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Flavor, like fragrance, can instantly transport us down memory lane to far-off places. Tasting treats from around the world is an adventure in pleasure (thank you, green tea Kit Kats) and disappointment (I’m looking at you, Turkish Delight). This list of memorable international candy is a great way to reminisce about favorite places we’ve visited, plan trips to new countries, and find snacks that will make your home the “cool house” for trick-or-treaters this Halloween. Ready for a road trip through your taste buds? Let’s start sampling!
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Japan – Pocky
Japanese snacks are famous among candy fans. When I was a kid, my mom took her first overseas trip to Japan. She brought back these amazing, chocolate-covered cookie sticks, and these became my childhood favorites. Pocky was once hard to find in the United States, but today the iconic treat is found in many grocery stores and international markets. And now you can even get the popular snack in different flavors, including strawberry, cookies and cream, and matcha green tea.
Japanese candy is famous among candy lovers, and Pocky has always been my favorite. Photo by Christy Nicholson.
Spain – Chupa Chups
I asked a friend from Spain what treat she recommends from her home country, and she said Chupa Chups. I found a bag of these flavorful lollipops at a store just down the street and discovered this candy brand is popular with adults and children alike. (If someone asks you why, as an adult, you are enjoying a lollipop, you can tell them Salvidor Dali designed the logo of this lollipop. Thus, you are appreciating art.) Creamy Strawberry seems to be the favorite flavor of everyone who tried the ones I bought.
I’m not usually a fan of hard candies, but these Chupa Chups lollipops won me over. Photo by Christy Nicholson.
Germany – Milka and Haribo
Germany has so many candy options that it’s hard to pick just one. A friend told me he visited the Rittersport headquarters with teenagers a few years ago and found quirky chocolate gifts and a place to make your very own Rittersport bar. From my memories of Germany, though, two treats stand out. The first is Haribo, Germany’s famous candy company that developed the original gummy bears. Our family who lives in Germany always makes sure we have a steady supply of Haribo treats whenever we see them. And when we visited Germany during the holidays a few years ago, they also introduced us to delicious Milka chocolates in the form of giant chocolate Santas. (And yes, they also have chocolate ghosts, in case you are looking for a spooky treat.)
Haribo and Milka are two of our family favorites from Germany. Photo by Christy Nicholson.
Colombia – Bianchi Choco Snacks
Our family first found Bianchi Choco Snacks through the international snacks box Universal Yums. Imagine chunks of crumbled chocolate cookies covered in white chocolate – yum, right? My kids certainly think so. They come running every time I mention them. There are also versions filled with caramel, coconut, and even passionfruit. Sounds like I need to add them to my shopping list!
[ctt template=”5″ link=”jU84a” via=”yes” ]This list of memorable international candies will make your house the “cool house” for trick-or-treaters this Halloween. [/ctt]
Taiwan – Jeagueijh Passion Fruit Flavor Konjac Jelly
A friend visiting us from Taiwan heard that our family likes trying new foods, so as a fun surprise, she ordered a box of Taiwanese treats for us. These Konjac Jellies are some of the most interesting things we’ve sampled. Imagine a bit of Jello in a tiny pouch, with just the right bit of light sweetness. You may be familiar with similar jelly cups from other countries in Asia, but this version is made without food coloring or preservatives, and the ingredients are vegan and non-GMO.
I had heard of Konjac as an ingredient in healthy shirataki noodles, but I had no idea it was also used to make delicious jelly treats! Photo by Christy Nicholson.
Austria – Manner
When we visited my sister-in-law in Vienna years ago, one of the first things on her itinerary was to introduce us to Manner, Austria’s Neapolitan wafer bar. She knew I had a sweet tooth and rightly decided I needed to try one of the most popular snacks in Austria. We took Manner candies on a long overnight train ride, and they were just the comfort food we needed for a crazy travel adventure. Whether you try Neapolitan, chocolate, vanilla, coconut, or lemon, the bars are light, crunchy, and satisfying. Bonus: Several varieties are dairy-free!
You can easily break Manner bars apart to share with others (but with something this yummy, you may not want to). Photo by Christy Nicholson.
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South Africa – Bar One
A friend who moved to South Africa a few months ago surveyed her teen and tween girls about candy, and they said Bar One is the best candy bar there. The chocolate bars, made from malted nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate, were invented in South Africa over 50 years ago.
South Korea – Lotte Strawberry Jellycious Gummies
These Lotte Strawberry Jellycious Gummies were another discovery from our Universal Yums monthly subscription. The strawberry-shaped gummies have an extra cream layer added to them, making the flavor smoother and more complex than your average fruit gummy. Plus, they smell absolutely wonderful. My kids always finish a bag of these in no time.
The soft textures and bursting flavors of these gummy strawberries make them a favorite with my kids. Photo by Christy Nicholson.
United Kingdom – Walker’s Shortbread and Cadbury
When my husband and I first visited the UK on our honeymoon, we became addicted to Walker’s Shortbread because hotel staff left the cookies (or in UK-speak, “biscuits”) in our room every day. But for sugary candy recommendations, I asked a friend who is living there now with her three kids. She suggested the famous Cadbury chocolates. Other recommendations from her list include Colin the Caterpillar gummies and Percy Pig gummies, especially the Phizzy Pigtails. The different shapes of gummy candies will never cease to amaze me. These sound so ridiculously cute that they are definitely going on my to-try list!
I was forced to buy this Cadbury dark chocolate and Walker’s shortbread as “research” for this article. It’s a hard life. Photo by Christy Nicholson.
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New Zealand – Pascall’s
New Zealand is definitely on our travel list, especially because we have a teenager obsessed with Lord of the Rings. I asked a mom friend from there what candy we’ll find when we visit, and she said that Pascall’s is the main brand of “lolly” (candy) in New Zealand. She recommended Pascall Pineapple Lumps (pineapple-flavored marshmallows covered in chocolate), Jubes (chewy, sugar-coated gummy fruit), and Jet Planes (gummy jet planes, sure to be a hit with airplane fans).
There’s no better way to develop an appreciation for different cultures and countries than with tasty treats. Sampling the most popular candies from around the world is one of our family’s favorite things to do together, and I hope your family loves it too. Whether you sign up for your first box from Japan Crate or Universal Yums or wing it with a trip to your local international market or neighborhood candy shops, the unique flavors you find are sure to become family treasures (or at least a memorable experience!).
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