Peelable candy has been around for a few years, and it went viral a couple of years ago in the US when Walgreens’ Nice brand peelable mango candy was trending on TikTok. If you’re not familiar, the candy features a chewy edible exterior that peels off to reveal a super soft interior. Despite it being as popular as it was and knowing of its existence all this time, Favorite Day’s Peelable Tropical Banana and Sweet Mango are the first ones I’ve ever tried.
Why now? I’d have to say this was an impulsive buy as I passed the Easter/Spring section at Target on my way to checkout. I’m a sucker for artificial banana flavor (see my love for banana Runts), so the bright yellow banana on the bag beckoned me to buy it. After grabbing the bag, I decided it wouldn’t hurt if I also picked up the mango one.
After peeling, I was underwhelmed with what seems to make them so appealing. (Nope, I will not swap the second A with an E in “appealing.” My conscious will not let me do it.)
These are harder to peel than actual bananas and mangos. I used my fingernail to dig into the skin or bit an end off to be able to start to peel the exterior off. I’m not sure if other brands are easier, but I was surprised I had to use a little brute force to rip off the peel. But once you get past one side, the rest becomes easier. After, you’re left with a payoff that might make you think you’re a contestant on Survivor and participating in a bug eating contest. The banana one looks like a tropical worm larva, while the mango one looks like poisonous tropical worm larva. Mmm…larva?
The skins are edible, with the flavors of their respective fruits, and they seem to have almost the same fruity intensity as the worm larva looking things inside of them. While they look bug-ish, the interior candy has a delightful softness that puts Albanese gummy bears to shame. Both flavors are splendid, and I liked them equally. Although, if you find banana Runts repulsive, you’ll think the same about the banana one. As for the mango one, it has a delicious flavor that tastes more natural than the banana.
While I do love their flavors, I’m not a fan of the peeling. But there’s no rule that I have to do it. So as I’ve been going through each bag, I’ve just been popping them into my mouth, skin and all, like I’m a hippo being fed watermelons at the zoo.
Purchased Price: $3.00 each
Size: 7 oz pouch (Mango), 4.5 oz pouch (Banana)
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10 (both)
Nutrition Facts: Mango (4 pieces) – 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 10 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 15 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein. Banana (5 pieces) – 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 10 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar (including 16 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein.