It happens every time a wacky food collaboration is announced: I grimace at the initial news; wonder to myself, "Who on earth asked for this?"; and ultimately wind up requesting samples to satiate my undying curiosity. Such was the case when Skittles unveiled a new French's Mustard flavor. The condiment-inspired candies are a limited-edition release for National Mustard Day - which is Aug. 5, for those who may not celebrate - and I couldn't resist having my own taste test. Hell, I survived eating Van Leeuwen's Hidden Valley Ranch ice cream, so how bad could these Skittles really be?

Upon opening the package, I braced myself for a pungent mustardy aroma, but there was surprisingly no distinct smell. The yellow Skittles look like the regular ol' lemon flavor, but with a less shiny outer shell and inconsistent "S" symbol placement. Emboldened by the resemblance to my favorite flavor, I popped one in my mouth, and the sensation that ensued can only be described as a shock to the taste buds.

The flavor was unexpectedly spicy, more akin to that of a dijon mustard than a Classic Yellow Mustard, and the heat got more intense as I continued chewing. The tang hit the back of my throat and felt like I'd downed an oyster topped with too much horseradish. After swallowing, the artificial taste stuck around for longer than I'd hoped, along with the yellow dye on my tongue.

All in all, French's mustard-flavored Skittles aren't quite as inedible as Brach's turkey-dinner-flavored candy corn - which I still haven't recovered from, three years later - but I wouldn't willingly snack on them again. For any mustard aficionados out there who want to try the mashup confection, you can enter online to win a special delivery or visit the French's x Skittles pop-up on Aug. 5 in New York City's Hudson River Park. As for me, I'll stick to enjoying my condiments in their intended form.