National Sour Candy Day

National Sour Candy Day, celebrated annually on July 18, is a zesty tribute to tart confections that make your lips pucker—and your taste buds rejoice. It’s a day to indulge in the sharp, tangy flavors that define sour candies and to appreciate the playful thrill they bring.

History of National Sour Candy Day

Sour candy wasn’t always mainstream. In the 19th century, candy makers leaned toward sweet, familiar tastes, avoiding the sharply tart flavors due to concerns over quality and harshness. The real sour candy revolution began in the mid-20th century: Atomic Fireball appeared in 1954, Lemonhead in 1962, and Warheads exploded onto the U.S. scene in 1993 thanks to Peter De Yager’s trip to Taiwan.

In 2015, the American Licorice Company—known for Sour Punch—officially launched National Sour Candy Day, inspiring enthusiasts to dive into the tangy world of citric and malic acids and celebrate the unique joy of sour sweets.

Why National Sour Candy Day matters

This day isn’t only about pucker power—it’s a celebration of flavor innovation and human curiosity. Adding acids like citric, malic, or tartaric transforms ordinary sweets into thrilling taste experiences, triggering reactions, memories, and playful faces.

It also highlights how food culture evolves. Sour candies once seen as edgy novelties are now mainstream staples, embraced in Halloween mixes, gourmet candy assortments, and dietarily mindful treats. National Sour Candy Day honors this shift—and encourages trying new twists on nostalgic favorites.

• it celebrates bold taste experiments
• it connects generations through shared candy memories
• it shows how small ingredients can spark big reactions
• it turns simple candy into memorable moments
• it supports candy makers pushing creative boundaries

How to observe National Sour Candy Day

Celebrate with both tradition and creativity. First, gather various sour treats—Sour Patch Kids, Warheads, Toxic Waste, and Sour Punch. Challenge yourself to taste them side by side and see which acid-packed candy makes your face pucker the toughest.

Bring the fun to others: host a “pucker contest” to see who can hold a straight face, or blind-taste test to guess flavors. Share the selfies and surprises on social media—#NationalSourCandyDay—or even visit events like the Sour Punch “Embrace Your Punch” festival in Chicago.

Education and caution matter too: sour candies are tasty, but the acidity can harm tooth enamel. Enjoy with care, rinse with water, and savor slowly—especially if you’re a sweet and sour lover at heart.

• build a sour candy lineup and pucker through each one
• try blind taste tests and guess flavors with friends
• host a contest to hold a straight face—last one wins
• enjoy responsibly by sipping water and waiting between treats
• attend local sour candy events or virtual tastings

National Sour Candy Day Dates Table