengthy candy: “too sour,””the best candy.”
“Good aftertaste, maybe too sugary,” Instructor Ken Strobel said. Many of the boys in class said that sour strips are the “original football game candy.” Alena Flynn said, “It’s too sour.”
When trying and ranking the Sour Strips, 2nd hour Journalism class had very different answers, with an average of 5.5 some people loving the candy and some hating it.
Sour Patch Kids
Sour Patch Kids start sour and then have a sweet punch. Invented in 1985, they have developed different names over the years, starting as Mars Man, and eventually getting back to the iconic name, Sour Patch Kids. Now we have many options, including shape, color and flavor.
“Always a classic good candy,” Sr. Ariana Hunter said. Sour patch kids don’t have anything crazy to them. They are a staple when it comes to candy, though, and are known by everyone and are a perfect snack at a football game, movie theater and so many other places.
The class gave the Sour Patch kids a solid 8 out of 10, a very exponential rating. Overall the candy is great and can be a very fun treat.
Sour Gummy Poppers
Created by the gummy factory Albanese, Sour Gummy Poppers are little gummy smiley faces with sour powder on them. Just like the sour gummy worms we all know and love but bite-sized and much easier to pop three or four into your mouth at once. Sour Gummies are not too sour but not too sweet. But some people may argue that they are not sour enough.
“Good flavor. But, the texture is no bueno,” Strobel said. Many students in the class said they liked the flavor but it wasn’t very sour, kind of like a bad gummy worm.
When ranked this one was very give or take ending up at a 6.5. This wasn’t a fan favorite but it wasn’t horrible either.
Sour Balls
The assorted Sour Balls are one of the oldest candies on our list being invented in the mid-1800s usually sold at candy stores for only one cent. Sour Balls candy was often known to be given out by one’s grandparents when visiting. However, over time the candy has fallen off the top charts when many of the other sour candies were invented years later. Many of the sour candies are more appetizing, more sour, and overall have a better taste.
“It had a weird burnt toxic wax taste. I had to spit it out,” Sr. Lauren Gaerte said. Many other students called the candy awful; most hated the taste, the texture and more. Though this candy used to be popular when it first came out, it seems like the candy must’ve lost its touch with the kids.
When our journalism class tasted and rated the candy the ranking ended up at a whopping 2.5 out of 10.
Sour Gummy Worms
Sour Gummy Worms are multi-flavored gummies with half of one flavor and half another flavor covered in sour powder. The first sour gummy worm was created in 1981; they were a massive hit when they first came out. The colorful candies with sweet and sour taste and twelve flavors are hard to keep on the shelf.
“I only eat one side of a gummy worm at a time. Enjoy both of the flavors at separate times. Either way, I still eat it. I love them,” Jr. Sydney Wilcox said. A staple when people think of sour candies. They have such an interesting, yet addicting taste and texture.
Overall the class ranked the Gummy Worm candy a solid 6 out of 10, leaving room for some sort of improvement.
Hit up the Holland Peanut Store on 8th Street if testing these candies spikes your interest . They make a fun experience and leave one’s tummy in a happy mood. So if your tastebuds need some excitement, get some sour candy.
