My first foray into Japanese sour candies was during a solo trip to my local Japanese market in New York City. I had gone with the intention of buying only a few necessities, but couldn’t resist a quick peek through the candy aisle, where colorful packets adorned with bold typography and pictures of fresh fruit beckoned me to stay. My cravings ultimately got the best of me as I added a bag of Nobel brand Extreme Super Sour Lemon candies to my cart.
I’m proud to say that I’m a sour candy fiend. I long for the type of sourness that blurs the line between pleasure and pain. The kind that makes your mouth pucker and your tongue go numb from all the acids decimating your taste buds. I’m talking Warheads, Toxic Waste, Sour Skittles and Trader Joe’s Sour Jelly Beans. But I also love a good sour candy that leans more on the sweet side. It’s a flavor combination that so many brands of Japanese candies just get right.
During a recent week-long trip to Tokyo, I made it my mission to try as many sour candies as possible. I’ve lost count of how many times I stepped inside a konbini (the Japanese word for convenience store) and came out with a stash of new candies to try. I’ll admit, it’s quite hard to power rank every single candy because, truly, I didn’t eat a single “bad” tasting one in Japan. While the rankings do take into account both taste and flavor, they are more so based on the level of sourness.
Here are the top six candies I tried:
Kanro Puré Gummy Premium Muscat
Made with real Muscat grape juice, these gummies feature a jelly-like center and are coated in a decent amount of sour sanding. There’s no denying that these Kanro Puré gummies are incredibly high-quality. And compared to popular gummies sold in the States, the gummies taste less artificial and more similar to the fruit they’re inspired by. But overall, they were too sweet for my liking. Even with the sour coating, the candy’s outer shell was pretty sweet. Same with the jelly center, which was devoid of any tartness. These gummies are still incredibly delicious. However, if you’re looking for a candy that will make your mouth hurt a little, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Kanro Puré Gummy Premium Pink Lemonade
Similar to the Muscat flavor, the Pink Lemonade gummies include a fruit-filled, jelly center that flaunts Sicilian lemon and pink grapefruit flavors. These citrus-heavy gummies have a bit more tang than the Muscat gummies, but they’re still not as sour as I’d like them to be. They’re more refreshing — and a great pick-me-up to help cope with Japan’s summer humidity.
Kanro Puré Gummy White Peach
The non-premium line of Kanro’s Puré gummies doesn’t include the sweet jelly center, which means they are firmer in texture and more sour in flavor. I’ve enjoyed my fair share of Haribo Candy Peaches and peach rings, but they simply can’t compete with these White Peach gummies. The heart-shaped gummies smell like fresh ripe peach and taste akin to the fruit with a slight floral note. And although they lack a soft center, they are still brimming with juice. As for their sourness, the gummies are indeed more sweet heavy. All they need is an extra dusting (or two) of sour sugar for them to be the gummies of my dreams.
Kanro Puré Grape Gummies
If you’re a fan of frozen sour grapes, then Kanro’s Puré Grape Gummies are a must-try. The grape flavor is both strong and aromatic without overpowering the gummies’ sourness. I recommend stashing these gummies in the freezer for a few hours before eating. They become crunchy with a slight chew, making them less harsh on your teeth.
Nobel Chibi Sours Gummies – Assorted Drinks
Generously coated in sour powder and crushed candy bits, Nobel Chibi Sours Gummies are packed with intense flavors that are guaranteed to satisfy your sour tooth. The gummies come in four different shapes (star, circle, square and triangle) and four different drink-inspired flavors (cola, melon soda, ramune and lemon squash). Their texture is hard with a slight chew that’s reminiscent of rubber but won’t be unforgiving to your jaw due to their small size. Be warned, these gummies are highly addicting — I finished an entire pack within a few hours. For the ultimate sour candy experience, I recommend stuffing your mouth with a handful of gummies at a time. But of course, you can also enjoy them one at a time.
Nobel Super Lemon Sour Candy
These individually wrapped hard candies are Japan’s version of Warheads, so of course they deserve the top spot. The candy lives up to its name with its extremely sour exterior that leads to a sweet and deliciously juicy interior. Nobel’s Super Lemon Sour Candy will surely have your mouth watering and puckering. Just be careful not to eat too many in one sitting as tongue peeling is a very real consequence.
