Alani, the energy drink brand that’s given us everything from a bev that tastes like stardust to a pink lemonade promoted by a pantsless Kardashian, has entered the candy space. That’s right. Alani gummies have hit stores, and they’re banking on the idea that people want gummy candy that they can feel better about eating because it has less sugar and, therefore, fewer calories than regular gummy candy. But does less sugar mean less flavor? We grabbed the new Alani gummies in two varieties—Alani Smoothie Gummy Rings and Alani Gummy Bears—and tasted them to find out whether they still scratch that candy itch.
Alani Gummy Bears only have 80 calories and 2 grams of sugar a serving, and a serving is an entire bag, which is nice. They’re cute, too. They’re shaped like little weight-lifting bears. Do you want to think about exercising while you’re eating candy? Maybe you do! If so, this is the “better for you” candy for you.
Pros: In addition to being very cute, these Alani gummies have an excellent squish that definitely satisfies if you’re in the mood for gummy candy. I love that you can eat a whole bag rather than counting bears to track calories—just dig in and don’t worry about it.
Cons: Alani Gummy Bears are low sugar and they taste low sugar. They are very mildly sweet—if you’re craving sweets, these may or may not do the trick. While they do contain some sugar, they’re mostly sweetened with allulose and other alternatives and those alternative sweeteners definitely have a bit of an aftertaste that lingers on your tongue. Also, there are three flavors in the bag—grape, fruit punch, and watermelon—but I could barely tell them apart. I have to be honest: These remind me a little bit of gummy vitamins.
Alani Smoothie Gummy Rings might not be as cute as the gummy bears, but they definitely taste better. They have the same nutrition stats, too: 80 calories and 2 grams of sugar per serving (a whole bag).
Pros: These are remarkably sweeter than the Alani gummy bears and they taste better as a result. They have good squish and fruity tang, although the flavors are still kind of tough to decipher. That said, I’d definitely buy these again.
Cons: Even though these Alani gummies, like the gummy bears, only have 80 cals and 2 grams of sugar, they’re still pretty high in carbs (34 grams). I could see that being a deal-breaker for a lot people looking for an alternative to regular ol’ candy.
Howdy! I’m Gwynedd, Sporked’s managing editor. I live in Los Angeles and have access to the best tacos the U.S. has to offer—but I’m a sucker for a crunchy Old El Paso taco night every now and then. I’ve been at Sporked since 2022 and I’m still searching frozen mozzarella sticks that can hold a candle to restaurant sticks.
Why you should trust me: I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (yikes), a consumer of food for 40-plus years, and I’m truly hard pressed to think of foods I don’t like (or that I can’t tolerate at the very least). Oh and one time I cooked my way through Guy Fieri’s cookbook and wrote about the journey through Flavortown.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s Original Savory Thins. Fat free plain yogurt (usually Fage or Nancy’s). Honeycrisp apples. Sweet cream coffee creamer for my at-home Americanos. A frozen cauliflower crust pizza and some jarred mushrooms to top it with. Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff taco shells and Gardein Ground Be’f, even though I think “be’f” is a nightmarish contraction.
Favorite ranking: Stouffer’s frozen dinners. I don’t own a microwave (I get my cancers the old fashioned way!), so I love taste testing things that I don’t really buy to eat at home.
Least favorite ranking: Soy sauce. Don’t get me wrong, I love soy sauce—but consuming that much sodium in one sitting is probably illegal in some countries. Our frozen enchilada taste test was a close second; the smell of microwaved corn tortillas still haunts me.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Gwynedd Stuart
Justine Sterling
Will Morgan
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!