British Sweets

Sweets Fit For the Queen: Tasting Britain's Biggest Treats

August 28, 2012

British Sweets

1 / 26

Curious to find out if British drugstore sweet treats had much to boast beyond their novelty factor, we set out to sample nearly two dozen varieties. While some were doozies — one candy prompted the exclamation that "it tastes like I licked an old lady" — we found some delightful new favorites and a few improved versions of American analogues. Find out what we'll be buying in bulk.

1 / 26

by Nicole Perry 10

‹ Back to Homepage

popsugar live!

NOW

Click to watch POPSUGAR Live! now!

10 Comments

Talulila 33 weeks 6 days

@shloobi much agreed! @Nicole Perry I couldn't find your comment back to me, seems to have disappeared. Anyway, Yes indeed chocolate is something I'm passionate about! I find the evolution of this beautiful fruit from it's original Mayan and Aztec consumption all the way to beautiful Parisienne and London "Chocolate Houses." Chocolate/Candy/"Bon Bons" are a great way to map the evolution of culture worldwide. Whether it's the childhood nostalgia we all have in common for treats and trips to the Candy Shop or women's almost romantic/intimate relationship with chocolate. It's use as an aphrodisiac for lovers, a health aid, a cure for common magnesium and iron deficiencies and a beautifier in women. It's all fascinating. I'm about to visit my family back in Europe for Christmas, perhaps I'll have to get Santa to send off a package of the best european treats to the Pop Sugar office!! lol. x

Nicole Perry 34 weeks 6 h

@shloobi Looks like we'll have to add Galaxy to the list of British treats to try! Apparently it's supposed to be the same or very similar to Dove chocolate in the US, which I'm very fond of. I'm not a big Hershey's fan either (too sour and waxy), but I think for many of the brand's fans its a nostalgic treat and is appealing for that reason. I found the Jaffa bar in the British section of a sweets shop stateside, maybe it's not very popular?

shloobi 34 weeks 6 h

I'm from England and I'd say the best of these is either Dairy Milk or Galaxy, but that's what I grew up with so I suppose that's why =) As an outsider to American chocolate, I haven't tried much, but you can get Hershey's here in a few places and I found the milk chocolate to have a weird aftertaste =S By the way, I've never heard of the Jaffa Bar or seen it in any shops

Nicole Perry 38 weeks 2 days

@Talulila The candies we tasted were imported from the UK, so ought to have been made with the original recipe, though I have heard of candies having slightly different recipes depending on their intended market, so that's a valid concern (I wouldn't be surprised if much of the Cadbury Dairy Milk available in the US is a different recipe — ours was the British style, as it was a direct import from the UK). Personally, and I can't speak for the rest of our tasters, I find that most American drugstore type candy bars (which would be the closest analogue to these treats) to be too sweet, and lacking in true chocolate flavor/cacao content as well (though I do LOVE Peppermint Patties), and we did enjoy some of these sweets quite a bit, as is reflected in our commentary. I'd love to know which British candies are your favorite, since you're so passionate on the subject!

Talulila 38 weeks 2 days

This is SOO strange.... American chocolate bars/candies actually contain more sugar, more wax, and less actual chocolate than UK bars/candies. I'm not sure therefore why people felt that way. American candy bars always make me feel sick and I can't really stand the taste, I have to always buy european imported chocolate or have UK candy bars delivered. Also, the answer may lie in the fact that "UK' branded chocolate and candy sold to a US market is made with a different recipe. A recipe to "suit" the american palette and comply American standards. Maybe that's why. Did the take place in the US using candy bars purchased in the US?

siarlas 40 weeks 2 days

OK, while I'm out buying my Violet Crumble, I now have to add a Bounty and Curly Wurly to the list. I grew up with Bounty's, but Curly Wurly's I didn't encounter until I was about 13. Then I had them every chance I got!

siarlas 40 weeks 2 days

@Susannah Chen OMG, thanks. Now I have to go buy a Violet Crumble at lunch! I love love love Violet Crumbles. Far prefer them over a Crunchie. I know quite a few people don't like the texture, prefering the Crunchie's honeycomb, but for me it's the opposite.

Susannah Chen 40 weeks 2 days

@siarlas I haven't had many Aussie candies, but i LOVE Violet Crumble.

siarlas 40 weeks 6 days

You guys don't know what you're missing out on! Although I must agree with the British chocolate being a little on the sweet side. We've got our own version of half of those in Australia. Get the Aussie version and the chocolate isn't as sweet.