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The people's choice

We asked. You answered with resounding, patriotic support for Smarties. The Canadian candy-coated chocolate pellets were the clear winner of The Globe's online People's Choice Candy War last week.

A whopping 91 per cent of voters said they would eat Smarties, versus the lonely 9 per cent who voted to "trash" them, making Smarties the People's ultimate Halloween treat.

Coffee Crisp was also an unmistakable favourite. Eighty-eight per cent voted in favour, overtaking Crunchie, with 79 per cent.

Online voters were equally emphatic about the candies they'd like to trash. Only 24 per cent of online voters said they would eat Halloween Kisses, versus 76 per cent who would toss them. Krabby Patties and Ring Pops were similarly unpopular, with 75 per cent and 73 per cent voting to trash them, respectively. In the murky middle are sweets like popping candies (48 per cent "eat it"; 52 per cent "trash it"), Dots (55 per cent "eat it"; 45 per cent "trash it"), Tootsie Pops and Tootsie Rolls (58 per cent "eat it"; 42 per cent "trash it"), and Popeye candy. (45 per cent "eat it"; 55 per cent "trash it.")

But as one online commenter suggests, the real battle is won merely by getting your hands on some candy – any candy. The best Halloween candy is the candy you sneak out of your kid's bag. "Go on, admit it!"

Expert's choice

If you're planning to dole out Halloween Kisses to trick-or-treaters this year, you could be the least popular house on the block.

Kisses proved to be the biggest loser in last week's five-day candy battle, judged by an expert panel of sweets lovers assembled by The Globe – reporter Dakshana Bascaramurty, Web editor Cliff Lee and candy aficionado Alvaro Geiger, 9.2

The molasses-flavoured taffy, received a mere 7 points out of a possible 30, compared with our judges' top pick, Coffee Crisp, which scored 23 points.

The candy bar's victory was a narrow and controversial one, however. Its java flavour appealed more to mature palates. ("Ewww," said Alvaro.)

Coffee Crisp only managed to edge a half-point advantage over the toffee bar Crunchie, deemed "borderline too-sweet" by our panel. Sour Patch Kids and Krabby Patties represented the gummy candy category well by tying for third place with 22 points each.

As for those Halloween Kisses, besides their "nauseatingly strong punch of molasses flavour," the experts gagged over the texture. "What begins a rock-hard confection that cannot be penetrated by the teeth later warms in the mouth to a noxious, gooey consistency."

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