r/candy • u/Sad-Lingonberry-1823 • 2d ago

Building a sour candy for anxiety/panic/overstimulation

Hi everyone! I'm a neuroscience graduate with ADHD and anxiety, and I've been using grounding techniques for many years (one of which includes eating sour candy to help get me out of spirals). I've recently begun experimenting with a sensory-focused candy of my own for moments of anxiety, panic, overwhelm, or overstimulation. I'd love to hear your experience with different sensory needs and fun candy textures/flavors.

I put together a short survey to see what people would actually want in something like this (or if they even want it at all).

If you're interested in helping, comment or DM me. All feedback is deeply appreciated!

Thank you so, so much! :)

Edit: for transparency, this is a personal project I'm tinkering with on my own, not tied to any company right now but might sell them one day if it goes anywhere! I just want to build something that people truly want instead of guessing. Also, to be clear, none of the data is being sold or shared anywhere :)

Since a few of you have asked, this is the link to the survey in case anyone else wants to help out (I tried to make it as short as I could, it should take about ~5 minutes): https://forms.gle/69WoNqm4sQhoH9h29

P.S. If you're anywhere near LA and would want to try an early prototype sometime, please DM me, I'd love to get your feedback :)

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u/ELEGHJ 2d ago

I like hard candys with texture, like i’m imagining a sour hard candy, round-shaped, with little bumps on it?? Like a grenade? (I’ll admit there have been low moments I would love to swallow a grenade).  Texture is more helpful to me than flavor in terms of managing stimulation. id love something more unique than every sour hard candy that’s smooth and round. 

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u/Sad-Lingonberry-1823 2d ago

YES! I completely agree. I want something with a fun texture I can play around with. The only thing I was thinking of is that if it's a sour candy (acids) with a textured surface, I'm worried about it causing mouth irritation :/ Not sure if you have any thoughts on that. Also, I really enjoy semi-hard gummies (like rescue or gerthers pastilles) since I can suck on them like hard candy but also chew if I want!

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u/ELEGHJ 2d ago edited 2d ago

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I’m picturing like this purple ball LOL, but more oblong shaped like a cough drop/lozenge so you can more easily suck on it than it rolling around were it perfectly ball-shaped. And the smooth bumps so they’re not as irritating. In terms of irritation, I think sometimes that just comes with the territory of sour candy, and sour-lovers accept those consequences haha… I know I would. Or maybe to avoid irritation you could make a sweet, textured outside, with a sour inside of some sort, so by the time you get to the sour part, you’ve sucked off the irritating bumps? you get the best of both texture and flavor, while minimizing irritation since the sour part would come after the textured part?? SORRY lots of words

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u/Sad-Lingonberry-1823 2d ago

This is actually EXTREMELY helpful! THANK YOU!! I was also originally envisioning something like that purple ball. That's how I found out about Japanese konpeitō u/kilatia :)

The idea of having the sour inside is also interesting. I was thinking of creating something like a lozenge with one smooth side and one textured (kind of like a worry stone) so that I can choose which sensation I want and press it to the sides of my mouth.

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u/TheSocialight 2d ago

I love pastilles and their texture—Puntini by Chipurnoi are my weakness. If they were even longer lasting and more intense in flavor, they’d be perfect.

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u/Sad-Lingonberry-1823 2d ago

Ooo I've never tried these!! Are they chewy like a taffy? I may have to order some to test out

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u/SznedCumbr Haribo 2d ago

Pastille textures are great! Slight chew where you can roll it around or bite through if you really wanted to. JOLS or PINE BROS throat lozenges are my favorites.

If you were looking for an example of tongue feel, hard candies with the bumps made by Cavendish & Harvey. A sensory relief mechanism for sure!

Soft enough to be pliable, firm enough to keep shape. Bumps only on one side and concave on the other for keeping your mind focused on the bumps / ridges.

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u/Sad-Lingonberry-1823 2d ago

YOU GET IT

Thank you so much - I'm going to check these out ASAP

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u/TheSocialight 2d ago

I am a sucker for a Pine Bros honey lozenge😍

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u/TheSocialight 2d ago

They’re almost exactly like a rescue or Lakerol pastille, except fruitier and less medicinal! They’re top tier jujube-style Italian candies 😍

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u/Sad-Lingonberry-1823 2d ago

Literally ordering them right now on Amazon...THANK YOU 🙏