Things That Are Sweet and Sour

Welcome to our list of things that are sweet and sour! 🍭🍋

Sweet and sour flavors are a classic combination in culinary traditions around the world, offering a delightful contrast that can enhance the overall sensory experience of a dish. When balanced correctly, sweet and sour flavors create a harmonious blend that tantalizes the taste buds, adding depth and complexity to a variety of dishes, from Asian stir-fries and sauces to traditional desserts and beverages.

Here’s a visual list of things that are sweet and sour, with a categorised descriptive list below:

Food

Sweet and sour foods are popular for their delightful contrast and balance of flavors. This combination is found in various cuisines, offering a unique taste experience. Here’s a list of foods that embody the sweet and sour flavor profile:

  • Sweet and Sour Chicken: A popular Chinese dish featuring crispy chicken with a sweet and tangy sauce made from sugar, vinegar, and various seasonings.
  • Tamarind Chutney: Common in Indian cuisine, it combines the sourness of tamarind with sweet jaggery or sugar.
  • Barbecue Sauce: Many barbecue sauces have a sweet and sour balance, using ingredients like molasses and vinegar.
  • Sweet and Sour Pork: Another classic Chinese dish, similar to sweet and sour chicken, but using pork as the main protein.
  • Cranberry Sauce: Often served with turkey, it combines the tartness of cranberries with sugar.
  • Balsamic Glazed Vegetables: The glaze uses balsamic vinegar and a sweetener like honey or brown sugar.
  • Orange Chicken: A dish with fried chicken coated in a sweet orange-flavored chili sauce.
  • Sauerkraut with Apples: Combines the sourness of fermented cabbage with the natural sweetness of apples.
  • Agrodolce Sauce: An Italian sweet and sour sauce made with vinegar and sugar, often used on vegetables or meat.
  • Pickled Fruits: Various fruits can be pickled with a brine of vinegar and sugar, creating a sweet and sour snack or condiment.
  • Sweet and Sour Meatballs: Meatballs cooked in a sauce that typically includes ingredients like vinegar, sugar, and sometimes pineapple for added sweetness.
  • Mango Chutney: A mix of sweet mangoes and various souring agents, often used as a condiment in Indian cuisine.
  • Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad: A refreshing salad with cucumbers, vinegar, and sugar.
  • Bread and Butter Pickles: These pickles are known for their distinctive sweet and sour flavor profile.
  • Korean BBQ Sauce: Often has a sweet and sour taste, using ingredients like soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar.
  • Honey Mustard Dressing: The sweetness of honey combined with the tang of mustard creates a popular dressing with a sweet and sour taste.
  • Pad Thai: This Thai dish often balances sweet (from sugar or tamarind) and sour (from lime juice) flavors.
  • Yogurt with Fruit Compote: The natural tartness of yogurt complements the sweetness of fruit compotes or jams.
  • Sweet and Sour Fish: Popular in various Asian cuisines, featuring fish in a sweet and sour sauce.
  • German Potato Salad: Typically has a sweet and sour dressing made with vinegar and sugar.
  • Sorbet with Citrus: A frozen dessert that often combines sweet fruits with the sourness of citrus.
  • Grapefruit BrĂ»lĂ©e: The caramelized sugar topping provides sweetness to counterbalance the tart grapefruit.
  • Hot and Sour Soup: A Chinese soup that combines a sour broth (from vinegar) with sweet undertones.
  • Candied Citrus Peels: The bitterness of the peels is offset by a sweet candy coating.
  • Gazpacho: A cold Spanish soup that can have sweet elements like tomatoes and bell peppers balanced with vinegar.
  • Mulled Wine: Wine sweetened with sugar or honey and combined with sour citrus flavors.
  • Escabeche: A dish of marinated fish or meat, cooked in an acidic sauce (vinegar) sweetened with other ingredients.
  • Raspberry Vinaigrette: A salad dressing that combines the tartness of raspberries with sweeteners like honey or sugar.
  • Glazed Ham: Often has a sweet glaze made with ingredients like honey, balanced with sour elements like mustard or vinegar.
  • Tarte Tatin: Caramelized fruit (usually apples) that provides a sweet flavor, complemented by a slightly tart taste from the fruit.
  • Tomato Jam: A jam that combines the natural sweetness of tomatoes with added sugar and a hint of acidity.
  • Panna Cotta with Berry Sauce: The sweet creaminess of panna cotta is often paired with a slightly sour berry sauce.
  • Marmalade: A preserve made from citrus fruit, especially oranges, which balances bitter, sweet, and sour flavors.
  • Ceviche: Seafood cooked in acidic citrus juice, often with added sweet elements like mango or corn.
  • Plum Sauce: A sweet and sour condiment often used in Asian cuisine, made from sweet plums and other ingredients.
  • Waldorf Salad: The tartness of apples in the salad is balanced by sweeter ingredients like grapes and a creamy dressing.
  • Rhubarb Compote: Cooked rhubarb, which is naturally tart, is sweetened to make a dessert or condiment.
  • Cranberry Muffins: The sourness of cranberries complements the sweet muffin batter.
  • Fruit Salsa: Combines sweet fruits with acidic ingredients like lime juice or tomatoes.
  • Pineapple Fried Rice: The sweetness of pineapple balances the other savory and sour flavors in the dish.
  • Green Mango Salad: Unripe mangoes provide a tart flavor, balanced with sweet and savory dressing ingredients.
  • Teriyaki Sauce: A Japanese sauce that balances the sweetness of sugar or mirin with soy sauce’s savory and slightly sour taste.
  • Peach Chutney: A blend of sweet peaches and acidic vinegar, often spiced for additional complexity.

Drinks

Sweet and sour flavors are a popular combination in beverages, creating a delightful contrast that appeals to many palates. Here’s a comprehensive list of drinks known for their sweet and sour balance:

  • Lemonade: Classic refreshment made from lemon juice, water, and sugar.
  • Margarita: A popular cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and a sweet component like triple sec or simple syrup.
  • Whiskey Sour: A mix of whiskey, lemon juice, and a sweetener like sugar or simple syrup.
  • Tom Collins: A refreshing cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water.
  • Amaretto Sour: Combines the sweetness of amaretto liqueur with the tartness of lemon or lime juice.
  • Daiquiri: Traditionally a simple blend of rum, lime juice, and sugar.
  • Sangria: A wine-based drink mixed with various fruits, a sweetener, and sometimes a splash of a spirit, balanced with citrus.
  • Mojito: Made with rum, mint, lime juice, sugar, and soda water.
  • Pisco Sour: A Peruvian cocktail made with pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and bitters.
  • Long Island Iced Tea: Contains a mix of vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, lemon juice, and a splash of cola.
  • Sidecar: A blend of cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
  • Cosmopolitan: Vodka mixed with cranberry juice (for tartness), lime juice, and triple sec.
  • Mai Tai: A Polynesian-style cocktail that typically includes rum, lime juice, and a sweet component like orgeat syrup or triple sec.
  • Tequila Sunrise: Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup, which provides both sweetness and a sour edge.
  • Bramble: A gin-based cocktail with blackberry liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
  • Sea Breeze: Combines vodka with grapefruit juice (sour) and cranberry juice (sweet).
  • Caipirinha: Brazilian drink made with cachaça, sugar, and lime.
  • Sloe Gin Fizz: A mix of sloe gin (sweet), gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water.
  • Lynchburg Lemonade: Made with whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice, and lemon-lime soda.
  • Planter’s Punch: A sweet and sour mix of rum, lemon or lime juice, and a variety of sweetening agents like grenadine or syrup.
  • Sour Apple Martini: A mix of sour apple liqueur, vodka, and a sweet syrup.
  • Blue Lagoon: Vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade create a balance of sweet and sour flavors.
  • Singapore Sling: A complex mix including gin, cherry brandy, Cointreau, BĂ©nĂ©dictine, grenadine, lime juice, pineapple juice, and bitters.
  • Electric Lemonade: Combines vodka, blue curaçao, sweet and sour mix, and soda water.
  • Screwdriver with a Twist: Traditional screwdriver (vodka and orange juice) with a splash of lemon or lime juice.
  • Paloma: A tequila-based cocktail with grapefruit soda and lime juice.
  • Gimlet: Gin or vodka with sweetened lime juice.
  • French Martini: Vodka, pineapple juice (sweet), and black raspberry liqueur, with a hint of lemon juice.
  • Hemingway Daiquiri: A variation of the classic daiquiri with grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur.
  • Bellini: Prosecco combined with peach purĂ©e, often balanced with a touch of lemon juice.
  • Lemon Drop Martini: A vodka-based martini with lemon juice and a sugar rim.
  • Raspberry Mojito: Adds raspberry (both sweet and tart) to the classic mojito recipe.
  • Frozen Strawberry Margarita: Blends strawberries (sweet and sour) with the traditional margarita ingredients.
  • John Collins: Similar to a Tom Collins but made with bourbon.
  • Aperol Spritz: Aperol (bitter and sweet) mixed with Prosecco and a splash of soda water.
  • Michelada: A Mexican beer cocktail with lime juice (sour) and various sauces, spices, and peppers (adding sweetness and tang).
  • Black Russian with a Twist: Adds a splash of lemon or lime juice to the traditional mix of vodka and coffee liqueur.
  • Kir Royale: A splash of crĂšme de cassis (sweet) topped with Champagne (which has a slight acidity).
  • Spicy Pineapple Margarita: A blend of pineapple juice (sweet) with lime juice (sour) and tequila, often with a spicy rim.
  • Dark ‘n’ Stormy: Dark rum with ginger beer and lime juice.
  • Blood Orange Martini: Uses blood orange juice (sweet and sour) mixed with vodka and a hint of lime or lemon.
  • Cranberry Fizz: A mix of cranberry juice (sweet and tart) with soda water and lime.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar Drink: Diluted with water and sweetened with honey or sugar.
  • Rum Punch: A Caribbean cocktail typically mixing rum, citrus juice (sour), and a sweet syrup.
  • Piña Colada with a Twist: Adds a splash of lime to the traditional mix of pineapple juice, coconut cream, and rum.
  • Cucumber Cooler: Muddled cucumber with lime juice, sugar syrup, and soda water.
  • Grapefruit Margarita: Combines the tartness of grapefruit with the sweetness of the margarita mix.
  • Passion Fruit Martini: Passion fruit (both sweet and tart) mixed with vodka and a hint of lime.
  • Non-Alcoholic Fruit Punch: A mix of various fruit juices, both sweet and tart, often with a soda or sparkling water base.

Desserts

Sweet and sour desserts offer a delightful contrast of flavors, creating a unique and often refreshing taste experience. Here’s a comprehensive list of desserts that embody this flavor profile:

  • Key Lime Pie: Combines the tartness of key lime juice with the sweetness of condensed milk and a graham cracker crust.
  • Lemon Meringue Pie: Features a tart lemon filling balanced with a sweet, fluffy meringue topping.
  • Tarte au Citron (Lemon Tart): A classic French dessert with a sharp lemon curd in a sweet pastry shell.
  • Sour Cherry Pie: Utilizes the natural tartness of sour cherries, balanced with sugar in the filling.
  • Raspberry Sorbet with Lemon Zest: The tartness of raspberries and lemon zest contrasts with the sugar used in the sorbet.
  • Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: The caramelized pineapple topping provides a sweet and sour flavor to this classic cake.
  • Lemon Bars: A dessert with a buttery shortbread crust and a tangy lemon custard, often dusted with powdered sugar.
  • Sweet and Sour Fruit Salad: A mix of various fruits, some sour like citrus and others sweet, often dressed with a sweet syrup.
  • Rhubarb Crumble or Cobbler: Combines the tartness of rhubarb with a sweet, crumbly topping.
  • Baked Apples with Cranberries: The sweetness of apples contrasts with the tartness of cranberries.
  • Mango and Lime Fool: Layers of sweet mango puree with tangy lime-infused whipped cream.
  • Passion Fruit Mousse: The natural tartness of passion fruit balanced with the sweetness of the mousse base.
  • Cranberry Panna Cotta: A creamy panna cotta paired with a tart cranberry sauce.
  • Lemon Cheesecake: A creamy cheesecake with a tangy lemon flavor, often topped with a sweet lemon glaze.
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: The sweetness of strawberries complements the sour tang of rhubarb.
  • Blackberry Lime Parfait: Layers of sweet blackberries and lime-flavored yogurt or cream.
  • Yogurt with Honey and Lemon: Natural or Greek yogurt (slightly sour) sweetened with honey and a touch of lemon.
  • Sour Cream and Cherry Cake: A cake that combines the tartness of cherries with a sweet cake batter and sour cream for moisture.
  • Orange and Almond Cake with Lemon Syrup: A moist almond cake with orange zest, drizzled with a tangy lemon syrup.
  • Grapefruit BrĂ»lĂ©e: Caramelized sugar topping provides sweetness to counterbalance the tart grapefruit underneath.
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Cake: A sweet cake that features the bright, tart flavor of lemon.
  • Lime and Coconut Tart: A sweet coconut tart filling with a zesty lime topping.
  • Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze: Soft cookies made with ricotta cheese and lemon zest, topped with a sweet lemon glaze.
  • Cranberry Orange Scones: Tart cranberries paired with sweet and zesty orange in a soft, sweet scone.
  • Sour Cherry and Chocolate Brownies: The sour cherries cut through the richness and sweetness of the chocolate.
  • Blueberry Lemon Bread with Lemon Glaze: A moist, sweet bread dotted with tart blueberries and topped with a lemon glaze.
  • Pavlova with Lemon Curd and Berries: A light, sweet meringue base topped with lemon curd and mixed berries.
  • Candied Citrus Peels: The bitterness of the peels is offset by a sweet candy coating.
  • Pomegranate Sorbet with Lemon: The tartness of pomegranate and lemon balanced with sugar in the sorbet.
  • Sour Apple Galette with Caramel Sauce: A rustic tart made with sour apples, complemented by a sweet caramel drizzle.
  • Lemon Ginger Ice Cream: Creamy ice cream with a tangy lemon flavor and a hint of spicy ginger.
  • Blood Orange Semifreddo: A frozen dessert featuring the sweet and slightly tart flavor of blood oranges.
  • Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes: Sweet cupcakes with a tart raspberry filling and lemon frosting.
  • Chocolate-Dipped Sour Candies: Sour gummy candies dipped in sweet chocolate.
  • Lemon and Elderflower Cake: A light, sweet cake infused with the tang of lemon and the floral notes of elderflower.
  • Sour Cream and Raisin Pie: A traditional pie that combines the tartness of sour cream with the sweetness of raisins.
  • Cherry Limeade Popsicles: Frozen treats that blend the tartness of limeade with sweet cherries.
  • Kumquat and Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta: A creamy dessert paired with the sweet and tart flavor of kumquats.
  • Lemon Glazed Donuts: Soft donuts with a tangy lemon glaze.
  • Gingered Pear and Raspberry Tart: A sweet pastry crust filled with ginger-flavored pears and tart raspberries.
  • Balsamic Strawberries with Whipped Cream: Strawberries marinated in balsamic vinegar (which becomes sweet when reduced) served with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
  • Peach and Blackberry Cobbler: Sweet peaches and tart blackberries baked under a sweet biscuit topping.
  • Apple and Sour Cherry Strudel: Thin pastry filled with sweet apples and tart sour cherries.
  • Lime Coconut Bars: A tropical twist on lemon bars, featuring the sweet flavor of coconut with the tartness of lime.
  • Pink Grapefruit Tartlets: Mini tarts filled with a grapefruit custard, balancing the fruit’s tartness with the sweet pastry.
  • Kiwi and Strawberry Tart: The tartness of kiwi fruit complements the sweetness of strawberries in a creamy tart.
  • Sour Cream Coffee Cake with a Sweet Glaze: A moist coffee cake with a tangy flavor from sour cream, topped with a sweet glaze.
  • Chocolate and Raspberry Mousse Cake: Layers of rich chocolate mousse and tart raspberry mousse.
  • Yogurt Popsicles with Mixed Berries: Frozen yogurt popsicles with a mix of sweet and tart berries.
  • Lemon and Thyme Shortbread: A sweet and buttery shortbread cookie infused with the tang of lemon and the savory note of thyme.

Candy

Sweet and sour candies and treats are popular for their delightful combination of contrasting flavors, offering a tangy twist to traditional sweetness. Here’s a comprehensive list of such candies and treats:

  • Sour Patch Kids: A classic candy known for its sour coating and sweet, chewy center.
  • Warheads: Extremely sour candies that eventually turn sweet.
  • Sour Skittles: A tangy version of the original Skittles, with a sour sugar coating.
  • Haribo Sour Gummy Bears: The popular gummy bears with a sour twist.
  • Lemonheads: Small, round lemon-flavored candies that are sweet on the outside with a sour center.
  • Sour Belts: Strips of sour and sweet candy, often in rainbow colors or singular fruit flavors.
  • Toxic Waste Candy: Marketed as “hazardously sour,” these hard candies start extremely sour and then become sweet.
  • AirHeads Xtremes: Sweetly sour candy belts with a rainbow of fruity flavors.
  • Sour Watermelon Slices: Candy slices that mimic the flavor of watermelon with a sour kick.
  • Jolly Rancher Sour Bites: A sour version of the classic Jolly Rancher hard candies.
  • Sour Jelly Beans: Jelly beans coated in sour sugar, offering a variety of fruit flavors.
  • Sour Brite Crawlers (Trolli): Gummy worms that are sweet and coated with sour sugar.
  • Shockers (formerly Shock Tarts): Small, sour, and sweet chewy candies.
  • Sweet Tarts: As the name suggests, they offer a balance of sweetness and tartness.
  • Sour Bubble Gum (like Cry Baby): Gum that starts with a sour coating and becomes sweet as you chew.
  • Zotz: Hard candies with a sour fizzy powder center.
  • Sour Razzles: First, they’re sour, then they turn into sweet, chewable gum.
  • Hi-Chew Sour: The popular Hi-Chew candy with sour fruit flavors.
  • Mike and Ike Zours: A sour and sweet version of the classic Mike and Ike candy.
  • Sour Punch Straws: Chewy, sour, and sweet straws in various fruit flavors.
  • Nerds Sour Big Chewy: A sour twist on the original Nerds candy.
  • Sour Lollipops (like Sour Pops): Lollipops with a sweet base flavor and a sour coating.
  • Starburst Sours: Sour versions of the popular chewy, fruit-flavored candies.
  • Sour Starlight Mints: A tangy version of the classic mint candy.
  • Sour Lemon Drops: Hard candies with a zesty lemon flavor balanced with sweetness.
  • Sour Fruit Gushers: Fruit snacks with a sour, juicy center.
  • Chewy Lemonhead and Friends: Offers a variety of sour fruit flavors.
  • Sour Green Apple Rings: Gummy rings flavored with tart green apple.
  • Fruit by the Foot Berry Tie-Dye: Fruit snack with sour berry flavors.
  • Sour Cherry Cola Bottles: Gummy candies with the flavors of cherry cola and a sour twist.
  • Rainbow Sour Belts: Multi-flavored candy strips with a sour sugar coating.
  • Sour Altoids Tangerine: Hard lozenges with a sharp tangerine flavor.
  • Sour Punch Bites: Soft and chewy candies with a sour punch.
  • Sour Apple Sticks: Candy sticks with a sour apple flavor.
  • Warheads Sour Jelly Beans: Jelly beans with the intense sourness of Warheads.
  • Warheads Sour Twists: Chewy candy twists that combine sour and sweet flavors.
  • Smarties Xtreme Sour: A sour version of the classic Smarties candy.
  • Sour Bubble Tape: A bubble gum with a sour tang.
  • Sour Jacks: Soft and chewy, wedge-shaped sour candies.
  • Sour Gummy Octopus: Multi-legged gummy candies with a sour coating.
  • Sour Laffy Taffy: The popular taffy candy with sour flavors.
  • Chupa Chups Sour Infernals: Lollipops with a sour center.
  • Atomic Fireball (Sour Version): A cinnamon-flavored candy that starts sour.
  • Sour Cherry Balls: Small, round candies with a sour cherry taste.
  • Sour Punch Hearts: Heart-shaped sour gummies, often available around Valentine’s Day.
  • Warheads Sour Dippin’ Pucker Packs: A packet of sour powder with a sweet and sour dipping stick.
  • Sour Fruit Salad Gummies: A mix of gummy candy in fruit shapes with a sour coating.
  • Sour Cotton Candy: A twist on traditional cotton candy with sour flavors.
  • Mega Sour Apples: Hard candies known for their extremely sour coating.
  • Sour Flush Candy Plunger: Powder candy with a lollipop plunger that you dip into the sour powder.

We hope this list of sweet and sour things was useful and that you found what you needed!

We did our best to cover all of the varied meanings of “sweet and sour” with our visual gallery of sweet and sour things and descriptive list. But if you feel there’s something we missed, please feel free to let us know and leave a comment.

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