# 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:** 6
**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, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/101 "2018-09-13T14:43:17Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > …Columbia… > Lindt (German, I think?)… Colombia. Swiss. ---
**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, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/102 "2018-09-13T15:33:41Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I’m surprised there’s not more talk about Ferrero Roche hazlenut candies here. Ferrero Roche_r_. I remain disappointed that none of the[ambassadorial events](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-nZZkQqTc) I’ve attended has had them. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/103 "2018-09-13T16:45:00Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > 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. 😕 When I worked with a lot of Indian people I _loved_ when they brought in “sweets” from home. Not super sweet, but super flavorful. Pistachio and honey and who knows what else. I’d love to learn to make them. I wouldn’t call them candy though. For one thing, I think most were homemade. For another, they usually had a cake or cookie or fudge consistency rather than hard or chewy like what I would call candy. Maybe we’re talking about different stuff? If anybody has a link to a description and/or recipe of various Indian sweets, I’d love to see it. I don’t even know what to call the various things I ate. I just know I’d go into work sometimes and there would be a big platter of tiny slices or cubes or balls of delicious stuff in the break room. ---
**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, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/104 "2018-09-13T17:25:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > 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_. But as you admitted earlier, you havent had any of the prestige American Chocolatiers, like Vosges, Jacques Torres, Scharffen Berger, etc Like I said, in America you can find top grade chocolatiers. [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/intelligent-travel/2012/12/28/the-10-best-chocolatiers-in-the-world/](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/intelligent-travel/2012/12/28/the-10-best-chocolatiers-in-the-world/) ---
**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, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/105 "2018-09-13T20:17:32Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > If anybody has a link to a description and/or recipe of various Indian sweets, I’d love to see it. I don’t even know what to call the various things I ate. I just know I’d go into work sometimes and there would be a big platter of tiny slices or cubes or balls of delicious stuff in the break room. > **[List of Indian sweets and desserts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_sweets_and_desserts)** > > This is a list of Indian sweets and desserts, also called mithai, a significant element in Indian cuisine. Indians are known for their unique taste and experimental behavior when it comes to food. Many Indian desserts are fried foods made with sugar, milk or condensed milk. Ingredients and preferred types of dessert vary by region. In the eastern part of India, for example, most are based on milk products. Many are flavoured with almonds and pistachios, spiced with cardamon, nutmeg, cloves and... ---
**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, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/106 "2018-09-13T21:26:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But as you admitted earlier, you havent had any of the prestige American Chocolatiers, like Vosges, Jacques Torres, Scharffen Berger, etc Sure. And this pointless badgering would be of some moment if I’d said anything as stupid as “All American candy everywhere is crap except See’s”, rather than what I _did say, which was to specifically reference my own experience : " everything else_ I’ve had\*\* has been absolute crap". Although, given that you \*also \*included 2 brands I \*have \*had, and didn’t like, in your first attempted gotcha, I don’t hold out too much hope as to my liking the rest of them. I’ll see when I’m in the US later this year, I always try the local chocolate. ---
**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 13, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/107 "2018-09-13T21:35:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I don’t hold out too much hope as to my liking the rest of them. I’ll see when I’m in the US later this year, I always try the local chocolate. Might you be making a stop in [Philadelphia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Confectionery)? ---
**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, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/108 "2018-09-13T21:38:11Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Might you be making a stop in [Philadelphia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Confectionery)? Only Houston, I’m afraid. Also, I’m afraid Shane looks a little bit … hipster. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/109 "2018-09-13T21:49:03Z")
I used to love Callard & Bowser nougat but it vanished for a while - seems its back again so I thank the OP for starting this thread and causing me to look it up - I see my future more clearly now. > **[Champion & Reeves | Luxury Home-made Dessert Nougat](https://championreeves.com/)** > > Traditionally Luxury Shropshire confectionery I’ve always enjoyed jellied fruits - a firm jelly outer casing with a soft syrupy centre > **[Meltis Newberry Fruits - Original Fruit Jellies](http://www.newberryfruits.co.uk/)** > > Meltis newberry fruits are original fruit jellies with an iconic liquid centre and a sugar crust. They are made by Hosta Meltis, originally in Bedfordshire. Another that has not been mentioned is the famous chocolate eclair toffee - these were a treat above the average sweet candy - I remember they did a blackcurrent version but have not seen that around for years > **[Cadburys Chocolate Eclairs | Chocolate Pouches | British Corner Shop](https://www.britishcornershop.co.uk/cadburys-chocolate-eclairs)** > > Cadburys Chocolate Eclairs are a sweet, decadent and unforgettable confection. No mention of hard fruit sweets such as Fox’s Glacier fruits and Mints - I’ve seen youtubes of Americans trying to eat them, by crunching them :smack: - but these are intended to last for a while because you are supposed to you suck them down to nothingnes [http://www.englishshop.se/en/articles/2.46.4642/foxs-glacier-mints-130g](http://www.englishshop.se/en/articles/2.46.4642/foxs-glacier-mints-130g) Last of all to mention are the jelly gummy sweets made by Haribo which also have a line called MOAOM their factory is just up the road from me, they have some ultra tangy versions that take some getting used to, incredibly tart, as well as the more conventional gummies - I would be interested in reading your views on any of these > **[HARIBO UK: no. 1 in fruit gummies worldwide](https://www.haribo.com/en-gb)** > > HARIBO is available in more than 100 countries: here you’ll find all the information about the company, international job offers and contacts for our locations. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/110 "2018-09-14T00:36:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Sure. And this pointless badgering would be of some moment if I’d said anything as stupid as “All American candy everywhere is crap except See’s”, rather than what I _did say, which was to specifically reference my own experience : > " everything else_ I’ve had\*\* has been absolute crap". > > Although, given that you \*also \*included 2 brands I \*have \*had, and didn’t like, in your first attempted gotcha, I don’t hold out too much hope as to my liking the rest of them. I’ll see when I’m in the US later this year, I always try the local chocolate. My WAG would be that you have made up your mind that all American chocolate is crap. ---
**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 14, 2018, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/111 "2018-09-14T08:19:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My WAG would be that you have made up your mind that all American chocolate is crap. Like I said, I like See’s. My anticipation of dislike is experience-based (both low-end stuff like Hershey’s and some of the premier brands you first mentioned), but like I said, I am happy to try more brands when I’m there. So, you’re projecting like a lighthouse. Oh, and I like (chocolate) M&Ms well enough (not as much as Smarties, which have’t had artificial colours for more than a decade, and a different shell crunch point) , but I don’t know if ours are imported or made here. Same-same for Skittles. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/112 "2018-09-14T08:33:53Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I wouldn’t call them candy though. For one thing, I think most were homemade. DRRRP? 😕 :smack: Ah. Candy doesn’t have to be industrial. A lot of the sweets mentioned in this thread aren’t candy, that I agree with, but even those which are normally sold from industrial sources don’t have to be industrial, any more than cakes have to come from a baker. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/113 "2018-09-14T13:16:03Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > DRRRP? 😕 > > :smack: Ah. > > Candy doesn’t have to be industrial. A lot of the sweets mentioned in this thread aren’t candy, that I agree with, but even those which are normally sold from industrial sources don’t have to be industrial, any more than cakes have to come from a baker. Well, I’ve made caramels before so I know candy can be homemade. But I wouldn’t consider cakes, cookies or brownies “candy” either. I just wasn’t sure exactly how to classify the Indian sweets I ate, as they seemed closer to fudge or cookies than the nearly pure sugar confections I’m used to calling candy. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/114 "2018-09-14T14:26:08Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > 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. Thanks for giving me the name of the candy! I looked up Italian candy on Amazon. The ones that were the closest were Ferrara Traditional Italian Torrone. Looks like just nougat and nuts. Although they aren’t wrapped in the gold foil with saints pictures that I fondly remember. For something so beautifully wrapped they were sure were a letdown! ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/115 "2018-09-14T15:27:43Z")
Many years ago I bought some high end chocolate at the airport in Las Vegas. They had liquid centers filled with real booze. I don’t remember the name. But, I think they were part of the Mars group. I lived in Utah at the time. And due to Utah’s liquor laws, they wouldn’t ship to Utah. ---
**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 14, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/116 "2018-09-14T16:03:03Z")
I forgot to address the absolute worst. It’s not native to a country so much as a US State: Iowa. I’ve also seen it attributed to Pennsylvania Dutch and areas of Maine. [Mashed Potato Candy](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/220888/peanut-butter-potato-candy/) ---
**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 14, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/117 "2018-09-14T16:10:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Also, I’m afraid Shane looks a little bit … hipster. According to Food Network, they have the best candy in the country. ---
**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 14, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/118 "2018-09-14T16:49:13Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Only Houston, I’m afraid. Try [Araya](http://www.arayachocolate.com/); they have a store off I-610 just south of the Arboretum and their factory store is out in Katy at Route 99 & Highland Knolls, two miles south of I-10. ---
**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 14, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/119 "2018-09-14T17:47:46Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > According to Food Network, they have the best candy in the country. Food Network is \*not \*my go-to for what constitutes good food. Or even edible food. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > Try [Araya](http://www.arayachocolate.com/); they have a store off I-610 just south of the Arboretum and their factory store is out in Katy at Route 99 & Highland Knolls, two miles south of I-10. Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to see if i can get there. ---
**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 14, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731/120 "2018-09-14T23:19:01Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > I don’t remember the name. They call them chocolate liqueurs [http://www.sweetas.net.au/brands/anthon-berg.html](http://www.sweetas.net.au/brands/anthon-berg.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-best-worst-unique-candy/820731.md?page=7)