Cotton Candy grape fans, you gotta try Gum Drops. These grapes taste like the sweet, gummy candies they are named after.
The saying about Grapery should be to expect the unexpected.
I have had enough of their varieties by now that just about anything is possible.
And I know every time I encounter a new variety from them that I am going to love it. They have a perfect track record with me so far.
One of their varieties that I have been waiting to try ever since I knew they existed (found that out during my Grapery tour in March) were the Gum Drops grapes. I love gum drops especially the ones they sell at Whole Foods.
Grapery taste tested this grape and people felt it was even better than Cotton Candy grapes. That just really got me excited.
👅 What They Taste Like
The label on the packaging of Gum Drops grapes says – “Enjoy a gummylicious flavor every time you bite into our new Gum Drop grapes. These tasty luscious jewels are naturally raised and then picked when they reach the peak of flavor”. That description is right in every sense. These grapes do immediately remind me of Gum Drops without the sugar crystals on the outside.
They have a really fruity finish to them.
Normally only Homer Simpson could would eat those kinds of sweets together (like when he made a giant ball of deep-fried, caramel-covered, cotton candy) but now anyone can enjoy the flavors of these sweet treats and not gain 50 pounds or make themselves sick!
There are multiple varieties of grapes in the Gum Drops line, so they may have slightly different appearances. If you noticed the grapes pictured at the very top of this most look more purple, or dark red, while the grapes you see in the photo above are more black.
The name of each variety of grape in order in which they ripen are Candy Snaps, Candy Dreams, and Candy Hearts. You may actually see these names in bags/containers from other growers. In fact, ALDI had Candy Heart grapes from Chile during the winter months.
There are other varieties that are in trial right now that may be added to the Gum Drops line in future seasons.
No matter the color, each one packs a lot of flavor into a small package!
🌻 When in Season?
The 2020 crop is looking exceptionally good with supplies lasting from late July to early November.
🥊Gum Drops vs. Cotton Candy
I wanted to compare Grapery’s signature and most popular variety, Cotton Candy grapes with the Gum Drops.
| Cotton Candy | Gum Drops |
| Green with bronze tones | Ranging from black to purple to dark red |
| Average sized | Small |
| Very sweet, little tartness | Sweet with a little more tart flavor |
| Tastes like Cotton Candy | Fruity, gummy flavor |
| One variety | 3 varieties under the same packaging |
| mid August to late September | late July to early November |
🍇 Try These Grapes Too
Have you found these grapes? Tell us what you think and where you bought them in the comments below.
Did I get a bad batch? The grapes I bought had little, to no taste to them at all. They’re sister grapes, cotton candy far exceed the taste of gum drop and moon drops.
Pardon my grammar.
When did you buy them? They have been out of season for a while.
I just bought some of these today — Aug 4 — at Metropolitan Market in Seattle and was also disappointed. They didn’t have much flavor, with almost minty overtones. Much redder in color than your pictures.
That is a shame you didn’t like them. The reason they might look different than the ones in my picture is that they have a new variety that are now in the Gum Drop grape line. They are just coming out for the first time this season. I haven’t tried these ones yet. In September, the original Gum Drops grapes will come out, I would give those ones a chance.
I gave the gum drops another chance. Although they were still a bit lighter in color like the first batch I had (and purchased at the same place, Metropolitan Market in Seattle), these were great! I’m wondering if the earlier ones just weren’t sufficiently ripe. The latest batch were very good — very fruity!
I have to admit, from memory I think my favorite is still the moon drops that I had last year! I’ve also had tear drops a few time this summer, which are good, but not as good as the moon drops or the gum drops. I got the tear drops at Metropolitan Market earlier (no longer available there), and most recently (just this past weekend) at QFC (a Kroger-owned chain in the PNW) on Mercer & 5th Ave in Seattle.
I found them last week in New Castle, PA. They are delicious! I think I found my new favorite grape!
Glad to hear you found them. They are my favorite too. What store did you get them in?
I am always on the lookout for the bright pink package. Thinking I’d found the Cotton Candy grapes i yearn for each summer, i discovered these were actually the Gum Drop grapex. I figured since they came from the same grower, they were wprth a try. WOW! They are so good. I found the grapes at my local Haggen store (similar to Albertsons or Safeway). I will buy these as often as i can get my hands on them. So good. I like them better than the Cotton Candy grapes.
just tried them today. they really do remind me of a gummy candy flavor, cant identify which, but its uncanny, and a better flavor profile than cotton candy, whcih is just sugary. these are reminiscient of the muscat, but not overwhelming like some people experience them. your kids WILL LOVE THEM. this is exactly as good as candy. if you were to dehydrate them they would be just like gumdrops. i do prefer more complex fruit, but this is like a huge throwback to childhood. its what we all wanted grapes to taste like growing up.
Thanks for sharing!
I got a batch of these just today at my HEB that taste exactly like lychee fruit. It is uncanny. They’re absolutely wonderful grapes. I made the mistake of eating a whole two pounds of them in a day. Worth it.
I never thought about that before. Lychee do have a grape like quality to them.
I bought 3 bags of Grapery grapes yesterday at my local Sprouts store! Cotton Candy, Gum drops and Moon Drops. I adore them all, but the Moon Drops are my favorite! So sweet and crisp!!
I bought gum drop grapes at Kroger in bardstown kentucky. They are very sweet and have a taste of concord grape to them. Dark purple in color and small to med size. I love these grapes, keep them growing!!!!!