It's official; we are a nation of sweet lovers! In fact, the UK confectionery market is estimated to be worth more than £12 million in 2024. From chocolate to chewing gum, there are many options that can be chosen to get a sweet fix when it's needed. One form of confectionary that is rapidly becoming the go-to option for many people is candied fruits.
Globally, the candied fruit market is growing, and it is predicted to be worth around £637 million by 2032. With a wide variety of crystallised fruits available to enjoy as a snack or within a baked good, the market is bursting at the seams with different options to select from. With their sugar-coated outsides and jelly-like middles, the appeal is undeniable, but what do these treats actually taste like?
In this article, we will answer that very question by taking you on a mouth-watering journey into the world of candied fruits. To find out more and to get your taste-buds engaged with the wonders of candied fruit, keep reading.
A wide variety of fruits and even vegetables can be candied because the process essentially preserves fresh ingredients. When it comes to the flavour, just like any fresh fruit, each has a distinct flavour. The process of making candied fruits involves drying them out and adding sugar syrup to keep them fresher for longer. This gives the fruit a sweeter taste, meaning that even sour flavours, like lemons or limes, can be sweetened up after the process to be perfectly palettable. Candied fruit then usually has a rough sugar coating applied to ensure it has a perfectly sweetened finish.
Because of the combination with sugar syrup, fruits take on a candy-like flavour which is similar to sweets and bon bon’s. The type of sugar will make an impact on the flavour. For example, if it is left to cook for longer a deeper caramel-like flavour can be experienced. However, light syrups offer a subtle sweetness. Both options enhance the flavour of the fruit that has been candied to give it an irresistible finish.
Texture wise, candied fruit is slightly chewy as the drying out process removes any moisture which could have made an item crunchy or soft. This offers a lovely contrast to the crunch sugar coating which results in a party of textures that many people love. This is the reason that candied fruit is ideal to use within baking as the ingredient can retain its texture even when heated or moved around alot.
Another question that commonly arises when discussing the flavour of candied fruit is if it’s the same as Tanghulu. This Asian snack has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years after a surge of interest on social media platform TikTok. Many people at home are recreating this crunchy snack and referring to it as candied fruits leading to some understandable confusion. We are here to clear things up!
Traditional candied fruit is dried out, soaks in sugar syrup and coated in crystallised sugar. Tanghulu is different as its a the process of dipping fresh fruit, most commonly strawberries and grapes, into hot sugar syrup to create a crunchy coating. This is then dipped into an ice-bath and left to harden for consumption immediately. The result is still a fresh fruit item but with a sugar outer layer.
Both options are tasty; there is no denying that. However, candied fruit is a long-lasting snack that is suitable for lots more fruits than Tanghulu is. It can also be stored away and even used in baking thanks to its hard finish.
When you consider what fruits can be candied (spoiler, it’s a lot) it will come as no surprise that there are many different flavour notes that can be achieved with candied fruits.
Some items that have stronger flavours originally, such as citrus fruits or even ginger, will have a more defined taste even after the candy process. However, you will be surprised at how intense all flavours can become after the drying-out process. Even fruits that have more subtle flavours normally, like gold cherries, can take on a whole new set of flavour notes.
There is science behind this. Sugar includes a component that can interact with different minerals and components of fruit to unlock new flavour notes. For candied fruits, this change is undeniable as each batch of fruit takes on a vibrant new form, making them delicious snacks and treats that all ages can enjoy.
One of the major pluses of candied fruits is the brilliant taste, which you should now have a better idea of what that is like. However, there are also lots of other reasons that these sweet treats are great to have in the pantry.
If you are wondering what to do with candied fruits or looking to understand more about them, check out these points.
Candied fruits are of course classed as a confectionary item but that doesn’t mean they completely lack nutrition. In fact, thanks to the preservation phases of the process they retain a good level of vitamins and nutrients. Some products are not finished with the sugar coating which are looked at as healthier treats.
If you have ever wanted to know how long candied fruits last, you may be shocked to know that the answer is 1-2 years! This is the case if items have been unopened, but they can still last a good amount of time even once the seal has been popped. The long life is achieved as sugar binds water within food items. This is the element of an item that would cause rot and mould to develop. However, as sugar has essentially combined the construction of the item together, it means there is no room for any unwanted bacteria to expand.
Candied fruit is also perfect to use for baking as it retains its taste and structure even when cooked for a long period of time. It also adds a great hit of flavour without saturating an item with moisture as it’s already been dried out meaning the perfect texture for any baked treat can be achieved. Some of the most popular items for this are candied ginger pieces, cherries, oranges and lemon rind. They are most commonly found in recipes such as Christmas cake or pastries.
Finally, another benefit of enjoying candied fruits is that previously unpalatable flavours can be made enjoyable. From turning sour citron peel to a sweet delight or removing the hereby flavour from candied angelica the process works wonders for a range of fresh foods.
Candied fruits are a lovely way to enjoy fruits and sweet treats together. Whether you are shopping for a thoughtful gift, need some ingredients for baking or are just looking for something you can sprinkle over your morning porridge, we have a candied fruit product for your needs!
All of our candied fruits have been expertly processed to ensure the ideal crunch is achieved with every mouthful. We also only use top-grade fresh produce as, from our experience, this lends itself to a tastier end product. Our collection offers everything from candied orange and lemon slices to gem-like mixed cherries, ensuring you can shop for anything you need with ease. We also offer different-sized containers, which is ideal as our customers range from household candied-fruit lovers to commercial food companies.
Candied fruit has a sweet and mouth-watering taste that can be enjoyed in many ways by all different ages. To experience the flavour explosion for yourself, shop our candied fruit collection now.
