We all instinctually know it to be true: red candy is the best flavor of all the candies. And by red, we mean all shades of red ― that includes pink, too. Even if we can’t say what exact flavor red candy is ― strawberry, cherry, watermelon, perhaps? ― it’s the one that feels superior to most of us.

凭直觉我们都了解一个事实：红色的糖果是所有糖果中最好吃的。所谓的红色，是指红色系的各种颜色——其中也包括粉色。就算我们对红色糖果真实的味道并不甚喜欢——草莓味，樱桃味，又或者是西瓜味？——对我们来说它依然是最棒的糖果。

Why, we wondered, is this the case? Well, according to marketing¹ experts and psychologists interviewed by Slate², flavor and color influence our choices in a way that puts red and pink on top for a variety of reasons.

我们可能会思考，这其中原因为何？Slate杂志对市场学专家和心理学专家进行了采访，据他们所说，处于多种原因，基于味道和颜色的影响，我们总会将红色和粉色作为自己的第一选择。

First, it’s the least threatening hue³ because red-colored fruit tends to be the least acidic of all the fruits. Secondly, red candy is thought to be sweeter. Apparently⁴, it is perceived to taste 10 percent sweeter than other colored candies, despite having the same sugar content. Charles Spence, a University of Oxford⁵ psychologist, explained to Slate that the reason for this is because in nature, red often indicates ripeness and sweetness.

首先，红色的水果是所有水果中含酸性物质最少的，因此红色就成为了最无害的颜色。第二，人们通常认为，红色的糖果更加甜美。研究证明，与糖分相同的其他颜色的糖果相比，人们会感觉红色糖果的甜度高出了10%。牛津大学的心理学家Charles Spence对Slate杂志解释说，这是因为，在自然界中，红色往往意味着果实成熟，且十分甜美。

So why do candy companies bother with the other flavors? Because people like options ― it makes them feel less bored, explains Spence.

所以说糖果公司干嘛劳神费力去生产其他颜色的糖果呢？——有其他颜色的点缀，会让红色糖果看起来不那么单调。Spence解释说。