48 Hi-Chew Flavors, Ranked from Worst to Best

A few months ago, I realized we hadn’t ranked all the Hi-Chew flavors on Sporked—an obvious misstep in my time here. So, I sent a single email to a contact over at Hi-Chew, and a week later, a giant box of fruity candy was sitting on my doorstep. Oh, the life I lead. (For the uninitiated, Hi-Chew is a Starburst-y type chewy fruit candy from Japan.) Since then, I’ve ranked 48 official Hi-Chew flavors from across the globe; may the lord have mercy on my stomach. 

Mango Chamoy

Mango Chamoy Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Oh god, why is it savory? I’m sure this is for someone, but it isn’t for me or anyone I offered it to. It’s just hot enough to cancel out the sweetness, which means you end up with a neutral-leaning-savory piece of candy.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

1/10

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Watermelon

Watermelon Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This Hi-Chew flavor tastes like taking a bit of watermelon a little too close to the rind. One of my fellow taste testers said it tasted like paint, and I hate to say he wasn’t far off.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

1.5/10

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Salted Caramel

Salted Caramel Hi-Soft

Walmart

Did you know the manufacturer of Hi-Chew started with caramels? Having tasted this American-produced version of one of those original innovations, I have no idea how the company lasted this long. Unlike most salted caramels, this is actually salty! It tastes like a pretzel.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

2/10

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Açaí

Açaí Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

The texture and flavor of this Hi-Chew flavor come together to create something really unpleasantly floral. Basing a candy flavor on a superfruit people mostly eat for the health benefits is certainly a choice.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

2/10

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Yuzu Lime

Yuzu Lime Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

At first, it has a pleasant citrus flavor…but then it turns into the unmistakable taste of kitchen cleaner by the end of the piece. Yuck.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

2.5/10

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Ramune

Ramune Hi-Chew

Nijiya

I love ramune but this Hi-Chew flavor is a huge miss. It’s so bland! There’s about as much flavor in the wrapper as there is in the candy.

Credit: Liv Averett / Nijiya

Rating:

2.5/10

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Grapefruit

Grapefruit Hi-Chew

Japan Candy Store

This is the LaCroix of Hi-Chew flavors: It tastes adjacent to the flavor it’s supposed to be. It’s funny that two of the Sweet & Sour Mix flavors (Watermelon being the other) are rounding out the bottom of the list, while the third flavor is one of the best in the whole bunch.

Credit: Liv Averett / Japan Candy Store

Rating:

2.5/10

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Mai Tai

Mai Tai Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

The cocktail-flavored Hi-Chews leave a lot to be desired. They really took the “spiced rum” part of the Mai Tai recipe and ran with it; where’s the orange and pineapple?

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

3/10

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Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit Hi-Chew

Instacart

There isn’t a ton of flavor in this Hi-Chew flavor, but dragon fruit isn’t the strongest flavor to begin with. The chia seeds muck up Hi-Chew’s otherwise wonderful soft texture, as well. Who asked for this?

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

3.5/10

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Bites

Hi-Chew Bites

Walmart

These are slightly smaller pieces of Hi-Chew coated in some sort of starch so they can jostle around in a bag together without pulling a Voltron and becoming one giant Hi-Chew. There’s no new flavors and the starch affects the flavor in a negative way. These don’t need to exist.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

4/10

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Blueberry

Blueberry Hi-Chew

Amazon

Have you ever wanted an unripe blueberry-flavored candy? This is technically correct, but it sure is unpleasant.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

4/10

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Kiwi

Kiwi Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This Hi-Chew flavor tastes very similar to the Green Apple, but the chia seeds again ruin the texture. I wouldn’t throw it out, but I’m not picking it first anytime soon.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

4.5/10

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Tropical Smoothie

Tropical Smoothie Hi-Chew

Affiliate

Rating:

7.5/10

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Mango

Mango Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

I’m pretty biased against mango as a whole, but the mango flavor in this candy stays in a pleasant zone most of the time. There are so many better Hi-Chew flavors, though.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

5/10

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Mango Gummies

Mango Hi-Chew Gummies

Hi-Chew

This gummy variant is better than the standard Mango Hi-Chew, but still nowhere close to my favorite flavor. Since they aren’t individually packaged, all the non-sour Hi-Chew gummies ended up tasting muddled with the other flavors in the bag.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

5.5/10

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Blue Hawaii

Blue Hawaii Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This cocktail-flavored Hi-Chew didn’t leave a great impression. It actually took a little time before it tasted like anything at all. The flavor was pleasant by the end, at least.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

5.5/10

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Watermelon Gummies

Watermelon Hi-Chew Sour Gummies

Hi-Chew

This was not sour enough to claim to be sour, but I dug the flavor quite a bit. Toss in some more citric acid and we could have a real winner here.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6/10

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Red Apple & Strawberry

Red Apple & Strawberry Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This had much chewier fruit chunks than the other “PlusFruit” flavor, but these fruits don’t work as well together. It’s still a nice piece of “red fruit?” candy.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6/10

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Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry Ice Cream Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Here’s another underwhelming strawberry flavor—what a fall from grace. But if the regular Strawberry Hi-Chew is too strong for you, this will be perfect.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6/10

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Strawberry Yogurt

Japanese Strawberry Yogurt Hi-Chew

H-Mart

This is from an actual Japanese bag of yogurt-flavored Hi-Chews, which gave me very high hopes…that this flavor did not live up to. It doesn’t have the acidity I want out of something yogurt flavored, and the strawberry flavor sure is barely there.

Credit: Liv Averett / H-Mart

Rating:

6/10

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Green Apple

Green Apple Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

You know those caramel green apple suckers? That’s what this tastes like. It’s not an overwhelming fake-sour fruitiness, though. Like many other Hi-Chew flavors, this tastes like actual fruit.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6/10

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Green Apple Gummies

Green Apple Sour Hi-Chew Gummies

Hi-Chew

If you grew up on Sour Skittles, this is not even going to read as slightly sour. The texture of the Hi-Chew gummies is fantastic though—big fan.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6.5/10

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Mango Reduced Sugar

Mango Reduced Sugar Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Both reduced sugar flavors are much easier to chew from a texture standpoint, but it comes at the expense of less flavor overall. Still, a worthwhile addition to the lineup from an accessibility standpoint.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6.5/10

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Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

The creamy key lime flavor here is pitch perfect; I’m just personally confused that key lime pie was thought of as a candy-worthy flavor.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

6.5/10

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Strawberry Gummies

Strawberry Hi-Chew Gummies

Hi-Chew

This is closer to “real” strawberry flavor than your grandma’s hard candy. And the texture remains fantastic. Hi-Chew Gummies are all filled with a goo that does great things for my brain.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

7/10

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Peach Gummies

Peach Hi-Chew Gummies

Hi-Chew

This was the (non-sour) gummy with the most distinct flavor and it was the cutest because the gummy/filling color combo makes it look like an actual peach.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

7.5/10

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Candy Apple

Candy Apple Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Red apples don’t get enough love in the candy production world. This is a pleasant-enough reminder that “sour” and “green” are not the only adjectives for apples.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

7.5/10

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Raspberry

Raspberry Hi-Chew

Amazon

This Hi-Chew flavor is a totally perfunctory raspberry candy. It probably won’t be anyone’s favorite, but it’s a good filler for a variety bag.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

7.5/10

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Grape

Grape Hi-Chew

Walmart

If you have nostalgia for any sort of grape medicine from your childhood, Grape Hi-Chew will hit you like a truck. If you don’t? It’s still pretty good.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

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Pineapple Sour Gummies

Pineapple Sour Hi-Chew Gummies

Hi-Chew

Sour Hi-Chew Gummies are better than regular Hi-Chew Gummies. Pineapple is better than basically every other fruit. Ergo, this is the best Hi-Chew gummy of all time. All hail.

Rating:

8/10

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Orange & Tangerine

Orange & Tangerine Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

The fruit in this “PlusFruit” flavor work together much better than Red Apple & Strawberry. The fruit chunks definitely make the texture softer and a little more interesting—this is a top-tier Hi-Chew on every level.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8/10

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Strawberry Reduced Sugar

Strawberry Reduced Sugar Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This feels so much like strawberry gum that I had to remind myself it was okay to swallow it. It’s pleasant, but I’d never guess it was a Hi-Chew if I ate it blind.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8/10

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Pina Colada

Pina Colada Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This is the only good cocktail-flavored Hi-Chew. The pineapple and coconut are balanced super well. I want Menchie’s to make this into a frozen yogurt ASAP.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8/10

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Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Good news! Hi-Chew accidentally nailed the flavor of a hypothetical “Strawberry Lemonhead.” If that sounds like something you want to try, track down this Hi-Chew to make all your dreams come true.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8/10

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Rainbow Sherbet

Rainbow Sherbet Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This is so authentically sherbet-y, it’s unreal. Raspberry is a hard flavor to tone down; this absolutely nails it.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8/10

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Japanese Orange Yogurt Hi-Chew

Japanese Orange Yogurt

Exotic Snacks

This is more “tangerine” than generic candy orange flavor—not uncommon for Japanese products. There isn’t much yogurt flavor here, but the candy leaves a yogurt texture in your mouth. This is an achievement in science.

Credit: Liv Averett / Exotic Snacks

Rating:

8/10

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Juicy Peach

Juicy Peach Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

If you’ve ever had a Peach NEHI, you know exactly what this tastes like. I truly didn’t expect such a strong flavor from a historically soft fruit in the field of candies.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8/10

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Blue Raspberry

Blue Raspberry Hi-Chew

Amazon

You already know what this tastes like. This is a perfect execution of the extremely real blue raspberry flavor we all know and love: tart, strong, and sweet. Hi-Chew has done Blue Raspberry properly.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

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Mystery Flavor

Mystery Flavor Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Y’all, I don’t want to spoil the just-released Mystery Flavor too early…but I know exactly what this is. Say hello to the first ever Cherry Limeade Hi-Chew. I’d bet my house on it, I’m so confident. Oh, and it’s fantastic. As a big cherry limeade fan, this deserves a few awards.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8.5/10

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Juicy Strawberry

Juicy Strawberry Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This Hi-Chew flavor is practically identical to the standard Strawberry, save for the “juice” at the center, which doesn’t really make much of a difference. That said, the Infrusions line of Hi-Chew flavors as a whole is killer—get yourself a bag ASAP.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

8.5/10

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Strawberry

Strawberry Hi-Chew

Walmart

Strawberry Hi-Chew is a great strawberry candy, but it kinda has to be good, you know? If you can’t make strawberry work in your fruit-based candy line, get out of the kitchen.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

8.5/10

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Juicy Blood Orange

Juicy Blood Orange Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

Blood orange isn’t a common candy flavor and this Hi-Chew flavor has me reconsidering that. It’s fantastic stuff, above and beyond your standard orange candy. Tic-Tacs should be losing sleep over this one.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

9/10

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Cola

Cola Hi-Chew

Economy Candy

This Hi-Chew flavor starts as a very convincing cola and turns into something not-quite-cola-but-still-good. Think of the cola flavored “Bottlecaps” candy and you know what’s going on here.

Credit: Liv Averett / Economy Candy

Rating:

9/10

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Japanese Yogurt

Japanese Yogurt Hi-Chew

Yami

This is just Yakult flavored Hi-Chew and I’m not mad at all. They nailed the sweetness with that unmistakable yogurt acidity underneath. I could eat a stick of this a day and never get tired. (Okay, my jaw would definitely get tired. This ranking hurt my face, y’all.)

Credit: Liv Averett / Yami

Rating:

9/10

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Pineapple

Pineapple Hi-Chew

Walmart

I absolutely love the authentic pineapple flavor in this Hi-Chew, but it’s just a little too weak to give it a perfect 10. Compared to the strength of the very best Hi-Chew flavors, this one needs to hit the gym and get back to me.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

9/10

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Lemon

Lemon Hi-Chew

Omi

Lemon is a tough flavor to balance without going full Lemonhead, but Hi-Chew absolutely nailed it. This Hi-Chew flavor is giving Lemon Pledge in the best way.

Credit: Liv Averett / Omi

Rating:

9.5/10

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Black Cherry

Black Cherry Hi-Chew

Amazon

I give this Hi-Chew flavor an A+. I could eat a thousand of these and never get tired. I’m going to try eating one of these with a Cola Hi-Chew at the same time and see if I can reverse engineer a Cherry Coke Hi-Chew.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

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Banana

Banana Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew

This is not just the best Hi-Chew flavor, it’s the best banana candy ever made. This isn’t that “banana candy” flavor based on the extinct variant; this is modern banana flavored and it’s absolutely perfect.

Credit: Liv Averett / Hi-Chew

Rating:

10/10

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