15 Best Swedish Candies to Try First
The 15 best Swedish candies for first-timers: BUBS sour skulls, foam strawberries, salty licorice and more, plus where to buy them in the US and Canada.
The best Swedish candy to try first is BUBS Sour Skulls, the viral foam-and-gum skull that defines the category, followed by Matthijs Swedish Skulls, S-Marke sour discs, foam strawberries (skumjordgubbar), and a bag of salty licorice once your tolerance is ready. Start sweet and sour, then work up to salmiak.
We ran candy shops in Sweden before we became a US importer, so this list is ranked the way Swedes actually eat it: sour and foam first, salmiak last. Everything with a link below ships from our warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, California. If you want the background first, read what Swedish candy is and why it is so good.
The 15 to try, in order
- BUBS Lemon/Raspberry Sour Skulls. The viral BUBS classic and the single best introduction to Swedish candy: airy foam-and-gum texture, tangy coating, vegan and gelatin-free.
- BUBS Cola Skulls. The same signature skull with a nostalgic cola note. If you only buy two bags, make it these first two.
- Matthijs Swedish Skulls. Sugar-dusted skull gummies in Sweden's blue and yellow from Matthijs, and one of the most giftable pieces in the category. Gluten-free, vegan, and halal.
- S-Marke Sour Strawberry discs. The embossed sour disc is a Swedish pick-and-mix staple; S-Marke makes the classic vegan version. Our Swedish sour candy types guide explains the format family.
- Foam strawberries (skumjordgubbar). Sweden's iconic foam berry from Franssons, soft, pillowy, and pure nostalgia. New to foam candy? See what skum is.
- Foam mushrooms. The other skum classic, a marshmallow-soft mushroom that Americans rarely see anywhere else.
- Hallonshots raspberry sour shots. A sharp raspberry sour shot with a serious kick, made by Grahns in Skovde.
- Sura Colanappar sour cola pacifiers. The Scandinavian pacifier shape in sour cola, vegan and halal.
- Sour Swedish Fish. The sour, imported cousin of the shape America knows; our explainer covers whether Swedish Fish are actually Swedish.
- Grahns Raspberry Twins. A craft raspberry chew from a small Swedish maker, gelatin-free and gently tangy.
- BUBS Tutti Frutti. A soft tutti frutti chew that rounds out the sweet side, vegan, gelatin-free, and halal.
- Salty licorice (salmiak). The Scandinavian dividing line, salty rather than sweet. Read what salmiak is and how to eat salty licorice before you commit.
- Turkish Pepper. Hot salmiak with a peppery burn, the step up for licorice converts. Our Turkish Pepper guide covers it.
- Djungelvral. The famously extreme "jungle roar" salmiak, the final boss of Swedish candy. Story in our Djungelvral explainer.
- Marabou milk chocolate and Daim. Sweden's everyday chocolate bar and its crunchy almond-caramel sibling, the sweet finish to any mix. Backstories in our Marabou and Daim guides.
Start with these four
How to eat it like a Swede
Build a mixed bag. Sweden's entire candy culture runs on pick-and-mix (smagodis), so the right way to try the list is a few pieces of each, eaten together on a Saturday (lordagsgodis, literally "Saturday candy"). Start sweet and sour, add foam, and save salmiak for last; the tolerance is real and worth building.
A large share of the list is also plant-based: BUBS, S-Marke, and Matthijs are vegan and gelatin-free lines, which our vegan Swedish candy roundup covers in full.
Where to buy Swedish candy in the US
Everything linked above is imported direct from Sweden and Europe and ships from our Santa Fe Springs, California warehouse across the US and Canada; browse the full catalog or shop by brand. For more places to find it, see where to buy Swedish candy in the US.
Run a shop, cafe, or candy wall? We are a wholesale importer: order by the case, mix and match, with no order minimum, at public list pricing. Start with the wholesale Swedish candy guide or go straight to bulk ordering.
Ready to taste Sweden? Build your first mix from the catalog, or if you are stocking a store, apply for a wholesale account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Swedish candy?+
BUBS Sour Skulls are the consensus starting point: a foam-and-gum skull with a tangy coating, vegan and gelatin-free, and the piece that made Swedish candy go viral. Matthijs Swedish Skulls, S-Marke sour discs, and foam strawberries round out the top four.
What Swedish candy is most popular right now?+
Skull gummies. BUBS lemon/raspberry and cola skulls plus Matthijs country-flag skulls dominate pick-and-mix walls and social feeds, with sour discs and foam strawberries close behind.
Where can I buy real Swedish candy in the US?+
From importers who bring it in directly. Every product linked in this list ships from our California warehouse to the US and Canada, and our guide to where to buy Swedish candy lists more options.
Is Swedish candy vegan?+
A large share of it is. BUBS, S-Marke, and Matthijs lines here are vegan and gelatin-free; foam candies like skumjordgubbar typically contain gelatin. Check each product page for exact flags.
What is salmiak, and should a beginner try it?+
Salmiak is salty licorice made with ammonium chloride, the most polarizing flavor in Scandinavia. Try it around number 12 on this list, after your palate has warmed up, and start with milder pieces before Turkish Pepper or Djungelvral.
Can stores stock these candies wholesale?+
Yes. We sell to retailers across the US and Canada by the case, mix and match with no order minimum, shipped from California with duties already handled. See the wholesale guide or apply for an account.
Keep reading
Gustav Lindqvist · Candy Master
Gustav grew up in Sweden on a strict Saturday-candy schedule, mixing his lördagsgodis bag at the lösgodis wall before he could spell salmiak. He has spent years tasting his way across Scandinavian candy, and now curates the range at TheSweetsTruck, from BUBS sour skulls to the saltiest licorice most people cannot finish.
Last updated 8/7/2026