Last Updated on October 28, 2022 by Jim Edwards
Sweet Tarts or SweeTARTS are tablet-like sweet and sour candies. The candy tablets are stacked together in a roll that is fun to carry in your pocket.
Each roll contains a variety of sweet and tart flavors and they are loved by children and adults alike. They use citric acid to create a sour, but not too sour taste. So if you like a little bit sour and a little bit sweet, they are always a great option!
Contents
History of Sweet Tarts
Sweet Tarts were introduced for the first time in 1962. It was done under the supervision of the CEO of Sunline, Inc., Menlo F. Smith. The candy preparation process was quite similar to the production of Lik-M-Aid and Pixy Stix.
In 1963, Pixy Stix and Sweet Tarts shared similar flavors in their respective mixes – lemon, lime, grape, orange, and cherry.
Sunline Inc. was a division of Sunmark group of companies. Rowntree Mackintosh acquired it in 1986. Later, Nestle acquired Rowntree Mackintosh.
Sunmark, along with the Quaker Company in a joint venture, developed the Willy Wonka brand candies. Sunmark has used the Wonka logo on most of its branded products. In 1988, Nestle acquired the Willy Wonka Candy Company.
Many flavors are and have been a part of the Sweet Tarts candy mix.
- Yellow – Lemon
- Orange – Orange (the flavor discontinued since 2013)
- Red – Cherry
- Green – Green Apple (it was lime flavor before 2002)
- Blue – Blue Punch
- Purple – Grape
Nestle has stopped the production of lemon flavor in 2009 but reintroduced it to the mix in 2013.
What is the Taste and Flavor of Sweet Tarts like?
Presently, there are five flavors that are present in a single package. They are:
| Color | Flavor |
| Yellow | Lemon |
| Blue | Blue Punch |
| Green | Green Apple |
| Red | Cherry |
| Purple | Grape |
The presence of citric acid in the candies gives it a sour taste. Sucking onto sour candies for longer will hurt your tongue and inner cheek. The candies are bite-sized and tablet-like, and easily chewable.
If you like sour but want a less tart candy, be sure to check out Tangy Tarts
Variations of Sweet Tarts
Over the years, different versions of the Sweet Tarts candies have delighted and continue to delight its consumers. Below is a list of the different versions.
- SweeTARTS Chewy Sours
- SweeTARTS Cherry Punch Soft and Chewy Ropes
- SweeTARTS Gummies
- SweeTARTS Soft Bites Gummies
- SweeTARTS Soft and Chewy Ropes
- SweeTARTS Whipped and Tangy Gummies
- SweeTARTS Hearts
- SweeTARTS Mini Chews
Nutritional Facts of Sweet Tarts
The nutritional facts mentioned below are for a serving size of 13 pieces (15 grams approximately).
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat (0 g) | 0% |
| Saturated Fat (0 g) | 0% |
| Trans Fat (0 g) | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate (14 g) | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber (0 g) | 0% |
| Sugar (12 g) | |
| of which added sugar is 12 g | 25% |
| Sodium (0 mg) | 0% |
| Cholesterol (0 mg) | 0% |
| Protein (0 g) | 0% |
SweeTarts Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the ingredients in Sweet Tarts?
The ingredients in the original Sweet Tarts candy are malic acid, maltodextrin, dextrose, and contains less than 2% of calcium stearate, natural flavors, artificial colors (Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40 Lake). The product may contain eggs.
How many calories are there in Sweet Tarts?
Thirteen pieces of the Sweet Tarts candy contain 60 calories approximately.
Are Sweet Tarts gluten-free?
The original Sweet Tarts candies do not contain any glutenous ingredients. However, there are a few Sweet Tarts products that contain wheat in them. If all the products are manufactured in the same facility, there is a high risk of cross-contamination.
Are Sweet Tarts vegan?
The ingredient list on the candy label mentions that the product may contain eggs. Hence Sweet Tarts candies are not vegan.
How are Sweet Tarts Made?
Its an interesting manufacturing process. Easier to watch this video to see – very cool to see the factory line and how many are made daily!
If you like SweetTarts, you will also love Sour Patch Kids and if you want something super sour be sure to see our reviews of Jolly Rancher Sour Surge and Toxic Waste Sour Smog Balls. Or if you want something less sour, Sour Punch Twists are moderately sour and perfect for everyone who likes a little, but not too much, sour. And the Sour Punch Straws are even less tart and sour.
Video: Giant SweetTarts Challenge with NO WATER
This is fun to watch but please don’t try this at home!!
Related: Tart ‘n Tiny Candy Review
If you like soft licorice like Twizzlers and also like a little bit of sour, be sure to see my review of Sweet Tart Ropes
Image Credit: Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I’m Jim Edwards and I started this website to share my love of Junk Food. We cover new junk food, desserts, snack foods, fast food secret menus, candy (of course!) and other related news. We love trying “secret menus” at restaurants. And we love trying new products too. So, we are trying to have some fun with our hobby and share some useful information with you, our community. Please feel to send us your suggestions and feedback through the contact form. And if you have products you would like us to try, let us know…!