Sweet. Sour. Chewy. Crunchy. There are so many different types of candy out there it can be hard to pick a favorite. When your sweet tooth starts calling, what do you reach for first?

You’re undoubtedly familiar with favorites like Snickers, Butterfinger, and Skittles. But do you ever get bored with the same old selection at the gas station or corner store? If so, you’ll be happy to know there’s a wide world of weird and wacky candy just waiting to be discovered.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the weirdest candy you can buy online. We’re talking uncommon flavors, unexpected textures, or odd stories about popular candies. Check it out below!

Japanese Squid Candy

We’re kicking off this list with something truly strange: squid candy. We’re not talking candy like Trolli’s “gummy octopuses” which are just the cephalopod-shaped equivalent of gummy worms, this candy actually tastes like squid. It’s made from fish paste and tossed in artificial squid flavoring. If you can stomach it, this candy comes in a ton of different varieties, from sweet to spicy.

Brach’s Turkey Dinner Candy Corn

There’s a whole subsection of candy lovers who firmly believe candy corn doesn’t count as candy. No matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on, you have to agree that candy flavored after Thanksgiving dinner is… weird. Brach’s Turkey Dinner candy corn includes flavors like roasted turkey, green beans, stuffing, ginger glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato pie.

Pickle Candy Canes

While we’re on the subject of holidays, we have to mention a Christmas oddity: pickle-flavored candy canes. A far cry from the peppermint-flavored staple of your childhood, these candy canes bring some of the briny flavor you love to the holiday season. If you happen to be a fan of pickles and the Christmas season, these uniquely flavored candy canes might become a new holiday staple.

Wasabi Kit Kat

If you’re ready to take a break with a crunchy Kit Kat, consider trying this odd flavor. Japan is known for having many quirky Kit Kat flavors, many of which we’ve encountered in candy subscription boxes like Tokyo Treat and Bokksu. However, this one takes the cake. With its light green outer chocolate and kick of horseradish flavor, it may be a hit with sushi lovers. Not ready for something quite so adventurous? You can still explore unique Kit Kat flavors such as key lime pie, summer mango, and pumpkin pie.

Nurungji (Burnt Rice Candy)

Another Asian oddity, burnt rice candy is a sweet treat that uses the traditional Nurungji snack as its base. While the candy version doesn’t exactly taste like burnt rice, it is one of the main ingredients. You can find burnt rice candy in several forms but most notably hard candy.

Cricket Lollipops

This candy may seem like something out of a bad dream, but it’s real. These bug “infused” lollipops are shaped around a real cricket. They come in a variety of flavors, such as blueberry, grape, strawberry, and orange. While you don’t have to eat the insect if you don’t want to, it’s half the fun!

Gummy Candy Noodles

Looking for something that looks a bit unusual but tastes familiar? Try this takeout box of gummy noodles. You’ll find everything you’d expect from your favorite takeout meal including gummy shrimp, egg, vegetables, and other toppings all made from gummy candy, licorice ropes, and marshmallows.

Tootsie Rolls

Okay, Tootsie Rolls themselves aren’t exactly weird, but they do have a strange history you may not be aware of. During the Korean War, the First Marine Division called in an order for ammo using the code name “Tootsie Rolls.” Unfortunately (or fortunately), the radio operator didn’t know the code and sent them pallets of Tootsie Roll candies instead. The candy provided much-needed nourishment for the troops. They even became a military ration for those fighting in World War II, due to their ability to withstand the temperature variations of being shipped.

Saltwater Taffy

Another familiar candy you know and may love has a silly history. Nobody knows exactly who made it first, but it’s rumored that saltwater taffy started out on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ or at Midwestern county fairs during the 19th century. You may be surprised to learn that the candy doesn’t actually contain saltwater but it is supposedly named after candymaker David Bradley’s stock of taffy became soaked with saltwater. He called it “saltwater taffy” as a joke but the name stuck!

Circus Peanuts

Certainly not the most popular candy out there, circus peanuts are one the original “penny candies”. They’ve been around since the 1800s and are known for their odd banana flavor. What you may not know is that these controversial candies were the inspiration for marshmallow cereals like Lucky Charms. John Holahan created Lucky Charms when he mixed Cheerios with bits of circus peanuts.

Sour Flush Candy Toilets

If you’re looking for more absurd candy, over just plain weird, these candy toilets may be worth trying. They involve a little work to get the full toilet candy experience. First, you lick one of the candy plungers (a lollipop). Second, you dip it into the toilet to mix it into the sour sugar inside. Last, you can enjoy the sweet and sour weirdness that is a candy toilet.

BBQ Payday

Savory and sweet often work well together, but what about candy and barbecue sauce? In 2017, Hershey released its “Taste of America” line which included popular candies with unique flavors inspired by each U.S. state. Texas became the home of the BBQ Payday. Based on reviews, it tastes like salted caramel.

Chlorophyll PEZ

Released in the 1960s, PEZ is the classic American dispenser candy that still exists today. You may be surprised to learn that PEZ dispensers were designed as an alternative to smoking. The gimmick is that you can purchase dispensers shaped like your favorite characters and load them up with sweet PEZ candy. The flavors have changed over the years—from coffee to liquorice—but none is more unusual than the chlorophyll flavor they release.

Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans

Speaking of unusual flavors, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans come in flavors ranging from dirt to earwax. Inspired by the candy from the Harry Potter series, these jelly beans look like your average jelly bean but they come in every flavor imaginable, including some of the worst flavors imaginable. This includes flavors such as dirt, earwax, rotten egg, and sausage.

Box of Boogers Gummy Candy

If you’re not into the flavor of boogers but you find the idea of eating them amusing, try Box of Boogers gummy candy. These squishy green candies are designed to look like “nose candy” but they come in three fairly normal flavors with funny names: Snottermelon, Sour Green Boogy, and Lemon Loogy.

Necco Wafers

Let’s be honest, Necco Wafers are no ones favorite candy. They’re known for their vague flavor and chalk-like texture. What you might not know about this weird candy is that it is the preferred candy of Arctic explorers. Donald MacMillan reportedly gave these candies out to native Canadians during his travels. More amazing, however, is the fact that Admiral Richard Byrd ordered 2.5 tons of Necco Wafers for his journey to the South Pole. It equated to a massive 1 pound of candy per week for every man in his crew.

Candied Violets

Floral aromas are commonly used in perfumery, but flowers are much less common in food applications. These candied violets are not a marketing ploy—they are made with real violets that have been candied. Some prefer to bake with these weird floral candies, while others prefer to eat them right out of the bag.

Camel Balls

It’s possible that camel balls take the cake for the weirdest and wackiest candy on this list. They are not literally the balls of a camel, but rather gum balls with crazy marketing and branding. What do they taste like? The outer shell is a sweet gum that’s filled with sour juice for an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Pun intended?

Salsagheti

Can’t decide between savory and sweet? This odd Mexican candy will make you feel like you’re eating dinner and dessert at the same time. Named and shaped like spaghetti noodles, these candies have a texture similar to licorice but a much fruitier flavor. And to make things even weirder, they’re coated in chili powder for an extra kick.

Toe of Satan Lollipop

Are you a fan of hot and spicy foods? Toe of Satan by Flamethrower Candy Co. is said to be one of the hottest candies out there. It’s flavored with “hellfire” chili extract from Carolina Reaper peppers that has a Scoville heat unit rating of 9 million. If you can handle it, this might be the toughest candy to finish on this list.

Chocolate Covered Ants

Ants are a delicacy of many cultures. They have been eaten by humans for thousands of years, and they’re still popular all around the world. However, ants are not simply your typical snack food and chocolate-covered ants are an entirely different ball game altogether! Originally imported into the United States from Mexico in the 1960’s, chocolate covered ants were considered a weird candy fad. The ants are dipped in chocolate and then covered in a variety of toppings, such as nuts, sprinkles, and coconut. The end result is a sweet and crunchy treat.

Durian Candy

Fruit-flavored candies are pretty standard, but if you’re tired of classics like strawberry and raspberry, why not take a chance on something a little more unusual like durian. Durian is a fruit native to Indonesia and known for its spiky outer shell and highly pungent odor. In fact, some have labeled in the world’s smelliest fruit. Strangely though, it’s supposed to taste delicious. While durian is native to Indonesia, durian candy is popular in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Its taste is supposedly like a mixture of pineapple, coconut, and caramel. However, based on these reactions, it might not be a flavor everyone loves.

Edible Underwear

Looking for a sweet treat to share with your partner? Edible underwear might be exactly what you need. Part candy, part clothing, edible underwear comes in a lot of different forms. Some are reminiscent of candy string necklaces (like these) and others are similar in texture to a gummy candy.

Thrills Gum

Have you ever wished you could buy candy that tastes like soap? Of course not, but that didn’t stop Thrills Gum. The name is a bit misleading because there is no thrill in chewing on this candy—it literally tastes like soap. In fact, the tagline on the box says “It still tastes like soap!”

Vegemite Chocolate

Rounding out our list of weird candies is the most nefarious of them all—vegemite chocolate. If you’re unaware, vegemite is an Australian spread made with leftover brewers’ yeast. It’s a flavor that you either love or hate. Due to the fermentation process involved in making it, its flavor is rich, salty, and bitter. Now combine that with the sweetness of chocolate and you’ve got yourself one of the weirdest candies on this list.

Have you tried any of the candy listed above? Have a weirder candy we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments below!