Chinese Skittles: How Do They Compare to American Skittles

The Curious Case of Chinese Skittles

Skittles are one of the most iconic candy brands ever created. Since their introduction in 1974, Americans have readily embraced these small, round fruit chews with the big “S” imprinted on them. Walk down any candy aisle in the country and you’re sure to see that familiar bright red package, filled with magical flavor combinations like strawberry, grape, lemon, orange and lime.

But what if your package of Skittles didn’t come from America at all? What if, instead, it came all the way from China? How would these foreign Skittles compare to the American candies we know and love? Let’s take a closer look at Chinese Skittles and see how they stack up.

The Rise of Chinese Candy Production

Over the past few decades, China has positioned itself to be a manufacturing powerhouse globally across many industries, including food and candy production. Lower labor costs and loose environmental regulations have given Chinese factories an advantage when it comes to pumping out products en masse.

As a result, many major candy brands have turned to China to produce some of their signature sweets. Brands like Tootsie Roll, Sour Patch Kids, and even Skittles have been manufactured in China, then exported all around the world for consumption.

Comparing Chinese and American Skittles

So what happens when familiar candies get made halfway across the globe? Do Chinese Skittles taste any different than American ones? Many candy aficionados have conducted taste tests to find out.

In terms of visual appearance, most reviewers say Chinese and American Skittles look practically identical. They have the same imprint, shape, size, and color distribution. However, once they took a bite, more noticeable differences emerged...

The Flavor Factor

The first thing most tasting testers reported was that the flavors in Chinese Skittles seemed slightly “off”. The lime was more bitter. The orange, less vibrant. Many claimed the strawberry had an almost medicinal flavor. The flavors weren’t necessarily bad, per se, just not as bold or balanced as American Skittles.

A few hypothesize that this more muted flavor profile could be due to lower quality ingredients or conversion issues going between standard U.S. recipes and Chinese preparation styles. Many ingredients that give Skittles their signature zing like citric acid and artificial colors and flavors get tweaked for overseas production.

Texture Differences

The other major difference between China and U.S. Skittles seems to be texture. Reviewers claim American Skittles have the perfect chewy crunch. But Chinese Skittles are most often described as “gummy” or “stiff”.

Candy making relies heavily on achieving the right moisture content and shelf stability to get a consistent texture. Changes in manufacturing approaches seem to make Chinese Skittles lose that delicate chewable balance, resulting in a different mouthfeel.

Safety and Freshness Concerns

Beyond just flavor and texture discrepancies, some candy testers expressed concerns over quality and safety when it came to made-in-China candies. Country of origin labeling isn’t required for imported confections, so it raises questions around ingredients, freshness and handling practices.

China’s loose regulation around food preparation has led to numerous consumer safety scares from contaminated infant formula to lead-laden toys. So it’s understandable why someone may hesitate before popping unfamiliar foreign candies into their mouth.

Are Chinese Skittles Worth Eating?

So when it comes down to it, is it worth snacking on Chinese Skittles? Well according to most candy experts, while China-produced Skittles may not be quite as vibrant or chewy as American ones, they’re probably still safe to enjoy.

Manufacturing and distributing food internationally is an extremely complex process. It’s unlikely Mars Inc. would allow their beloved Skittles to be sold globally if they didn’t consider them up to snuff, albeit with a few tweaks.

However, some candy connoisseurs say they’ll stick to their red, white and blue Skittles, thank you very much. The unique flavor and texture of original American Skittles is impossible to replicate halfway around the world.

FAQs

Why are Skittles now being made in China?

Many major candy brands like Skittles have turned to Chinese factories to produce their sweets due to lower labor costs and ability to manufacture products en masse. This allows them to export Skittles globally at a competitive price point.

Is there a difference in taste between Chinese and American Skittles?

Yes, most taste testers report subtle flavor differences in Chinese Skittles. The lime, orange and strawberry flavors seem less bold and balanced compared to the American originals.

Why do Chinese Skittles have a different texture?

Candy texture relies heavily on achieving the right moisture content and shelf stability during manufacturing. Changes in production approaches seem to make Chinese Skittles more “gummy” or “stiff” versus the chewy crunch of US Skittles.

Are Chinese-made Skittles safe to eat?

While China’s loose food regulation RIGHTFULLY raises consumer safety concerns, Skittles manufacturer Mars Inc. claims that globally distributed Skittles, including Chinese-made ones, are perfectly safe to enjoy and held to high quality standards.