Sour Punch tops Halloween candies in survey of California

Move over, chocolate. Sour Punch Straws is the most popular Halloween candy in California, according to Innerbody.

The health news website said more people in the fruit-producing state searched for the fruit-flavored, sugar-coated candy on Google Trends in 2021-22 than any other treat.

Sour Punch Straws also was the most popular candy on Google Trends in Arizona and Texas, Innerbody said.

The candy’s history goes back to 1990 when American Licorice Co. started to sell the straws. The company went on to release Sour Punch in other forms: bites in 2000, twists in 2003 and shapes in 2016.

For Halloween, the company is selling its Sour Punch Spooky Straws, which comes with apple, grape and tangerine flavors in each bag.

Elsewhere, Charmed Blow Pop was the most popular candy in six Southern states, according to Innerbody's analysis of the Google Trends data. The candy tied with Jolly Ranchers as No. 1 in Arkansas.

Jolly Ranchers also topped the list in Colorado, Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland and Washington, D.C. It tied with Hot Tamales in New Mexico.

Back on the West Coast, a fruit-flavored candy, Starburst, rose to the top in fruit-producing Washington. It also dominated Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio and Massachusetts.

Starburst tied with Candy Corn in the corn-growing state of Nebraska.

Salt Water Taffy rode a wave of popularity to No. 1 on states on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts: Oregon and New Jersey. It tied with 3 Musketeers and Sour Patch Kids in Delaware.

The biggest surprise on the list might be Life Savers, which proved to be the most popular candy in Connecticut.

But perennial Halloween chocolate treats such as Snickers, Hershey Kisses, Kit Kat, M&Ms, Butterfinger, Almond Joy, Reese's Cups and Milky Way were No. 1 in various states.

Innerbody's analysis of the Google Trends data shows the following as the most popular Halloween candies.

Sour Patch Kids ranked No. 1 on Utah-based retailer Taffy Shop’s list for the most popular Halloween candies in California.

For a look at popular Halloween treats in 2023, watch the video attached to this story.

Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached [email protected] or 805-437-0232.