When it comes to candy and in particular, Halloween candy it's safe to say that people have very very very strong opinions on what is worth eating.
Whether it's hard or soft candy, or you're a chocolate lover like myself, there is so much to fall in love with out there. However, there are a ton of different candies that people absolutely despise and hate and, would under no circumstances, choose to buy. Candy corn is one of the most divisive candies out there, but why?
Candy corn happens to be one of those candies where people are in complete disagreement. You either absolutely love candy corn or you absolutely hate candy corn. The majority of people actually can't stand it.
Even a 2013 survey from the NCA showcased that out of all Americans, just a small 12% of people truly thought that candy corn was a good enough treat to call their favorite.
Is it the shape? Is it the taste? Is it the flavor? The color pallet? Why do people seem to think that candy corn is so disgusting and gross?
"It's funny really, it seems to be a very emotional candy. People have a real strong opinion. It's almost like, if you want to start a little bit of a heated discussion, you can ask somebody about candy corn … It seems to evoke a very strong response," shared food flavor specialist Marie Wright.
Wright explained that many people enjoy candy corn because it reminds them of a specific time of year that they love and cherish. They want to eat it because of how great it makes them feel.
It definitely has a unique taste and texture, I think we can definitely all agree on that. The flavor is also so specific that you can't really compare it to anything else (which can be ag good or bad thing).
Apparently, nostalgia can make a major impact on how we feel about the foods that we eat and what they do for us. Wright explained that candy corn can tap into your childhood nostalgia, and make a difference as to whether or not you find it good.
"The area of the brain where we process smell (which has a major impact on how we process taste) … is in the same part of the brain where we store memories and evoke emotion. In that primitive part of the brain, often there is a strong connection between an event, especially when it's food, especially childhood," Wright shared with Today.
The flavors of the fall candy happen to be marshmallow, vanilla, and honey. These flavor combinations can bring back some happy memories, or even some terrible ones, too for some people.
Wright explained that compared to many other candies which are creamy, they also have acid in them. "The acid makes you salivate and makes it more palatable," said Wright.
The sweetness, texture, and flavor make it pretty hard for some people to enjoy that much of the candy corn at a time (if any), which leads to everyone throwing it straight in the trash.
Who knew?
