Written By Sam Henselijn
If you have ever popped a sour patch candy into your mouth, you’ve experienced that mouth-puckering sour taste. It is the ideal balance between tart and fruit; while some people love to hate sour candy, others swear by it. Despite the love-hate relationship you may share with these, it remains one the most popular choice amongst all varieties of candy. This article will give the needed answers to what makes sour candy sour.
What Makes Sour Candy Sour?
It has a coat on the outside made with a fruit-flavored candy product. When you bite into it you will get a sweet sensation right before the sour taste. The incorporation of different acids on the candy’s surface is what delivers the taste that many customers crave.
Citric acid and fumaric acid are the most common choices used in making these. Still, other acids can also be used depending on the manufacturer’s preference. Manufacturers of these take their time to pick the right blend of acids, so the sour taste doesn’t mix. Below is a review of some of the most common acids that cause sourness.
-
Malic Acid
Malic Acid is responsible for that intense sour flavor. It is used in
significant candies like toxic candy, sour triple bears, gummy sour mix and warheads. It is found naturally in fruits such as apricots, sour pineapples, and cherries. When malic acid is used it adds more to the intense flavor. Malic acid is coated in palm oil during making the candy because it prolongs its tartness.
-
Citric Acid
Citric acid is one of the most commonly used acids for making sour candy. It is commonly found in citrus fruits such as lemons, grapefruits, wild strawberries, and lemons.
-
Ascorbic Acid
Although not as commonly used as citric acid in making sour candy, Ascorbic acid is found in citrus fruits such as oranges.
-
Tartaric Acid
Tartaric acid is one of the sourest organic acids. They are found in baking powder, wine, and grapes. It adds a tart flavor.
-
Fumaric Acid
Fumaric acid is the most strong-tasting acid because of its low
dissolvability. It takes a long time to dissolve, making its taste long-lasting. If you’ve ever tasted that hint of sourness when you eat a apple, then you know how fumaric acid tastes.
How To Make With Malic Acid
Malic acid happens to be one of the most common acids used. It often appears in commercial candies, and it was first used in apple juice. Malic acid intensifies fruity flavors because it has a lower melting point than other food acids. This means that malic acid can easily be incorporated into the hard candy without the addition of water.
Below is a step-by-step guide on making sour candy using malic acid.
Step 1
You will have to butter an 8-inch square pan. Then you’d whisk them together in a saucepan, three parts sugar, four parts tarts, and two parts water. Then, you may add a packet of flavored gelatin. The flavored gelatin is added to every cup of the jam mixture.
Step 2
It is essential to turn the burner to medium until it boils the mixture. Remember that you’d need to stir continuously for two minutes as the mixture boils. Add sour flowers if you want a candy that is sour and offers a lemony taste.
Step 3
You will need to take down the mixture from the heat and insert a thermometer into the mix. Then, you have to wait till the temperature falls to about 260 degrees Fahrenheit. When you confirm that the mixture is at the desired temperature, add a pinch or more of malic acid. If you want the candy to be colored, you may want to add food coloring.
Step 4
After you are done adding the malic acid, proceed to pour the
mixture into the buttered pan. Then, place the pan in the refrigerator and leave it for three hours. The malic acid is a big factor in what makes sour candy sour.
Step 5
Using a knife, loosen the hardened sides of the mixture after bringing it out from the refrigerator. Remove the firm block from the pan and place it on the wax paper. Coat both sides of the block by turning it over till it mixes with the cornstarch and powdered sugar mixture.
Step 6
Cut the blocks into squares and place in a bowl of malic acid and granulated sugar. Ensure that you turn each candy over till each side is covered in the mixture of malic acid and granulated sugar.
Step 7
Finally, dry the soft candy on a wire rack till they get hard.
What Is The Powder On Sour Candy?
The powder is known as sour sanding or sour sugar. They are used to produce a sour taste. Sour sugar is made from sugar and tartaric or citric acid. It comes in handy when coating candies such as sour patch kids.
What Is The Sour Stuff On Candy?
Sour candies utilize many organic acids to get out the strong sour taste. But, the most commonly used is citric acid. Citric acid derives its name from the citrus fruit, which offers that sour taste.
Final Thoughts
Sour candies share a love-hate relationship with many people. This relationship has been built over years of sour candies delivering the perfect balance between sweet and sour. So, if you’re wondering what makes sour candy sour, you should know that citric and fumaric acid are some of the biggest contributors to the sour taste.
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
Copyright 2024 L’Orenta Nuts
L’Orenta Nuts proudly holds the SQF food safety certification, symbolizing our unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of food safety and quality. This certification guarantees that our products undergo rigorous scrutiny, ensuring transparency, traceability, and adherence to global food safety regulations for the utmost consumer confidence.
L’Orenta Nuts has the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certification is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and controlling food safety hazards. It ensures that food products are produced and handled in a manner that minimizes risks and complies with safety standards.
Our GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification ensures that a manufacturing facility adheres to comprehensive quality and safety standards while producing pharmaceuticals, food, and other consumer goods, promoting consistency, quality, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
L’Orenta is an FDA-approved manufacturing facility and has met the rigorous standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It demonstrates compliance with regulations, ensuring the production of safe and high-quality food products.
