Swedish Candy, Explained
The Sweets Truck Journal explains Swedish candy: the pick-and-mix tradition (lösgodis), salty licorice (salmiak), sour gummies like BUBS, and chocolate like Marabou and Daim. Honest guides, brand stories, and answers to the questions people actually ask, written by our Candy Master.
Swedish Candy for Parties and Events
Swedish candy is a memorable party feature. Here is how to set up a candy table for parties and events that pleases kids and adults alike.
Is Salty Licorice an Acquired Taste?
Is salty licorice really an acquired taste, or just bad? The honest answer, plus how to actually acquire the taste for salmiak.
Salty Black Licorice: A Guide
Salty black licorice is the Nordic specialty that splits opinion. Here is what makes it salty, how it differs from sweet licorice, and how to try it.
Djungelvrål: The Salmiak Test
Djungelvrål is the Swedish salmiak licorice so salty it is used to test outsiders. Here is what it is and how to survive it.
Polly: Sweden's Foam-and-Filling Classic
Polly is the Swedish candy that pairs soft foam with a chocolate or fruit filling. Here is the story of a retro favorite.
Plopp: The Swedish Chocolate-Caramel Bar
Plopp is the Swedish chocolate bar with a soft caramel center that generations grew up on. Here is the story.
Swedish Candy Myths, Debunked
Are Swedish Fish Swedish? Is all licorice sweet? We debunk the most common myths about Swedish candy.
Is Swedish Candy Healthier Than American Candy?
Is Swedish candy actually healthier than American candy? The honest answer, plus where it does have an edge (gelatin, dyes, portions).
Swedish Candy Words Every Fan Should Know
Godis, lösgodis, lördagsgodis, salmiak, skum: a quick glossary of the Swedish candy words every fan should know.
The History of Swedish Candy
Swedish candy has a surprisingly rich history, from sugar's arrival to the Saturday-candy tradition and the rise of salmiak. Here is the short version.
How Swedish Candy Is Made
How is Swedish candy made, and why does it taste different? Here is a simple look at the ingredients and methods behind gummies, foam and salmiak.
Swedish Candy Flavors Explained
Swedish candy flavors run from bright fruit to intense sour, salty licorice and milky chocolate. Here is a guide to the flavor families that define it.
The Best Swedish Sour Candy
Swedish sour candy goes harder than the American kind. Here are the best Swedish sour candies to try, from BUBS skulls to S-Märke discs.
Swedish Chocolate: Marabou, Daim, Kexchoklad and More
Swedish chocolate is everyday, milky, and beloved, led by Marabou and joined by Daim and Kexchoklad. Here is a guide to the Swedish chocolate worth knowing.
Vidal: Spanish Gummies in the Mix
Vidal is the Spanish gummy maker whose bright, fruity shapes are a staple of European pick-and-mix. Here is what it adds to a Swedish-style bag.
Bulgari: Italian Marshmallow on the European Wall
Bulgari is the Italian marshmallow maker that rounds out a European pick-and-mix. Here is what it brings to a Swedish-style candy bag.
Matthijs, Frisia and Lonka: The Dutch Neighbors
Dutch and Swedish candy overlap closely, which is why Matthijs, Frisia and Lonka turn up alongside Scandinavian brands. Here is who they are.
S-Märke: The Sour S-Stamped Classic
S-Märke is the Swedish candy known for its sour, S-stamped discs. Here is the story of a tangy pick-and-mix staple.
Mormor Lisas: Grandma's Swedish Candy
Mormor Lisas means Grandma Lisa's, and the brand leans into exactly that nostalgic, home-style Swedish candy. Here is the story.
Grahns: Family-Run Swedish Raspberry Classics
Grahns is the family-run Swedish maker known for raspberry candy and sour classics. Here is the story of a beloved indie brand.
Aroma: Stockholm's Gelée Candy Maker
Aroma is the Stockholm maker behind classic Swedish gelée candy and jelly figures. Here is the story of a Swedish candy institution.
Sockerbit: The Swedish Sugar-Cube Candy
Sockerbit means sugar cube in Swedish, and it names a soft, sugar-coated candy classic. Here is what sockerbit is and where it fits.
Bon Bon: From Stockholm Shop to Candy Brand
Bon Bon started as a Stockholm candy shop and grew into a Swedish brand. Here is the story of a pick-and-mix favorite.
Lakerol: A Century of Swedish Pastilles
Lakerol is the blue-tin pastille that has sat on Swedish counters for over a century. Here is the story of a Swedish classic.
Candy People: Modern Swedish Pick-and-Mix
Candy People is the modern Swedish brand turning pick-and-mix into bright, often-vegan bags. Here is what makes its curated Swedish candy mixes stand out.
Fazer: The Finnish-Swedish Chocolate Icon
Fazer is the Finnish chocolate institution that Sweden adopted as its own. Here is the story behind the blue bar and the brand's salty-licorice side.
What Is Godis? The Swedish Word for Candy
Godis is the Swedish word for candy, and it comes with its own culture. Here is what godis means and the words every Swedish candy fan should know.
Swedish Foam Candy (Skum): A Guide
Skum is the airy, marshmallow-like foam candy that Swedes adore, from foam bananas to Ahlgrens Bilar. Here is what skum is and what to try.
Gluten-Free Swedish Candy Guide
Most Swedish gummy and licorice candy is naturally gluten free, but some is not. Here is a guide to gluten-free Swedish candy and what to watch for.
Vegan Swedish Candy: What to Try
A surprising amount of Swedish candy is vegan, starting with BUBS. Here is what vegan Swedish candy to try and how to spot it.
Swedish Candy Gift Boxes and Ideas
Swedish candy makes a memorable gift. Here are gift box ideas for every occasion, from a salmiak dare to a crowd-pleasing sweet mix.
Swedish Candy Mix: How to Choose
A Swedish candy mix is the easiest way to taste the range. Here is how to choose a great mix, balancing sweet, sour, salty and chocolate.
Scandinavian Candy: A Country-by-Country Guide
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark each have their own candy identity. Here is a quick country-by-country guide to Scandinavian candy.
Swedish Candy vs American Candy
Swedish and American candy look similar but taste worlds apart. Here is how they really differ, from sourness to salty licorice to how it is sold.
Swedish Gummy Candy: A Guide
Swedish gummy candy goes harder on sour and texture than the American kind. Here is a guide to the best Swedish gummies and where to start.
Malaco Classics: Gott & Blandat, Djungelvrål and More
Malaco is the brand behind Sweden's everyday candy classics, from Gott & Blandat to the brutally salty Djungelvrål. Here is the lineup.
Kexchoklad: Sweden's Wafer Chocolate
Kexchoklad is the crisp wafer-and-milk-chocolate bar that Sweden treats as an everyday classic. Here is the story behind the crunch.
Ahlgrens Bilar: The World's Best-Selling Car
Ahlgrens Bilar are the little foam cars that Sweden buys more of than any other candy. Here is the story of the world's best-selling car.
Fika and Candy: Sweden's Sweet-Tooth Culture
Fika is Sweden's coffee-and-something-sweet ritual, and it sits at the center of the country's famous sweet tooth. Here is how fika, candy, and lordagsgodis fit together.
Marabou: Sweden's Everyday Chocolate
Marabou is the milk chocolate Sweden grew up on, founded in 1916 and now part of Mondelez. Here is the story behind the blue wrapper.
Daim: Sweden's Crunchy Almond Caramel Bar
Daim is the crunchy almond-caramel bar in a thin chocolate shell that Sweden gave the world, and that IKEA made famous. Here is the story.
Swedish Licorice vs Dutch Licorice
Sweden and the Netherlands are both licorice powerhouses, but they do it differently. Here is how Swedish salmiak compares to Dutch drop.
Turkish Pepper: The Salmiak Bomb
Turkish Pepper is the hard salmiak candy with a hot, salty powder center that salmiak lovers chase. Here is what it is and how to handle it.
Swedish Candy for Midsummer
Midsummer is one of Sweden's biggest celebrations, and candy is part of it. Here is what Swedish candy fits a Midsummer spread and how to put one together.
How to Build the Perfect Lösgodis Pick-and-Mix Bag
Lösgodis is the Swedish art of mixing your own candy bag by weight. Here is how to build the perfect pick-and-mix, balancing sweet, sour, salty, and chocolate.
Swedish Candy Brands: The Complete Guide
BUBS, Marabou, Malaco, Fazer and more: a practical guide to the Swedish and Scandinavian candy brands worth knowing, and which to start with.
Real Swedish 'Fish': What Swedes Actually Eat Instead
If Swedish Fish are American, what do Swedes actually eat? Here is the real Swedish candy lineup, from sour skulls to salmiak, and how to taste it for yourself.
How to Eat Salty Licorice for the First Time
Salty licorice is an acquired taste, but there is a right way to start. Here is a step-by-step for trying salmiak without writing it off.
Salty Licorice Cats and Djungelvral
Salty licorice cats and Djungelvral are the candies Scandinavians use to test outsiders. Here is what makes them so intensely salty and which to try first.
What Is Salmiak?
Salmiak is the salty licorice flavor that defines Nordic candy. Here is what salmiak actually is, what it tastes like, and why it is salty.
Why Is Swedish Candy So Good?
Why does Swedish candy have such a cult following? It comes down to pick-and-mix culture, bolder sour and salty flavors, and quality. Here is the real reason.
Why Are They Called Swedish Fish?
Swedish Fish are named for two reasons that have nothing to do with seafood: the Swedish company that invented them, and Sweden's tradition of fish-shaped candy. Here is the quick history.
Swedish Fish Ingredients and Nutrition
What is actually in Swedish Fish, and how many calories? Here is the full ingredient list, the nutrition basics, and how they compare to real Swedish candy.
Is Swedish Fish Halal?
Swedish Fish contain no gelatin and no obvious animal or alcohol ingredients, so they are widely considered halal friendly. They are not certified halal, though. Here is what to check.
Are Swedish Fish Vegan? Gelatin Explained
Swedish Fish contain no gelatin, which is unusual for a gummy and makes them vegan friendly to most people. The catch is wax. Here is the full ingredient picture, plus genuinely vegan Swedish candy.
What Flavor Are Swedish Fish, Really?
Swedish Fish have one famously hard-to-place flavor. It is not fish, and not quite any single fruit. Here is what the red Swedish Fish flavor really is, plus the other colors.
Are Swedish Fish Actually Swedish? The Real Story
Swedish Fish were invented by a Swedish company for the American market in the 1950s, but the candy most people buy today is American-made and owned by Mondelez. Here is the real story, and what Swedes actually eat instead.
Where to Buy Swedish Candy in the US
Looking for Swedish candy near you in the US? Here is how to find real Swedish candy, what to look for, and how to order pick-and-mix online from California.
Salty Licorice (Salmiak): The Candy That Divides the World
Salty licorice, or salmiak, is the candy that splits the world in two. Here is what it is, why Scandinavians love it, and how to try it without regret.
The BUBS Story: From Huskvarna to TikTok Fame
BUBS has stayed family-owned and independent since 1992, which is why its skull-shaped sours and foam candies still taste like nothing on an American shelf. Here is the story.
15 Best Swedish Candies to Try First
New to Swedish candy? Skip the guesswork. These are the 15 best Swedish candies to start with, from BUBS sour skulls to salty licorice and Marabou chocolate.
What Is Swedish Candy? A Beginner's Guide
Swedish candy, or godis, is a national obsession: loose pick-and-mix sold by weight, salty licorice, sour gummies, and chocolate. Here is what makes it different and where to start.
Are Swedish Fish Gluten-Free?
Classic Swedish Fish contain no gluten ingredients and are widely treated as gluten free, but they are not certified and are made on shared lines. Here is the full picture, plus what real Swedish candy is.