# Describe for me what American sweets and treats are like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2006, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590 "2006-06-06T08:48:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/61 "2006-06-07T09:01:36Z")
**Mangetout** described not only a Sherbert Fountain, but the entire essence of eating one. They are yummy, but due to the associated inhalation of large quantities of sugar and bicarb will quite possibly lead to some kind of sherbert based asbestosis-like lung damage in later life. I’m mostly into Chocolate, while my husband like jelly sweets (he like Marks& Spencer’s Percy Pig and Friends, and the Natural Confectionary Company jellies). I should mention (and **jjimm** can probably confirm) that Irish and British Cadbury’s chocolate tastes different. I like the British better (mmmm…vegetable oil) because I think it’s creamier and smoother than the slightly grainy Irish stuff. I don’t like American candy, not Hershey’s anything, or even Reese’s Pieces, it all tastes chalky and the chocolate doesn’t coat the inside of your mouth properly. To me, American chocolate tastes like the cheap “chocolate flavoured topping” you find on poorer quality sweets. I do try to avoid Nestle products, but sometimes, they make it very, very hard. I like their KitKats (wafer covered chocolate), Galaxy chocolate, Fruit Pastilles (sugar covered chewy jellies), Wine Gums (hard jellies) and Smarties (sugar shells filled with chocolate, sort of like M&Ms, but nicer). However, my all time, chocolate bar of choice is the (British) [Cadbury Bournville bar](http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Cadbury_Bournville.html). It pretends to be a good quality dark chocolate, but it isn’t. It’s a sweet, dark chocolate that has has a nice melty consistency and coats the inside of your mouth. Cadbury’s Flakes are best eaten as a 99- a flake stuck in a cone of vanilla icecream, preferably bought from a man with tattoos in an icecream van. Wafer, icecream and flake thus combine to give an iconic childhood seaside, summertime treat. Of course, when I have the money I upgrade to the good stuff- [Green and Black’s](http://www.greenandblacks.com/chocolate.php) Maya Gold or Ginger or 70% Dark chocolate. Obviously, therefore I eat _chocolate_-covered Leprechaun testicles. Get it right! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/62 "2006-06-07T09:07:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Another frozen thing I don’t know if you have over there is ice cream sandwiches, which come in foil wrappers - it’s crappy ice cream between two chocolate cookie things, rectangularly shaped. And now I want one.. Have you tried the Toll-house Ice cream sandwiches? They are ice cream between two toll-house chocolate chip cookies which are miraculously chewy and fresh seeming while frozen. It’s so much better that the regular chocolate wafer variety. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/63 "2006-06-07T09:34:38Z")
We have KitKats here in the US as well, and they are one of my favorites. Mmmm…krispity goodness. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/64 "2006-06-07T11:07:28Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] Toffifay: A hazelnut in a chocolate and caramel cup. Comes in a weird little plastic tray. [/QUOTE] Do you mean [Toffifee](http://www.toffifee.de/small.html)? They’re German, and pretty common in this part of the world. Utterly delicious. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/65 "2006-06-07T11:22:27Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] **Mangetout** described not only a Sherbert Fountain, but the entire essence of eating one. They are yummy, but due to the associated inhalation of large quantities of sugar and bicarb will quite possibly lead to some kind of sherbert based asbestosis-like lung damage in later life. [/QUOTE] Ah, the dreaded Sugar Lung. I thought Pixie Sticks were the only cause. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/66 "2006-06-07T11:26:01Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] I should mention (and **jjimm** can probably confirm) that Irish and British Cadbury’s chocolate tastes different. I like the British better (mmmm…vegetable oil) because I think it’s creamier and smoother than the slightly grainy Irish stuff. [/QUOTE] I concur entirely, the Irish is cloying and has a more rounded taste, and add this Cadbury fact: due to the rougher texture of the Irish Cadbury’s chocolate, all Flake bars for European distribution are made in Dublin. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/67 "2006-06-07T11:35:43Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] Do you mean [Toffifee](http://www.toffifee.de/small.html)? They’re German, and pretty common in this part of the world. Utterly delicious. [/QUOTE] Looks like they’re called [Toffifay](http://www.candydirect.com/bars/Toffifay.html) for the US market. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/68 "2006-06-07T11:50:23Z")
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder] Looks like they’re called [Toffifay](http://www.candydirect.com/bars/Toffifay.html) for the US market. [/QUOTE] That makes no sense whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/69 "2006-06-07T11:52:20Z")
My all time favorite candies for everyday are [Peanut M&M’s](http://us.mms.com/us/about/products/peanut/) At halloween time it’s especially dangerous because I’ll buy 10-15 pounds of them in those little treat bags. I never get any trick or treaters so then I get to eat them all. Happy day! ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/70 "2006-06-07T13:33:32Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] That makes no sense whatsoever. [/QUOTE] What makes no sense is that they are supposedly too good for kids. I personally won’t eat them. They were too good for me then; they’re too good for me now. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/71 "2006-06-07T16:22:37Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] Do you mean [Toffifee](http://www.toffifee.de/small.html)? They’re German, and pretty common in this part of the world. Utterly delicious. [/QUOTE] As Ferret Herder pointed out, they’re called Toffifay here. Made by Storck. Amazingly good. Riesen is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/72 "2006-06-07T16:47:10Z")
What, no mention of [Jolly Ranchers](http://www.candydirect.com/search.php?keywords=jolly%20rancher) yet? Always preferred these to what passed for chocolate when I was a kid. Those, cinnamon bears, and Good n Plenty. ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/73 "2006-06-10T16:06:59Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] Ok, so, I know from reading books and watching movies and TV that you have HoHos and Twinkies and Ding Dongs and Baby Ruths and so on, but I don’t actually know what these things _are_ or what they look like. I was watching _The Closer_ the other night, and Kyra Sedgewick was eating some kind of round brown thing wrapped in foil. Now, I know it was one of your treats, but I don’t know which one, and what it is made of or what it tastes like. So, I know Twinkies are a sort of yellow cake thing with sweet white cream in the middle, can you tell me about the others? [/QUOTE] Irishgirl American sweets are so very different from any thing you will most likely buy over seas that describing them is more than difficult. And while the others in this thread have done a great job so far, in my mind the only way to know for your self is to actually try them. In that vein, I would be willing to send you a variety of my favorite sweets. If you would like me to, just drop me an e-mail and tell me where to send it. ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/74 "2006-06-10T16:50:40Z")
I’m not American, but I find this thread interesting. 🙂 [QUOTE=LiveOnAPlane] Jeepers, is there no one here willing to mention [Moon Pies?](http://www.answers.com/topic/moon-pie) Washed down with an RC Cola, of course. Of course, this is a pretty regional American sweet, and subject to jeers and jokes by those who just do not know better. 😉 [/QUOTE] Hey, they look kind of like [Wagon Wheels](http://www.darefoods.com/products/cookies/wagon_wheels/wagon_wheels.aspx). We have arsey… I mean RC Cola in Canada, too. 🙂 And what you’re all describing as Nutty Buddies would be called Drumsticks or Nutty Royales here. I always thought Wine Gums were common. Maynard’s is the brand I see most often. [QUOTE=irishgirl] I should mention (and **jjimm** can probably confirm) that Irish and British Cadbury’s chocolate tastes different. [/QUOTE] That’s pretty interesting! I’ve never had any other Cadbury chocolate than what we have in Canada. I read that Cadbury products in the US are produced by Hershey. I’m curious as to how Canadian Cadbury would compare to American, Irish and British Cadbury. Anyone have experience with this? (The word Cadbury is beginning to look misspelled because I’ve typed it so much.) Toffifee is spelled Toffifee in Canada, too, at least in the two places I’ve lived (opposite coasts). My family and I have always pronounced it Toffifay anyway, and then I met a girl from England who called them “Tof-fee-fee”. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590/75 "2006-06-10T17:58:06Z")
[QUOTE=rinni] I’m not American, but I find this thread interesting. 🙂 Hey, they look kind of like [Wagon Wheels](http://www.darefoods.com/products/cookies/wagon_wheels/wagon_wheels.aspx). [/QUOTE] Beat me to it. Moon Pies are wagon wheels, except for the names and a few other changes. I always wanted to know what a Twinkie tasted like. Might seem strange to the average American who can eat twinkies all day if they want, but for the longest time I really, really wanted one. I think since I saw Die Hard. So when my dad was Stateside a few years back, I gave him explicit instructions not to return without Twinkies. I would judt like to say this: Twinkies are disgusting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-for-me-what-american-sweets-and-treats-are-like/359590.md?page=3)