Low Calorie Sour Candy - Guilt-Free Tangy Treats to Satisfy Your Cravings

Satisfying Your Sour Candy Craving the Low Calorie Way

Sour candy is a popular treat that many candy lovers reach for to satisfy their cravings for something tangy and tart. With burst of bright, lip-puckering flavor in every bite, sour candies offer an exciting taste sensation you wont get from sweet candy alone.

However, most conventional sour candies are high in sugar, which can ruin their appeal for calorie-conscious candy fans. The good news is that today there are a variety of lower calorie options that allow you to enjoy sour flavor without all the added calories.

What Makes Candy Sour?

Before diving into low calorie sour candies, lets look at what gives sour candy its signature puckering tartness.

Ingredients That Create Sour Flavor

Sour candy gets its intense tartness from ingredients like:

• Citric acid - A naturally sour additive derived from citrus fruits
• Malic acid - Another organic acid with a tart, fruity taste
• Fumaric acid - A common food acidulant with a sour flavor
• Tartaric acid - Derived from grapes and often used in sour candy

Other acids like lactic acid and ascorbic acid are also sometimes used. These super sour ingredients give candy its lip-smacking kick.

How the Ingredients Interact in Your Mouth

When you eat sour candy, the acidity of the ingredients listed above triggers your taste buds sour receptors. This sends signals to your brain that you are tasting something very tart and tangy.

The acids also interact with the minerals in your saliva, especially the bicarbonate ions. This reaction enhances the overall perceived sourness. The acids essentially momentarily lower the pH level in your mouth, which amps up that eye-popping sourness.

Benefits of Low Calorie Sour Candy

Heres a look at some of the advantages of choosing low calorie sour candy:

Fewer Calories

This benefit is obvious, but very important. Conventional sour candies often contain 140 calories or more per serving. Low calorie varieties save you at least 50% of the calories so you get the flavor you crave with less impact on your daily calorie intake.

Less Sugar

Along with fewer calories, low calorie sour candies are lower in sugar than traditional versions. Excess sugar provides empty calories and is unhealthy when consumed in large amounts. The less sugar in your food, the better.

More Nutrients

Some low calorie sour candies actually contain beneficial nutrients and ingredients you wont find in classic versions. Well explore some of these ingredients later in this article.

Increased Sourness

With less sugar competing against the sour flavor, some low calorie sour candies actually provide an even more intense sour taste.

Can Still Satisfy Cravings

Even with less sugar and calories, low calorie sour candies can satisfy cravings for sour flavor when youre trying to watch your calorie or sugar intake.

Types of Low Calorie Sour Candy

If youre looking to cut calories without sacrificing sour intensity, here are some top options to consider:

Sour Gummy Candies

Gummy candies are a very popular choice for low calorie sour candy. Many brands now offer sour gummy options with around 5 grams of sugar per serving, compared to 20-30 grams in regular varieties. These are flavored with fruit juices and citric acid rather than sugar.

Sour Chewy and Grain-Based Candies

Look for sour chewy candies made with fibrous ingredients like rice, quinoa, oats or tapioca. These provide more nutrition than just straight sugar. Some also add collagen protein or botanical ingredients.

Sour Hard Candies

Hard candies have always been relatively low in calories. Now many brands offer very tart, fruit-flavored hard candy options sweetened with sugar substitutes rather than sucrose.

Powdered Sour Candy

Powdered sour candy usually consists of citric acid, malic acid and other sour flavorings. These let you enjoy intense sour flavor with zero added sugars.

Sour Candy with Added Nutrients

Look for sour candies that also add ingredients like vitamin C for immunity boosting properties, collagen protein, fiber or naturally sour botanicals like tamarind.

What to Look for When Choosing a Healthier Sour Candy

Here are some tips for selecting the best low calorie sour candy options:

Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

Many reduced sugar candies use artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame or saccharin. Look for ones sweetened with stevia or monk fruit instead.

Minimum Added Sugars

Aim for sour candies with 5 grams or less of added sugars per serving.

No Artificial Flavors/Colors

Many sour candies get their flavor and hue from artificial additives. Prioritize options with natural flavors and pigments from fruits, vegetables and herbs instead.

Low or No Calories

Look for sour candy under 100 calories per serving, or powders with zero calories.

Added Nutrients a Plus

Keep an eye out for sour candies that also add immunity-supporting vitamin C, protein, fiber or other beneficial nutrients lacking in regular candy.

Reviews of the Best Low Calorie Sour Candies

Here is a sampling of recommended low calorie sour candies to try:

Sour Smog Balls

These sour hard candies come in fun smoke-inspired clouds. Packed with flavor extracts and citric acid, they offer vibrant sourness with only 2.5 grams of sugar per ball.

Sour Punch Straws

At just 40 calories per straw, these chewy goodies satisfy sour cravings for few calories. They come in flavors like Strawberry and Apple-a-Day and are naturally flavored.

SmartSweets Sour Blast Buddies

Made with natural flavors, tapioca syrup and stevia, these gummy candies provide a healthified twist on sour worms. Just 3 grams of sugar in each serving.

Hi-Chew Sours Chew Candy

These fruity, lip-puckering chews are sweetened with mannitol syrups, providing only 8 grams of sugar per serving. They come in flavors like Grapefruit and Mango.

True Lemon Crystallized Lemon Packets

For a zero-calorie sour flavor blast, these lemon powder packets are perfect. Made from crystallized lemon juice, they provide all the mouthwatering sourness you crave.

Recipes for Homemade Low-Calorie Sour Candy

You can also make your own healthier sour candy at home with just a few simple ingredients. Here are some tasty recipes to try:

Sour Fruit Leather

Ingredients: Blenderized fruit like raspberries/lemon juice, tapioca flour, honey or monkfruit sweetener. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and dry into chewy fruit leather.

Sour Gummy Bears

Ingredients: Grass-fed gelatin, fruit juice, citric acid. Use silicone molds to make fun shaped

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.