# What country has the best/worst/unique candy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2018, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731 "2018-09-04T11:22:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/81 "2018-09-12T18:24:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > See the thing is more where you buy your candy as opposed to what nation you are in: > > The rack up by the registers or in a small bota or convenience store- mostly crap. > > The selection in the candy isle of a supermarket- you can get some decent stuff. > > a dedicated chocolate store in a Mall- you get Sees or Godiva. Quite nice. > > A dedicated chocolatier- great stuff, very expensive. The CVS nearby has stuff like Lindt and Ghirardelli in an endcap on the candy aisle. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/82 "2018-09-12T20:42:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So you have tried Vosges, Ghirardelli , Gearhart’s, Godiva, Rocky Mountain and so forth? No, yes, no, yes, no. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/83 "2018-09-12T21:02:43Z")
See’s? Gack! I think that stuff is definitely third-rate candy. I think even Hershey’s is better. Now, when I’m God-Emperor of Earth, licorice will be banned in all forms, punishable by poking with a sharp stick. OTOH, Mexican candy and the better stuff from Godiva and Ghiradelli will be on offer in my throne room. For the others, of course. I’ll have the Cadbury. The “charm” of dark chocolate is completely lost on me. Milk chocolate is it. Actually, not even that. I prefer white “chocolate” to all other kinds. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/84 "2018-09-12T21:27:09Z")
I don’t want to offend anybody, but I have a lot of Indian coworkers, and have learned to hard pass every sweet they bring back from home. Just nasty. The food, however… mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/85 "2018-09-12T21:50:11Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’ve had three different Indian sweets: > > 1. Doughnut hole in thin syrup. - Not bad, but not really all that foreign. > 2. A variety of milk-based, mealy cookie-like things. - Not bad for about half a second, then you get hit with the hint of spoiled milk and goat funk. Do not love. > 3. [Paan](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/paan-lovers-here-are-5-reasons-why-this-mouth-freshener-is-good-for-you/helpful-in-maintaining-oral-hygiene/photostory/64201726.cms). - Sort of like eating perfume. 1. on your list is gulab jamun. I love those. Whenever they’re available at my local Indian buffet, I get 4 - 6 as takeout and have them at home with an appropriately complimentary tea. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/86 "2018-09-12T23:51:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > There are some Cadbury chocolate bars available in the US, but I’m pretty sure they taste different than the ones you buy directly in the UK (or I guess Australia). I think they’re actually made domestically. > > You can find thinks like Crunchies and Flakes in the US, but generally only at specialty shops that go to the trouble of importing them. US Cadbury is now (last I checked, last year) made by Hershey. Which is like saying “Our steak house uses Taco Bell meat for the steaks”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/87 "2018-09-12T23:57:35Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > US Cadbury is now (last I checked, last year) made by Hershey. Which is like saying “Our steak house uses Taco Bell meat for the steaks”. No, not at all. Look, Hershey does make a unique milk chocolate that some dont like. But they make many other products too, and they use Cadbury formulas in their cadbury products. They certainly dont taste anything like Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/88 "2018-09-12T23:58:39Z")
> [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](#): > > That’s torrone. My nonna, from Lombardy, had it around for special occasions. I remember a pale blue box, with some sort of religious picture on it. And the torrone had whole almonds in it, and a wafer-y outside. Do I remember it coming in different flavors, like lemon and orange? Yes you do. I wonder if torrone gets stale fairly quickly compared to other types of candy. That could easily explain my disappointment with it. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/89 "2018-09-13T00:01:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, not at all. Look, Hershey does make a unique milk chocolate that some dont like. But they make many other products too, and they use Cadbury formulas in their cadbury products. They certainly dont taste anything like Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. I made a more or less side-by-side comparison across the border, and it was significantly different - and not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/90 "2018-09-13T00:05:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > For weird and/or bad, the salmiak licorice(“Zout”) they sell in Scandinavia and the Netherlands has to be right up there. It kind of grows on you after a while, but the first time you try it, it’s basically salty black licorice with a hit of ammonia. I just ate the dog. Before that, I ate the farmer’s wife. 🙂 (Note: Some Dutch licorice is sold in cute “on the farm” shapes. :)) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/91 "2018-09-13T00:52:08Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I visited Denmark almost 20 years ago and brought back some very weird candy packages from the airport. They showed a dog farting and a rat vomiting fire outside a sewer pipe on the packaging, named HUNDPRUTTEN (Dog Farts, clearly) and KLOAK SLAM. > > They tasted fine and were a big hit at my office because of the logos. Too bad I didn’t get pics of them. If I Google for them now they’re still available, but with different images. Maybe you should try [these](https://soranews24.com/2015/10/24/gudetama-the-lazy-egg-is-adorable-even-as-he-poops-and-vomits-%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/92 "2018-09-13T02:19:18Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > No, yes, no, yes, no. So, what chocolate brands do you like? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/93 "2018-09-13T03:33:48Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’ve had three different Indian sweets: > > 1. Doughnut hole in thin syrup. - Not bad, but not really all that foreign. > 2. A variety of milk-based, mealy cookie-like things. - Not bad for about half a second, then you get hit with the hint of spoiled milk and goat funk. Do not love. > 3. [Paan](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/paan-lovers-here-are-5-reasons-why-this-mouth-freshener-is-good-for-you/helpful-in-maintaining-oral-hygiene/photostory/64201726.cms). - Sort of like eating perfume. #2 appears to be Barfi. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/94 "2018-09-13T05:41:01Z")
I saw a video on youtube of 2 women trying Australian lollies and chips. Americans trying Australian candy. They seemed to like most of it. One of them stuffed so much in, I was surprised she didn’t explode. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/95 "2018-09-13T07:25:10Z")
> [@blob](#): > > I saw a video on youtube of 2 women trying Australian lollies and chips. Americans trying Australian candy. They seemed to like most of it. One of them stuffed so much in, I was surprised she didn’t explode. 😃 Maybe [these culinary explorers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKDkHphSMLM)? Overall they seem to enjoy a head-first charge into diabetes country. [Warning to Australians - their first task is to try Vegemite, and they use Marmite! FFS. It gets better after that] ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/96 "2018-09-13T07:37:15Z")
> [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](#): > > That’s torrone. My nonna, from Lombardy, had it around for special occasions. I remember a pale blue box, with some sort of religious picture on it. And the torrone had whole almonds in it, and a wafer-y outside. Do I remember it coming in different flavors, like lemon and orange? Ah, I think the one **TRC4941** described was _turrón del blando_! AKA _turrón de Jijona_. There are other varieties of [turrón](https://www.google.fr/search?q=turron&rlz=1C1GCEA_enFR811FR811&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRzpj_u7fdAhVK0RoKHRv7AvoQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662), of course: _turrón del duro_ (AKA Alicante) is a white brick with whole almonds inside and the large sides protected by wafer (keeps it from sticking to things), hard enough to count as a blunt weapon. _Guirlache_ is also tough: it’s solid caramel with almonds and/or pine nuts. Those are three of the most-traditional varieties, there are many others and of course a lot of new ones get tried every year for Christmas. And while Jijona doesn’t get stale (_turrón_ just doesn’t), I have to admit it may be my least-favorite kind; I don’t like the texture. You know, when I previously wrote Spain had been through everybody’s kitchens it was meant as a joke, but the amount of sweets listed here that have a Spanish version is really large. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/97 "2018-09-13T07:46:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, not at all. Look, Hershey does make a unique milk chocolate that some dont like. But they make many other products too, and they use Cadbury formulas in their cadbury products. They certainly dont taste anything like Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. And they perhaps don’t taste exactly like English Cadbury. Cadbury is a cost-competitive international company with different formulations for different markets. They are squeezed on the high side by quality chocolates, and squeezed on the low side by Mars brands. People who want cheap chocolate don’t buy Cadbury, and people who want good chocolate don’t buy Cadbury. In Aus they tried producing a premium brand, and people wouldn’t buy it because of the name. Then they tried to go down market, and faced a big market backlash. It’s a tough business. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/98 "2018-09-13T08:10:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, what chocolate brands do you like? I mostly buy directly from [local](http://www.huguenotchocolates.com/) [chocalatiers](http://honestchocolate.co.za/) But big brands I like include Frey, Lindt, Ferrero Rocher, Green & Black’s, Michel Cluizel, various Cadbury’s and Nestlé bars (the Crunchie and Flake already mentioned, as well as Aero), Toblerone, and the Terry’s Chocolate Orange. I’m not a chocolate snob, it’s just that most American chocolate I’ve had tasted _wrong_, somehow. It’s similar to how American Coke tasted subtly _wrong_. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/99 "2018-09-13T08:15:45Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Maybe [these culinary explorers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKDkHphSMLM)? > > Overall they seem to enjoy a head-first charge into diabetes country. Yes, that’s them. The young woman on the left stacked away a lot of lollies. Her mum was a bit more restrained. I felt a bit sick just THINKING about putting away so much 😃 It is a pretty good video showing what a lot of local treats are, if anybody is interested. Because I’m a bit fussy, I don’t usually buy “foreign” treats unless I know what they are; if I don’t like them they’ll end up in the bin, and imports can be a bit pricey. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/100 "2018-09-13T14:29:51Z")
American here, not a fan of Hershey’s milk chocolate. The best chocolate I’ve ever had was from Columbia, and said “80%” on the package. I got it at Trader Joe’s, along with several others marked as high as 97%. I do think a bit of butter and sugar brings out the chocolate flavor though, like a splash of water in a good scotch it just opens it up. Mrs. Green’s used to carry this hot chocolate mix with a name that sounded Aztec, I can never quite remember it. The box had information about their artisan chocolate shop, so it probably isn’t widely available. The stuff was absolute heaven, with a mix of spices that I’ve been trying to mimic ever since. Mrs. Green’s closed and I’ve never found it again, but that was the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. It’s always surprising to me to see Europeans complaining about the sweetness of American candy. I’ve said the same thing about candy in Ireland. The fudge always tastes more of sugar and condensed milk than of cocoa. In the US, our fudge is meant to be the most overwhelmingly chocolate flavor of all. And the Cadbury’s milk chocolate tastes more like malt than chocolate. Overwhelmingly every cookie, candy or biscuit I tried in Ireland tasted more of sugar than any other flavor. Lindt (German, I think?) does OK chocolate, and is available here in the better grocery stores. I especially like their dark chocolate bars with the raspberry filling, and the hazelnut ones. I love all the Japanese Kit Kats, and wish I could try every flavor. Truly magical candy, to me, is that which captures authentic flavors. I don’t like the perfumey stuff. The one exception to this rule is cheap “banana” flavored taffys, like now and laters. I absolutely love that and have to ask a friend to hold it for me so I don’t eat the whole pound. Second to the hot chocolate mix above is a proper Scottish toffee. It has to be just the right mix of lightly browned butter, golden syrup, and gently toasted almonds with just a hint of saltiness to it. I haven’t had a good one in decades, but I’m always hoping to find it. The toffee inside a Skor bar comes very close, but it’s hard to get past the chocolate to be sure. If I could only buy it in one pound blocks. . . I’m surprised there’s not more talk about Ferrero Roche hazlenut candies here. Those may well be third down on my list of perfect candies. They were impossible to find in the US when I was young, but are in every drug store now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731.md?page=6)