Warheads (confectionery)
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Warheads, also known as Mega Warheads, are a brand of sour candy manufactured by Impact Confections. The candy was invented in Taiwan in 1975 and was first imported to the United States by The Foreign Candy Company in 1993. They are currently distributed in the United States by Impact Confections and in Australia by Funtastic Limited. They proved to be very popular, especially with youths; in 1999, Warheads was reffered to as a "$40 million brand." [1] Impact Confections acquired the brand in 2004.
Warheads derive their strong sour flavor from a combination of malic acid, ascorbic acid, and citric acid. These are applied as a coating to the outside of the small, hard candies. The intense sour flavor fades after about 20 to 50 seconds.
Warheads are marketed to children as an "extreme" candy. The name "Warhead" comes from the notion that the sour taste of the candies is akin to a real warhead going off in one's mouth, and the brand's mascot, Wally Warhead, is depicted as a boy with puckered lips and a small mushroom cloud eminating from the top of his head. A driving force behind the candy's popularity were informal competitions among schoolchildren to determine who could withstand eating the largest number of Warheads at once.[2]
A warning is now included on Warheads packaging, as follows:
WARNING: Eating multiple pieces within a short time period may cause a temporary irritation to sensitive tongues and mouths.[3]
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[edit] Varieties
Warheads are currently available in the following varieties:
- Extreme Sour
- Extreme Sour Juniors
- Double Drops
- Sour Gummy Grubs
- Super Sour Drops
- Super Sour Spray Candy
- Super Fizz
[edit] Flavors
Warheads have been available in both Sour and Hot flavors.
Sour flavors, which are still manufactured and sold, include:
- Sour Apple
- Sour Black Cherry
- Sour Blue Raspberry
- Sour Lemon
- Sour Watermelon
Hot flavors, which replaced the outer sour layer with a capsicum-based 'hot' layer[citation needed], are no longer produced. These included:
- Hot Cherry
- Hot Grape
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Frauenfelder, Mark. Gross National Product, Wired, June 1999.
- ^ Buckley, J. Taylor. Warheads candy sets taste, sales explosion, USA Today, June 11, 1997. pg. 03.B
- ^ Warheads Juniors Extreme Sour, Australian packaging.
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