Summary
Overview
This Halloween-themed episode of The Daily explores how Americans celebrate Halloween in 2026, examining three key aspects: the evolution of candy preferences toward sour and fruity flavors, the most distinctly 2026 costume trends, and the phenomenon of elaborate Halloween decorations, particularly the viral 12-foot Home Depot skeleton.
The Changing Landscape of Halloween Candy
Food writer Kim Severson guides host Rachel Abrams through a tasting of the latest candy trends, revealing a significant shift away from traditional chocolate toward sour, fruity, and texture-varied candies. The Nerds Gummy Cluster has emerged as a viral sensation after Kylie Jenner posted about it in 2021, while Gen Z's preference for "swangy and swavery" (sweet-tangy and sweet-savory) flavor combinations is reshaping the candy market. Rising cocoa prices due to West African crop failures have pushed chocolate candy prices up 15-20%, making non-chocolate options increasingly attractive to both consumers and candy distributors.
- M&M's ranked as the number one Halloween candy, with Sour Patch Kids surprisingly coming in at number two
- Non-chocolate candies are rising in popularity, particularly among Gen Zers who prefer acid, sweet, sour, and bitter flavor mashups
- The Nerds Gummy Cluster became a viral sensation after Kylie Jenner posted about it in 2021
- Candy prices have increased approximately 8% year-over-year, more than twice the rate of inflation
- Chocolate prices specifically have risen 15-20% due to heat waves and crop diseases in West Africa, where 60% of the world's cacao is harvested
" The food marketers have deemed them the swangy and swavery generation. Swangy, you know, sweet and tangy and swavery, sweet and savory. "
" There's something called sour tape, which is like a long piece of candy tape that is like a Sour Patch Kid, and they see how fast people can eat it. That's the sour tape challenge. "
" There's also some academics who will argue that a lot of the Gen Zers love sour flavors because it helps with their anxiety, that idea that it kind of gives you something to focus on besides your anxiety. "
Gen Z Candy Preferences and Sour Candy Trends
A significant generational shift in candy preferences reveals Gen Z's attraction to extreme sour flavors and complex taste combinations. Internet challenges like the sour tape challenge have popularized ultra-sour candies, while nostalgic millennials return to childhood favorites like Cry Baby. Some academics suggest that sour flavors help Gen Z manage anxiety by providing an intense sensory focus, representing an interesting intersection of food psychology and generational stress.
- Millennials experiencing nostalgia for childhood candies like Cry Baby from the 1990s as they navigate adulting
- Internet trend of sour candy contests and challenges, including the sour tape challenge where people race to eat long strips of sour candy
- Academic theory suggests Gen Z's preference for sour flavors may help manage anxiety by providing intense sensory focus
- Bubble gum experiencing a resurgence as part of nostalgic candy trends
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