This mix has a sweet taste, but it's not candy. It's a well-balanced blend that includes ingredients found in the natural habitat of the Gray redstart. It has a delightful aroma and is made up of almost half vegetables, nuts, and fruits. We've also added fresh and unprocessed seeds to maintain their high nutritional value. If stored in a cool and dry place like the fridge (or even the freezer), this mix will stay fresh for up to 1 year. The freshpack will still be perfect even after 2 years when stored this way.