Pucker Up for the Most Sour Candy in Canada!
The short answer: the most sour candy in the world is most often named as Barnett's Mega Sour, a hand-made British hard candy coated in a punishing layer of sour acid. Toxic Waste and Warheads are the most famous extreme sours, but Barnett's Mega Sours are routinely ranked the sourest of all. There's no official scale for sourness (no Scoville scale for sour), so the crown comes down to acid load and a lot of watering eyes.
Below, our Candyologists count down the 10 sourest candies you can actually buy in Canada. 🍋
What is the "worlds most sour candy?"
We all crave the thrill of an extreme sour candy! Once in a while we skip the sweet and the salty and head straight for the sour stuff. That's why we've compiled this list of our most sour candies. Pucker up, sweeties!
TL;DR — the short version:
- Most-cited champion: Barnett's Mega Sour (UK), a hand-made hard candy widely named the world's sourest.
- Most popular extreme sours: Toxic Waste and Warheads, the two that keep blowing up TikTok.
- Why it happens: sour candy gets its bite from edible acids, mainly citric and malic acid. No official "sourness scale" exists, so the crown is part science, part bragging rights.
10. Sour Skittles
You’ve tasted the sweet side of the rainbow. Now, take a walk on the sour side!
These Sour Skittles are perfect for anyone with a sour tooth... Yes, we did say "sour tooth!" This super sour candy first appeared in 2000.
They are regular Skittles with a grainy, sour candy coating. They have been popular ever since!
They start off sour and slowly turn into a sweet treat—that is, if you can get past the sour part!
9. Sour Patch Kids Extreme
Fun Fact: Sour Patch Kids Started Out as Martians!
When Canadian candy conglomerate Jaret International created Sour Patch Kids in the late 1970s, they originally intended to capitalize on the popularity of UFOs!
Sour Patch Kids have been one of our favourite sour candies to eat since we can remember!
The originals are great, but the Sour Patch Kids Extreme takes sourness to another level! It has different flavours and an extreme level of sourness.
Much like the Sour Skittles, if you can make it past the sour start, there’s a pleasant sweet treat waiting for you after.
8. Juicy Drop Gum
Juicy Drop Gum is revolutionizing the gum game!
This new product lets customers control the sour-to-sweet taste of their gum in every bite. The sour gel adds flavour to the gum.
It lets sour candy lovers choose how sweet or sour they want their experience. They’ve made our list because the sour possibilities are endless!
7. Koala-Red Band Assorted Sours
Holland's finest quality and sourest gummy is in this bag!
From the creators of Jumbo Sour Suckers, which we all know and love, comes another classic.
When you bite into one of these, the sweet and sour flavours mix together, creating a delightful taste. If you like sour candy, then you'll love these!
6. Toxic Waste Slime Licker
The Sour Candy that has taken over TikTok!
A very sour candy made by the not-so-sweet team at Toxic Waste Candy, Toxic Waste MEGA Slime Licker is a surprising favourite!
It is a sour rolling liquid candy that you roll on your tongue, allowing you to control how sour you want it. It will make your face and brain PUCKER!
It is available in two tantalizing flavours: Strawberry and Blue Razz.
5. Kidsmania Sour Sneaky Stardust Bubble Gum
This gum is not your usual sweet! Sour Sneaky Stardust Bubble Gum will sneak up on your taste buds with a surprising sour twist!
This candy powder will make you pucker before turning into yummy, chewy bubble gum. It comes in three delicious flavours: Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, and Sour Strawberry. Which one will you try?
4. Cry Baby Tears
We’re convinced these were made to turn any grown man or woman into a crybaby!
See if you can handle them! These teardrop-shaped candies are a classic sour treat. They are a must-try for anyone who loves a challenge!
The candy's name was chosen because it's one of the sourest candies, and it will make your eyes water!
Try all the delicious flavours that Candy Funhouse carries!
3. Warheads Sour Candy
Warheads Candy is on the list for a reason: They are an extreme sour candy!
It's like a sour bomb has been dropped right into your mouth, onto your tongue, and the sour explosion is insane!
After the dust settles, your mouth will stop watering. This can take 20 to 50 seconds.
Then, you will have a sweet and a little sour candy. This sour candy will wake up your taste buds!
Check out all the super sour stuff Warheads Candy has to offer!
2. Toxic Waste Hazardously Sour Candy
Toxic Waste Candy is Hazardously Sour!
This Toxic Waste is hazardously sour and will make your face pucker up almost instantly! Many sour Connoisseurs will agree that these are the sourest candies on the market, and we would have to agree!
Try them and let us know what you think! Can you handle them?
1. Barnetts Mega Sour Fruits
If you're wondering, "What is the sourest candy in the world?" then wonder no more!
Pucker up, sweeties, for the most sour candy!
This super sour candy is from the UK. These sourest sweets are made by hand. Mega Sours are cooked in open copper pans using the original recipe from the 1890s. Now, that's a British candy tradition!
Barnetts has been a family business since the 1890s, creating the same boiled sweets.
What Makes Sour Candy So Sour?
Sour candy tastes sour because it's coated or filled with edible acids. The two big ones are citric acid (the bright tang in lemons) and malic acid (the sharper, longer-lasting sour you get from green apples). The more acid packed onto a candy, the harder your tongue puckers.
When that acid meets your saliva, it switches on the sour receptors on your tongue. Malic acid is the heavy hitter: it's more intense and sticks around longer, which is why the most extreme sours lean on it. Toxic Waste and Warheads pile the acid into a powder coating, so the first few seconds are pure pucker before a sweeter centre takes over.
Here's how the heavy hitters stack up:
|
Candy |
Origin |
Sour style |
How long the pucker lasts |
Where to grab it |
|
Barnett's Mega Sour |
UK |
Acid-coated hard candy, fizzy centre |
Long |
|
|
Toxic Waste |
USA |
Powder-coated hard candy |
~30 seconds |
|
|
Warheads |
USA |
Powder-coated hard candy |
~20–50 seconds |
Sour Candy FAQ
Is Toxic Waste or Warheads more sour?
It's close, and most sour fanatics call it a tie. Both are extreme, powder-coated hard candies that hit hard in the first few seconds. Toxic Waste's sourness lasts around 30 seconds, while Warheads can keep your mouth watering for 20 to 50. For the truly hardcore, neither quite matches Barnett's Mega Sour. You'll find all of them in our sour candy collection.
What is the sourest candy you can buy at Candy Funhouse?
Barnett's Mega Sour is the sourest candy we carry, followed closely by Toxic Waste and Warheads. All three live in our sour candy collection, and we ship across Canada with free shipping on orders over $59.
Why does sour candy make your tongue hurt?
Extreme sour candy is loaded with acids like citric and malic acid. Eating a lot in one sitting can leave your tongue feeling tingly or a little raw, because the acid is strong. The feeling fades quickly. Pace yourself, rinse with water, and you'll be ready for the next round.
What acid makes candy sour?
Most sour candy uses citric acid, malic acid, or tartaric acid. Citric acid gives a bright lemon tang, while malic acid is sharper and lasts longer, which is why the most extreme sours rely on it.
Can eating too much sour candy be bad for you?
Like any candy, sour candy is a treat, not a food group. The acids that make it sour can be tough on tooth enamel and can irritate your tongue if you overdo it. Enjoy it in moderation and drink some water after.
Ready to Find Your Sour Limit?
From the hand-made British legend that is Barnett's Mega Sour to TikTok-famous Toxic Waste, Candy Funhouse ships the sourest stuff on earth across Canada, with free shipping on orders over $59. Trusted by 5,000,000+ candy lovers.
27 comments
Personally I’m looking to.try to sourest candy and I tried most of them and they’re not even close to be sour so.. if anyone knows a candy that is extremely sour that would be nice.:)
I don’t think that any of these candies are the sourest in the world. A few weeks ago I tried this candy that was pretty much just a ball of malic acid I loved it…
One candy that deserves to be somewhere in this list is Sweetarts Chewy Sours. I’ve had some of these and none of them compared to the Sweetarts. Just candy for thought for the next list. Thanks!
None of these candy’s are sour.
I was surprised that the Turkish pull taffy was not one of the retro candies! We had a lot of fun with this candy in school.
Jeanne Meissner
I have not had the Toxic Waste but love the tart sourness of Warheads! That said I find the chewy combination of Mike and Ike Zours OR Sour Skittles to be my FAVE mouth puckering treats!!