11 Of The Best Lemon Candies Ever Created

When compared to the sheer variety of chocolate-based sweet or other fruity hard candies circulating among stores and homes, lemon-flavored candies are somewhat of an underdog. Their acidity and natural flavors accrue them a reputation for tasting somewhat medicinal, especially with lemon drops which have been frequently used as antacids or lozenges since their inception in England over two centuries ago. While their history certainly began with a medicinal purpose in mind, over these two centuries candymakers have begun incorporating lemons into their sweets with other delicious, complimentary flavors, elevating these lemon-flavored candies from boring lozenges to indulgent experiences worth sharing.

However, there are some particular candies that rise above the others because of their quality, consistency, and overall taste. While everyone's entitled to their favorites, there are good reasons why some lemon candies are considered the best ever created. Gone are the dated, medicinal tastes most associated with hard lemon candies; today we have a wealth of lemon-flavored candies that are sure to delight even the most varied palettes. Chocolates, gummies, and hard candies dusted in sugar can all be given a vibrant, lemon-y twist that makes it more than just a dollar-store experience. We've crunched the numbers and compiled this list of the best lemon candies ever created.

When this iconic candy burst onto the sweets market in 1962, it didn't take long for Lemonheads to become a cultural icon in the country, and a few years later, the rest of the world followed suit. Created by the Ferrara Pan Candy Company, the makeup of the candy itself is legendary. Unlike the ancestral lemon drop, Lemonheads are made up of two distinct layers: a hard but penetrative outer shell that's tartly flavored, and a softer, sweeter inner core that's both chewy and smooth. This blend of textures and flavors marries sweet, fruity lemon and the tart acidity that puckers lips without being too overwhelming, and it's this blend of contrasts that cemented the Lemonheads' place in confectionary history and the hearts of millions to this day.

Due to its longevity, Lemonheads now proliferate the sweets aisles both during and out of Halloween season; you'll be hard-pressed to find a grocery store, movie theater, or confectionary shop that doesn't carry the recognizable blue and yellow packaging that has housed Lemonheads for almost 63 years. Its popularity has spawned many variations of the iconic lemon-flavored candy, with Ferrara Pan churning out Grapeheads, Appleheads, Cherryheads, and several additional variations of the original Lemonheads over the years. However, nothing can quite live up to the original, and to this day, sweet-tooths all over the world continue delighting in the simple, elegant tartness of the classic Lemonheads candy.

Pivoting from a sweet, candied flavor to something a little natural tasting, Claey's Lemon Drops are the embodiment of a vintage gem. They're a senior candy, hailing all the way back to 1919, and you can taste every bit of experience those decades have lent to the titular candy company. These nostalgic lemon drops are a perfect sweet for those who don't want something that might taste incredibly plastic or artificially sweetened. That being said, none of the classic, lemony tang is lost in favor of simple natural flavorings; this hard candy still packs a punch.

The outer dusting of sugar on this candy is summery, tart, and acidic enough to give your mouth a kick until the heat dissolves the dust and you taste the lovely sweet center. These lemon drops are more sour than sweet, so it's perfect for both medicinal purposes and people who prefer their lemon candies a little more tart than surgery. It's very much a hardened lemonade with just a smattering of sugar, and on top of that, the hard body of the candy takes some time to dissolve in your mouth, which means that you get to savor every vibrant speck of deliciousness until the drop dwindles away into a pleasant memory. Be warned though; these candies are not quite as accessible as other more popular, name-brand candies, so keep an eye out at older shops or odd places like hardware stores to bag them for yourself.

Lemon and ginger are a timeless power couple as medicinal aids. Not only do they aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help to alleviate nasal congestion, the distinct flavors of lemon and ginger complement each other wonderfully. The zesty, citrusy spark of the lemon is naturally warmed by the slightly spicier, aromatic flavors of the ginger, and the Ginger Lemon Drops from Haribo marry both flavors in a soft, gummy-like candy that maximize the best of both worlds.

The candy's texture itself is flexible and a little glutinous, which makes gnawing on the drops themselves a stimulating experience. They have some give, but they're also tough enough to thoroughly enjoy the flavors of the lemon drops. The order of the candy's name is apt, as the first flavor that'll hit your tongue is the tangy kick of the lemon. Instead of being overly sweet or overly sour, this candy emphasizes the natural juices of the citrus, flushing the mouth with the sugary and tart sand that coats the outside of the drop. As the juices wash the candy dust away, what rises to the surface is the warming, robust flavor of the ginger. Heat follows soon after, and you're left with a lingering, spicy aftertaste. It can be a delicious closure to a big meal, or simply just a fragrant way to keep your mouth tasting fantastic.

The name is certainly a mouthful, but so is the titular candy. If you've ever visited the Italian coast, these lemon balls are sure to be a familiar sight in frosted glass bowls on resort counters or as the centerpiece of your nonna's sitting room. These sunny yellow spheres are made from specially procured lemons from Italian lemon orchards (with the certification to prove it), and you can certainly taste the salt-speckled coast with just a single lick of these punchy candies.

While most lemon candies are often covered with a familiar dusting of either sugary powder or tart citric acid, these Italian lemon candies are instead smooth and hard, reminiscent of a traditional boiled sweet, like an ice skating rink made of lemonade. The outer layer strikes a tangy balance between sweet and sour, and the hard shell is not so hard that you might chip a tooth when biting into it, but it's hard enough to make cracking the outer shell distinctly satisfying. Inside that shell is a fizzy, tart powder that packs a pucker punch, and you'll find yourself reaching for one after the other before you even realize what's happening. These lemon drops, like most of its kind, make fantastic after-dinner treats, and their slightly larger-than-average size make for extra time sucking on their tart exterior.

Lemon candies rarely taste like pure lemon. Oftentimes, you'll find that most candy companies try to live up to the "candy" part of the title and load the sweet with so much sugar that a more accurate title for so-called "lemon candies" should instead be "lemonade candies." However, there are some lemon candies that actually live up to their titles, and the Japanese candy company Kamu Kamu fully delivers with their chewy take on the lemon-flavored sweet.

Not for the faint-of-heart, this candy absolutely does not hold back on the acidity. Most lemon-flavored candies start off with a tart punch and then slowly ease the brakes back into sugary sweetness, but Kamu Kamu keeps its foot on the proverbial pucker pedal. Your mouth is not given any sort of sweet reprieve, but that tangy, powerful sourness lingers long until you're salivating hard and blinking back tears, begging for a saccharine release. Only at the very end does this candy offer a whisper of sugar to soothe your bruised tongue, and even then it's a ghost of sweetness compared to some of the most sugary candies on this list. This is a fantastic candy for those who turn their noses up at overly sweet candies and instead crave something almost abusively sour. The texture will be sure to keep you occupied as well; it's halfway between softly pliable and gummy, making for an excellent chew as you savor this blast of absolute sour.

We've learned from Japanese candy makers that they absolutely do not hold back, and the same goes for Nobel's Super Lemon candy. These are similar to Kamu Kamu's take on the candy in that they're intensely sour and infamous for sloughing off the mouths of unsuspecting customers since its inception in 1986. Unlike Kamu Kamu's smooth-coated iteration, however, the Super Lemon candy also boasts a familiar dusting of powder that is the first of many layers of this subtly stratified candy.

This outer powder, made of a mixture of citric acid and other ingredients, precedes the next, classically nostalgic hard and smooth lemon candy most people associate with its name. This layer is also intimidatingly tart, this time with more of an emphasis on the fruity and naturally floral juices of the lemon rather than focusing on pure acidity. Finally, as if to reward you for making it past the excruciation of the first two layers, the inner meat of the candy is subtle and sweet, soothing your tongue with the refreshing sweetness of the fruit.

This multi-layered experience is what ranks this candy high above others. Not only does every single tart ball in its colorful individual wrapping offer a three-act episode with each taste, but this particular iteration is perfect for those who eschew the sweet lemon candies and prefer the sour punch that this candy is sure to provide.

Lemon drops are the poster child of lemon-flavored candies for good reason. The sunny simplicity of a nostalgic lemon drop can't be beat, but lemons can just as well feature proudly in soft candies as well. Marich's Yuzu Lemon Caramels are a beautiful example of a soft lemon sweet done deliciously, and it's all thanks to the prominence of both yuzu and lemons in these caramel-based candies. Yuzu, for those not in the know, is a Japanese citrus that looks like a cross between a tangerine and a lemon. Its taste is bright and acidic, said to be a mixture of bitter grapefruit, acidic lime, and floral mandarin orange, and it's used to great effect as a garnish for both savory and sweet foods.

In confectionery, it pairs excellently with our current star of the show, the lemon, and, in this particular candy by Marich, with some soft caramels, as well. The texture is a dream. The silky white chocolate and smooth, rich caramel are infused with the essential oils of both fruits, and the resulting effect is elegant, subtle, and oh-so-sweet. The tanginess of the fruit elevates the chocolate and caramel to a whole other level, and it's a perfect pick-me-up for a difficult day or a reward for a job well done. And don't just take our word for it; these yuzu and lemon caramels were a 2024 finalist in the Most Innovative New Product Awards, and they've certainly earned their place.

Jolly Ranchers are a quintessential cornerstone of most Americans' childhoods due to their bright colors, hard texture, and powerful flavors. Its lemon variety is certainly no exception as well, boasting a vivid, if slightly irradiated, yellow and a powerful, acidic and sweet taste. While these yellow Jolly Ranchers have been overtaken by their far more popular counterpart, the tart blue raspberry flavor, don't let the lack of attention fool you. These specific lemon candies, popular since the '90s, embody everything that makes Jolly Ranchers so enjoyable.

Its flavor is long-lasting, tart, and sweet all at once. Again, this candy leans more towards a hard sour taste rather than an overly sugary taste, but it's not quite as strong as the aforementioned Japanese candies. The overall makeup of the candy is also quite solid, meaning that it'll take some time for the Jolly Rancher to dissolve in your mouth. Even if you leave out these candies in an intensive summer heat, these candies are going to hold up nicely. Now, these candies are not in mass-production, which means that you'll have to hunt down some sellers who can get you these candies in bulk, but the overall flavor? It's totally worth the extra effort.

Since its inception in Taiwan back in 1975, Warheads have become an American byword for notoriously sour candies. The name itself is a dead giveaway that tasting the candy is not going to be a walk in the park, but for some people with tongues made of iron? Extreme flavors are right up their alley. Their official labeling even bears a cautionary message advising those with sensitive tongues to moderate the amount of Warheads they're planning on consuming. If you have a proclivity for pushing the limits of your sour sensitivity while still enjoying a powerful punch of lemon-y flavor, Warheads are an exemplary example.

While the lemon-flavored varieties of Warheads definitely made it onto our list thanks to their strong acidity, their vibrant flavor is also another winning factor. The initial kick of sourness is definitely intimidating, but it's one of the few flavors of Warheads that doesn't fully rely on that tongue-rending acidity and instead melts away into a sweet, lemony taste that's worth battling through the first kick of sourness. Their famously strong flavor comes from a lethal combination of citric and malic acid, so it's definitely not for the faint of heart. However, the sweet, citrusy payoff is absolutely worth the risk. Just be sure to pace yourself.

Fruits and chocolates go together like peas in a pod, and this delicious dark chocolate truffle from See's Candies is certainly no exception. See's Candies is known for their high-quality chocolates, including the wildly beloved Bordeaux chocolates, molasses chips, and peanut brittle, but in our opinion, some of the more underrated treats prominently feature fruit, including their indulgent lemon and dark chocolate truffle. Fans of both bitter chocolate and summery sweet lemons will surely get a kick out of this treat.

This lemon truffle pairs with the dark chocolate excellently; the dark chocolate's innate bitterness is the perfect contrast to the summery, refreshing sweetness of the lemon. The difference in flavors is like night and day, and just like these two cycles, one cannot exist without the other. The meat of the lemon interior is soft and creamy, with just the slightest grit of sugar inside to contrast the otherwise smooth and dark expanse of the dark chocolate exterior. It's the perfect layered experience, and those who are fans of pairing both the perfectly crafted smoothness of artisanal chocolate and the natural sweetness of delicious, sweet fruits would absolutely enjoy this decadent treat.

Having gotten its start way back in 1904, Brach's Confections is one of the oldest candy-making companies in the world, but their candies taste both timeless and nostalgic. Their lemon drop candies are deliciously subtle and sweet, a gentle ending to sunset all of our previously intense or extreme recommendations. While not quite as tart or as flavorfully vibrant as some of our other suggestions on this list, these drops still hold their own by way of oozing pure lemon flavor.

Like a good, classic lemon drop, these candies give you a kick of natural, lemony acidity and then melt away into pure, juicy sweetness that lingers in a fragrant, sweet aroma in your mouth. It's pure refreshment. Due to its simplistic flavorings, these lemon drops also work as great antacids after meals thanks to the refreshing properties innate to a well-made, fruity hard candy. If you're looking to try some for yourself, be aware that Brach's no longer carries these in bulk, but these lemon drops are still available at certain grocery stores and other confectionery stores online.

When ranking these candies, I used both personal experience and the feedback from hundreds of online reviews to make this list. Using both quality ratings and the written reviews of each candy listed above, I then compiled a comprehensive list of recommendations customers and candy fans repeatedly mentioned in recurring circles. I also used official sweets and novelty product showcases to help determine this ranking.