Now That’s a Spicy Candy Cane Thanks to Sriracha

I’m all about Jolly Rancher and Cinnabon candy canes and pretty much any flavor other than peppermint. But candy cane flavors don’t always have to be super sweet. In the case of these Sriracha candy canes, they’re really spicy. That’s right, somebody decided Christmas needed more hot sauce. FINALLY!

The spicy holiday treats came from J&D’s Foods, the novelty food company responsible for such culinary masterpieces as Baconnaise, bacon soda, and Sriracha popcorn. Apparently they looked at a perfectly innocent candy cane and thought, “You know what this needs? FIRE.”

Sriracha Candy Canes: Sweet, Spicy, and Slightly Ridiculous

Originally introduced for Christmas 2013, J&D’s Sriracha Candy Canes looked suspiciously like ordinary holiday candy. They had the familiar hooked shape and festive red, white, and green stripes. But instead of that awful peppermint flavor, they packed a chili-inspired kick.

Each box contained 12 individually wrapped candy canes and originally sold for $7.99. That’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to turn your mouth into a festive little volcano. Or a lot to pay for candy that actively attacks your tongue. Depends on your priorities, I guess.

And if you’re wondering whether these things actually tasted like Sriracha, the answer is complicated. A contemporary review described them as starting out sweet before developing a growing chili burn. Apparently the candy didn’t really capture the garlic-heavy flavor of the famous hot sauce, but it did deliver the heat.

Which sounds like an improvement over peppermint to me. Then again, so does chewing on a Christmas tree ornament.

What Do You Do With Spicy Candy Canes?

Besides terrifying your taste buds, J&D’s suggested crushing the spicy candy canes over ice cream or using them as stirrers for holiday drinks. Nothing says Christmas quite like a frozen dessert covered in chili-flavored candy shards. Move over, sprinkles. Your services are no longer required.

Of course, if you’re not actually a fan of sucking on hot candy, you could always offer these to your spice-loving friends. They look enough like regular peppermint candy canes to make for a pretty convincing holiday surprise. Just tell people what they’re getting before they take a bite. Nobody needs an unexpected mouthful of hot peppers at the office Christmas party.

Still, I appreciate a company willing to take a perfectly normal Christmas tradition and make it completely ridiculous. Between Sriracha candy canes and all the other bizarre holiday flavors out there, peppermint is finally getting some competition.

And honestly? Everybody wins. Except peppermint. Peppermint is disgusting.