At Cottage Country, we hear a lot of questions from customers, everything from simple curiosities to the kind that make us stop and dig a little deeper into the science and history behind our products. What actually makes sour candy sour, or why does a gummy lose its bounce after a few days on the counter?
We asked our social media followers what they wanted to know about candy, then took those questions straight to the experts at Cottage Country for the real answers and candy facts. Here’s what we found out.
What Makes Candy Sour?
Where does that tart, puckering taste in sour candy come from?
It comes down to food-grade acids, most commonly citric acid or malic acid.
These acids create the sharp, tart sensation we associate with sour candy. You’ll often find them applied as a sanding sugar coating on the outside of a candy (think Sour Cherry Slices or Sour Watermelon Slices). That coating holds most of the sourness, which is why the first bite tends to hit hardest.
Does Candy Expire?
Can candy actually go bad? The short answer is no.
The longer answer is that shelf life depends on the candy’s ingredients and how it’s stored. Keeping candy in a cool, dark place away from excess heat and humidity goes a long way toward preserving its quality.
It helps to understand the difference between an expiration date and a best before date. Candy doesn’t typically expire in the way perishable food does, but after its best before date, the texture, taste, and quality can start to shift. Checking the best before date on your bag gives you a good sense of when to enjoy it for the best experience.
Why Do Gummies Get Hard?
Why does a soft, chewy gummy sometimes turn firm and stiff? If you’ve left a bag of gummies open for a day or two, you’ve probably noticed this happen.
Gummies rely on moisture to keep their signature soft texture, and exposed air pulls that moisture out over time. If you’re planning to enjoy a bag over several days, store it in a resealable bag or container, or reach for a product that already comes in a resealable format.
A firmer gummy doesn’t mean it’s spoiled. It usually just means it’s been exposed to more air, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Product Answers
What Is No Sugar Added Candy?
What sets No Sugar Added candy apart from regular candy? It comes down to the sweetener. Regular candy is made with sugar, while No Sugar Added candy uses alternative sweeteners, with maltitol being the most common in products carried at Cottage Country.
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol with about 75 to 90 percent of the sweetness of regular table sugar and roughly half the calories.
One thing worth flagging: eating a large amount of No Sugar Added candy in one sitting can have a laxative effect for some people, so moderation matters here more than usual.
No Sugar Added candy is a solid option for anyone watching their calorie or sugar intake, including people managing diabetes. We use the term No Sugar Added rather than Sugar Free because these products aren’t guaranteed to be completely free of sugar, only that they’re made with a sugar substitute in place of added sugar.
Do Wine Gums Contain Alcohol?
Wine gums are alcohol-free, despite the name. These firm, jube-textured gummies get their name from wine and spirit labels, things like port, sherry, and claret, stamped on each piece, but the flavours themselves are fruit-based, such as blackcurrant, raspberry, and lemon. The wine names are just a nod to sophistication, not a hint at the actual taste.
Is Salt Water Taffy Salty?
Salt water taffy isn’t made with real salt water, and the name has a fun backstory. Legend has it that a seaside candy shop flooded, the owner renamed the treats afterward, and the joke stuck.
How Are Gummies, Jubes, and Jelly Candy Different?
These three terms often get used interchangeably, but they actually describe different textures of candy.
Gummies: Soft and chewy, with a slightly stretchy, squishy mouthfeel. Try our Soft & Chewy Mix.
Jubes: Also soft, but firmer than gummies and without the stretch. Ju Jubes or Sour Jubes are the classics.
Jelly candy: a soft, almost jam-like texture that dissolves in your mouth, like the centre of a Jelly Bean or a Blue Raspberry candy. In Jelly Beans specifically, that jelly centre can be a bit more solid than a standalone jelly candy.
Ready to Shop?
Grab your favourites, whether that’s a bag of No Sugar Added candy, a stash of Salt Water Taffy, or your go-to gummy texture – gummies, jubes, or jelly candy. With this many options, there’s something on our shelves for every craving and every occasion.
Fill out our contact form, and we’ll get back to you.
