What 3D-Printed Candy Actually Tastes Like

We had volunteers try geometric treats. Here's what they had to say.

A dozen BuzzFeed staff members tried neon sours and geometric peppermints, made using a 3D printer.

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

Candy of the future, or trendy novelty item? Only one way to find out: have a mystery taste test.

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

Initial reactions varied:

"Sour Patch/SweeTarts/Kool-Aid powder mashed in my mouth."

"Reminiscent of diner mints."

"The size was deceiving. I expected to have more candy in my mouth."

"I started frowning pretty much the second it went in my mouth. Whatever that was, it's on a short list of things I don't plan to eat again."

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

The candy was unanimously voted as looking incredibly cool:

"It was beautiful."

"I liked it. 10/10 would eat the sour one again."

"It was one of the coolest-looking candies I've eaten, though I needed confirmation that it was candy."

"I liked how it looked, not so much how it tasted."

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

Everyone guessed sugar correctly, with some interesting variations:

"Pixie Dust."

"A Lifesaver that — somehow — went stale."

"Sugar, maybe with some paper plates mixed in."

(The real ingredients: Sugar, starch, water, natural and artificial flavor and colorants, alcohol [<1% by weight].)

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

The majority were unsure of it as an experience, but some loved it:

"The experience was too short. I needed more."

"It's been like five minutes and I can still taste it. And not really in a good way."

"The initial texture was weird. I liked the sour one, but I think I would destroy my mouth eating tons."

"It wasn't chocolate."

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

The pieces being too small was one of the main critiques:

"I'd make it bigger. One piece feels like a fraction of a piece of candy."

"Add butter, probably. Everything tastes better with butter."

"CHOCOLATE."

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

Most would not treat themselves:

"Depends on how much."

"Probably not, but I would definitely pick some up off a tray of hors d'oeuvres."

But the law of diminishing returns was revoked when it came to gift-giving:

"Yes, because it's pretty and people would be amazed."

"Maybe?"

"Yeah, I might do that."

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

Some were willing to shell the dough. Others, not so much:

"I mean, sure."

"I WOULD SLAP YOU ACROSS THE FACE."

"Nope. Hard pass."

"Hell to the no."

Victor Tatum / BuzzFeed

"Futuristic."

"Novel."

"Bleh."

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

You can buy the 3D confections at The Sugar Lab.