What happens when four friends, two from South Africa and two from Amsterdam, come together with one shared mission: to decide once and for all which wine gums are the best? You get eight days of sweet indulgence, lively debates, and plenty of laughs. Wine gums, the colorful, chewy, firm candies that originated in the UK, have become a favorite in both South Africa and the Netherlands, and these friends were determined to crown a champion.
Our competition had a lineup of 10 brands, six hailing from South Africa and four from the Netherlands. The brands were:
We weren’t just munching away aimlessly. We took this task seriously, judging each wine gum on texture, color, flavor, and the overall experience. Armed with glasses of water to cleanse our palates, we paired up two brands each night, sending one into the next round until only the best remained.
Night after night, we gathered around the table, tasting, laughing, and (inevitably) disagreeing. Funny enough, it was the guys who tended to clash with us ladies when it came to the winners, but no couple ever disagreed on who should progress. The experience wasn’t just about the candy; it became a nightly tradition of good conversation and friendly competition. Wine gums may have been the centerpiece, but the joy of sharing the experience made it even sweeter.
After eight days of candy battles, we had our top three.
As for the other contenders? Unfortunately, some of them didn’t score so well. A few had an unpleasant waxy texture, and others tasted overly artificial. But it was all in good fun, and none of us minded making our way through the variety.
This experience wasn’t just about finding the best wine gum. It was about friends from different continents coming together over a shared love of sweets. The laughter, the debates, and the joy of discovery made the competition even more memorable. And don’t worry, we’re far from done—there’s a whole world of wine gums left to explore!
As one of the founders of LingoHut and a longtime wine gum fan, I can’t wait for our next adventure in candy tasting. Wine gums have a special place in my heart, and this friendly competition was just the beginning.
Whether you prefer the chewy, fruity delight from South Africa or the slightly softer touch from the Netherlands, one thing’s certain—wine gums are a candy worth celebrating!