While the name acid may give off a negative impression, malic acid is often found in foods that taste good and are good for you. Malic acid is found naturally in foods and is sometimes added to candies and jellies to give off a sour then sweet taste. Its low melting point also makes it a good addition to be incorporated into hot, liquid foods.
Fruits
Malic acid is found in all fruits, but its levels may vary from fruit to fruit. Because malic acid makes a food taste initially tart, then sweet, the fruits highest in malic acid tend to taste in a similar fashion. Fruits highest in malic acid include sour cherries, nectarines, prickly pears and apples. Other fruits that contain lower but significant levels of malic acid include kiwis, bananas, oranges, lychees, grapes, peaches, mangoes, strawberries and tomatoes.
Beverages
Malic acid is added to several beverages as a means to enhance flavor. In carbonated beverages, especially artificially sweetened ones like diet drinks, malic acid often is added to enhance flavor. Other fruit-flavored beverages, including sports drinks, fruit drinks and teas, often contain malic acid. Powdered drink mixes that can be mixed with water also often contain malic acid and often taste more sour than those flavored with citric acid. Wine also has a presence of malic acid, and the acid itself helps to age the wine in addition to giving it flavor.
Candies and Sweets
Malic acid is found in a variety of candies, ranging from hard to soft and everything in between. Malic acid can be found in sugarless or sugar-containing chewing gum to give a lasting sour taste. Gummy-type candies that utilize gelatin or pectin also often contain malic acid. Hard candies and even cough drops also count malic acid as an important component. Particularly in cough drops, malic acid may help to mask any medicine taste.
Other sweet-tasting foods also contain malic acid. These include jams and jellies--especially when used as a filling for desserts like doughnuts, snack cakes and fruit bars. Ice cream, sherbet or shaved ices with tangy-tasting syrups also may have some level of malic acid.
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