A Guide to Non-Chocolate Candy: Flavors, Classics & Healthy Options

Exploring the Wide World of Non-Chocolate Candy

When most people think of candy, the first thing that often pops to mind is chocolate. But the wonderful world of confections has so much more to offer beyond just chocolate bars and truffles! There is a huge range of interesting, innovative, and often underrated non-chocolate candies to discover.

Broadening your horizons beyond chocolate can open up new flavors, textures, and experiences. You may find something totally new to add into your candy rotation. Of course, all things in moderation when it comes to sugar and treating yourself. But with the right portion control, non-chocolate candies can be an exciting way to mix things up.

Fruit Chews

Fruit-flavored, soft chewy candies come in a wide array of options. Brands like Starburst, Skittles, and Jolly Ranchers are probably the most iconic and recognizable. But explore beyond the big names and you can find fruit chews more tailored to adult palates from companies like Albanese Candy Factory.

Flavor combinations that incorporate real fruit juices and purees tend to taste better than artificial flavors. Options like mango, pineapple, peach, strawberry, mixed berries, pomegranate, and more can give you a sweet fruity flavor without overwhelming sourness or tartness.

Gummies

Gummy candies are gelatin or pectin-based chewy sweets that come in fun shapes and sizes. Beyond the classic bears, you can find gummies shaped as worms, sharks, frogs, emojis, and much more. Brands like Haribo and Black Forest are classics, but smaller boutique candy companies are popping up with creative new gourmet gummies.

Sour gummy candy provides a lip-puckering tangy flavor for those who enjoy that sensation. Or look for all-natural gummies made with real fruit juice, elderberry, spirulina, turmeric, vitamins, and other add-ins focused on function as well as flavor.

Jelly Beans

These small jelly candies with a shiny outer shell and chewy middle are another Easter basket staple. But why only enjoy them seasonally when there are so many year-round options? Old-fashioned jelly beans tend to have pure sugary flavors. For a more sophisticated palette, try gourmet jelly beans with flavors like ginger, cinnamon, buttered popcorn, coffee, coconut, lemon-lime, strawberry cheesecake, and more.

Avoid jelly beans with artificial colors and go for all-natural vegetable-based colors and real fruit flavors when you can. Also look at the ingredient list and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, instead choosing beans made with real sugar.

Licorice

For those with an affinity for anise flavor, licorice can be a polarizing but delicious non-chocolate candy. However, much of what is labeled licorice in the US does not contain any real licorice root extract. Look on the ingredient list for "licorice extract" or "glycyrrhiza glabra" rather than "anise oil" to get the real deal.

Twizzlers are probably the most popular mass-market licorice. But try alternatives like Panda Licorice which comes in tasty flavors like chocolate and strawberry. Natural licorice has a robust, earthy flavor that provides a nostalgic treat.

Marshmallow

Fluffy, pillowy marshmallow candies are a classic campfire and hot cocoa accompaniment. Marshmallows also show up in candies like Peeps, Mallo Cups, Rocky Road, Lollipops, and more. Look for gelatin-free marshmallow options made from tapioca syrups and agar plants for a vegan version.

Specialty marshmallow producers like Sweet Art make handcrafted gourmet marshmallows in fun shapes and irresistible flavors like root beer float, strawberry cheesecake, and horchata. Toasted, dipped, or infused with fun flavors, marshmallow is a versatile base for creativity.

Maple Candy

Made from 100% pure maple syrup boiled down to create a concentrated sugar candy, maple candy delivers woodsy sweet maple flavor. Often molded into cute leaf shapes or sold in bite-size pieces, maple candy has a soft texture nearing crispness that dissolves on your tongue.

Maple candy shops are abundant in maple syrup making regions like Vermont and Canada. But it is also easily purchased online. Maple candy makes a nice alternative to milk or dark chocolate candies when you want to switch things up.

Mints

Minty candies come in a range of styles beyond just the after dinner restaurant kind. Peppermint hard candies, butter mints, mint meltaways, Junior Mints, and York Peppermint Patties deliver refreshing mint flavor. Mint truffles take things up a notch for special occasions.

Cooling mint is a palate cleanser and pairs nicely with chocolate and other flavors. Try artisanal mints with unique ingredients like lavender mint, ginger mint, matcha mint, and chocolate mint for sophisticated flavor.

Non-Chocolate Candy Classics

Some candies have become so ingrained in our culture over decades or even centuries, it's hard to remember a time before their iconic flavors burst onto our tastebuds. Revisiting old favorites can be a nostalgic and comforting treat. Here are some non-chocolate candy classics that have stood the test of time:

Salt Water Taffy

This chewy, flexible candy popularized at Atlantic City, New Jersey's iconic boardwalks comes in endless flavors perfect for beachside indulgence. While named "salt water taffy," the candy does not actually contain seawater but gets its signature activation from added salt. Classic flavors include vanilla, chocolate, banana, strawberry, and cotton candy.

Candy Corn

This Halloween and fall staple has been around since the 1880s. The tricolor design mimics actual dried corn kernels. Made mostly from sugar, corn syrup, confectioner's wax, salt, and artificial flavoring, candy corn supplies nostalgic sweetness. For those who find plain candy corn too sugary, try alternatives with peanut butter or dark chocolate added.

Red Licorice

Bite into a Twizzler and you won't taste anything like actual black licorice root extract. Instead, strawberry and raspberry flavors crafted from oils like benzaldehyde give mass-produced red licorice its fruitiness. Often debated if it's really "licorice" at all, it has become a candy favorite. Twizzlers have over 45% market share of licorice candy sales.

Candy Buttons

These tiny dots of colored sugar candy attached to edible strips of paper have delighted kids of all ages since the 1930s. You can pluck each button off and pop it onto your tongue for sweet dissolving flavor. Test your willpower to eat them one at a time or go crazy and devour the whole strip.

Dum Dums

Generations have grown up with these simple lollipops sporting mystery flavors and a friendly mascot. Dum Dums have been made since 1924 with a recognition factor aided by machines dispensing these pops at checkout counters everywhere. Their small size makes them an ideal brief treat for a burst of sweetness.

Candy Necklaces

Edible candy fashion takes the form of these candy necklaces which became popular in the 1950s and 60s. Though most often seen as a cheap kids' candy today, they used to be more upscale and given as party favors at weddings. Feel like a kid again and munch on these wearable sweet treats.

Innovative Non-Chocolate Treats

Beyond old standbys, the world of candy is also full of innovative new treats. Here are some cutting edge examples of non-chocolate candy offering unique flavors, ingredients, and missions:

Tea Candy

Tea-infused candy delivers floral and aromatic flavor subtleties that chocolate can't provide. Companies like Joie de Vivre Craft Candy make exquisite tea candies with ingredients like green rooibos, moroccan mint, earl grey, chamomile, and matcha. The tea flavor provides zen-like calm and antioxidant benefits.

Spicy Candy

Candy bars from Endorphin Foods take an unconventional savory and spicy approach. Their groundbreaking chocolate bars contain ingredients like chipotle peppers, popped quinoa, roasted almonds, and sprinkles of cayenne pepper. Their non-chocolate options feature spicy mango, ginger, coffee, maple, and coconut flavors.

Probiotic Candy

Alter Eco makes probiotic truffles to cater to gut health. Flavors like Orange Hibiscus and Coconut Mango contain over 2 billion probiotics to support your digestion and immune system. You can now improve your microbiome by indulging in delicious candy formulated with beneficial probiotics.

Upcycled Candy Bars

Upcycled food aims to prevent usable ingredients from going to waste. Treasure8 partners with brewers, roasters, and chocolatiers to make candy bars from surplus and byproduct ingredients. Flavors like Coffee Toffee and Incredible Corn rescue would-be waste and transform it into inventive candy.

Make Non-Chocolate Candy with a Purpose

When choosing candy in the era of processed junk food overload, it helps to be intentional with your choices. Seek out candy that does more than just provide quick sugar. Here are characteristics to look for in healthy, purpose-driven candy:

Natural Colors and Flavors

Avoid artificial colors and go for vegetable-based dyes. Seek out real fruit purees over "natural flavor." Non-GMO, organic ingredients provide cleaner options.

Fair Trade

Opt for brands that source sugar and cacao ethically and promote sustainability. Child labor remains an issue in candy supply chains, so choose fair trade when possible.

Unique Local Options

Try small-batch candy from artisanal makers that craft confections with care using quality, natural ingredients. Farmer's markets and gourmet shops offer exciting options.

Transparency

Know what's going into your candy by looking for brands that share their sourcing and manufacturing practices. Minimal added sugars, preservatives, and stabilizers are best.

Allergen-Free

Many candies are now produced free of common allergens like dairy, nuts, soy, gluten, and shellfish. This allows those with restrictions to also enjoy sweet treats.

With awareness and wisdom, candy can still be an occasional part of a healthy lifestyle. The world of confections offers far more than just chocolate, so branch out and explore new non-chocolate candies to find better-for-you indulgence.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.