Candy Mountain, that fabled wonderland in the viral Charlie the Unicorn series, exists in real life. But it only exists for three days, and nobody actually calls it 'candy mountain,' but it might as well be. Spanning four acres, the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago brings together 750-plus vendors from all over the world, sharing their best and latest candies and treats.
From sriracha-dusted cotton candy to Reese's Pieces-stuffed peanut butter cups, the show has just about every sweet you can imagine, but the confections that get the greatest reaction, by far, are on the sour side. Make that super-sour side.
We scoured the vendors, looking for the most mouth-puckering, eye-watering candies they offered, then ambushed unsuspecting Expo guests and asked them to try one on camera—then tell us just how tart the treats were.
Of course, everybody's tolerance for sour differs—one girl sucked on what Warheads reps considered their very worst, a combo of apple and lemon Warheads Extreme Sour hard candies at the same time, without flinching or batting an eye. Others would ask for water the second they downed a sour-coated gummy.
During this very unscientific testing process, two truths emerged: (1) While organic sour candy—in gummy and jelly bean form—are a trend this year, they tend to be far less tart than their not-so-natural counterparts. (2) Warheads has tear-inducing treats on lock, but Sour Jack's is a pretty solid threat to the throne, gummy-wise.
In the video above we've combined the very best reactions; it's hard to watch without imagining the most putridly sour candy you've ever had, but there's also a strange, almost schadenfreude-esque joy in seeing someone else react. You won't be able to look away. And you'll also want to hit up your nearest candy store, ASAP.
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