11 Sugar-Free SmartSweets Candy Flavors Ranked
Everything you think you know about candy goes out the window the first time you take a bite of SmartSweets. These low-sugar alternatives to traditional candy are high in fiber and low in calories—two things that are relatively unheard of when it comes to sugary treats. If you're craving something sweet (or something sour!), the best SmartSweets flavors have all the tangy taste of Jolly Ranchers or Sour Patch Kids, without the fillers and sugar rush that come with it.
With 11 sweets to choose from, there's a SmartSweets candy for all taste buds (and food restrictions, too, as they're largely gluten-free, allergen-free, keto-friendly, kosher-friendly and plant-based). Keep reading for the best SmartSweets flavors, ranked from worst to best.
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Are SmartSweets actually good for you?
Nothing that falls in the category of "candy" is technically good for you. According to the SmartSweets website, each candy is made with "up to 92% less sugar per 50 grams versus leading traditional candy equivalents." It's made with no artificial sweeteners, added sugars or sugar alcohols (such as erythritol, maltitol, sorbitol and xylitol).
Instead of traditionally added sugars, SmartSweets uses the help of stevia and allulose. Stevia is a natural sugar found in the Stevia rebaudiana plant and is a non-caloric sweetener that often replaces other artificial sweeteners (including high fructose corn syrup). Allulose is also a naturally occurring sugar found in figs, maple syrup and molasses (amongst other plant-based sources).
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Another thing that SmartSweets has going for it is that it's relatively high in fiber as it provides about 32-46% of the daily recommended fiber intake. Because of this, the company recommends eating no more than two bags daily as gastric distress may occur. Most of their products are also plant-based and therefore vegetarian (except for the Fruity Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms, which include gelatin).
All in all, each 50-gram bag of SmartSweets is considered one serving with a total net carb amount of 18 grams each. The only outlier in this is the Sweet Chews, which net out to 15 grams of total net carbs.
Why are SmartSweets so expensive?
Tara Bosch was in her early 20s when her unhealthy relationship with food drove her to start her own low-sugar candy company based out of Vancouver. In its first year, SmartSweets generated CA$2 million (that's $1.52) in sales across Canada.
One bag of SmartSweets sells for $2.50 to $3.99, which has consumers wondering why this candy is pricier than others. For now, it's the product's high-quality ingredients that drive prices up.
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Why are SmartSweets so chewy?
Most of SmartSweets candy is plant-based with the exception of Fruity Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms, which contain collage-derived gelatin. In these two, it's the gelatin that makes them chewy.
Every other SmartSweets product—Sweet Fish, Sour Blast Buddies, Peach Rings, Sourmelon Bites, Cola Gummies, Red Twists, Lollipops and Jolly Gems—is 100% plant-based and vegan, meaning no gelatin at all. So, without the gelatin, what causes them to be so chewy?
You may notice that these are chewier than traditional candy alternatives and that is due to SmartSweets' inclusion of white refined sugar (instead of corn syrup) and prebiotic soluble fiber, which comes from tapioca. Chewy on its own (think tapioca-based pearls in boba drinks), this fiber source also contributes to the chewy, gummy texture.
Are SmartSweets actually 100 calories?
Yes, SmartSweets actually contain 100 calories. Each single-serving candy bag has anywhere from 2 to 4 grams of sugar and 13 grams of fiber and anywhere from 15 to 18 grams total net carbs.
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Where can you buy SmartSweets?
SmartSweets are available at retailers like Target, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market and Costco (sometimes!). You can also find them online at Amazon or at SmartSweets.com.
SmartSweets Variety Pack, Candy With Low Sugar & Calorie, Healthy Snacks For Kids & Adults - Sweet Fish, Sourmelon Bites, Peach Rings, Sour Blast Buddies, 1.8oz (Pack of 8)
All 11 SmartSweets candies, ranked worst to best
11. SmartSweets Gummy Worms, $32.34 on Amazon
The two gummy-forward candies were surprisingly the least flavorful of the bunch (including #10 below). SmartSweets Gummy Worms are good, but these stringy gummies don't hold a candle to some of the brand's tastier sweets. It's also worth noting that these were the chewiest of the flavors, so if you're wearing braces, tread lightly. SmartSweets Gummy Worms, $32.34 on Amazon
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10. SmartSweets Fruity Gummy Bears, $37.57 for 12 on Amazon
Also somewhat gristly, SmartSweets Fruity Gummy Bears contain the brand's max sugar level of 4 grams. They're good, however, a little lacking in the burst of fruity flavor you might expect. Still, Fruity Gummy Bears are tasty enough to kick it in our candy stash anytime. SmartSweets Fruity Gummy Bears, $37.57 for 12 on Amazon
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9. SmartSweets Jolly Gems Hard Candy, $4.49 on Amazon
These are not your grandfather's sugar-free lozenges! SmartSweets Jolly Gems Hard Candy completely reinvents the sugar-free candy of yesteryear by bringing a level of flavor previously unseen in the sugar-free community. These are even better than Jolly Ranchers! With Green Apple, Peach and Pink Lemonade to choose from, each Gem is naturally flavored for a total of only 1 gram of sugar. The only negative thing about these is that you can so easily scarf down multiple in one sitting. SmartSweets Jolly Gems Hard Candy, $4.49 on Amazon
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8. SmartSweets Caramels, $31.99 for 12 on Amazon
Caramel enthusiasts will be impressed with this one. Not at all lacking that quintessential creamy caramel flavor you'd expect, each candy has a melt-in-your-mouth texture and tastes just as sweet as it does buttery. SmartSweets Caramels are best for chocolate lovers that love a deeper, richer flavor profile than what sour candies can give. SmartSweets Caramels, $31.99 for 12 on Amazon
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7. SmartSweets Lollipops, $5.99 on Amazon
SmartSweets Lollipops may not have ranked as our overall favorite, but that's mostly because each taste-tested lolly only lasted about 10 seconds tops. We kept biting it in order to unleash more of that Blue Raspberry or Watermelon goodness, so there wasn't much licking. Flavor-wise, the Watermelon Lollipop gets a 10/10; Blue Raspberry, 8/10. SmartSweets Lollipops, $5.99 on Amazon
6. SmartSweets Sweet Fish, $35.58 for 12 on Amazon
Even if you don't enjoy conventional Swedish Fish, the SmartSweets take on this candy—AKA Sweet Fish—will convert you. Sweet Fish tastes more like a fruit punch flavor than the "real" thing, which can sometimes err on the side of bitter. Sweet Fish heads to the top of the class with a reverberating A. SmartSweets Sweet Fish, $35.58 for 12 on Amazon
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5. SmartSweets Peach Rings, $32.34 for 12 on Amazon
Outstanding! Tangy! Just the perfect amount of peachiness! SmartSweets Peach Rings aren't too peach-forward like some controversial candies that drive peach-haters away. This candy really hits the sweet spot of a "just right" flavor profile that is neither overwhelming nor underwhelming. It's just right! SmartSweets Peach Rings, $32.34 for 12 on Amazon
4. SmartSweets Sour Blast Buddies, $35.99 for 12 on Amazon
It's hard to believe there are only 2 grams of sugar in these Sour Blast Buddies, but the packaging doesn't lie. Each Buddy skews tangier than it does sour (in the conventional sense) but in the best possible way. It's great for taste buds that prefer a dash of sour rather than a heaping. If you're used to WarHeads-levels of sour, however, you're going to be disappointed. SmartSweets Sour Blast Buddies, $35.99 for 12 on Amazon
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3. SmartSweets Red Twists, $34.68 for 12 on Amazon
Better than any other licorice-flavored sweet we've seen at the candy counter, SmartSweets Red Twists are a force to be reckoned with. They're not so chewy that you'll end up exhausting your jaw, but they do pack a punch with their gummy-like consistency. We'll take a bag of these with us into the movie theater in lieu of popcorn any day! SmartSweets Red Twists, $34.68 for 12 on Amazon
2. SmartSweets Cola Gummies, $32.34 for 12 on Amazon
Wow! In second place—but only by a hair's breadth—SmartSweets Cola Gummies perfectly evoke the synthetic cola flavor of retro candies past. SmartSweets definitely has this one down to a science and we just can't get enough. We'll take five of these to go, thanks! SmartSweets Cola Gummies, $32.34 for 12 on Amazon
1. SmartSweets Sourmelon Bites, $14.31 for 6 on Amazon
The SmartSweets Sourmelon Bites are the hands-down winners—no contest. The only candy you'll ever need in your snack drawer, these sour bites are every bit as good as the sugar-filled ones you find next to the cashier. Flavor aside though, the best part of snacking on these Sourmelons is knowing you're ingesting more fiber than you are sugar! SmartSweets Sourmelon Bites, $14.31 for 6 on Amazon
Next up, take a flavor ride with all the Jolly Rancher flavors, ranked.
