The textures and flavors might be new to you — and they’re real eye candy, too.
The trend may have come in on the sugary coattails of last year’s “candy salad” mania, in which content creators layered or mixed several different shiny candy-coated and gummy yummies in treat bowls or clear glass jars.
Swedes love sweets. So, when an American TikToker sparked a craze for Swedish candy last year, there was pride that an important part of national culture was being recognised around the world. The Swedes have lördagsgodis – Saturday sweets – where families chew through more than 1kg of sticky treats in an evening.
The tradition began in the 1950s when the Swedish medical authorities were trying to combat rising tooth decay and said sugar should be eaten just once a week. The idea is now a cherished part of the culture.
Nordic countries, in general, are crazy for candy. On a trip to Iceland a few years ago, I was amazed by the wide selection of sweets sold by the pound at even the most average-looking gas stations. But if any one particular country knows its candy, it’s Sweden, whose residents, according to a study by the Swedish Board of Agriculture, eat more per year per capita—more than thirty pounds per person each—than the citizens of any other nation.
Swedes rank among the world’s foremost candy guzzlers, consuming an impressive average of 17 kilograms per person and year. And if you ask what type of candy they love above all else, the answer is most likely to be pick and mix, or Swedish bulk candy. Preferably on Saturdays.
Here are 5 of the best-loved types of Swedish candy, and healthy alternatives to sweet treats, you simply have to try:
Swedish fish
Discover the iconic taste of Malaco Swedish Fish, the beloved gummy candy that has been enjoyed by candy enthusiasts for generations. These chewy, fish-shaped candies are bursting with fruity flavor, making them a delightful treat for both kids and adults alike.
Gott & Blandat
These tasty little treats are available in a wide range of flavours, but original is up there as one of the most popular. In a packet of Gott & Blandat Original, you are treated to fruity, soft-textured, jelly candies in a variety of fun shapes and sizes that are bound to get your taste buds tingling with delight. There are even some liquorice flavoured candies mixed in for the occasional salty surprise.
Bubs Dizzy Skull
A dizzy skull? No we promise, you will not get dizzy from eating this piece of candy. If you are the bubbelgum type, however, you will find that it is a dizzingly good skull. Dizzy Skull is, with its pink and blue hue, a real color explosion with a taste of bubble gum. However, it does not have the properties of the bubble gum so we do not guarantee that you can blow bubbles.
Ahlgrens Bilar Original
Ahlgrens bilar are small, fruity marshmallow sweets in the delightful shape of a little car, and they are the most popular car in Sweden. These cool cars come in three different colours – green, white and pink. Full of fruity flavours and a delicious tangy finish, this is a chewy candy; not soft but with a sublime marshmallow texture.
The iconic bag is boldly designed in bright yellow and red, with a transparent mid-section that clearly shows the mouth-watering cars. A bag of Ahlgrens bilar brings a bright and inviting splash of colour into your day; tempting you to dive in and indulge in your favourite candy.
Author: Tray Solomon
Malaco Zoo
Malaco Zoo is one of Sweden’s most famous candy brands. Both the contents and the bag’s design with the monkey, giraffe and parrot are Swedish classics on the candy shelf. The candy bag fits well for the party or in the candy bowl.