Taste the Rainbow: Discovering Skittles' Exclusive Asian Flavors

Nov 25, 2024by Bokksu Staff

Fans of American candy may have enjoyed Skittles many times, but most of them don’t know that it actually originated in the United Kingdom. Even fewer are aware that the iconic candy brand has customized its flavors for the Asian market. Whichever category you fall into, you’re about to get all of the facts. This guide will unravel the history and impact of Skittles on the global confectionery market, especially Asia.

Colorful skittles candies isolated on a white background

Unwrapping Skittles: A Global Candy Phenomenon

Skittles is a brand of multi-colored fruity candies sold by the Wrigley Company, a subsidiary of American confectionery Mars Inc. A pack of classic Skittles contains several small, round candies shaped like lentils. The candies have a variety of colors, which represent their flavors. Each candy has the letter “S” imprinted on it.

The blend of different colored candies has led to comparisons with the rainbow, a sentiment that the brand often leverages in its advertising and marketing campaigns.

The two mainstream Skittles product series are its candies and gummies. We’ll reveal more about the different features of the two treats later in this post. Skittles are manufactured and sold as distinct flavor collections, such as the following:

Original Fruity: grape, lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry.

Skittles Gummies: Original Fruit Mix

With this yummy original fruit mix pack of Skittles gummies, you can really "Taste the Rainbow!". These China-exclusive soft gummies are made in the following flavors: grape, orange, lemon, strawberry, and green apple. They feature a unique pillowy, airy consistency that will take your sweet-eating to the next level. Add this candy to trail mix for a fun treat.

1.3 oz

Wild Berry: raspberry, melon berry, strawberry, berry punch, and wild cherry.
Tropical: kiwi lime, mango tangelo, strawberry starfruit, and pineapple passion fruit.
Brightside: pink lemonade, watermelon, tangerine, paradise punch, and kiwi banana.
Darkside: black cherry, blood orange, dark berry, midnight lime, and forbidden fruit.

The story of how Skittles began is shrouded in mystery. Nobody knows who invented the candy. What we do know is that it appeared in Britain in 1971. Mars started importing the candies to the U.S. in 1979 after securing a patent for the name “Skittles” about five years earlier. They began to produce it in the U.S. in 1982. Mars' Wrigley absorbed the right to market and distribute the sweets in 2008.

vibrant Skittles candy packs on a supermarket shelf

Skittles would go on to become one of the most famous candy brands in the world, appearing in supermarkets and stores in even the most remote areas.

Exclusive Skittles Flavors Across Asia

There’s a whole different world of Skittles flavors outside of the U.S. In Asia, Mars' Wrigley developed unique flavor collections, seasonal and limited-edition varieties. They are exclusive to their respective countries and difficult to find elsewhere. The following are the most popular Skittles Asian flavors:

Tropical Fruit (China): A burst of exotic fruity flavors from China, this flavor collection offers both sweet and tangy candies with hints of floral notes. The flavors include kiwi, banana, pineapple, and strawberry.

Floral (Japan): This Japan-exclusive treat brings the taste of the seasons to consumers using the flavors of iconic flowers. The floral elements range from spring’s cherry blossoms to other seasonal flowers like rose, jasmine, and lavender.
Fruit Tea (China): This unique, limited-edition variation blends the classic fruity candies with the taste of popular Chinese tea. You get to enjoy combos such as lemon with black tea, peach with Oolong tea, and passion fruit with green tea. Feel free to use it as a topping for ice cream and other desserts.
Floral Fruity Rainbow (China): This is a limited edition variety released for the Chinese market. It blends the taste of flowers like rose and jasmine with fruits such as grape, peach, and lychee.
Yogurt (China): This product is a combination of creamy yogurt flavors with fruity sweetness. It’s a limited-edition variety famous for its tangy and refreshing nature. Flavors include yogurt-infused mango, strawberry, and pineapple smoothies.
Floral Fruit (South Korea): This is South Korea’s version of flower-inspired flavor blends.

Bokksu Market is the ideal place to find the above Asian flavors if you live in the U.S. We regularly update our stock to include unique Skittles from Asia whenever they are available. Check out some of our trending Asian Skittles below:

Skittles Gummies (Juicy Flower and Fruit Flavor): You can get this China-exclusive product on our platform. Eating these juicy and chewy gummies offers you the taste of different fruit and flower combos, including jasmine-lemon, rose-grape, cherry blossom-white peach, and osmanthus-mango.

Skittles Rainbow Lollipops (Fruit Tea): This unique candy contains coloful lollipops shaped like tea cups. You get to enjoy flavors like elderberry green apple tea, acerola cherry white tea, and kumquat lemon tea. It’s a limited-edition snack so get it while you can.
Skittles Rainbow Lollipops (Mixed Fruit): This time, the fun and colorful tea cups come with a burst of mixed fruit flavors, from passion fruit mango to cantaloupe. It’s a favorite among sweet lovers in China who prefer to lick their candy rather than chew it.

Skittles Rainbow Lollipops: Mixed Fruit

Take your Skittles snacking to the next level with these mixed fruit rainbow lollipops. They're made to look like adorable smoothie cups for a fun eating experience. These candies even come in exciting, swirling colors. Each pack has five lollipops in the following fruity flavors: sea salt pineapple, passion fruit mango, and cantaloupe.

1.9 oz

The Science of Skittles: How Flavors are Developed

Skittles are made through an industrial process known as “panning.” It starts with the mixing of sugar, water, and corn syrup in a large container. The mixture is heated until the sugar syrup reaches a specific temperature. The next step involves adding natural and artificial flavors to the syrup. This stage also includes the addition of vibrant colors. The resulting mixture is transferred to a large rotating drum where panning takes place.

Panning is the process of rotating the candy mixture in a drum (also called a pan) and simultaneously coating it with layers of sugar. The sugar creates the hard shell that encases Skittles candy. After panning, the candies are shaped to their final small and round form before they are allowed to cool.

The final process involves polishing the candies with cornstarch to make them shiny. A machine sorts them by color before they’re packaged into their respective containers, where they remain until the final consumer opens them.

After production, Skittles utilizes color psychology in its marketing strategies to enhance consumer experience and brand recognition. The brand’s favorite slogan is “Taste the Rainbow,” which suggests that each color is a different flavor of the rainbow. There has been an ongoing debate about whether or not all Skittles flavors are the same. The argument is that our brains trick us into thinking they taste different because of the varying colors. Under close consideration, there may be some truth to this argument.

Modern humans have been conditioned to associate colors with tastes. For example, green with apple, yellow with lemon, and red with strawberry. Taste tests have revealed that Skittles does leverage this effect in its marketing, but only to a reasonable degree. The different colored candies actually do have different tastes, but these flavors are enhanced with the help of color psychology and the use of distinct fragrances. So when the brand advertises green Skittle as apple or lime flavor, they really mean it!

Skittles Gummies vs. Classic Skittles: A Textural Comparison

The Skittles brand has evolved over the decades to include a newer version known as “Skittles Gummies.” While both traditional Skittles and gummies versions have similarities, such as their small size, color combinations, and varied flavors, the two products also have several differences.

The major difference between traditional Skittles and the newer gummies version is their textures. Gummies are much softer and are designed to maximize chewability. Their flavors are also simple, unlike the hard candy Skittles that favor unorthodox flavors. People with teeth problems seem to prefer the softer gummies to the hard candies and a lot of fans have voiced their delight about having a new perspective on the iconic brand.

Cultural Adaptations: Skittles in Asian Traditions

In Asia, people of all ages and social status enjoy Skittles as a snack or as toppings for desserts. Countries like Japan, with a tradition of offering snacks as gifts, now give Skittles to friends and family. The colorful and aromatic candies also serve as festive decorations and treats during Asian celebrations.

Limited-edition flavors and packaging that captivate fans worldwide don’t always have to end up in a stomach. Fans of the brand often collect these rare finds as hobbies. Some of them simply brag about their impressive collections or sell them for higher prices at online markets after they become impossible to find. Some of the rarest Skittles are limited-edition Asian flavors. Examples of rare Skittles that will make a collector’s year are Pink Minion (China), Blue Minion (China), and All Lime.

Skittles in Pop Culture: From Commercials to Social Media

Did you know that Skittles was named after a sports game of the same name because the candies resembled some of the in-play items? The brand has played a major role in pop culture right from the start.

The Skittles company leverages viral moments in social media where possible. In 2009, they updated their official website to include an overlay where people could view their different social media channels. In 2018, they launched a viral Super Bowl commercial on Facebook Live, which was only watched by one person while the rest of the audience viewed his reactions.

The company has publicly voiced its support for the LGBTQ community, including temporarily selling all-white candy colors in the U.S. as a show of support for Pride Month.

Where to Find Exclusive Skittles Flavors

You can find exclusive Skittles flavors in Asia at big supermarkets in major cities. The larger the supermarket, the more varieties you will find. This gives you the best chance of finding unique flavors. If you live outside Asia, you can still get your hands on Asian Skittles thanks to platforms like Bokksu Market and other retailers that specialize in Asian snacks.

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