Candy Poll: Black Licorice Draws 34.7% of Halloween Dislikes

Patch asked readers a simple question in the days before Halloween: which candy do you hope never shows up in your bag? Black licorice took 34.7% of the vote, or 560 of 1,614 responses. Candy corn came next at 19.9%, a figure representing 321 readers. Red Hots drew 9.2%, Almond Joy 7.5%, bubblegum 7.3%, Smarties 6.2%, and Dots 5.5%. Tootsie Rolls collected 2.9% and jellybeans 2.4%. Another 4.6% of votes went to an "Other" option.

One reader who rejected black licorice offered a blunt explanation for the distaste: "Why was that invented?" Readers who commented on the survey cited texture and ingredient choices as reasons for their answers. Several objected to Almond Joy because it contains coconut. Others said Tootsie Rolls, Smarties, and Red Hots were not for them. Some said they wanted no gummy candy at all, while others asked for chocolate to stay out of their bags.

One candy absent from the list of choices still drew comment from respondents. Brach's Peanut Butter Kisses, wrapped in black and orange, drew objections over their molasses and peanut butter flavor and the toughness of the candy itself. The survey also recorded complaints about Circus Peanuts and Dots, which readers described as rubbery and artificial in taste.

Candy corn and black licorice drew criticism for their waxy texture and the split they create among eaters. Instacart purchase data cited in connection with the survey showed Kit Kats as a favorite in Illinois, while Reese's Peanut Butter Cups lead nationally. Peanut butter itself is a dividing line: some readers named it as the reason they avoid certain chocolates.