If, for some reason, you’re looking to start a heated debate this Halloween, all you have to do is ask someone what they think about candy corn.
Either you think the tri-colored treat is delicious or disgusting — there’s no in-between.
Food flavor specialist Marie Wright, one of just 300 experts in the world, explains why a treat as simple as candy corn has gained such a controversial reputation.
“It seems to be a very emotional candy,” Wright tells TODAY.com. “People have a really strong opinion. It’s almost like, if you want to start a little bit of a heated discussion, you can ask somebody about candy corn. It seems to evoke a very strong response.”
Love it or hate it, there's no denying that candy corn is a fall mainstay: beyond its popularity as a Halloween goody, the sweet treat even has its own holiday, National Candy Corn Day, which takes place annually on Oct. 30.
Why is candy corn's flavor so divisive?
According to Wright, the two factors that seem to spur most of the response are the candy's waxy, crumbly texture and of course, its extremely sugary taste.
To settle another common debate — yes, each colored layer of candy corn has the same flavor, according to iconic candy company BRACH’s.
“Each layer of BRACH’S Classic Candy Corn provides the same delicious, honey-flavored bite and memorable texture that’s synonymous with the fall season,” a representative for the company tells TODAY.com.
That overwhelming sweetness can be part of why some people dislike the seasonal treat.
“I think when you compare it to a lot of other similar types of candy, even if they are creamy tasting, they usually have acid in it, and the acid makes you salivate and makes it more palatable,” says Wright, who noted that candy corn's sweet flavor also makes it hard to eat more than a few pieces at a time.
Despite its divisive sweetness, many people associate candy corn with fond fall memories.
“I think Halloween and fall is a very nostalgic time,” says Wright. “For some people, candy corn is a representation of fall, and they’re not bothered by the texture or the taste.”
Wright says that in general, that feeling of nostalgia impacts the way people react to food — and might be part of the reason why candy corn provokes such an emotional response.
“The area of the brain where we process smell (which has a major impact on how we process taste) … is in the same part of the brain where we store memories and evoke emotion,” she says. “In that primitive part of the brain, often there is a strong connection between an event, especially when it’s food, especially childhood.”
While candy corn continues to make headlines, there are plenty of other seasonal flavors to enjoy if the Halloween sweet isn’t your thing.
According to Wright, “warm spice flavors” and smoky flavors are especially delicious during autumn.
Of course, we can't forget quintessential fall flavors like apple and pumpkin, from Starbucks' famous pumpkin spice latte to Taco Bell's Caramel Apple Empanada.
If you prefer a more traditional treat, try your hand at baking a homemade fall dessert like apple crumb cake or a classic pumpkin pie.
