A sherbet lemon looks like a plain boiled sweet from the outside, but crack into the centre and there's a genuine bit of food chemistry going on.
Where the fizz comes from
The powder inside our Sherbet Lemons Jar combines an acid with a mild alkali. Neither does anything on its own, but the moment saliva brings them together, they react and release tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide — the same basic reaction as a fizzy bath bomb, just edible and lemon-flavoured.
Why it fades fast
Once the acid and alkali have fully reacted, there's nothing left to fizz — which is why the sensation is short and sharp rather than a slow fade, unlike the sweet itself.
More on fizzy sweets
Read our broader guide to the science of the fizz, or shop the full fizzy sweets range.