Sweets are an undeniably important part of popular culture. To delve into local cuisine when visiting the United Kingdom, these sugary treats are must-tries for anyone wishing to discover what Brits love about their traditional candies. Here are 10 scrumptious sweets that all British people have tried and tested.
Parma Violets
Parma Violets are an iconic yet controversial choice for any Brit. Created in 1946, these retro candies are hard, crunchy discs with an incredibly sweet and floral flavour. Although you either love or hate them (with many arguing that their taste is comparable to perfume), it’s clear these sweets have a huge national fan base, with over 100 million rolls being made by the company ‘Swizzels’ every year.
Cadbury Dairy Milk
Dairy Milk is one of the most adored sweet treats in Britain, thanks to its uniquely rich recipe, and has frequently ranked as the best-selling chocolate bar in the UK. First created in the early 1900s and popularised for its high content of milk, which gives the bar its creamy consistency, the brand has since been bought by American giant Mondelez International. Cadbury now offers a wide selection of products, including Fruit & Nut, Jelly Popping Candy, Darkmilk, and even holds competitions allowing chocolate lovers a chance to create their own confection.
Liquorice Allsorts
Liquorice Allsorts are an assortment of soft, liquorice treats made from a variety of ingredients, including coconut and aniseed jelly flavourings. These confections were first created in Sheffield by Bassett’s Company. This nationally treasured mixture was supposedly created by coincidence when a Bassett’s sales assistant accidentally mixed up a tray of sample sweets. Although these are a traditional British favourite, they have since become popular in various locations, including the Netherlands and South Africa.
Rock
Rock is a more old-fashioned choice, comparable to its American counterpart, the Candy Cane. Originally sold at Victorian fairgrounds during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this sugary, cylindrical snack is inexpensive and comes in a variety of flavours. Made from boiled syrup which is then traditionally ‘pulled’ by hand (though now more commonly produced by machine), Rock is a rite of passage for any tourist visiting a seaside town in Britain.
Dip Dab
Dip Dabs are a childhood throwback and a corner shop classic. Essentially a strawberry-flavoured lollipop dipped into a bag of sour and tangy sherbet, this tasty treat creates a fizzing sensation on the tongue. Once the lollipop becomes sticky, it is repeatedly dipped into the sherbet and sucked clean, acting as an enjoyable novelty for children.
Wine Gums
These chewy sweets are always a popular choice. Despite their name, these candies actually contain no alcohol. However, inventor Charles Gordon Maynard had to convince his strictly teetotal and Methodist father to allow him to sell the product with a type of alcohol in its name. These sweets are well-recognised for their uniquely fragrant and pungent flavours, often labelled after popular drinks, including champagne and sherry.
Terry’s Chocolate Orange
Terry’s Chocolate Orange is a Christmas must-have, flying off supermarket shelves around Britain during the festive season. Invented in York in 1932, the product has since been bought by various European firms, making this sweet treat now available in numerous countries across the globe. Comprising segments stuck together in the form of an orange and wrapped in decorative orange-coloured foil, the best part for children is the customary ‘whacking’ on a hard surface required to crack the chocolate ball apart.
Jelly Babies
First manufactured in Lancashire, Jelly Babies are soft sugar gummies in the shape of small, plump babies. After a dip in popularity for a short period, the sweets were later revived by Bassett’s in Sheffield, Yorkshire, where the treats were then mass-produced. Their vibrant colours correspond to their comical names, including Brilliant, Boofuls, Bumper, Bubbles, Big Heart and Baby Bonny.
Aero
Aero is well known for its bubble-shaped pieces and has been manufactured by Nestlé since the 1980s, although it was originally created and popularised in the 1930s by Rowntree’s. The small bubbles within the bar give the chocolate its signature ‚airy‘ texture. Aero is available in a plethora of flavours, including the most popular mint, caramel and orange. The chocolate is also available in various dessert forms, including mousse, ice creams and biscuits. While it was released in the US during the 1980s and found to be particularly unpopular there, Aero continues to find fans across the world in places like Argentina, Australia, Hong Kong and various other locations.
Maltesers
Last but certainly not least, Maltesers. Although iconic to the British public, they were originally created by an American, Forrest Mars Sr., well known for his Mars candy empire, which included the creation of Mars Bars and Milky Ways. The product has been sold to various companies over the years. Consisting simply of a ‚malt‘ centre surrounded by milk chocolate, Maltesers are undeniably one of the most popular sweets the UK has to offer. Interestingly, they were initially marketed as a ‚lighter‘ chocolate option for women trying to lose weight during the 1930s.
In conclusion
Sampling British sweets has been a delightful experience. From the distinctive Parma Violets to the airy Aero, each sweet offers a taste of the country’s rich cultural fabric. This journey through flavours has been a uniquely delicious way to explore British culture.
If you’d like to try some of these treats yourself, visit candy-store.cz and discover a range of British sweets to sample and enjoy!
