How to Choose Candy: 5 Things to Pay Attention to When Selecting Candy

How to choose and purchase candies

1. Packaging

High-quality candies have good moisture resistance in their packaging paper, with clear trademark patterns, candy names, and factory names. The packaging of candies is tight, dense, and neat, without any signs of cracking or loosening. High-end candies have several layers of packaging, and the packaging is exquisite. The packaging of ordinary candies is generally only one layer, and some packaging paper even lacks the factory name, indicating poor quality.

2. Appearance

High-quality candies have a smooth and flat surface, without cracks, imperfections, sticking, impurities, and exhibit good transparency. The filling of the candies should not be exposed. If the candies are incomplete in size, sticky, or lack transparency, they are inferior candies.

Each type of candy has its own unique aroma. If a certain candy loses its inherent aroma, it undergoes a qualitative change, making it unsuitable for consumers to purchase.

3. Taste

Good candies should have a sweet and smooth taste, moderate in intensity, and free from any other off-flavors. Creamy candies, meringues, and chocolate candies should have a delicate texture. On the other hand, inferior candies often have a burnt or bitter taste, along with other unpleasant flavors. Good candies should have intact packaging, with hard candies being firm and crisp, soft candies being soft and elastic, and filled candies not revealing their filling. All candies should not stick to the teeth or paper. If there is any sanding, it is not advisable to purchase.

4. Number of grains

Candy produced by regular manufacturers has a certain number of pieces per kilogram, with uniform size. For products with less than 100 pieces (or candies) per kilogram, a tolerance of 2 pieces is allowed; for those with 100-200 pieces, a tolerance of 4 pieces is allowed; and for those with more than 200 pieces, a tolerance of ±6 pieces is allowed. If the number of candy pieces purchased does not meet the above values, its quality is poor.

5. Hair loss and hair thinning

If there is a small amount of sticky packaging paper on the surface of the candy, it indicates slight efflorescence; if it starts to melt and deform, it indicates severe efflorescence. If the white sand layer on the surface of the candy is 1-2mm thick, it indicates slight efflorescence; if it is 3-5mm thick, it indicates severe efflorescence. Efflorescence is the phenomenon where sucrose in the candy re-crystallizes after melting. Severe efflorescence turns the candy into a crumbly and fragile sand block, making it unsuitable for purchase.

5 points to consider when choosing candies

1. First, observe whether the outer packaging is damaged, neat and clean, with clear printing and intact and regular labels. Candy products produced by regular manufacturers should have complete and clear labels, indicating the product name, manufacturer name, manufacturer address, ingredient list, net content, product type, implementation standard code, shelf life, etc. If you find products with poor packaging printing quality, illegible handwriting, incomplete labeling content, or no production date indicated, do not purchase them.

2. The color and luster of the candy should be normal, uniform, and bright, with pure aroma and moderate taste, and no other off-flavor; the appearance of the candy should be upright, with neat edges, no missing corners or cracks, smooth and shiny surface, clear pattern, uniform size and thickness, and no obvious deformation; the candy should be free of visible impurities.

3. Famous-brand products produced by well-known enterprises and sold in large shopping malls and supermarkets.

4. Choose products that are recently produced and have intact packaging. This is especially important for candies containing dairy products, as they are prone to deterioration if they exceed their shelf life. They may appear yellowish and have an off-flavor. Additionally, damaged packaging can lead to contamination of the product.

5. Try to eat less candy before going to bed, and brush your teeth after eating candy to prevent tooth decay.