It's been years since I have had Pop Rocks. They have always seemed like a candy to have for fun, like a Ring Pop, and less of a candy you have purely for the flavor like Reeses.
However, today I will put these fun little candies to the test by trying four flavors and diving into what Pop Rocks are.
To give some background to this taste test, I decided to dive a little into the world of pop rocks. What is this candy? How did it come to be?
Pop Rocks are a hype of hard candy that contain pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles embedded inside them. This creates that popping reaction when the candy dissolves within your mouth. Pop Rocks are the perfect mix between sweets and science.
This candy was made by accident by William Mitchell, a food scientist and chemist for General Foods.
Who said science isn't cool?
The spark for Pop Rocks was born in 1956 when Mitchell was experimenting while attempting to create an instant soft drink. They were trying to make a carbonated beverage powder that would taste good and work. This powder would turn any plain water into a fizzy, flavorful drink.
While trying to invent this instant soda, he created sweet candy chunks that popped when placed in the mouth and exploded with flavor. The scientific process that makes Pop Rocks sizzle in your mouth was patented back in 1961, way before its public debut in 1975.
The candy was popular and was produced for a couple of years until 1983, when the candy was pulled from the market for its short shelf life.
Unfortunately, this short shelf life meant spoiled candy and upset stomachs for many, making the candy undesirable for customers. The candy later returned under "Action Candy" in 1985 and later changed its name back to Pop Rocks.
There has long been a rumor that eating Pop Rocks and drinking soda simultaneously will cause a person's stomach to boil and explode. Thanks to urban myth, it was thought that John Gilchrist, the actor who played Little Mikey for Life Cereal, died after having Pop Rocks and drinking soda at the same time.
This rumor started because of the novelty of this candy and the fact that Little Mikey never reappeared on TV. But John Gilchrist is well and alive.
However, this rumor doomed Pop Rocks and caused the company to do significant damage control with publications defending their candy and refuting the accusations. However, nothing could help them recover, which is partially why they came off shelves for a short period and took on a new name.
This nostalgic and well-known candy has created sweet sensory experiences for thousands of people. It even comes in a variety of flavors too. The flavors I will be trying today include cherry, strawberry, watermelon, and cotton candy.
OVERALL CANDY RATING:
Uniqueness: 10/10 Honestly, such a unique and fun candy will make everyone's mouth burst with flavor while putting a smile on your face. It's classic, innovative, and is a candy that can excite imaginations. I love it!
Flavor: 9/10 All of the flavors were spot on and tasted delicious. Pop Rocks masters classic sweet hard candy flavors while elevating them with its popping texture.
Practicality: 3/10 They aren't a practical candy for me, considering how noisy they are. When they pop, the feeling they give your mouth is excellent, but it's not the feeling I want to feel every time.
Experience: 10/10 I love how the sound changes when you open and close your mouth. It's cool and exciting to play with. It's a very interactive candy that is unique and fun. One Pop Rock even jumped out of my mouth, which was funny.
FLAVOR RATING:
Cherry Pop Rocks: 8/10 It had a classic cherry flavor with a nice flavor punch. It's precisely what you would expect with cherry flavoring and exceeds those expectations with the Pop Rock experience.
Strawberry Pop Rocks: 9/10 They were bursting with sweet strawberry flavor, which was delicious. I thought it would be very similar to the cherry in taste, but it wasn't.
Watermelon Pop Rocks: 9/10 They had a subtly sweet flavor and tasted precisely like other artificial watermelon-flavored candy. Even though it looked exactly like the strawberry and cherry pop rocks, the flavors differed.
Cotton Candy Pop Rocks: 7/10 The Pop Rocks were multi-colored blue and pink, an amusing twist on the classic solid colored Pop Rocks. There wasn't much flavor other than pure sugar, but I guess that's what cotton candy is.
Overall I loved reviving my inner child with these different flavored Pop Rocks, and I recommend you do the same. So don't believe the rumors and listen to your sweet tooth; next time you see a packet of Pop Rocks, pick them up and see what sizzle, snap, and pop they can give you!
