When you think of Skittles, one of the most iconic parts of the candy is its bright, colorful appearance—and for many, that red Skittle instantly triggers one flavor in mind: cherry. Or at least… it used to.
Today, we dive into another strange and colorful Mandela Effect—this time involving one of the most recognizable candies on the planet.
The Memory
The red Skittle was cherry flavored.
Many people vividly remember cherry being the flavor of the red Skittle in the original bags. It had that classic cherry candy taste we’ve all had before. In fact, ask around and you might be surprised how many friends, family members, or coworkers will say, without hesitation, “Yeah, red was definitely cherry.”
But…
The Reality
Red Skittles have always been strawberry flavored.
That’s right. According to official Skittles packaging and statements, the red Skittle is—and has always been—strawberry. Cherry has never been part of the standard Skittles flavor lineup.
This discrepancy between memory and reality has become so widespread that it actually prompted a response from the official Skittles X (formerly Twitter) account. After a user posted that they had always thought the red ones were cherry, Skittles replied:
“The Mandela Effect is real.”
Skittles themselves acknowledged how common this false memory is—further fueling the discussion around just how strong and specific these shared misrememberings can be.
Final Thoughts
This Skittles example might seem small, but it highlights the strange and consistent nature of Mandela Effects. When brands themselves start playing into it—like Skittles tweeting about the Mandela Effect—it only adds more intrigue.
Do you remember red Skittles being cherry? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check out more flavor-bending Mandela Effects here at MandelaEffects.net.
