How do they make Jolly Ranchers taste like a certain flavor?

Jolly Ranchers, like most candies, achieve their flavor through a combination of ingredients and processes:

1. Base Ingredients:

* Sugar: The primary component of Jolly Ranchers, providing sweetness and structure.

* Corn Syrup: Adds moisture and chewiness to the candy.

* Citric Acid: Provides a tartness that complements the sweetness.

* Natural and Artificial Flavorings: These are the key to the specific taste.

2. Flavoring Process:

* Flavor Extracts: Natural flavorings come from fruits, spices, and other natural sources. These extracts are concentrated oils or essences that contain volatile compounds that create the desired flavor profile.

* Artificial Flavorings: These are synthetic compounds that mimic the taste and smell of natural flavors. They are often used to create specific flavors that are difficult or expensive to obtain naturally.

3. Manufacturing Process:

* Flavor Blending: The flavorings are carefully blended with the other ingredients in precise proportions to achieve the desired taste intensity.

* Cooking and Mixing: The ingredients are heated and mixed until they reach the correct consistency.

* Molding and Cooling: The hot candy mixture is poured into molds, where it cools and solidifies into the iconic Jolly Rancher shapes.

Specific Flavor Examples:

* Cherry: Natural and artificial cherry flavorings are used to create the classic cherry flavor.

* Watermelon: Watermelon flavor is often created using a blend of artificial watermelon and other fruit flavors.

* Blue Raspberry: Blue raspberry flavor is typically made with artificial blue raspberry flavoring, as there isn't a naturally occurring blue raspberry flavor.

It's important to note: The specific ingredients and proportions used in Jolly Ranchers are proprietary information, so the exact details are not publicly available.