When Halloween season rolls around, fantastic costumes, scary movies and delightful candy take center stage. In the wondrous world of candy, not all sweets inspire joy though. Some, in fact, inspire an almost visceral sense of loathing. It’s the candy we love to hate. These infamous candies get thrown under the bus—repeatedly. Among the most controversial? Circus Peanuts, Mary Janes, Good & Plenty, Candy Corn, Necco Wafers, Black Licorice, and Black Jelly Beans. Let’s dive into what makes these candies so universally despised.
Circus Peanuts: A Marshmallow Mystery
Few candies are as divisive as Circus Peanuts, and for good reason. Shaped like peanuts but tasting like marshmallow plastic (with an odd banana flavor), they defy the very expectations of what candy should be. Even their texture—a mix between styrofoam and broken dreams—leaves many wondering whose nightmare inspired this candy horror.
Mary Janes: Nostalgic, But a Chore to Eat
Mary Janes might hold some nostalgic charm, but these peanut butter and molasses chews stick to your teeth like cement. While old-school candy lovers might defend them, most younger candy enthusiasts want nothing to do with these sticky, tooth-threatening treats.
Good & Plenty: Licorice Loathing
Good & Plenty is the epitome of “you love it or you hate it.” (Honestly, it’s mostly hate though.) This black licorice candy with a hard candy coating is often rejected by those who find licorice itself an acquired taste. For licorice haters, these pastel-colored bullets are pure punishment.
Candy Corn: The Seasonal Letdown
Candy Corn is a Halloween staple, yet it’s often the first candy to be chucked to the side by sensible candy lovers. Some say the waxy, overly sweet flavor is unbearable. Even those who claim to enjoy Candy Corn likely only tolerate a few pieces before swearing it off until next year. Candy Corn lovers suggest pairing the overly sweet treat with roasted peanuts to enhance the flavor.
Necco Wafers: Chalk in Candy Form
Necco Wafers are so bland, they might as well be classified as an antacid rather than a sweet treat. With an unpleasant texture reminiscent of sidewalk chalk and flavors that range from “meh” to “ugh,” it’s no surprise they regularly make the “most hated” candy lists.
Black Licorice and Black Jelly Beans: Licorice Hatred Intensified
Let’s face it—black licorice and its jelly bean form are just about as polarizing as candy can get. Its anise-flavored bitterness is either a nostalgic delight or a gag-inducing horror. More often than not, it’s the latter.
So, next time you think about adding any of the most hated candy to a bowl of candies, do everyone a favor and don’t! Then again, if you hate people, then it would be apropos.
The last contender for most hated candy of time dominates the Spring candy craze but it has justifiably earned its spot on the list: Peeps.
Peeps: The Fluffy Sugar Bomb
Peeps, those overwhelming sweet marshmallow chicks that pop up around Easter, inspire intense feelings—mostly negative. Their gritty sugar coating and artificial taste are a turn-off for many. For some, their spongy, sofa foam like texture are an absolute deal breaker.
Yet, much like Circus Peanuts, these fluffy critters somehow manage to survive the harsh criticism and keep making their annual appearance in Easter baskets.
Candy Hall of Shame
Rest assured you are not alone if you hate Peeps, Candy Corn, Circus Peanuts, Necco Wafers, and Black Licorice. They reign as some of the most hated treats of all time. One day, hopefully they will be retired and take their rightful place in the candy hall of shame.
