Musk Sticks or Spearmint Leaves? Australia's most controversial lolly has been decided

A recent debate about Allen's Black Cats left us wondering what Australia's least liked lollies are.

Judging from the comments when it was reported standalone bags of the divisive lolly had been discontinued, it is clear why the decision to discontinued them was made.

Australia is home to many a unique lolly, but some of them have such distinct flavours and textures that they can only be loved, or loathed.

There are seven lollies in particular that seem to bear the brunt of criticism.

We tasked ourselves with deciding, definitively, which is the worst lolly of them all, via an in-office poll and several Reddit threads, and there was a clear consensus.

But even the worst of the worst had their defenders.

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7. Peaches & Cream

At first we thought Allen's Peaches & Cream would be a clear loser, but it turns out they are the least offensive of the lot, accounting for just five per cent of the votes selecting them as the worst option.

"Peaches & Cream aren't too bad, I will eat them if there isn't anything else," one nine.com.au staffer wrote.

"I tried a Peaches & Cream thinking it was a Strawberries & Cream and almost spat it out, but when I realised it was a Peaches & Cream my brain made sense of it, and I didn't want to spit it out anymore," another said.

"My mum keeps buying bags of these, not sure why. I eat them at her place, but I probably wouldn't buy them myself."

Although one nine.com.au staffer didn't hold back, declaring: "Peaches & Cream are the worst for sure."

"Those are all feral," added another.

"I don't know if that's a helpful comment but they're all bad, Peaches and cream is at least edible."

For a long time Peaches & Cream were only available as part of the Allen's Party Mix bag but in 2024, due to customer demand, the company brought back the Peaches & Cream bag, which appears to be selling well.

6. Teeth

Teeth lollies have been voted the next least-loathed of the confectionery in question, and they have a particularly odd flavour some lolly lovers just don't understand.

And at eight per cent of the vote for most hated, they are one of the safer choices.

"Who thought vanilla and mint was a good flavour combo?" one staffer said.

"I can't ever remember eating one of these after using them to make faces when I was kid. I would just spit them out," another shared.

"I don't mind these, they sort of taste like nothing. I wouldn't choose them for myself, but if they are there I might have a couple."

Allen's Mad About Teeth bags were discontinued in 2024 due to poor sales, but can still be found in the some of the mixed bags.

It was some Mad About Teeth fans who first noticed the standalone bags were absent from supermarket shelves.

"Look, I don't think anyone else is obsessed with them to the point that I am (i am actively chewing on one as I write this – yes i have no shame), or will even be that sad – but my suspicions were confirmed as of a few minutes ago.

"Allens teeth lollies are being discontinued," they said.

Nine.com.au confirmed this news, citing "factors such as declining sales, retail space and new products being launched".

"So that we can offer variety in our range, can often result in us having to discontinue products."

Those who don't hate them can still find them in the Allen's Retro Party Mix and Classic Party Mix bags.

5. Bananas

Banana lollies have always been controversial, and it hasn't helped their cause that budget versions have been released, damaging their reptuation.

All this has landed them at number five on our list, with 11 per cent of the most hated vote.

A good, fresh banana lolly is fragrant and has little chew to it. A lesser-quality one is a bit like eating banana-flavoured chalk.

"I can't even have banana lollies in the bowl because everything tastes like banana," one nine.com.au staffer said.

"I used to like them, but I had one recently and I definitely don't anymore. Not even a little."

Still, they still had their defenders.

"Bananas are so good," said one fan.

Bananas come in stand alone bags but can also be found in the Allen's Party Bag Mix.

4. Jaffas

"Jaffas are a war crime and should be discontinued," one nine.com.au staffer declared during our lolly chat, and it quickly became clear these are one of the most divisive treats of all.

Fourteen per cent of Aussies voted Jaffas as the worst lolly. Still, coming in at fourth in the country isn't as bad as many would have expected.

It's their unique combination of orange and chocolate that set them apart from the rest.

"Citrus and chocolate, no," one person said.

"Hate Jaffas. Just really hate them," another declared, "I've never liked chocolate and orange together I just think it is revolting."

"They taste horrible," added another, one one person's verdict was the lolly is "classic Karen food".

Jaffas aren't unique to Allen's, and also come in the form of Darrell Lea Orange Balls which are slightly larger than Allen's version.

Famous orange and chocolate snacks also include Jaffa Cakes as well as Terry's Chocolate Orange, both from the UK.

And Toblerone recently released an orange version, which Jaffas fans must be loving.

3. Black Cats

Standalone bags of Black Cats were recently discontinued by Allen's due to low sales, but are still available in the Party Bag.

They are not well liked by many, owing to their unique aniseed flavour, landing them at third on our list. Sixteen per cent of those who gave their opinions selected them as the worst in the lolly bowl.

"Anything licorice is an instant no from me," one Nine staffer said.

"I have only ever eaten a Black Cat accidentally," another said, "I thought it was a Chico, and was expecting a chewy chocolate flavour and copped licorice. Gross."

"I don't know why anyone thought making these was a good idea," another said. "These are left on the bottom of the bowl in my family.

Allen's once released a chocolate-dipped version of Black Cats, a play on the flavours that can be found in licorice bullets, but they didn't seem to take off and were eventually discontinued.

As the third-most hated lolly on our list, it seems even the cute cat design can't save these.

2. Spearmint Leaves

Spearmint Leaves and Musk Sticks have both topped our ranking, receiving equal amounts of hate, and they battled it out to take the crown of Australia's worst lolly.

"Spearmint leaves are disgusting, but I hate spearmint anyway," one nine.com.au staffer said.

And 19 per cent of those who gave their opinions were in agreement.

"Who wants to eat something that tastes like sugared toothpaste?" one asked.

"Spearmint leaves are not good at all."

Along with a barrage of insults, some defended the lolly, writing, "Spearmint leaves get entirely too much hate!" and "I love mint leaves!"

Spearmint Leaves were discontinued before making a comeback in 2024, with Allen's bringing them back in August of 2024.

The votes were counted, and while Spearmint Leaves have many detractors, they were just a couple of votes shy of taking out the title.

1. Musk Sticks

Musk Sticks have been crowned the most hated lolly in the country, with 27 per cent of the vote, getting just a little more hate than Spearmint Leaves.

At first glance, they have something in common. Both are based on a very divisive flavour: spearmint is normally reserved for toothpaste and gum, while musk is more likely found in perfumes and air fresheners.

One nine.com.au staffer described the flavour of a Musk Stick as being "perfume-flavoured chalk", which sounds about right.

"It's the texture I hate, another said. And the musk. Musk is never good. Not even in perfume."

"Do Australians actually consume musk products?" one Redditor asked.

"I didn't know they still existed," another said.

It seems nostalgia comes into play when it comes to this unique confectionary.

"I like Musk Sticks they used to sell them at the corner shop for like 10c each back in the day. I would buy like $5 of them and eat them over a week."

Just one nine.com.au staffer said: "Musk Sticks are so good. I stand by this."

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