Haribo makes more than a thousand shapes worldwide, but in the UK almost every conversation about "best Haribo" comes down to two bags: Starmix and Tangfastics.
What's actually in each bag
- Starmix — six shapes: rings, bears, eggs, bottles, and two other fruit-gum shapes, with a light sugar dusting and no sour coating.
- Tangfastics — three shapes only: cola bottles, rings, and fried-egg shapes, all coated in a sour sugar dusting.
Both come out of Haribo's own factories, but they're finished differently: Starmix uses a standard gum recipe with a sugar-syrup glaze, while Tangfastics pieces are tumbled in a citric-acid sugar coating after moulding, which is what gives them the sharp sour edge Starmix doesn't have.
Which one actually sells more
There's no single answer — it depends on who's buying. Tangfastics, which launched in the UK in 2005, has repeatedly topped "nation's favourite sweet" surveys aimed at teenagers and young adults, and it's closely tied to the sour-sweets trend of the 2010s. Starmix, however, has been a Haribo staple for far longer, and it remains the stronger seller in family bags, pick 'n mix, and with younger children who find the sour coating too intense.
The history behind the names
Haribo was founded in 1920 by Hans Riegel in Bonn, Germany — the name is a contraction of Hans Riegel Bonn. Assortment bags in the Starmix format have existed in various forms since the 1960s and 70s, while Tangfastics was developed decades later specifically to compete in the sour sweets category that brands like Warheads had opened up.
You can browse the full Haribo range and more of Britain's favourite sour sweets in our shop.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Haribo Starmix and Tangfastics?
Starmix is a mix of six classic fruit-gum shapes with no sour coating, while Tangfastics are cola bottles, rings, and eggs coated in a sour sugar dusting made mainly from citric acid.
Which Haribo sweet sells more, Starmix or Tangfastics?
Tangfastics has topped several UK favourite-sweet polls since the mid-2010s and tends to sell better among teenagers and young adults, but Starmix remains one of Haribo's best-selling bags overall and outsells Tangfastics with younger children and in family multipacks.
Why are Tangfastics sour?
Tangfastics are tumbled in a fine coating of sugar mixed with citric acid (and sometimes malic acid) after moulding, which dissolves quickly on the tongue to create the sour hit before the sweet gum flavour underneath.