Skittles have been one of the best-selling sweets in the UK for decades, and for good reason. Small, chewy, intensely fruity and available in enough flavour variations to keep things interesting. If you have ever stood in a shop trying to work out which bag to go for, or wondered what the actual difference is between Original and Wild Berry, this is the full breakdown.
What are Skittles?
Skittles are small, round chewy sweets with a hard sugar shell. Each sweet has a fruit flavour coated in a crisp outer layer that gives way to a softer, chewy centre. They are made by Mars Wrigley and have been sold in the UK since the 1970s, originally arriving from the United States where they launched in 1974.
The ‘S’ on each sweet is probably the most recognisable logo in the confectionery world outside of Cadbury’s purple. The rainbow branding has been consistent for decades, with the “Taste the Rainbow” slogan one of the most recognisable in advertising.
The Skittles flavour ranges in the UK
The UK market has a solid range of Skittles varieties, though not all are available at all times or in all formats. Here is what the current range looks like.
Original is the classic. Five flavours in one bag: strawberry, lemon, orange, green apple and grape. The green sweet changed from lime to green apple in 2013, a move that caused more outrage than most actual news events that year. Some people still have not forgiven it. Either way, Original is the one to go for if you want the full rainbow experience or are buying for a mixed crowd.
Sour takes the Original five flavours and adds a sharp sour coating to each sweet. The first chew hits differently to a regular Skittle, with a tartness that fades into the fruit flavour underneath. These are genuinely sour rather than just slightly sharp, which makes them popular with people who find regular Skittles a bit sweet. They are also one of the most requested Skittles varieties for pick n mix and party bags.
Tropical swaps the standard fruit flavours for a more exotic mix: mango, banana, pineapple, passion fruit and kiwi. The flavours are less sharp than Original and work well for anyone who finds the grape and apple combination a bit much. Tropical tends to divide opinion more than the other varieties but has a loyal following.
Wild Berry was mentioned as the most popular flavour at various points in the UK market, featuring berry-forward flavours rather than the citrus-heavy Original lineup. The exact flavours in the mix vary slightly by market, but typically include strawberry, wild cherry, melon berry and raspberry.
Skittles Crazy Sours is an even more intensely sour version than the standard Sour variety, designed to push the tartness further. These come up occasionally as limited editions and are worth stocking if they appear in the range.
Bag sizes available in the UK
Skittles come in several formats depending on where you buy them.
The standard small bag (around 45g to 55g) is the everyday snack format, sold individually in most supermarkets and corner shops. These are fine for one person but expensive per gram.
Medium sharing bags (around 152g to 196g) are the most common format for buying in a supermarket to share or to last a few sittings.
The bulk bag format is where the real value sits. A 1.6kg bulk bag of Original Skittles is the right option for events, a sweet jar, a pick n mix setup, or anywhere you want a proper supply without constantly restocking. At 1.6kg you are getting roughly the equivalent of ten standard sharing bags in one.
Which Skittles are best for parties and events
For party bags, the small individual packs work well if you can source them in bulk. For sweet tables, sweet jars and pick n mix setups, the bulk bag format is the only sensible option. A 1.6kg bag of Original fills a decent-sized jar and gives you enough to keep topping it up throughout an event.
Skittles hold up well in sweet bowls because they do not melt or stick together at room temperature the way some chocolate-coated sweets can. That makes them one of the more practical choices for events where the sweets might be sitting out for a few hours.
You can pick up the Skittles Original 1.6kg bulk bag at One Pound Sweets. If you are building a wider pick n mix selection around them, the pick n mix category has plenty of fruity sweets that work well alongside Skittles in a bowl or jar.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Skittles in the UK