The Most Popular Summertime Candies

No matter where you stand on the confectionary continuam, you’re a sucker for suckers, a chocolate connoisseur, or you have a soft spot for hard candy, summer is the perfect time to indulge your sweet tooth and tap into nostalgia one bite at a time.  

Apologies to candy canes and no offense to Butterfinger, but certain candies are meant to shine during long days and warm weather.

A few of these high-season handfuls include the following: 

Lollipops

Lollipops are a summertime favorite because of their portability and resistance to melting under the blazing sun. They also come in various flavors, from sweet and fruity to tart and tangy, catering to a wide range of taste preferences. 

Fun fact: The lollipop was invented in 1908 (and named after a racehorse). However, people in China, Egypt, and Arabia began coating fruits in honey and putting them on sticks during ancient times, laying the foundation for this modern-day treat.

Licorice

Like lollipops, licorice isn’t prone to easily melting, making it a good summer solution for a raging sweet tooth. While red and black varieties are the most well-known, licorice is more versatile than its roots suggest: It also comes in chocolate, tropical, and cinnamon flavors (and more!). 

Fun fact: Whether or not you like black licorice often comes down to genetics. While scientists have yet to discover a “licorice gene,” they believe hereditary factors play a role in how sensitive someone is to bitter compounds. This is why people tend to either hate black licorice or love it, with very little middle ground. 

Saltwater Taffy

Taffy has pull all year long, but there is something about warm weather that summons images of beachside boardwalks and the feeling of sand between your toes. Taffy’s versatility is another perk; this ooey-gooey goodie is available in tons of flavors, from traditional taste bud pleasers to out-of-the-box indulgences. 

Fun fact: Saltwater taffy isn’t actually made with saltwater. The moniker was part of a 1800s marketing gimmick thought up by an Atlantic City candy shop. The name stuck, and taffy’s long-standing connection to coastal cities buoyed this briny tale. 

Gummy Bears

M&Ms might have seized the tagline, but it’s really gummy bears that melt in your mouth and not in your hand. A sugary, sweet, chewy, and light bite, gummy bears make for enjoyable eats on muggy days. 

Fun fact: Gummy bears were invented in Germany by Hans Riegel (the founder of Haribo). Other candies that originated in Germany include Werther's Original, Ritter Sport, and Mamba fruit chews. 

Fun Dip

To adults, Fun Dip seems like little more than a bag of sugar and a piece of chalk, but red, purple, and green fingertips are a rite of passage in childhood. A candy synonymous with lazy afternoons and Little League games, Fun Dip is among the most popular summertime snacks of all time.  

Fun fact: Fun Dip isn’t just delicious; it’s devious. It uses a type of powdered sugar that sticks to the tongue, making the flavors longer-lasting and more appealing to sweet fiends.