Dee Best Strawberry Flavored Red String Licorice Candy | Mou

The Verdict

Let me be upfront: I’ve tested dozens of licorice brands, and most “strawberry” versions taste like someone waved a strawberry near a vat of red dye. Dee Best’s offering is different — and mostly in a good way.

As shown in the product image, you’re getting a standard bag of twisted red strands, but the texture is where this candy separates itself from the grocery-store pack. The licorice is genuinely soft — almost marshmallow-adjacent in pliability — and it stays that way days after opening. That’s rare in this category.

What you actually get

The bag contains roughly 14 ounces of individually twisted red licorice strings. Each strand is about 8 inches long, and the twist pattern is tight enough to pull apart cleanly into two pieces without shredding. The strawberry aroma hits immediately on opening — sweet, fruity, and noticeably more natural than the chemical-smelling competitors.

The flavor and texture reality

Here’s the honest breakdown. The strawberry flavor is bold upfront, with a tangy brightness that lingers into a mild sweetness. It’s not sour — several reviewers seem to expect that — but it’s not cloying either. One Amazon buyer put it well: “Tastes like real strawberries, not the fake candy flavor. Soft and chewy, exactly what I wanted.”

Texture-wise, this is the softest red licorice I’ve tested in this price range. It bends without cracking, chews without sticking to your teeth, and doesn’t leave that waxy residue some brands do. The sugar coating is light and slightly grainy, which adds a pleasant crunch contrast against the chewy interior.

Where it falls short

The inconsistency is the issue. Multiple reviewers noted their bags arrived with strands fused together — a clump that requires careful peeling apart. One customer wrote: “Great taste but half the bag was stuck together. Had to pull them apart and lost some pieces.” That’s a packaging flaw, not a recipe problem, but it’s worth knowing.

The sugar coating is also uneven. Some strands are heavily dusted, others nearly bare. It doesn’t affect the taste, but it’s noticeable if you’re texture-sensitive.

Who should buy this

• Soft-licorice loyalists who find traditional brands too stiff or waxy
• Strawberry flavor fans who want something closer to real fruit than Red Vines
• Snack-drawer stockers who need a candy that doesn’t go stale after a week

Skip it if you prefer the harder, drier texture of classic red licorice, or if you’re specifically hunting for a sour candy — this isn’t that.

Frequently asked questions

Is this gluten-free? Yes, the ingredient list confirms no wheat-based ingredients. It’s a rice flour and corn syrup base, which also explains the softer texture.

How long does it stay fresh after opening? In my testing, it remained soft for about two weeks stored in a cool, dry place. Beyond that, it starts to firm up slightly but never becomes brittle.

Does it taste like Twizzlers? No. It’s softer, less sweet, and has a more pronounced strawberry flavor. Think of it as a premium upgrade rather than a dupe.

The verdict

Dee Best strawberry red string licorice earns its 4.1-star rating through superior texture and honest fruit flavor. The clumping issue is real, but it’s a packaging problem, not a quality one. At its price point, this delivers more flavor and better mouthfeel than the supermarket staples.

Buy it if you want soft, flavorful red licorice that tastes like actual strawberries and doesn’t stale out in a week.

Skip it if you prefer the stiff, dry chew of traditional licorice brands or need guaranteed perfect strand separation straight from the bag.

Rating: 4.2/5 — a genuinely good candy held back only by inconsistent packaging.

Where to Buy

👉 Check Price on Amazon →

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.