Starburst flavors: everyone has an opinion on them, but whose is correct? I’d like to think of myself as a pretty good authority on these candies. I’ve been eating them since I was a little kid, and can even unwrap them with my teeth (cool party trick, huh?). So, if anyone is gonna take a hard stance on these candies, it’s me. Just try not to let your feelings get hurt when you find out your opinion is wrong, okay? Here’s the ranking of the original four Starburst flavors from worst to best.
4. Orange
Okay, let me preface this by saying that all Starburst flavors are delicious. It’s just that there are some that are weaker than others. Orange is like that kid your mom made you invite to your birthday party when you were younger. Sure, they were a part of your class, but did you really want them there?
I’ve never been overly excited to see an orange Starburst when I open the pack. And when candy is a treat for many people, you have to have a flavor that hits a home run for you right off the bat. Plus, orange isn’t the most compatible flavor. I mean, what if you just brushed your teeth? There are some tastes that just don’t vibe, which makes orange super risky. (My apologies to all of Florida).
3. Cherry
Cherries are in a lot of tasty products. There are cherries on your ice cream sundae, chocolate-covered cherries and…cough syrup? One of these things is not like the other. The cherry Starbursts used to be my jam, but after one too many cases of strep throat, I just can’t get into the taste like I used to.
As it turns out, our aversion to bitter tastes, like cherries, has to do with our biological makeup. Kids are more “bitter averse” than adults are, which explains why little kids don’t want to take medicines when they’re sick.
An added bonus is that this also helps kids not want to mix up brightly colored medicines for candies and take them without reason. But then again, if you’re modeling a candy after something that’s supposed to be a deterrent for kids, I don’t think it’s worth my time—or the cavities I’ll get later on.
2. Strawberry
This flavor is so popular that the brand created entire bags of just strawberry Starbursts to meet the clamoring need. Strawberries are all the rage for candies, and Starburst flavors are no exception.
I L-O-V-E strawberry-flavored foods, from jelly on a classic PB&J, to a tropical drink on vacation. There’s something about the sweetness that’s just so alluring. It’s not bitter like cherry, and more palatable than orange.
But as much as I love strawberry, I need some more oomph. Yeah, strawberry is sweet, but you can’t appreciate sweet without a lil sour? Why stick with one taste for the rest of your life, right?
1. Lemon
Y’all can hate all you want, but there’s no denying that out of all the Starburst flavors, lemon is the best. I get that lemon gets a lot of hate for being too sour, but I’m not one to sit by and have boring, basic flavors for a snack.
To me, lemon Starbursts are like the bad boys your parents are afraid of. They can be sweet, but sour in an oh so addictive way. Lemon is such a versatile flavor appropriate for all seasons. Lemon and sweet tea in the summer? Honey and lemon in the winter? It’s practically perfect. Plus, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? The fact that so many people don’t love lemon Starbursts just makes them irresistible.
Starburst flavors have varied over the years, but there’s a definite hierarchy. Lemon reigns supreme, and orange has some catching up to do. But whatever your opinion, these candies can create some “unbelievably juicy” debates.