Lifesaver confusion, or...

...what flavor did you say that is?

I keep a jar of hard candy on my desk at the office, and my Lifesavers Variety pack purchase last week definitely created some questions. The package contains individually wrapped Lifesavers, and the flavors appear to be a combination of those from the traditional 5-flavor pack and their tropical fruits flavors. Combining the two causes some interesting color vs. flavor questions - which is only increased by some recent flavor changes. For example, they've stopped producing the lime flavor, but the package contains 2 flavors that are different shades of green. And when I say different shades, I'm referring to very slight variations that are only discernable when the two candies of that color range are sitting right next to each other.

The flavors? According to the package, they are: watermelon, cherry, pineapple, grape, green apple, fruit punch, pina colada, tangerine, banana, mango melon, orange, lemon, raspberry.

Which is which? Well, as far as I can tell, green lifesavers are watermelon and green apply. Red can be cherry, fruit punch, or raspberry. Orange? Those are orange or tangerine. Yellow are lemon and pineapple - but to be honest I believe those colors are far enough apart that you know what you're getting. And the remaining flavors are far enough apart in color that your expectation of the flavor hitting your tongue is usually right.

What were the Lifesavers candy designers thinking of? Betsi actually sent an email to the manufacturer questioning the colors, flavors, and (I think) their quality assurance process in allowing this confusion to exist. It should be interesting to see if she gets a response from them!