The Top 20 Gummy Candy Brands to Try Today

When sweet cravings strike, it is hard to look beyond gummies. They are chewy, sweet, and, if you choose well, healthy too. Let’s take the pain out of choosing with a detailed list of the best gummy candy brands that can make your mouth water. But first, a little more about these sweet treats. The idea is to beef up your knowledge for informed choices.

Table of Contents

What is Gummy Candy? An Overview

Image Courtesy: Freepik

True to their name, they are a type of candy with gelatin as the base ingredient. That gives them their tender, chewy, slightly sticky, and elastic texture. You’ll often find them in various shapes, from simple cubes to adorable bears and intricate designs. Kids eat gummy candies for their taste and grownups to relive sweet childhood memories.

Origins and Etymology:

Humans have enjoyed gummies for centuries. However, the first gelatin-based candy, Unclaimed Babies, came across only in 1864, thanks to Fryers of Lancashire. Fast forward to the 1920s, and Hans Riegel in Germany founded Haribo, the world’s first gummy candy brand, which gave us the iconic gummy bears we all love. For the name, it comes from Germany, while in the UK, they call it “jelly sweets.” Today, it is an important candy category with takers aplenty.

Ingredients:

Here is what all goes into the making of a gummy candy.

Ingredients	Details
Gelatin	Derived from animal collagen, gelatin gives gummy candies their chewy and elastic texture.
Sweeteners	Gummy makers use sugar (sucrose), corn syrup, glucose syrup, or artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose) as sweeteners.
Flavorings	Natural or artificial fruit flavors, such as strawberry, orange, or lemon, are derived from fruit juices, extracts, or synthetic agents.
Colorants	natural (anthocyanins, carotenoids) and artificial (FD&C dyes) food colorings help achieve the desired hue.
Acidulants	Citric acid or other acidulants go into the mix for a tangy or sour taste or to enhance flavors.
Other Ingredients	Additional additives may include glazing agents (beeswax, carnauba wax), preservatives, and emulsifiers.

Production Process:

The gummy candy results from an elaborate process, “Starch Molding” or “Depositing.”

It gets underway with mixing ingredients and heating them to a syrupy concoction.
Then, this syrupy goodness gets poured into molds or onto a tray covered with starch.
This helps shape them into cute little bears or whatever fun shapes you can think of.
Once cooled, the makers coat them with a shiny glaze or sugar.

Difference Between Gummy & Jelly Candies

Often mentioned in the same breath or used interchangeably, gummy candy and jelly candy have a lot in common. However, they are two different things with varying ingredients, texture, taste, appearance, shapes, and more.

Characteristic	Gummy Candies	Jelly Candies
Base Ingredient	Gelatin (animal-derived)	Pectin or Agar-agar (plant-derived)
Texture	Firm, chewy, elastic	Soft, jelly-like
Appearance	Opaque or semi-translucent	Translucent or clear
Shape Retention	Hold shape well	May lose shape over time
Common Shapes	Bears, worms, rings, molded designs	Cubes, rectangles & other simpler designs
Flavors	Fruit flavors, also non-fruit flavors like cola, licorice	Predominantly fruit flavors
Other Ingredients	May contain less sugar or corn syrup	Often contain more sugar or corn syrup

The Best Gummy Candy Brands:

With the nitty-gritty out of the way, it is time to explore the top gummy candy brands in India. We went through consumer surveys, official websites, review platforms, and customer feedback to know a brand’s reputation, offerings, ingredients, packaging, prices, and other factors that matter. We did all the hard work so that you don’t have to.

1. Perfetti Van Melle

Based out of Europe, it is one of India’s top toffee brands that owns Alpenliebe, Juzt Jelly, Mentos, and Chupa Chup. Perfetti delights gummy lovers with popular gummy brands like Fruitella Juicy Chew and Juzt Jelly Gummy Bears.

1 Juzt Jelly Giant Gummy Bears:

Don’t mistake them for your regular gummy bears. They are bigger, tastier, and more fun than any gummy out there. With a whopping 25% fruit pulp, they’re bursting with delicious fruity flavors like orange, mixed fruit, and more.

2 Fruittella Juicy Chews

Available in strawberry, orange, and lemon flavors, Fruittella Juicy Chews feature real fruit juice and only natural colors and flavors. They’re also vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free — perfect for everyone. With each chew separately wrapped, you can enjoy them on the go while keeping things clean and controlling your portions.

2. Candyman

Another top Indian candy brand, Candyman offers a range of gummy candies, including gummy bears, gummy worms, and gummy rings in various fruit flavors. The brand is owned by ITC, India’s leading tobacco company. The list of ITC Brands includes Gold Flake (cigarette brand), Dark Fantasy (biscuit brand), Classmate (stationery brand), and Yippee (noodle brand and pasta brand).

3. Candyman Jelimals Jelly Bear:

Make way for these super fun and squishy jellies that’ll make your taste buds dance! They come in four fruity flavors — Smarty Strawberry, Maddy Mango, Arty Orange, and Punky Pineapple — all in adorable bear shapes. You will find them without any added preservatives and individually wrapped for freshness and convenience.

4. Candyman Crocodiles Tub

It’s packed with these adorable fruit-flavored gummies shaped like little crocodiles. Made without artificial colors and individually wrapped, they’re soft and chewy, making them the perfect treat for anyone, anywhere, anytime.

3. Haribo

Having single-handedly popularized gummies, Haribo is among the leading German gummy candy brands. Yearly, the company launches 1,000K+ different kinds of candies worldwide with fresh lines every season. Their food scientists test each recipe to ensure it is healthy and safe, smells amazing, and matches with what people like in a given country.

5. Haribo Gold Bears

These adorable little fruit-flavored jelly bears are fat-free and not too sweet, available in 6 mouthwatering flavors like pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and orange. It’s affordable too, costing INR 157.85 /100 grams.

6. Haribo Starmix

A mix of different shapes like bears, cola bottles, and rings, each piece packs its unique flavor punch. When it comes to textures, some are soft, while others have a bit of crunch.

4. Chupa Chups

Chupa Chups, a Spanish lollipop brand, traces its origins back to Enric Bernat’s vision in the 1950s. Originally named Productos Bernat, the company adopted the current name, Chupa Chups in 1961. Salvador Dalí’s iconic logo design and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Maddonna furthered its popularity. Today, Chupa Chups is one of the best gummy candy brands with some popular options in different formats, including Tubes, Lollies, and Cola.

7. Chupa Chups Sour Tubes

These cool, colorful bites are sweet and sour all at once, available in strawberries, watermelons, and other fruity flavors. They have a crunchy outer layer with a tangy, sugary coating, and a soft and chewy core, bursting with fruity goodness.

8. Chupa Chups Gummy Cola Candy

How about classic cola flavor in a chewy, gummy form? These gummy cola candies might take you on a nostalgic trip.

9. Chupa Chups Lollies Gummy Jellies Candy

Indulge in the fruity fun of these mouthwatering lolly gummies that come in vibrant flavors and whimsical shapes.

5. Jelly Belly

We may know Jelly Belly for its jellies, but it also offers delightful gummies for all tastes. Jelly Belly started small in the late 1800s in Ohio but gradually emerged as the “king of the candy corn fields.” Do you know people worldwide eat enough Jelly Belly beans each year to circle the globe over five times? In 1983, Jelly Belly Beans even went to space, thanks to President Ronald Reagan. Jelly Belly Gummies are healthy, delicious, hygienically prepared, and expensive.

10. Jelly Belly Assorted Gummies:

These tasty treats come in various flavors, from tangy Apple to zesty Orange and everything in between. Made with tapioca, they’re vegan-friendly, OU Kosher certified, non-GMO, and have colors sourced from natural ingredients. So, your hunt for the top vegan gummy candy brands ends with Jelly Belly.

11. Bubble Gum Jelly Beans:

While not exactly gummies, Jelly Belly’s Bubble Gum jelly beans deserve a mention. These small, saddle-shaped beans offer a big burst of flavor that reminds of classic bubble gum.

6. Maynards Bassets

Maynards Basset’s, a cherished UK brand, has been satisfying sweet cravings since 1842. We love the brand for its colorful and whimsical candies with unique tastes and playful appearance. As one of the best gummy candy brands, Maynards offers gummy candies in two lip-smacking and healthy variants, “Wine Gummies” and “Gummy Babies.”

12. Maynards Bassetts Wine Gums:

From strawberry to blackcurrant, these chewy gummies come in various vibrant colors and flavors, each stamped with signature wine labels. You can expect a firm yet chewy texture, high-quality ingredients, and lip-smacking taste.

13. Maynards Bassetts Gummy Bears:

These are more like jellies, save for their firmer texture, semi-translucence, and bear shapes.

7. Winola:

Winola is owned by Shellz India Pvt Ltd, one of the leading jelly and gummy candy brands in India. Established in 2012, Shellz has an 800+ strong team, 150+ products, 1,00,000+ retailers, and a presence in 15+ countries.

14. Winola Gummy Bears:

100% vegetarian and gelatin-free, it’s the ultimate treat for anyone who can’t get enough of those chewy, fruity delights. Available in a 150-gram pack for ₹179, they are ideal for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, and Easter.

15. Winola Gummy Bears (Imported):

Imported and devoid of gelatin, these delightful, fruity gummy bears are available in a 1-kg pack for ₹800.

8. GEli

You might not have heard of GEli. But trust me, it is one of the healthiest gummy candy brands, packed with essential nutrients and free of harmful chemicals. Their products are tasty, pure plant-based, and fully organic.

16. GELi Kids Multivitamin Gummies:

Packed with three delicious flavors – mango, orange, and blueberry – in one convenient pack, these gummies make vitamin time a breeze. They’re made with natural ingredients and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support your child’s immunity and health. Guess what? The product is also gluten-free, gelatine-free, and egg-free.

9. Orileys

Orileys makes it to our list for its quality, variety, and taste. The brand delights you with Vegan Mini Gummy, Jumble Mix, Vegan Jujubes, Summer Mix, and other options for all tastes and moods. However, the Sour Fruits Gummy Candy stands out for its texture and taste, placing Orileys among the best sour gummy candy brands.

17. Orileys Sour Fruits Gummy Candy:

These sour tropical fruit-flavored cubes are made with all-natural colors extracted from antioxidant-rich sources like beetroot, spinach, paprika, and curcumin. Plus, they’re 100% vegan and halal, minus animal fat, gelatin, gluten, and preservatives. Add to it their delectable tangy taste, they are the best sour gummy candies we tested during research.

18. Orileys Vegan Jujubes Gummy Candy:

Indulge in the sweet taste and Jujube-flavored gummy candies made of natural colors. Again, these candies are 100% Vegan, without animal fat, gelatin, or preservatives.

10. Trolli

How about one of the top German gummy candy brands? Trolli offers an impressive range of gummy candies in both classic and unique shapes, including crawlers, bears, creatures, hands, and more. The company has a strong presence in 80+ countries and production units in Germany, Spain, Indonesia, the US, China, and the Czech Republic.

19. Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers:

Expect a mix of sweet and sour taste in flavors like cherry-lemon, strawberry-grape, and orange-lime. Available in various sizes, these chewy, neon-colored worms have a sugary coating for a tongue-twisting adventure.

20. Trolli Strawberry Puffs:

Looking for delicious gummy candies bursting with the sweet flavor of strawberries? It is hard to look beyond these strawberry puffs, known for their soft, fluffy texture and tangy-sweet goodness.

Conclusion:

Gummy candies, or simply gummies, are cherished treats for kids and adults alike. We all have grown up loving their sweet taste, chewy texture, and innovative shapes. Thanks to the gummy candy brands, gummy lovers have options galore. Fruity, vegan, organic, and cola, you name it. Worldlywiser researched the market to get hold of the best in each category, hence the list. We did everything possible to keep the list authentic, reliable, and reader-friendly.

Feel free to keep us posted with your feedback in the space below. Till next time, stay informed, stay wiser.

FAQs:

What companies make gummy candy?

Many companies manufacture and market gummy candies, but prominent names include Haribo, Candyman, Winola, Orileys, Troli, Maynards Bassets, Perfetti Van Melle, and more.

What gummy is the best?

Determining the best gummy candy depends on your criteria. GEli is the healthiest, Trolli excels in sour gummies, and Orileys stands out for vegan options.

Are gummies healthy?

If you choose well, yes. Besides offering an energy boost, some gummy candy brands incorporate minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients.

Are gummy candies suitable for vegans and vegetarians?

Many gummy candy brands offer vegan and vegetarian options made without gelatin, using plant-based alternatives like pectin or agar-agar.

Are gummy candies suitable for vegans and vegetarians?