Whatever you’re doing: wherever you are.  You need to stop doing it, and sit down, and read.  This is important.

It’s possible that there’s never been anything as important as this.  This-right now-could be the apex of social importance.  Ever.  So listen up.  There’s a new bear in town: Haribo Juicy Gold Bears.

I know.  First instinct is confusion.  “But Jonny, Haribo already makes Gold Bears.”  This is true.  “But Jonny, you always say that Haribo Gold Bears are the best gummy bears-period.”  This is also true.  Or..this WAS always true-and still is.

Haribo’s new variety of Gold Bears are called “Juicy Gold Bears”.  Why?  Because they contain at least 20% fruit juice.  That’s cool.  I always enjoy real juice in gummies, it almost always brings out the full flavor of the fruit.  I was guessing that these were simply the same flavors, but juice-ified.  No, my friends.  No.

Hecka beautiful, am I right?  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s start with the old school, original Gold Bears.  Those flavors are:

Strawberry

Apple

Raspberry

Lemon

Pineapple

Orange

Haribo Juicy Gold Bears takes things into a new direction with these flavors:

Black Currant

Peach

Lime

Pear

Raspberry

Apple

Although I’m semi speechless, I’m not wordless.  Or typingless.  Therefore, we continue.

That’s another view of all of them but Black Currant (black currant and raspberry look VERY similar and I’m not super smart.  Do the math.  I MADE A MISTAKE, OK??!)

In addition to the extra fruit juice punch, these bad boys feature no artificial colors, something that’s always appreciated.  It all comes down to taste, though.  So how do these fare versus the original Gold Bears?

I’ll start by saying there’s certainly room in this world for both.  However, if given the choice, I’m reaching for these Juicy Bears, at least until the novelty wears off.  Why?  Black Currant is why.  Lime is why.  And let me tell you something- PEACH IS WHY TOO.  Add pear to that?  I’m sitting in butter, literally.

Make no mistake: these aren’t different in form from the original Gold Bears.  Check it out:

Juicy Bears on top, Gold Bears on the bottom.  ONly had 5 Original Gold BEars left, don’t hate.  Identical in size and shape, the only differences between the two are flavor, and to a certain extent, softness.  The Juicy Gold Bears were a bit softer (just a bit), but that’s probably because they’re fresh off the boat.  On that note: if I ever became a pirate, or wanted to stow away, it would most definitely be on that boat: the Haribo boat, setting sail from Germany to a port near me.  I’d go for the return trip to stock up, then ride that baby back home, complete with thousands of pounds of-

Daydreaming again.

These new flavors, combined with the soft, juicy tartness that real juice provides…is just a super winning combination.  There’s definitely, as I said before, room for both of these varieties in my life.  For now though, I’m going to focus on these newfangled Juicy Gold Bears, as they’re such a great combination of unusual gummy flavors & the classic Haribo bear feel and chew, and thus, they win life.  They certainly win the gummy of the year for me so far, and I bet you’ll agree.  I got mine at World Market-they seem to be a new standard item for them.  However, if you prefer to shop via the web (if you’re a hoarder, for instance, and don’t like/aren’t able to leave the house anymore), then click away at the link below.  This one is a no brainer, and an easy Editor’s Choice selection.

UPDATE: Amazon link below!