Sour Patch Kids were originally branded under the space-themed name Mars Men. The candy was created in the early 1970s by confectioner Frank Galatolie while he was working at Jaret International.
The original name reflected the era’s fascination with space exploration and science-fiction imagery. The candies were shaped as small figures, and the Mars Men branding gave them a distinctly cosmic identity. They were produced in Canada before the brand name later changed to Sour Patch Kids.
In the late 1970s, Cadbury and the Malaco Licorice Company formed the Allen Candy Company in Hamilton, Ontario, to produce the candy. During the mid-1980s, the Mars Men name was replaced with Sour Patch Kids, a title that emphasized the candy’s sour coating and childlike shape.
The candy’s taste comes from a combination of sour acids and sugar. Citric acid and tartaric acid provide the sharp sour sensation, while invert sugar contributes to the soft, sweet finish. Mondelez International now owns the brand.