Which Sour Sweet Belts Actually Deserve a Place in Your Pick n Mix?

There are few pleasures in life quite as specific and satisfying as peeling apart a strip of sour sweet belt — that soft, ribbon-like chewiness, that hit of tang so sharp it threatens to singe the back of your eyeballs, and the inevitable dusting of sugar down your shirt that tells the world you’ve been caught mid-sweet bender.

We’ve sampled many over the years — Bebeto’s 2kg Rainbow Belts have kept us going through long meetings, and Sweetzone’s Fizzy Cola Belts have proven themselves a Halal-friendly icon — but this week, a new contender has entered the ring with the confidence of a teenager on their second energy drink: Candy Paradise.

Candy Paradise Sour Belts – Four New Flavours, All Banging

We tasted them all — not out of obligation, but sheer enthusiasm — and we’re pleased to report: these belts do not mess about.

Bubblegum Sour Belts

Let’s start with the one that punched us in the taste buds: bubblegum. Often a risky choice in confectionery (too synthetic, too pink, too ‘bath bomb’), Candy Paradise has absolutely nailed it. Think retro bubblegum machine, bright blue-and-pink stripes, and a sour finish that zings rather than stings. Frankly, we couldn’t stop eating them, even while writing this sentence. Glorious.

Green Apple Sour Belts

Sharp. Tart. Addictive. Like biting into a Granny Smith with a sugar-fuelled vengeance. The green apple belts don’t hold back — they’re less “gentle orchard fruit” and more “apple slapped with a sherbet mallet.” Absolutely the one to reach for if you love sweets that make your cheeks ache in the best way.

Pink Lemonade Sour Belts

Sweet, zesty, with just a hint of nostalgia. These belts taste like your favourite summer drink — if that drink came with a kick. The pink lemonade belts are surprisingly refined for something so bright. A crowd-pleaser that will fly out of any pick n mix stand, especially in warm weather. Or in the British version of it (14°C and muggy).

Rainbow Sour Belts

Of course, Candy Paradise couldn’t skip the rainbow — and theirs is excellent. A perfect balance of colour and fruitiness, with a sour layer that doesn’t overpower the flavour. Compared to others on the market, these belts are a touch softer, more fragrant, and easier on the jaw — ideal if you plan to eat six in a row without remorse. Which we did.

The Established Greats – Still Holding Their Own

Now, we’re not in the business of sugarcoating. Just because something’s new doesn’t mean it trounces the old. There are some absolute belters (pun fully intended) that still deserve their place on the sweet shelf.

Candycrave Sour Rainbow Belts Tub

Reliable. Recognisable. Retail-ready. Candycrave’s rainbow belts come in a tub of 100, making them a strong contender for resellers, market traders, and anyone building a sweet table on a budget. They’ve got great visual appeal and a decent sour bite, though side-by-side with Candy Paradise, they lack a little boldness in flavour. Still, you’d be foolish to write them off.

Bebeto Rainbow Belts – 2kg

If you’re going by sheer volume and value, Bebeto remains a powerhouse. The 2kg bag is designed for people who don’t mess about. The belts are thinner, firmer, and a touch more restrained on the sourness — ideal for mixing into gift bags or chopping up into mini snack packs. They may not have the wow-factor of Candy Paradise’s designs, but they deliver consistency in spades.

Vidal Sour Rainbow Belts

Vidal knows sweets — and these belts are no exception. The sour sugar coating is coarse, the chew is dense, and the colours are vibrant enough to stop a toddler mid-tantrum. A strong all-rounder. You can see why they’ve become a wholesale favourite — just enough punch to satisfy without scaring off the casual shopper.

Sweetzone Fizzy Cola Belts (Halal)

We’ll say it straight: fizzy cola is a tricky flavour to get right. Sweetzone, to their credit, has absolutely nailed it. This belt delivers exactly what it promises — a tangy, fizzy, unmistakably cola-flavoured ribbon that also happens to be Halal. It’s a smart addition to any inclusive sweet counter, and still one of our most-requested belts by retailers and party planners alike.

The Verdict: Who Takes the Belt Belt?

If you’re stocking up for resale, TikTok packaging videos, sweet stands, or party packs, we think the new Candy Paradise belts have brought the kind of energy the market’s been missing. Bubblegum and Pink Lemonade are standouts. Green Apple is a tastebud workout. And the Rainbow? A top-tier classic, made even better.

The old favourites still hold their own — Candycrave and Bebeto remain workhorses for bulk setups, while Sweetzone and Vidal balance quality with versatility. But Candy Paradise? They’ve raised the bar — or stretched the belt, if you like.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to finish the remaining packs… purely for research, of course.