Some of life’s mysteries can’t be explained, but the mystery behind Dum Dums’ mystery flavor ― and why it’s so hard to pinpoint ― has finally been solved.
Dum Dums’ mystery flavor, which is indicated with a purple wrapper covered in question marks, is not a surprise fruit flavor, but really just a genius idea born out of a candy company’s need to save time and maximize profits.
Rather than stop the lollipop machines to clean out a flavor while transitioning from one to the next, Spangler Candy Company just continues running the machines to create a new combo flavor. That means some lollipops have a mixture of two different flavors ― and those are the lollipops that are labeled as “mystery.”
Our friends at Eater explain it all in the video above. Watch it and learn ― but be prepared, you’ll never be able to feel the same way about eating Dum Dums again.
CORRECTION: This story misidentified the current maker of Dum Dums as the Akron Candy Company. They are the former maker, and were purchased by the Spangler Candy Company.
