Last Updated on May 19, 2026 by Brian Kachejian
Feature Photo and design by Brian Kachejian
Most people immediately think about Goldbears when they hear the name Haribo. Those little gummy bears helped turn Haribo into one of the biggest candy brands in the world. But once you move beyond Goldbears, the Haribo lineup becomes much stranger, more creative, and honestly a lot more interesting.
This taste test focused entirely on Haribo gummies outside the Goldbear family. No tiny bears this time. Instead, we entered the weird and wonderful world of cola bottles, gummy frogs, berry-shaped candies, watermelon slices, fruit salad gummies, and soft cloud-style gummies with completely different textures and flavors.
Some were surprisingly great.
One was absolutely terrible.
And one may actually be the best Haribo candy I have tasted so far.
Haribo’s history stretches back to 1920 when Hans Riegel founded the company in Bonn, Germany. The name HARIBO itself comes from “Hans Riegel Bonn.” Over the decades, the company became one of the world’s most recognizable candy brands, especially after the introduction of Goldbears, the gummy bears that helped define the category worldwide.
But while Goldbears remain Haribo’s flagship product, the company’s larger candy lineup goes far beyond gummy bears. Haribo produces dozens of different shapes, flavors, textures, and candy styles that often feel completely different from the classic Goldbear experience.
That is what made this ranking so much fun.
Unlike my previous Goldbears review, which focused mainly on flavor variations inside one gummy bear format, this review explored entirely different Haribo candy concepts. Some were soft and fluffy; others were chewy and tough; and some combined crunchy candy shells with gummy interiors. The textures varied wildly from one product to the next, making this feel more like a full candy universe than just another gummy bear ranking.
Germany consumes more candy per person than almost any other country in Europe, and after tasting some of these Haribo products, it becomes easy to see why.
In the video below, I rank several Haribo gummy flavors beyond Goldbears to determine which one truly deserves the crown.
Fruit Salad Review
We started with Fruit Salad, and this immediately felt like a strong opening contender.
The gummies carried a very enjoyable chewiness without becoming too hard or rubbery. One of the best things about this candy was the variety of fruit flavors mixed together inside the bag.
The lemon-shaped gummies stood out in particular because they delivered a bright citrus flavor without becoming overly sour.
Fruit Salad earned a very respectable 7.5 out of 10.
Cola Review
The Cola gummies introduced a completely different texture.
These were much tougher and chewier than Fruit Salad. Honestly, they felt hard enough that you almost had to be careful chewing them.
The cola flavor itself was fairly mild and did not explode with soda flavor the way some cola candies do.
Still, the candy remained decent overall.
Haribo Cola earned a 6 out of 10.
Berry Clouds Review
Berry Clouds immediately stood out for its softer texture.
Unlike the firmer gummies earlier in the ranking, these almost felt soft and airy with a texture that occasionally resembled bubble gum.
The mixed berry flavors, including blueberry, wildberry, and strawberry, worked extremely well together. This candy felt playful, colorful, and very easy to keep eating.
Berry Clouds moved into first place with a strong 8 out of 10.
Frogs Review
Then disaster struck.
The Frogs gummies did not work at all for me. The texture and flavor combination completely fell apart, leading to one of the few moments in these candy rankings where I actually had to spit the candy out.
This one simply was not happening.
Haribo Frogs received a brutal 1 out of 10.
Berries Review
Everything changed once the Haribo Berries arrived.
These candies immediately stood out for the crunchy coating surrounding the chewy gummy interior. The raspberry and blackberry flavors exploded with both sweetness and texture at once.
This combination of crunch and chewiness created one of the most addictive candy textures in the entire Haribo lineup.
The flavor absolutely rocked.
Haribo Berries earned the first perfect score of the ranking with a massive 10 out of 10.
Watermelon Review
The final contestant brought one more strong performance.
Haribo Watermelon delivered a fantastic watermelon flavor along with a very satisfying gummy texture. The candy looked appealing immediately after opening the bag, and the flavor absolutely backed it up.
This came extremely close to beating Berries.
Haribo Watermelon scored a near perfect 9.9 out of 10.
Final Rankings
# 6 – Frogs, 1 out of 10
# 5 – Cola, 6 out of 10
# 4 – Fruit Salad, 7.5 out of 10
# 3 – Berry Clouds, 8 out of 10
# 2 – Watermelon, 9.9 out of 10
# 1 – Berries, 10 out of 10
Winner
Haribo Berries
The crunchy candy shell combined with the chewy gummy center created the most unique and addictive texture of the entire taste test.
Conclusion
This ranking proved something important about Haribo.
The company is far more interesting once you move beyond Goldbears.
While the gummy bears may remain the company’s most iconic product, some of Haribo’s most creative ideas are hiding inside these lesser known bags filled with unusual textures, shapes, and flavor combinations.
And based on this taste test, Haribo Berries may honestly be one of the best gummy candies the company has ever made.
If you enjoyed this Haribo ranking, make sure to also check out my previous review ranking the best Haribo Goldbears flavors, along with my growing collection of candy taste tests and nostalgic snack reviews here on RockinFoodie.com.
