Popular Hershey's Kiss Flavors Ranked Worst To Best

A real cherry cordial is a work of art that requires time, care, and fresh ingredients. The Hershey's Kiss version contains none of those things. Though a Hershey's Kiss seems like the perfect shape and size to hide a boozy cherry, in actuality, the syrupy insides of a mass-produced cherry cordial taste more like cough medicine than brandy, and the chocolate isn't quite flavorful enough to balance out the strong acidity of the fruity goo. While we can appreciate the reach, Hershey's really should have known not to touch this classic (and classy) dessert. This is the kind of candy you eat off a crystal platter, not peeled out of aluminum wrapping. 

If you're craving this fruit-forward dessert, we suggest hitting up your local chocolatier or trying your hand at creating a cherry cordial yourself. Or just go for a regular Hershey's Kiss. Really, anything is better than this.

Similar to the cherry cordial, dark chocolate is a refined and delicate dessert — both subtle and complex if done right, but such a feat is easier said than done. The best dark chocolate merely whispers of sweetness, providing your palate instead with deep, rich flavors that replace the need for excess sugar. 

Hershey's special dark Kiss is, well, not that. The candy company should have left this one to the experts, but instead, dark chocolate-lovers will have to suffer through the overwhelming disappointment of biting into this candy and discovering its chalky texture and bland taste. Unsurprisingly, these Kisses aren't entirely dark chocolate, either. Consumers should be warned that just because the label says "dark" doesn't mean they're dairy-free. This product contains a combination of milk and dark chocolate — and instead of highlighting the best qualities of both, this Kiss flavor tastes like it can't quite choose a side.

Unfortunately, this Hershey's Kiss is primarily white creme, meaning it's pretty much dead on arrival as far as we're concerned. Still, the white "chocolate" is especially creamy (thanks to its extensive ingredient list that contains not even a trace of cocoa), which compliments the crunchy texture of the Oreo-like cookie crumbles loaded inside. These Kisses are overwhelmingly sweet, but the cookies, which contain a hint of salt and far less sugar than the chocolate surrounding them, give the candy a more balanced flavor, resulting in an experience far more enjoyable than you might expect to find in white chocolate. 

Despite the fact that cookies and creme has become just about as mainstream as chocolate or vanilla, lending this Kiss flavor less intrigue than others, the final, bite-sized product comes together quite nicely. If you reduce it down to the sum of its parts, you'll find each part pretty disappointing. We recommend taking the experience as it is and appreciating the cookies and creme flavor for what it is: pretty average, but definitely not bad.

The main problem with a lava cake-themed candy is that the bar is simply too high. Lava cake is one of the seven wonders of the world: a pillowy chocolate cake housing a miniature river of rich, melted chocolate so hot it would burn your mouth if not for the ice cream or cold whipped cream dripping into it as the protective cake layer disappears into your mouth. It is an unparalleled experience, one that certainly would fall flat if relegated to the world of unbaked sweets and individually wrapped chocolates. 

Nonetheless, if you can put aside your lofty lava cake expectations, this Hershey's Kiss is pretty good. The gooey inside is no chocolate lava, but it's similar to the texture of a truffle, though perhaps a little more syrupy. The outside layer is dark chocolate, which tastes sweeter and less chalky alongside the thick chocolatey liquid that comprises the center. It may not be quite the same with room-temperature chocolate, but we still think you could eat this with ice cream.

By this point, we've spent enough time denigrating white chocolate (and conditioning you to, as well) that we can admit to a small exception. Not to be confused with an endorsement of the stuff, we will, however, assent to a small amount of white chocolate if, and only if, it is fully encased in a highly superior, legitimate chocolate. Hugs bring out the best of white chocolate by swirling it together with milk chocolate into one bite-sized bundle of smooth, sweet joy. 

Hershey's Hugs really encapsulate their name, offering consumers pleasant, platonic affection — nothing more, nothing less. Hugs are not abrasive (and considering the white chocolate aspect, that's impressive!), but they also won't knock you off your feet. We were impressed and mildly surprised by how good these were. Were there fireworks upon unwrapping the shiny foil and eating the thing whole, tasting the chocolate and sort-of chocolate mix? No, there simply were not. But sometimes what you really need is simple comfort and reliability: a hug.

There's just no messing with a classic. In this case, the classic is a little boring, but nonetheless it's good, solid chocolate — more reliable than Hugs and exactly the right shape and size for a dense bite of cocoa. It seems as though the more Hershey's messes with the traditional candy, the more convoluted it becomes in both flavor and intention (cherry cordial?). Though Hershey's is really no match for European chocolates, Americans don't seem to have too much difficulty stomaching it. The original Kiss fulfills (almost) everything the subsequent versions were aiming for, with less of the obnoxious pomp and circumstance. 

That said, if you're looking to change things up a bit, Hershey's offers the classic milk chocolate variety in a wide range of colored wrappers — so instead of finding an unsettling shade of red inside your chocolate, you can opt for a good, perfectly normal chocolate tucked inside an inedible red foil.

And best in show goes to the milk chocolate with almond Kiss, a perfect specimen of a candy in flavor, texture, and size. Hershey's classic milk chocolate Kiss gets a subtle makeover here with the addition of a single almond in its center. It's a welcome surprise to bite into a crunchy, savory flavor surrounded by all that smooth chocolate, but it's not so shocking to be jarring. It's like remembering the lyrics to a song you didn't realize you had memorized — it comes naturally, and you sing every word. 

These babies are the perfect size to unwrap and snack on throughout the day, and they aren't too sweet to eat several in a row and call it a meal. These kisses embody the best of Hershey's: solid, creamy milk chocolate with a roasted almond heart — a step up from gold, if you ask us, seeing as almonds are both edible and quite delicious.