The Ultimate Guide to Smarties® Colours and Flavours

1. The Eight Colours of Smarties
   1. Yellow
   2. Red
   3. Orange
   4. Green
   5. Blue
   6. Pink
   7. Brown
   8. Violet
2. So, Are Smarties® Flavoured?
3. Where Does the Colouring Come From?
4. A Quick Trip Through Smarties® History
5. Where to Buy Smarties®
6. The Bottom Line  

Let’s be honest, you’ve probably at least once found yourself wondering: Do the different Smarties® colours actually taste different… or am I imagining it?

Smarties® have been fuelling snack-time debates and colour-coded preferences for decades. Join us as we unwrap the colourful mystery behind your favourite chocolate buttons and we settle the great Smarties® flavours debate once and for all.  
 

The Eight Colours of Smarties  

Yellow Smarties® 

Yellow Smarties® are basically sunshine you can snack on. Bright, cheerful, and full of energy, they’re the colour of summer holidays, lemonade stands and pineapple chunks.  

Red Smarties® 

Red Smarties® are the bold ones, sharing their colours with some of our favourite things, like strawberries, cherries, roses and superhero capes.  

Orange Smarties® 

If you’ve ever thought “Wait… do these actually taste like orange?” You’re right! Orange Smarties® are the only ones with their own flavour, and that little citrus kick comes from real natural orange oil. It’s subtle but delicious. 

Green Smarties 

Green Smarties® are the cool, calm ones in the mix. Reminiscent of grassy fields, leafy parks, and nature walks, they’ve got that earthy vibe.  

Blue Smarties® 

The blue ones have serious main character energy. Bright, bold and a bit of a legend, especially because they disappeared for a while before returning with a natural colour makeover thanks to spirulina (a type of blue-green algae). 

Pink Smarties®

Pink Smarties® are sweet, playful and full of charm. Whether your kids are all about unicorns and glitter, or you just want a pop of pastel on your bakes, pink Smarties® are a go-to.

Brown Smarties® 

Rich and chocolatey, brown Smarties® double down on cocoa goodness. Smooth, simple, and seriously scrumptious.  

Violet Smarties®  

Violet Smarties® are the quiet surprise of the bunch. Their unique colour makes for twilight treats and stargazing.  
 

So, are Smarties flavoured? 

The short answer is no, today all Smarties® share the same creamy chocolate mouthfeel – apart from orange ones, which also have orange oil in them.  

However, in the original Smarties®, the centres had different flavours: coffee, dark chocolate and orange. The milk chocolate core that we know and love today was introduced in the 1950s. The UK is now the only country where the orange Smartie® remains flavoured.   

Where does the colouring come from? 

What’s the secret behind Smarties®’ colours? Since 2006, all they’ve have been derived from natural ingredients, including: 

• Spirulina, a type of algae that grows in salt and fresh water  
• Red Radish, a crisp and peppery root
• Safflower, a thistle-like flower that resembles a lion’s mane
• Red Beet, a sweet, purple-coloured root vegetable
• Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric
• Beta Carotene, an orange pigment found in many vegetables like carrots and pumpkin
• Malt Barley, derived from barley grains  

These vibrant hues make Smarties® the perfect companions for your baking adventures (did anyone say Smarties® Rainbow Cake?). Discover the tastiest and most colourful recipes in our Smarties hub. 

A quick trip through Smarties® history 

Your favourite chocolate treats have been around since the 1880s. Originally called “Chocolate Beans” (charming, but not quite as catchy), they were renamed ‘Smarties’ in 1937 to match their playful, colourful vibe. That’s why, 142 years later, they’re still fun – and delicious.