The Best Sour Patch Kids Candy Flavor Is A Tried-And-True Classic

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Sour Patch Kids aren't just the multi-colored troll-shaped gummies we love to order at the movie theater. The brand offers a variety of candies that harness fruity flavors with the characteristic crunchy sour sugar coating and soft, chewy interior. We sampled and ranked nine different Sour Patch Kids candies, judging them according to flavor, how well they represented the advertised tasting notes, and how snackable they were.

The Sour Patch Kids candy that hit all the criteria was the Strawberry Sour Patch Kids. Strawberry-flavored candies are tried-and-true classics, and the Sour Patch Kids version of strawberry-shaped treats uphold the classic fruity taste of strawberry while putting a unique and creative twist on the flavor and texture. The chewy, soft gummy texture is one of our favorite characteristics that makes these cute little strawberry candies so easy to eat and enjoy. And where other strawberry candies are overly artificial, these gummies really capture the fruit's essence. The strawberry flavor is very recognizable yet authentic thanks to the sour outer coating. 

Unlike lower ranking competitors, the sour element is quite delicate, which gives the strawberry taste a chance to shine instead of overpowering it. Also, because these Strawberry Sour Patch Kids go light on the sour coating, it makes them even more poppable and appealing to a wider audience. Sour lovers, sweet lovers, and fruit-flavored candy lovers will all find what they're looking for with these strawberry gummies.

We found thousands of reviews for Strawberry Sour Patch Kids from Target, where the candy has an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5. Just as the motto on its package states, one review says, "they start off sour and then turn sweet, which makes them exciting to eat." Customers noted a robust strawberry flavor that shines through the sweet and sour profile and complemented the candies' soft chewy consistency. Another glowing review had no notes, stating, "These are absolutely perfect! Everything I've imagined and more."

While most reviewers said the strawberry flavor was their go-to, calling it their favorite candy or "hands down the best flavor of all the Sour Patch Kids," others weren't as enamored. A negative review complained that "there is barely a strawberry flavor in these and the flavor I taste is just bad." Another negative review said they weren't sour at all and "just tastes like a strawberry, sweet gummy." We ranked Sour Patch Kids a middling sixth place in a taste test of 12 popular sour candies. So perhaps a different brand's sour strawberry candies would supply a more tart contrast to the fruity sweetness. But if you're looking for a sour and sweet combination, Strawberry Sour Patch Kids delivers.