I Tried 5 Brands of Gummy Bears—This 1 Is (Still) the Best

I’ve always loved candy. I loved it so much that I begged my dad every Halloween to stay out extra late so that I could sufficiently fill my pillowcase with it. My brother would retreat back to our house with his bag only partially full, but I was a kid possessed, knocking on every door and ringing every doorbell, running down sidewalks and up driveways until my little legs could no longer propel me forward. I loved most of the candy my kind neighbors dropped in my pillowcase, but my favorite was and still is, gummy bears.

Gummy Bear Taste Test

I’ve sampled plenty of gummy bears and I know what a good one should taste like. That’s why, when I was tasked with finding the best one, I felt confident I could find it. I dove deep into all of my childhood memories and then wove those with my adult cravings to secure a winner. Of course, this is all just my opinion, but you know my history.

How I Tested

There are plenty of delicious, small-batch gummy bears out there, but I stuck with the most common, readily available brands to bring you results you can use. I only selected true gummy bears, avoiding any sour versions, low-sugar or no-sugar varieties, and any with tropical or unusual flavors. I judged on size and consistency and also on taste, focusing on sweetness and flavor. Here are the results.

5th Place: Favorite Day (Target)

Target is one of my favorite stores, but let’s just say it’s not my favorite place for getting gummy bears, at least not their brand of candies. Favorite Day brand gummy bears are relatively large in size but do have a delightful chewiness to them. Overall though, I didn’t enjoy the flavors, which seemed overly manufactured. I got bored after just a few.

4th Place: Trader Joe's

Another favorite store, but perhaps not for gummy bears. I love the bear’s miniature size and that Trader Joe’s uses plant-based dyes for coloring their bears, but they don’t pack much flavor. Maybe that’s because they’re so tiny, but even a big handful eaten at the same time didn’t impress. The chewiness factor was awesome, but a bigger boost of flavor would definitely help.

3rd Place: Albanese

This company isn’t too far from where I grew up and I’ve actually been to their factory on a family field trip. Like Favorite Day, these gummy bears are pretty big, which I personally didn’t love. They were also the softest of the bunch and lacked that chewy texture I’m after in a good gummy. I loved the variety of flavors and colors (unfortunately not natural plant-based dyes, but still pretty), but I felt these were overly sweet. The best way to enjoy them is with an assortment of other gummy treats Albanese offers.

2nd Place: Black Forest

The runner-up brand also came in a larger size but did provide a good level of chew, which kept things interesting. These bears are also naturally colored and flavored, which I appreciated. The flavors were nice, approachable, and identifiable, which made them easy to eat and enjoy. I’d definitely reach for a bag of these if my winner wasn’t available.

1st Place Winner: Haribo

This brand has been in the gummy business for a long time, and it shows. Its bears are perfectly sized, provide the right amount of “chew,” and are flavorful without being overly sweet. I cannot keep a bag of these in my house without them disappearing the minute I set them on the counter. If you’re looking for the best gummy bear experience, buy a bag from Haribo. (They also win for the best commercials!)