Sweet & Spicy Chamoy Gushers Candy - The Viral TikTok Snack Sensation

The Sweet and Spicy World of Chamoy Gushers

If you love sweet and spicy candy combinations, then you need to try chamoy gushers. This unlikely pairing of the popular American fruit snack with Mexican chamoy sauce makes for an explosion of flavors in your mouth. The sweetness of the gushers combined with the salty, spicy chamoy is an unexpected delight that keeps you reaching for more. This popular TikTok and Instagram trend has people hooked with the tasty fusion of cultures and flavors.

What Are Gushers?

For those unfamiliar, gushers are a type of candy produced by General Mills and Betty Crocker. They were first launched in the early 1990s and have been a favorite snack for kids ever since. Gushers are small, colorful fruit snacks packed with sweet fruit juice inside that “gush” when you bite into them.

Each gusher is shaped like a small piece of fruit and made to replicate the flavor of fruits like strawberries, lemons, oranges, and watermelon. So when you bite through that crunchy candy shell, your mouth fills with delicious fruity juice.

What Is Chamoy?

Chamoy sauce is a popular Mexican condiment made from pickled fruits like apricots, limes, oranges, and plums. It has a salty, spicy flavor profile thanks to the blend of chilies and spices added to the pickled fruit mixture. Some versions also have a very mild sour flavor from the fruit vinegar used.

In Mexico, chamoy is frequently used on snacks like fresh fruit, jicama, cucumbers, and mango. It's very versatile thanks to the tantalizing balance of spices, salt, sweetness and sourness. You’ll find chamoy sauce topping everything from fruit cups to ice creams and candy.

Chamoy Gushers Fusion Flavor

So what happens when you take sweet, fruity gushers and top them with tangy, spicy chamoy sauce? An absolutely mouthwatering explosion of flavors and textures!

The first sensation is the crunch of the gushers shell giving way to the immediate sweet fruit juice flooding your mouth. Then within seconds, the spicy saltiness of the chamoy kicks in, elevating and enhancing the sweetness beautifully. It’s sweet and hot, fruity and salty all at the same time.

Some popular ways to enjoy chamoy gushers include:

• Skewering gushers on sticks and dipping into chamoy sauce
• Mixing chamoy sauce directly into a bag of gushers
• Rolling a single gusher in chamoy sauce crystals aka chamoy pickle
• Creating gusher stuffed chamoy fruit cups

Where Did the Trend Start?

Like many viral recipe trends, chamoy gushers gained popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms. The very first viral TikTok chamoy gushers video came from user @f.r.u.i.t.s.a.l.a.d back in 2020. Their video showing off a cup of gushers topped with chamoy sauce quickly racked up over 330,000 likes.

Soon countless other TikTokers started experimenting with the tangy-sweet flavor combo until it blew up into a full-on viral craze. Videos tagged with #chamoygushers now have over 77 million views on TikTok, showing just how popular this recipe mashup has become.

Why They Work So Well Together

What is it about sweet gushers and savory chamoy that works so perfectly together?

First, there’s the colorful appearance of the candies topped with the vividly pink chamoy sauce. It instantly grabs your attention and makes the snack visually appealing. Then the flavors and textures hit you in layers going from sweet to tart and finally a lingering heat. The interplay keeps your tastebuds excited and engaged from the first bite to the last.

And of course there’s the element of fun from the creativity of combining Mexican street food with classic American convenience store candy. It feels indulgent in the best way possible!

Chamoy Gushers Are Endlessly Customizable

Another reason this snack combination has become so popular is all the creative ways you can customize chamoy gushers to your personal tastes.

Keep it simple by just dipping standard fruit gushers straight into plain chamoy sauce. Or take it up a notch by rolling them in chamoy pickle aka chamoy in powdered form for a fun presentation.

Some people stuff the liquid centers of gushers into fresh fruit like mangoes, apples or jicama before drizzling on chamoy. You can also skewer them or serve in mini cups for easy snacking on the go.

And feel free to get creative with additional toppings like Tajín chili powder, limes, salt, candy sprinkles or even worms!Chamoy gushers are the perfect blank slate for crafting any crazy flavor combo you crave.

Whip Up Sweet and Spicy Chamoy Gushers at Home

Want to get in on the viral chamoy gushers trend but aren’t sure where to start? Have no fear, it’s easy to whip up this mouthwatering snack at home with just a few key ingredients!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need on hand to make your own custom gushers con chamoy:

• 1 pack of standard gushers or flavor of choice
• Chamoy sauce (in sauce and/or pickle form)
• Tajín Clásico seasoning (optional)
• Limes, cucumbers or jicama sticks for skewering (optional)
• Candy sprinkles, worms or powdered sugar for coating (optional)

That’s it! Now let’s get into the fun part - dressing up those gushers with chamoy.

How to Make Sweet and Spicy Chamoy Gushers

Making chamoy gushers is super simple. Just follow these steps for sweet, spicy fruity bliss in minutes:

1. Open your pack of standard gushers (or flavor of choice).
2. Set up your chamoy sauce bowl and a separate plate or bowl of chamoy powder if using.
3. Skewer gushers onto sticks or lime/cucumber slices if desired. Or leave loose.
4. Dip or roll gushers into the chamoy sauce until coated on all sides.
5. Allow excess sauce to drip off before optional second coating in chamoy powder.
6. Top with a pinch of Tajín seasoning or candy sprinkles if desired.
7. Enjoy immediately as the sweet gusher filling mixes with spicy chamoy!

Don’t be shy about double dipping to really amp up the chamoy flavors. And mix up your presentation style for endless variety. Stuff into fruit cups, serve in mini dishes or simply sprinkle with chamoy powder and Tajín.

Tips for Saladitos Gushers Variation

If you like extra sour candy, try subbing saladitos for the chamoy sauce instead. Saladitos gushers swap the salt and spice for serious puckering sour candy flavor.

Saladitos are dried salted plums popular in Mexican candies and snacks. They look like wrinkly raisins but pack a mouth-puckering sour punch. Pair their leathery texture and extreme tartness with sweet gushers for loads of fun.

Simply coat your skewers of gushers in lemon or salty plum powder. Then dip into the saladitos powder or crystals for an extra eye-watering, lip-smacking treat. Sprinkle with more salt or Tajín seasoning to take it up another notch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chamoy Gushers

Want to learn more about the viral TikTok trend taking over tastebuds everywhere? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about chamoy gushers:

Are chamoy gushers spicy?

Yes, chamoy gushers have a nice light spicy kick from the blend of chili peppers and spices used to make the chamoy sauce. The type of pepper and quantity varies by brand, resulting in chamoy that ranges from mild to very hot. When paired with sweet gushers the heat level balances beautifully.

Where can I buy chamoy sauce and pickle?

Chamoy sauce and pickled chamoy powder are sold at most Mexican grocery stores, specialty candy shops, or online. Popular name brand chamoy products include El Mexicano, Dulces Vero, Pelon Pelo Rico, and La Costeña.

What do you dip chamoy gushers in?

The most popular way to eat chamoy gushers is dipping the skewers directly in chamoy sauce. But you can also roll them in chamoy pickle powder, Tajín seasoning, or chamoy-flavored Lucas powder. Get creative with extra coatings like sour candy powder, crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, or spicy mango seasoning.

What do gushers and chamoy taste like?

Gushers taste sweet and fruity like juice, with a nice crunch from the candy shell and gooey liquid center. Chamoy sauce tastes salty, tangy and mildly spicy from the blend of pickled fruits, chili peppers and spices used to make it. Together they create a sweet heat flavor explosion!

So don’t hesitate to jump on this viral snack trend that’s taking over social media. Chamoy gushers offer the perfect combo of sweet, salty, spicy and sour flavors in one lip-smacking fruit snack. It’s a match made in candy fusion heaven!

FAQs

Can I make chamoy gushers without tajin or chamoy pickle?

Yes, you can absolutely make tasty chamoy gushers without extras like Tajín seasoning or chamoy pickle powder. Simply dipping standard gushers into the chamoy sauce alone produces the signature sweet and spicy flavor combo. The extras just add more layers of flavor and texture for additional fun.

What kind of chamoy is best for gushers?

The best type of chamoy to use on gushers is chamoy sauce made from pickled fruits. This gives you that salty, tangy, mildly spicy flavor that perfectly balances out the sweet gushers. Some popular options are chamoy rojo (red sauce) or chamoy verde (green sauce).

Can kids enjoy eating chamoy gushers?

Chamoy gushers can definitely be enjoyed by kids for an extra fun twist on a classic candy treat! Just be mindful of the spiciness levels based on the individual child’s tolerance. Milder chamoy sauce without much heat works well so kids can focus on the sweet and salty flavors.

Where did the idea for chamoy gushers originate?

The very first chamoy gushers recipe is credited to TikTok user @f.r.u.i.t.s.a.l.a.d who posted a video in 2020 showing gushers topped with chamoy. The unique flavor fusion took off from there, igniting the viral TikTok and Instagram trend we know today.