National Sour Candy Day: A Celebration of Pucker-Worthy Goodness!

Gear up for an exhilarating taste adventure because National Sour Candy Day is here to unleash the flavor explorer in you. What day do we celebrate all things sour? This tart holiday lands on July 18th!

So, what team are you on? Are you a hard candy connoisseur, a sour gummy guru, or are you more of a sour taffy trailblazer? There's room for whatever your sweet tooth (in this case, sour tooth) desires.

Key Takeaways

• July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. It's a day for candy lovers to enjoy the tangy, mouthwatering goodness of sour treats.
  
• Sour candies get their sour taste from acids like citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and fumaric acid.
  
• Taffy Shop has a wide selection of sour taffy flavors to make your taste buds tingle.
  

The Sweet History of Sour Candy

Sour candies date all the way back to the 19th century when candy makers first experimented with acidic ingredients like vinegar and citrus extracts. These early sour confections paved the way for today's bold and tangy flavors. And boy, have they skyrocketed in popularity - nowadays, people crave something that makes their mouth pucker.

While sour candy has been around for a long, long time, National Sour Candy Day is only a few years old. The American Licorice Company established National Sour Candy Day in 2015 to celebrate sour things in all their glory. So, every July 18, candy lovers dig into their favorite pucker-worthy treats!

Taffy Shop: The Sweet and Sour Wonderland

If you love a little bit of sourness (or a lot), boy, do we have a treat for you. At Taffy Shop, we have a delightfully zappy collection of sour taffy. We take the tangy fun of sour candy and blend it with our whipped, chewy, and delicious saltwater taffy.

Our sour taffy is no joke. What makes it stand out?

• Whipped for Softness: Get that airy melt-in-your-mouthness you know and love from our gourmet candy. In our humble opinion, the best taffy texture is right here.
  
• Exciting Flavor Variety: Each piece delivers a punchy zap that sour candy enthusiasts will crave again and again.
  
• Crafted with Premium Ingredients: We make our taffy with the best ingredients and the utmost care. Kids and adults love our sour taffy because it really is the yummiest around.
  

Taffy Shop’s Zappy Taffy™ Must-Try Flavors

Sour Cherry Candy

A zingy combination of ripe, tart cherry and a limeade that will have your taste buds doing a happy dance.

👉 Shop Sour Cherry Candy here.

Sour Strawberry Candy

This flavor is a tasty fruity fusion of juicy sweet strawberries and banana but with a sourness you just can't resist.

👉 Shop Sour Strawberry Candy here.

Sour Pineapple Candy

Teleport to sunshine and fun times with a tropical blend of pineapple and passionfruit that brings an exotic sour kick with every chew.

👉 Shop Sour Pineapple Candy here.

Sour Raspberry Candy

You get a little sweetness and tart flavor from the raspberry with the tang of lemonade. It's a match made in sour candy heaven.

👉 Shop Sour Raspberry Candy here.

Sour Watermelon

A juicy, fruity combination of watermelon and orange delivering a summery, citrussy punch you're tastebuds will love.

👉 Shop Sour Watermelon here.

How To Identify Taffy Shop's Zappy Taffy™

With over 75 flavors of taffy, you could get lost in a sea of deliciousness! But if you’re looking for our sour taffy, you’ll spot it by its colorful two-toned look. 

What Makes Sour Candy Taste Good?

Salty like salt. Sweet like sugar. Sour like… acid? That's right! If you’ve ever wondered why sour candy makes your taste buds tingle, it all comes down to acids!

• Citric acid (found in citrus fruits) gives candy a sharp, zappy sourness. It's also the most common acid people use to make sour candies.
  
• Malic acid (found in apples) delivers a longer, smoother sour flavor.
  
• Tartaric acid (found in grapes) brings an intense tang.
  
• Fumaric acid (found in mushrooms) isn’t commonly used in candy, but it creates a long-lingering dry sour sensation. 
  

The Best Sour Candies You Need to Try

If you’re looking for the most mouth-watering, face-contorting, super sour candies out there, we’ve got you covered. Here are some top picks for the best sour candies:

Taffy Shop's Zappy Taffies

These candies are stretchier-er and chewier-er than ever, and there are so many fun flavors to choose from. They're the perfect combination of sweet and sour in delightful taffy form.

Sour Patch Kids

These are popular for their sour-then-sweet experience. They're chewy candies coated in a sour, sugary dust that dissolves into a fruity burst of flavor.

Sour Skittles

Once you get through the crunchy coating, the sour sugar gives way to chewy, fruity goodness in every bite.

Original Sour Brite Crawlers

These fun-shaped gummy candies are coated in a coarse sour sugar and have been a beloved candy for many years.

Warheads

Built for the bold, warheads are for the candy lover who wants EXTREME sourness. They pack an intense acidic punch that will have your mouth tingling.

Sour Hard Candy

If you prefer one flavor that lasts, try a classic sour lemon or sour apple hard candy that keeps the pucker factor going.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sour Candy

Why do some sour candies feel like they’re burning my tongue?

The more acid, the more intense the sour sensation. Almost like ice cream. If you eat too much sour candy at once, it can irritate your tongue—but don’t worry, like a brain freeze, it'll pass.

Are sour candies bad for your teeth?

Most candies can be a little tough for teeth to handle, including sour candies. To enjoy them and still protect your chompers, rinse your mouth with water after eating and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.

What’s the sourest candy in the world?

Many people consider Warheads and Toxic Waste to be some of the sourest candies out there. People even host sour candy competitions to see who can handle the most extreme pucker!

What's the sourest zappy taffy™ flavor at Taffy Shop?

The sourest zappy taffy™ flavor we have is blue raspberry lemonade taffy. It's also our bestselling sour candy flavor!

How to Celebrate National Sour Candy Day

You don't need an excuse to have a piece of sour candy, but if you're looking for one, National Sour Candy Day is the perfect reason. Here are some fun ways to embrace the tart and tantalizing taste of sour sweets:

1. Host a Sour Candy Tasting Party - Gather your friends and put their taste buds to the test! Get a variety of sour treats and see who can handle the most extreme sourness. Sounds easy? Raise the stakes. If you make a face, you're out.
2. Create a DIY Sour Candy Challenge - Set up a challenge where participants try progressively sour candies. The challenge is even more fun if you capture the funniest puckered-up reactions!
3. Make Some Sour Candy Creations - Get creative in the kitchen by coating fruit slices with citric acid and sugar or blending your own sour powder to sprinkle over your favorite snacks.
4. Share the Sour Love on Social Media - Sour gummy candy? Zappy Taffy™? What's your favorite sour candy? Post a pic with the world using #NationalSourCandyDay and see who shares your amazing taste. You never know, maybe you'll put someone on to a new flavor or remind them of a nostalgic treat they've missed.
5. Surprise a Friend with a Sweet & Sour Gift - Sweeten someone's day with a sour treat. Send your loved one or coworker sour candies to share the day of sourness with them.

Final Thoughts

National Sour Candy Day is a great time to really enjoy all things sour treats. Whether you love chewy, hard, sweet, or extreme sour flavors, there’s something for everyone. And if you’re looking for something totally unique, grab a bag of Taffy Shop’s sour candy and fun flavors for an unforgettable candy experience!