The British aren't known for sweets. The French, the Americans, and the Danish do, but those in the UK? Not so much. Though the country's cuisine has lots of classic desserts that the rest of the world has also fallen in love with, sweets were never their top priority. Nevertheless, there are some British candies you simply have to try. Toffee is a good example. Fudge, as well, is a definite must-try! And Apple drops? You've never lived until you've tasted it! Don't count these confections out just because they're British. You'll find that they might just be the tastiest treats you'll ever get to have!
Toffee
More than just your ordinary confection, toffee is a British culinary staple. They don't just eat it as candy, but they've also incorporated it into various desserts. The most famous of which is the sticky toffee pudding, regarded as one of, if not the tastiest dessert in British cuisine. That alone should tell you how much they love toffee! Soft and chewy, it has a caramel-like richness to it. But while the latter is made up of sugar, water, and cream or milk, toffee is only made up of butter and sugar. Hence, the sweetness is purer than caramel.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Stratford490
Butterscotch
Right up toffee's alley is butterscotch, another of the beloved British candies. Primarily made with brown sugar and butter, it's among the most saccharine treats on this list. One cube of it alone is enough to rot your teeth! But then, that's why it's so beloved in the UK and beyond. You'll also find that butterscotch has become a common ingredient in various, ranging from pastries for
afternoon tea to sundaes and parfaits. It's also the kind of traditional candy that you can expect your grandmother to always have in her purse.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Evan-Amos
Fudge
Up for a
British holiday treat? Then go for a nice helping of fudge. You might regard it as another form of chocolate but it doesn't always have to have cocoa in it. There are other ways to serve fudge, including little cubes that can give away as candy. This is usually how the British enjoy them, whether it's during the holidays or not. Made with butter, sugar, milk, and oftentimes, chocolate, one mouthful is enough to give you that sweet sensation that you were looking for. But don't just stay with the usual chocolate fudge. Try the other flavors too!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Turkish Delight
Despite its name, Turkish Delight is as much a part of the list of traditional British candies as it is a
Turkish treat. It's just that people in the UK have fallen head over heels for this candy that they've considered it their own for many years now. Like fudge, you'll find that Turkish Delight is a holiday treat too. These gelatinous treats come packed in tin cans, wrapped in shiny paper, and decorated with ribbons and bows. They're usually fruit-flavored, such as bergamot orange or lemon, and enthused with pistachio nuts, hazelnuts, or chopped dates. And to finish them off, they're sprinkled with powdered sugar for that signature sweet frost!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ TAPS
Apple Drops
By its name alone, you can already tell what Apple Drops are all about. One of the few editing penny British candies around, apple drops are small confections that taste exactly like their namesake fruit. Though instead of tasting sour, a citrussy sweetness overtakes the taste buds upon popping into your mouth. Still, its tart aftertaste is what makes it such a worthwhile confection, both for kids and adults alike. And the fact that many candy manufacturers have come out with their own versions of the traditional treat means that it remains popular to this day!
Source: Flickr.com/ Marco Verch Professional Photographer
Seaside Rock
Whatever you're thinking of what the seaside rock might taste like, there's probably a semblance of truth in it. Just as it implies, seaside rock is among the hardest of the British candies, at least, in its outer shell. Once you get to the center of the tube candy, you'll find that it's also chewy too, making for quite a fascinating sensation. You'll also realize that the more you chew and bite into it, the more you taste its slightly minty flavor. And no, despite its name, the seaside rock doesn't have a slick of saltiness in it!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Paul Hudson
Pink Shrimp
Delving deeper into the seaside theme for British candies, there's also the pink shrimp. Don't worry! Its shrimp shape and pink color are the only qualities that allude to its shrimp name. Everything else is standardly sweet and saccharine. Despite its suggestive name, you won't taste any salty flavor in this traditional treat. Instead, you'll enjoy its foamy texture as it is, in fact, a seafoam candy. You might even find it softer and spongier than the average marshmallow. And the taste? As sweet as can be! Before you know it, you've already finished an entire plate of pink shrimp!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Need some sugar to put a pep in your step? Consider tasting these 7 British candies. There's no doubt that you'll feel better once you've gotten a taste of these delectable treats. You might even consider one, two, or all of them as your new favorite sweets!
