We Ranked the Best Peelable Candy

A popular trend in East Asia has finally made its way to the U.S.: peelable candy. Whether you’ve already seen influencers unwrapping weird little peelable mango gummies on your TikTok feed or have absolutely no clue what I’m talking about (valid), we have to discuss them. After taste-testing and ranking the best brands of peelable gummies I could find, I have so many thoughts.

First thing’s first: What the heck is peelable fruit candy? Well, each candy has two main components: a chewy, firm outer gummy layer that peels open, and a soft, shiny, fruity center that glides through your teeth like butter. You can find different flavors like banana and grape, but it was really peelable mango candy that started it all. Now, you might be wondering what the big appeal (ap-peel, if you will) of these peelable gummies could be. To answer that, let’s get real and honest with ourselves for a second. It’s just you and me here. You know the sick satisfaction you get from popping a zit? (Does anyone else’s TikTok FYP get a little pimple pop-y at 1 a.m.? Just me?) It’s exactly like that…only now you want to eat it. 

If you’re cringing in disgust, I get it. But I tried three different brands of peelable candy for myself, and I promise this stuff is delicious. Mesmerizing, even. It’s a tactile treat that takes snacking from mundane to oddly gratifying. My ranking is based on two key factors: flavor and overall peeling experience (“peelability,” if you will). It’s not all about the thrill of the peel—they have to taste good, too. Also, pro tip: If your curiosity gets the best of you and you happen to grab some peelable candy after reading this, just know that you might struggle with peeling technique at first. This is perfectly normal and all part of the learning experience. Personally, I recommend biting into it first, and then going in with your fingers to open that sucker up.

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Best Texture

Nice! Peelable Candy

Walgreens

Nice! Is one of the house brands at Walgreens. They introduced their peelable mango gummies last year and played a big part in spreading this trend across the U.S. Walgreens literally couldn’t keep their peelable mango candy in stock—at one point, they had to limit online sales to one bag per cart. The Nice! brand was also the first peelable fruit candy I tried, and yes, the experience was life-changing. These have a matte, smooth outer layer that’s simply pleasant to touch. Peeling into them is very easy, satisfying, and not at all sticky. It’s a 10/10 in the peelability department, folks, and overall, a great intro brand into peelable candy. That said, flavor-wise, these just come up a little short compared to other brands. 

Credit: Merc / Walgreens

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Mango Flavor

Peelerz Peelable Candy

Amazon

Straight to the point: Peelerz has the opposite problem that Nice! runs into. Their peelable mango candy is by far the best-tasting of the bunch. That mango flavor is a bright blend of sweetness and tang. Texturally, the inside is even a little juicy and silken, like a real ripe mango. Same goes for their peelable banana candy—the banana flavor is bold. (I even dusted these with a little Tajin to get the full TikTok trend experience, and it was luxurious.) But I’m sorry to say that these are sticky, melty, and a pain to peel. Opening these up felt like picking at the giant zit you know isn’t ready to pop yet—and then once it does, gets everywhere. Yep. I said what I said. These are a sticky mess, but honestly? That mango flavor is unbeatable. Do with that information what you will. 

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Bobo Peelable Candy

Amazon (Crystal Fruit Candy)

Amazon (Mystery Gummies)

Bobo Creatures, a Chinese peelable candy brand you can order from Amazon, is the marriage of great flavor and unsettlingly satisfying peelability. I tried two different peelable gummy product lines from them. The first was Bobo 3D Peelable Crystal Fruit Candy, which are shaped like tiny gelatin dumplings and come in flavors like grape, green grape, and white peach. You open them up from a puckered top, and it feels like peeling a flower bud. (The peach in particular really reminds you of popping a zit, thanks to the pink gummy color and cream middle. I…really enjoyed it.) The second product line from them was Bobo 3D Mystery Peelable Gummies, which have tiny gummy animals inside that slip easily out as you peel them. It’s adorable and fun, okay? I loved every second of this taste test. Imagine inventing an entirely new candy concept in the modern era? Truly ingenious. 

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks