This article originally appeared on adiyprojects.com

Mexican sweets are what candy was meant to be: colorful, sugary, and a treat for more than just taste buds. Some Mexican sweets will smack you with a feast of sugar. Others can bewilder a non-Mexican palette with a mysterious and tantalizing combination of salt, hot chile, and naturally sweet and fruity gummy pulp.

If you want to taste the famous enchiladas dulces, you’re probably wondering where to start. Here are four things to consider when delving into the Mexican candy world.

Most Mexican candy is spicy. The spiciness extends even to the multiple fruity flavors in the colorful and bright packaging. Chili powder is one of Mexico’s most common seasonings, and they neither hold back on their sweets. The chili powder is made from dried ground spices, including chili, which gives the Mexican candy the unique sweet and sour taste you won’t find elsewhere.

In addition to chili, the recipes for this candy often use spices like cloves, tamarind, and cinnamon to gather an extra layer of flavor. When shopping for Mexican sweets, choose how spicy you want them. Make your pick from the very sweet, sweet, and savory, or the sweet and spicy.

Ensure That It’s Fresh

The shelf life of Mexican candy depends on the type of candy and how you store it. Be sure to read the expiry dates once you purchase the candy. You can keep chamoy candy fresh for up to three days in airtight containers at room temperature. 

If you like your chamoy cooler and thicker, then store it in your fridge and have it within four days for the best flavors but do not refrigerate the candy. Mexican sweets can last for months and even a year with proper storage. The color may change and minor changes in flavor as the days go by, but the sweet and savory goodness stands.

Mexican Candy Flavors

Mexican candy can come in many flavors according to the primary ingredients used. The flavors range from chamoy to tamarind, milk and chocolate, dulce de leche, and cajeta. These flavors also come in different sub-flavors.

For instance, you can get different flavors of chamoy—classic chamoy based with tamarind has a mild spiciness. On the sweeter end, you can get mango chamoy, which has a solid mango base combined with other Mexican flavors. If you want to go entirely Mexican, you can get the mango habanero, an extra spicy chamoy with a base of mango and habanero chilies.

The Manufacturer’s Reputation

If it’s your first time trying Mexican Candy, then it’s essential you get it from the best manufacturer. Check their online reviews to research how good their candy is. Next, check that they offer the most famous sweets from Mexico so that you can get an assortment to choose from.

Consider their shipping requirements and procedures and check their customer care. Your first experience determines how you’ll view Mexican sweets and get a proper representation.

Explore The Mexican Palette

Few countries can claim a palette offering flavors as diverse as those of Mexican food. They are no different with their candy. While candy worldwide has always had tons of sugar and is extremely sweet, Mexicans have a spicy and salty kick in their candy that you can’t find anywhere. Buy the candy and explore the Mexican palette.