We Tried Retro Sours (aka Altoid Sours) and We’re Sold

In 2010, Altoid Sours were discontinued. It was a huge loss for a lot of masochists people who longed to have the tops of their mouths ripped to shreds and their sphincters absolutely puckered into oblivion. But earlier this year, the news broke: Sour Altoids were coming back. Only they weren’t going to be called Sour Altoids anymore. They were going to be called Retro Sours. 

Now made by a company called Iconic Candy, Retro Sours candy is the real deal. Mars sold the recipe for Altoid Sours to Iconic, so you can rest assured that these are not facsimiles—as long as Iconic Candy followed the recipe, of course. And while they haven’t made it to impulse-buys shelf at checkout (yet), they’re actually not too hard to find. You can buy them at your local Cracker Barrel or you can find them online at IT’SUGAR. 

But should you?

Are these new/returning Altoid Retro Sours as good as everyone remembers? We tried all three flavors—Mango, Tangerine, and Citrus—to find out.

Retro Sours Tangerine

Tangerine

Retro Sours Tangerine

Pros: These things really are sour. If you looked around the Sporked communal desk area after we popped these puppies in our mouths, you would have seen some cartoon-level puckered faces. They made me sweat. Seriously. But if you make it through that tartness, you’ll be rewarded with a bright, zesty tangerine flavor. And texturally speaking, all of the Retro Sours were a treat for the tongue, thanks to the little nubbins on the small but powerful hard candies. 

Cons: I detected a touch of cleaning fluid flavor, which is common for a lot of citrus-flavored things. But it’s easy to ignore.

Credit: Liv Averett / IT’SUGAR

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Retro Sours Mango

Mango

Retro Sours Mango

Pros: The Mango Retro Sours were even more sour than the Tangerine! Our eyes disappeared into our heads, we squeezed them shut so hard. Having trouble waking up in the morning? Try these instead of coffee. You’ll explode out of bed. But the sour isn’t just sour for shock value—it really tastes good and complements the ripe mango flavor. It all comes together to kinda taste like green mango, which is a delicious flavor for a hard candy. I adore these Retro Sours and I will be keeping a tin in my purse. 

Cons: They’re so good that I’m afraid I’ll eat too many and legitimately hurt my mouth. After tasting just three Retro Sours, the top of my mouth is already ailing.

Credit: Liv Averett / IT’SUGAR

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Retro Sours Citrus

Citrus

Retro Sours Citrus

Pros: If you’re scared of extreme sourness as a grown-up but still want to relive your Altoid Sours childhood, these are the gentlest of the bunch. They taste like sour lime Jell-O. 

Cons: Unfortunately, these Citrus Retro Sours are as generic as they sound. It’s like the candy scientists got tired and bored by the time they got to making these. They’re not shockingly sour. They’re not particularly flavorful. There’s just no wow factor. If you’re really interested in experiencing what Retro Sours candy has to offer, stick with the Mango and Tangerine.

Credit: Liv Averett / IT’SUGAR

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks


About the Author

Justine Sterling

Justine Sterling is the editor-in-chief of Sporked. She has been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and is an avid at-home cook and snacker. Don’t worry, she’s not a food snob. Sure, she loves a fresh-shucked oyster. But she also will leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and loves a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.

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  • There is a small company that makes excellent facsimiles that actually don’t have the overly chemical taste these start with. Once you get passed the initial chemical taste the Retro sours are very close but if you want the real deal check out the Lofty Pursuits version. Super expensive but if you had the originals will bring you back from the first burst of flavor

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