Lollies, or candies as they're sometimes called, are delightful treats that can be found around the world. They come in all shapes, sizes, and flavours, and there is nothing sweeter than indulging in some on a warm summer day.
Speaking of which, how many lollies can you name? Surely, there are at least five different types in your house right now, and you’re most likely familiar with some of the Australian favourites, such as Allen’s Red Ripperz (formerly Red Skins) and Cadbury Freddo Frogs, to name a few. On a side note, don’t you just love all these alliterations!? Anyway, there are probably tens or hundreds of thousands of different lolly variants in Australia alone. Now, imagine what the world has to offer. There’s everything from the popular American Jolly Ranchers and the British (though typically assumed to be American) Skittles to lesser-known ones in other countries, which would comprise most of what we’ll be exploring in this blog post this month!
ICELAND
With its fiery landscapes and icy cold winters, it's no wonder that Iceland is known as the Land of Fire and Ice. The country has an impressive cultural history with Norse mythology, in particular, drawing much attention from around the world! One thing you may not have heard about, though? That their lollies are some pretty amazing confections too! Due to restrictions on imports until recently, Icelanders have been prompted to create their own unique sweets.
You might be curious as to why this particular lolly is covered in wrappers that have the number three inscribed on them. The term “Þristur” is actually derived from the Icelandic word “þrír”, which means “three”. We’re not sure, but we suppose it stands for the three flavours that make up the local favourite: chocolate, toffee, and liquorice! Þristur is a fudgy chocolate bar with a gooey toffee centre and three of the smoothest liquorice strings you've ever tasted (perhaps this also explains the name?). If you love any of the three, then you definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on this!
As for this second Icelandic lolly, its name translates to “bingo bullets”. Similar to Þristur, we don't know why it's called that, either, but can assume that it has something to do with their shape and the feeling you get upon biting into them...bingo! Anyway, Bingókúlurs are little dark chocolate balls with a liquorice fudge centre. Sounds familiar? Well, that’s because Icelanders are notorious for their love of liquorice and their affinity for pairing it with chocolate!
Not a fan of liquorice? Not to worry because there are other Icelandic brands that offer lolly variants without the salty confection. One such brand is Rís, a milk chocolate bar embedded with crispy corn puffs. With its chocolatey goodness and crunchy sensation in every bite, it comes as no surprise that this treat is sought after by many tourists!
INDONESIA
Did you know that, in addition to having over 17,000 islands, Indonesia also boasts a plethora of lolly brands that are well-known far beyond its borders? Some have been around for over 30 years, having been produced locally or by well-known international companies. In fact, many tourists from nearby Asian countries flock to Indonesian supermarkets during holiday seasons just to get their hands on some of their favourite lollies!
You can never go wrong with Yupi if you like gummies. According to its website, Yupi, formally known as PT Yupi Indo Jelly Gum, has been the market leader in gummy candy products in Indonesia since 1996 and is one of the most dominant South East Asian manufacturers in the industry. They manufacture gummies in a variety of forms and flavours, usually in the guise of familiar dishes. Among these are hotdogs, pizza, iced cola, strawberries, mangoes, and a variety of other foods. Do you need a fix? You'll be pleased to learn that their products are available in Australia as well!
So, you can't live without a cup of coffee, but you're trying to cut back on your caffeine intake, huh? Then we've got just the thing for you. Kopiko, another prominent Indonesian confectionery company known for its coffee-flavoured products, makes hard coffee candies that actually include coffee bean extract. Depending on how you take your coffee, you may pick between two flavours: original and cappuccino! These candies are particularly useful if you're always on the go and don't have time to make coffee. Furthermore, 4-5 pieces of the original flavour have the caffeine equivalent of a cup of espresso, whereas the cappuccino flavour only has half as much.
Made by Mayora—yet another confectionery giant in Indonesia—this snack is every chocoholic’s dream come true. This Indonesian delight has four layers of heaven: an innermost wafer that’s just the right amount of crunchy and sweet that’s drizzled with luscious caramel sauce; rice crispies; and last, a thick coating of chocolate to ensure you can't resist grabbing one or two!
MEXICO
Let's be honest, who hasn't had at least a taste of Mexican food? Whether it’s tacos or burritos or everything in between, the popularity of this cuisine has no bounds. However, it's no longer limited to these mainstream dishes. Mexican candies are also taking over the internet by storm, and it’s not hard to see that with all the numerous vloggers who have posted their own “trying Mexican candy” videos.
Grab some water before you get a bite of this powdery sweet, and try your best not to break it into pieces when opening! Mazapan is a peanut and sugar delicacy that, as you may have already hinted from the name, is a cousin of Marzipan, which is made with almonds and sugar. It basically tastes like peanut butter but in powder form, and hey, even if Vegemite reigns supreme, who doesn’t love peanut butter!?
Whereas licorice is a staple in Icelandic treats, the Mexicans prefer tamarind. A popular Mexican candy with tamarind as a primary ingredient is Pelon Pelo Rico, which comes in red and green bottles. Pelon means “bald” in Spanish, and so, pressing down these bottles would apparently release “hair” in the form of tamarind-flavoured jelly candy, giving your taste buds a delightfully spicy kick!
This is not your ordinary lolly. Rockaleta Lollipops will take you on a roller coaster of flavours and sensations as it features four layers, each with its own unique chilli-based taste—starting with red as the hottest, then the less intense green, yellow, and orange. These layers make up for what feels like an amazing journey through different zones of spiciness before ending in luscious mango bliss at the centre!
SOUTH AFRICA
You may recognize South Africa as the world’s biggest producer of gold, platinum, and chromium, but what you probably don’t know yet is that they also produce spectacular lollies! These are manufactured using locally sourced ingredients, so rest assured that you'll only be eating the best of what South Africa has to offer.
A lot of people aren’t sure whether to classify gum as food or candy, but that’s irrelevant because Chappies is too good of a gum to leave off this list! An iconic South African sweet, this is comparable to how Tim Tams is to us Aussies. It was largely popular in the 60s and 70s, and everyone knew it by its distinctive yellow wrapper with blue and red stripes, a chipmunk head, and “did you know?” questions that further piqued everyone’s interest in the gum. Aside from being chewed, it was also used for a number of other things, including providing a sugar rush for youngsters who skipped breakfast and even as a kind of payment. Chappies, without a doubt, is a member of South Africa's lolly hall of fame.
Similar to Chappies, Fizzers is yet another South African lolly that would require you to chew, chew, and chew! The key difference between the two, though, is that while Chappies is chewing gum, Fizzers can be more likened to taffy. What’s especially interesting about this candy is how its texture changes with the temperature. It's often hard and brittle when refrigerated or at room temperature, and when chewed on, it fizzes—hence the name. When heated, though, it loses part of its fizz but becomes softer and more chewable. There are numerous flavours to choose from, with cream soda and strawberry being the most prominent ones.
Mint chocolate is arguably one of the most controversial food pairings, almost on the same level as pineapples on pizza. Fans assert that it’s the perfect combination, thereby making for an enjoyable flavour. On the other hand, non-fans believe that while both mint and chocolate are delicious on their own, mixing the two is a horrible disaster. Anyway, love or hate the flavour, there’s no denying that Peppermint Crisp is a huge hit in the country. In fact, South Africans have been enjoying this milk chocolate bar packed with mint-flavoured cracknel for decades!
For the love of lollies, let us know: which of these different lollies around the world are you most fond of, and which are you looking forward to trying? And what countries would you like to explore on our next blog? Let’s check out their lollies soon! For now, if this post has got you craving lollies and chocolates, hit us up at 1300 664 661, and treat yourself to some of our exquisite bouquets and hampers!
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