Types of Candy – All Different Candy Varieties Reviewed

Sweet confectioneries have a long history, and people have loved them since ancient times. The love of sweet treats and their evolution has resulted in the fact that today we have many different types of candy. Generally, candies differ in their taste, texture, and ingredients. However, they have one thing in common: they bring happiness to us. 

Types of candy are influenced by the sugar concentration and amount of sugar used, the temperature at which they are made, the technique, the ingredients, etcetera. In some varieties, the sugar is not used at all and is substituted with corn syrup, honey, and other sweeteners.

Most Common Types Of Candy

Hard Candy

Hard candy, also called boiled sweets, is one of the most common types of candy in the world. The history of this type of candy goes back to Egypt. In Egypt, sweet treats were made with a mix of honey, fruits, and nuts. Honey was an important ingredient in hard candy in Greece too. 

Today, hard candy is mainly based on sugar. Candy includes either sucrose, glucose, or fructose. They dissolve slowly in the mouth while eating and create a sweet, delicious sensation. The most famous hard candies are Atomic Fireballs, Lemon Drops, Peppermint Candy Canes, Root Beer Barrels, etc. 

Peppermint Candy Cane

One of the most famous hard candies is, undoubtedly, the Peppermint Candy Cane. Candy has been part of our lives for generations now. We just can not imagine Christmas and New Year without them.

This hard candy first appeared in 1780. Peppermint candy was invented by Eduart Haas, from Austria. The Spangler’s candy peppermint canes really deserve a crown here and can be considered as one of the most admired types of candy.

Lemon Drops

Lemon drops are a representation of one of the most widely used types of candy, hard candy. It’s an English candy, currently manufactured by Taverners. These sweet treats have a lemon flavor and a yellow color. The taste is sweet with a hint of sour. 

Lemon Drops are made by boiling sugar with water and tartar cream. After cooling down, the flavor and color are added.

Sour Candy

Among the famous types of candy, sour candy is a little different from others. The candy does not have a traditional sweet taste. The sour taste creates an absolutely different sensation in the mouth and opens up our taste buds. 

Sour candy-making started in the 19th century. At the very beginning, when the production of sour candy actually started, people were suspicious about it. They were concerned about the condition in which the candy was made and what chemicals were used to give it such an unusual taste. However, later on, those thoughts changed and it became everybody’s favorite treat.

To create a sour taste, mainly acidic ingredients are used, such as vinegar, which turns sugar into glucose. Some of the most popular sour candies are Warheads, Sour Patch Kids, Sour Punch, and Toxic Waste candy.

Toxic Waste

We’ve all heard of Toxic Waste candy. It is very famous for its sour taste and can be considered to be one of the sourest candies in the world. Candy is manufactured by Candy Dynamics, Incorporated. The treat is packaged in drum-like containers, which is a very good design for sour candy.

The main flavors are Apple, Lemon, Watermelon, Blackberries, and Blue Raspberry. Sour types of candy are very popular among children. They frequently compete with one another to see who can eat the sourest candy. Sounds fun, right? 

Cotton Candy

Cotton candy is a fluffier type of candy. It is also known as “candy floss” or “fairy floss.” It is a sweet confection, resembling cotton. Mostly, the ingredient is sugar, however, some flavoring and food coloring may be added. 

It is made by heating up liquefied sugar. Then it is spun in the minute holes, which causes the liquid to cool down and create the strands. The candy is especially eaten during celebrations such as holidays, fairs, festivals, and carnivals, and is often served on a stick.

Fluffy Stuff

Fluffy Stuff cotton candy is manufactured by Charmes. It is packaged in 15-ounce bags. This cotton candy is multicolored and comes in fruit flavors. The package is moisture-resistant and ensures the freshness of the candy. Kids especially love this sweet treat that melts in your mouth.

Gummies 

Gummies have a long history and are a stretchy, chewy-textured type of candy. Mostly, gummy candies are made from corn syrup, gelatin, starch, sucrose, and water. However, some additional ingredients, such as flavorings and colorings, are frequently present. Also, to give the tart flavor, citric and malic acids are used. Some of our favorite gummies include Gummi Worms, Fraise Tagada, Gummi banana strawberry rings, etc.

Jelly Babies

The very first gelatin-based candy was Jelly Babies, manufactured in Lancashire in 1864. The invention belongs to an Austrian immigrant who worked at Fryers of Lancashire. Originally, the candy was called “Unclaimed Babies“. 

During World War II, the product was suspended. However, it was relaunched, became one of the most famous types of candy, and was called “Jelly Babies” this time.

Haribo Gummy Bears

Production of Haribo Gummy Bears started in the 1920s. The creator of the company was Hans Riegel, from Germany. He started popularizing gummy bears, made with gelatine and having a fruity flavor. The inspiration came when Hans saw the trained bears at the festival, and soon after, he invented “Dancing Bear.” The Haribo Company is still considered to be one of the main producers of gummy bears.

Lollipops

Perhaps unsurprisingly, lollipops are definitely one of the most common types of candy. The idea of creating edible candy sticks was brought up numerous times. Since ancient times, people have tried to make edible sticks. In the Middle Ages, the nobility used to boil the sugar with sticks or handles and enjoy it later on. Lollipops are a sugary, sweet type of candy. Lollipop candies are intended to be eaten by sucking or licking. 

According to some sources, lollipops, as we know them today, were invented by George Smith, from Connecticut. He started making lollipop candies in 1908 and named them Lolly Pop. Eventually, he trademarked the name in 1931. Some of the most famous lollipop candies are Sugar Daddy Candy and Chupa Chups.

Chupa Chups

Chupa Chups is a Spanish brand of lollipops. Candy is sold in more than 150 countries. The Chupa Chups brand was founded by Enric Bernat in 1958. Eric worked in the apple jam factory. He got the idea of creating the lollipops when his hands used to get sticky after melting sweets. 

Chupa Chups brand candies have the same design as the ball-shaped hard candy on the plastic stick. Candies come in different colors and flavors, including cocoa, blueberry, caramel, lemon, lime, strawberry, orange, and tropical.

Chocolate

Chocolate is considered a sweet treat that is different from all other types of candy. Chocolate is made from roasted and ground cacao. Did you know that the first versions of chocolate were made by the Maya and Aztec civilizations? However, back in these times, these types of candy were different and they used to make chocolate beverages. 

There are many varieties of chocolate, and with some additions, the original bitter taste of cocoa is neutralized. On the market, a wide range of chocolate products is available, such as sweet, milk, white, and original chocolate.

Mars Bar

The Mars Bar was invented in 1932 by Forrest Mars Sr. Before the Mars Cholocate Bar, Forrest’s father created the iconic Milky Way bar. There are two versions of the candy, the British and American versions. The British version consists of caramel and nougat covered in milk chocolate. The American version has nougat and almonds covered in milk chocolate. 

Hershey’s Kisses

Hershey’s Kisses are manufactured by the Hershey Company and were first manufactured in 1907. Each candy has a unique shape that sets it apart from all others. This mouthwatering chocolate has a tear-dropped shape and a flat bottom. This bite-sized treat is individually wrapped and the flavor is printed on it with blue ink.

Soft Candy

Soft candy has a texture that is easy to chew and just melts in the mouth while eating. Examples of soft candies are toffee, fudge, chewy types of candy, etc. It is impossible to talk about soft candy and not mention Jelly Beans, Sour Patch Kids, and our favorite marshmallows.

Marshmallows

When we talk about soft candies, it is impossible to not mention the iconic marshmallows. A marshmallow is a soft type of candy that is popular in the USA and is loved by many people. It’s just become part of the culture. It’s impossible to imagine friends or family sitting around bonfires at a picnic without eating delicious marshmallows. The first modern marshmallow was made in the 19th century. 

Marshmallow candies are made from sugar, water, and gelatine whipped so that they have a solid but very soft consistency. Candy is a great addition to hot cocoa or chocolate and is also widely used in cooking.

Bottom Line

We discussed different types of candy. However, despite their differences, one thing unites them all. They take us to our sweetest memories. They remind us of our loved ones, families, and friends. Candies are what help us in good and bad times. They are always there to help us and make our mood better. 

Let us know which type of candy is your favorite. We would like to hear your stories connected to these sweet treats. So, share your thoughts in the comments below.