What Flavor Are Swedish Fish, Really?
Swedish Fish have one famously hard-to-place flavor. It is not fish, and not quite any single fruit. Here is what the red Swedish Fish flavor really is, plus the other colors.
The classic red Swedish Fish are most often described as lingonberry or a generic red-berry flavor, though Mondelez has never pinned it to one fruit. Most people taste a sweet, slightly tart berry that is not raspberry, cherry, or strawberry exactly. They are not fish-flavored at all; the name comes from the shape and the Swedish company that invented them.
What flavor is the classic red Swedish Fish?
The original red Swedish Fish are usually described as lingonberry or simply 'berry'. Mondelez keeps the exact flavor vague, which is part of the charm: it is a sweet, mildly tart red-berry taste that does not map cleanly to any one fruit.
Are Swedish Fish fish-flavored?
No. There is nothing fishy about them. The name comes from the fish shape and the Swedish company Malaco that created them, which we cover in Are Swedish Fish actually Swedish?
What about the other colors?
Beyond the classic red, assorted and tropical bags add orange, yellow, green, and purple Fish, each with its own fruit flavor. The red original is still the one most people picture.
Why is the flavor so hard to place?
It is a proprietary blend, and nostalgia does the rest. If you like that chewy, fruity texture, real Swedish pick-and-mix candy has a far wider range of berry and fruit gums. Checking labels? See our guides on gluten and gelatin and vegan status.
Frequently asked questions
What flavor are red Swedish Fish?+
Red Swedish Fish are usually described as lingonberry or a generic red-berry flavor. Mondelez has never officially named a single fruit.
Are Swedish Fish cherry or berry?+
Most people taste a unique berry flavor rather than cherry. It is sweeter and less sharp than cherry candy.
Do Swedish Fish taste like fish?+
No. They are a sweet berry-flavored gummy. The fish name refers to the shape and the Swedish company that invented them.
Keep reading
Gustav Lindqvist · Candy Master
Gustav grew up in Sweden on a strict Saturday-candy schedule, mixing his lördagsgodis bag at the lösgodis wall before he could spell salmiak. He has spent years tasting his way across Scandinavian candy, and now curates the range at TheSweetsTruck, from BUBS sour skulls to the saltiest licorice most people cannot finish.
Last updated 6/8/2026