clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

A Highly Opinionated Gummy Candy Ranking

The 10 best widely available gummy candies, according to a self-proclaimed gummy aficionado

by Amy McCarthy

If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

a collage of gummy candys Lille Allen
Amy McCarthy is a reporter at Eater.com, focusing on pop culture, policy and labor, and only the weirdest online trends.

Step aside, chocolate fans — gummy candies are all the rage right now. According to one analysis, the gummy candy category is already worth nearly $500 million, and it’s expected to grow into a $750 million business by 2032, proof positive that everyone’s into gummy candies right now. And what’s not to love? They’re sweet and chewy little treats that are nigh impossible to stop eating, especially for anyone who loves sinking their teeth into a candy that boasts a ton of QQ texture.

I consider myself a gummy aficionado. At every gas station and airport candy store, I am on the hunt for the best — and weirdest — gummy candies from the United States and beyond. I have a deep appreciation for German confectioner Haribo and its iconic gummy bears and really enjoy the current proliferation of foamy, sour Swedish gummies. As such, I feel uniquely qualified to bestow upon the internet this highly opinionated ranking of the best gummy candies out there, listed in descending order. Disagree? Too bad, make your own list.

10. Haribo Goldbears

  • $11

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This classic really sets the standard for what a gummy bear should be, which makes sense considering that Haribo founder Hans Riegel invented the gummy bear in 1922. The texture is a little toothier than your average generic-brand imitator, and the pineapple (clear) flavor is especially compelling. 

9. Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers 

  • $8

Prices taken at time of publishing.

If you’d asked me to make this list 20 years ago, when I was a mouthy 17-year-old with a penchant for candy, I’d have put Trolli’s Sour Brite Crawlers at the top of my list. And while my palate has expanded since then, there’s still no denying the appeal of these dual-flavored worms coated in sugar and citric acid for the perfect amount of sour-sweet punch. 

7. Bubs Goody Sour Ovals 

  • $12

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Swedish candy trend shows no signs of slowing down, and that’s a good thing — the Swedes know a thing or two about making excellent gummy candy, especially if you’re into sour stuff. But my actual favorite are Bubs ovals, a soft, foamy gummy available in tons of compelling flavors, including banana-caramel and strawberry-pomegranate. 

6. Albanese Peach Rings

  • $15

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Those few weeks each year when fresh peaches are abundant and in-season are all too fleeting, and the rest of the time, I have to make due with peach rings. The fake peach flavor in peach rings is, somehow, better than most other fake fruit flavors, and Indiana-born candy purveyor Albanese makes the very best. Their peach rings are perfectly chewy and boast a more sophisticated, peachier flavor than the average iteration of this beloved gummy candy. 

5. Sour Patch Kids

  • $7

Prices taken at time of publishing.

An OG in the American gummy scene, Sour Patch Kids have been on the market since 1985. In middle school, I peeled off the inside of my mouth countless times sucking all the citric acid and sugar from these sour-then-sweet candies, and I regret nothing. Now, I’m more likely to grab the Sour Patch Kids watermelons, an improvement on the original Kids in both texture and flavor. 

4. Haribo Sour S’ghetti 

  • $6

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The real innovation in Haribo’s Sour S’ghetti is its shape — long, noodle-y gummies coated in sour sugar. Slurping actual spaghetti noodles is fun, sure, but it’s even better when the noodles are made out of candy. 

3. Haribo Watermelon 

  • $5

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Yeah, there’s a lot of Haribo on this list — and that’s because Haribo gummies are among the best. Few gummies can compete with Haribo Watermelon, which combine the fluffy texture of a marshmallow with the classic bouncy interior of a gummy bear into a candy that’s dangerously easy to eat an entire bag of in one sitting. 

2. Albanese Gummy Bears

  • $14

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Haribo may have invented the gummy bear, but Albanese perfected them. The flavor assortment, which includes watermelon, pink grapefruit, and mango, is much more compelling than the usual cherry-orange-green-apple offering, and the soft, bouncy texture is extremely satisfying. 

1. Nerds Gummy Clusters 

  • $8

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Sitting atop this assortment of excellent gummies is the One True Gummy King: Nerds Gummy Clusters. The flavors are great, yes, but the combination of crunchy Nerds and chewy gummy center is a revelation. And sure, you might say these are just chopped up bits of Nerds Ropes, but real gummy enthusiasts know that Gummy Clusters are the pinnacle of the form. 

More From Eater

The Latest

Play

Inside the Painstaking Process of Making Hungarian Paprika

By Bettina Makalintal and Eater Video

Thanksgiving Doesn’t Need Appetizers

By Amy McCarthy

KitchenAid Stand Mixers Are Over $140 Off for Black Friday

By Francky Knapp

The Gift for a Host That I Always Return To

By Lesley Suter

I Hated Decorating Cookies — Until I Found These Cookie Stamps

By Lesley Suter

Use French Fried Onions on Everything

By Lesley Suter

Share this story