I think it’s safe to say, Jolly Ranchers are the best hard candy. If grandma offers you a Life Saver or a mysterious strawberry wrapped treat, you might hesitate to take it. But a Jolly Rancher is a universal crowd pleaser.
They have a flavor for everyone’s tastes: sour, sweet, red berry, or peculiar blue, is there a Jolly Rancher flavor that you don’t like?
To me, they’re all a little blast of juicy nostalgia. So without further ado, and in no particular order, these are the best Jolly Rancher flavors to date.
Grape
This purple flavored candy might be the least liked; most people think it tastes like cough syrup. But when I was a kid, I liked the flavor of cough syrup, so why not in a candy?
Plus, it’s always fun to watch your tongue change colors, and that deep purple was one of the coolest. I don’t know about you, but I sure wouldn’t turn down a Jolly Rancher, even if it was Grape.
Cinnamon Fire
Cinnamon is a classic. Red Hots, Cinnamon Bears, Hot Tamales, all yummy, spicy candies. And this flavor is just as hot and delicious as a Jolly Rancher.
You really have to be a sucker to keep that fiery burning in your mouth for as long as a hard candy lasts, but I’ll certainly respect you if you do! Just like Flaming Hot Cheetos, Cinnamon Fire Jolly Ranchers are painfully good.
Lemon
This is no sour Warhead, the Lemon Jolly Rancher gives you a nice hint of citrus-y sour, and then settles into a subtle sweetness. It’s pleasant and not too overpowering.
Some folks say this is another flavor made for old people and bored secretaries, but I have to say, I’ve always been a fan.
Pineapple
Pineapple tends to be the forgotten flavor. Maybe it’s the color, soft off-white, that doesn’t pop in a bag full of blues and reds, or maybe it’s simply not anyone’s favorite. But don’t write this tropical flavor off completely.
If you lean towards tiki drinks at the bar, or Hawaiian pizza, this Jolly Rancher flavor is for you. A little sweet, a little tangy, Pineapple is unique and oh so good.
Fruit Punch
Fruit Punch flavored anything makes me think about Kool-Aid at the park, hot summer days, and sticky fingers after a picnic. It’s one of my favorite flavors.
Fruity without being reminiscent of any real fruit, plus the deep red color that stains your lips, it’s just a delightful and fun candy to suck on.
Green Apple
Another crowd-pleaser, green apple is a little sour, tart, and sweet; a perfect combination.
It tastes very similar to actually biting into a Granny Smith apple. If you prefer Red Delicious, you probably won’t like this flavor. But if you want to brighten your day with a little zing, go for a Green Apple Jolly Rancher.
Watermelon
I don’t think anyone would turn down a Watermelon Jolly Rancher. It’s sweet and tangy without the cough syrup reminders, and just overall enjoyable.
Again, it tastes nothing like actual watermelon, but still somehow makes you crave that juicy summer treat. If you don’t like Watermelon Jolly Ranchers, you might be a crazy person.
Tropical Flavors
Besides Fruit Punch and Pineapple, a bag of Tropical Jolly Ranchers includes Lime and Mango too. They’ll take you on a journey to an island paradise.
The mango is sweet and bright, without being too tart, while the Lime is unique, bold, and just intense enough. For a big variety and an exciting change from the usual flavors, you’ll want to try a bag of Tropical goodness.
Strawberry
Despite the reputation of those curious strawberry candies that grandma always had, but you never saw them in the stores, Strawberry Jolly Ranchers are quite delicious.
The light pink color calls to you with suggestions of pink lemonade or spreading jam on toast after school. It’s a bit more subtle than other red flavors, so it’s often forgotten, but for me, Strawberry is unforgettable.
Cherry
The internet has spoken and cheery Cherry is the ultimate Jolly Rancher flavor. A perfect balance of sweet and sour, with a flavor that lasts till the Rancher is crunchable, Cherry is just the best.
Whether it’s cough syrup, a dripping popsicle, or a tongue-dying Jolly Rancher, Cherry is simply a well loved flavor.
Smoothie Flavors
A bag of Smoothie Jolly Ranchers includes Strawberry, Watermelon, Peach, Mixed Berry, and Orange. But these aren’t your typical Rancher flavors. They’re softer, a little less sweet, and oh so creamy.
My personal favorite of the bunch is Peach. It’s like a freshly baked cobbler, or walking through an orchard on a nice summer evening; just irresistible.
Blue Raspberry
Blue Raspberry is a comforting flavor. It’s like staying home from school, cozy in your blankets, watching your favorite day-time TV. It’s another that strangely doesn’t taste like anything in the natural world, but you don’t mind it because it’s sweet, tangy, and downright fun.
Blue Raspberry probably isn’t anyone’s favorite anything, but if you’re offered this bright blue candy, I bet you won’t say no.
Orange
Bright and fresh, Orange is a lively, neon flavor. More like orange soda than freshly squeezed orange juice. An Orange Jolly Rancher is pleasant, pungent, and deliciously sweet.
It may be hard to find these days, but it’s worth the search. Orange is mellow, even the color isn’t totally neon, but you’ll be glad you tried this classic Rancher flavor.
Sour Flavors
The Fruit ‘N’ Sour bags include Wild Strawberry, Green Apple, Watermelon, Cherry and Blue Raspberry, all with a sour twist.
They’re not super sour, so they don’t burn a hole through your tongue and some people even prefer the Sours over the original Jolly Ranchers. The Sours just have that extra zip of flavor.
For a delicious tingle on your tongue, you’ll want to hunt down these satisfying sour candies.
