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In the US, we largely associate Sweden with a few specific things. IKEA. H&M. ABBA. And now, thanks to TikTok, Swedish candy is currently having a moment. What started as a weekly Swedish tradition of Lördagsgodis (translated as “Saturday candy”) has crept across the Atlantic and turned into a stateside pursuit of uniquely Scandinavian treats, including mushroom-shaped marshmallows, sour skulls, and of course, Swedish fish. I’m going to be that girl and say that I’ve had a love affair with Swedish candy since way before it was trending, so trust that I know what I’m talking about when I say these are sweets worth the hype.
So what makes Swedish candy so special? For starters, variety. The shapes, flavors, and textures available make it easy to find a sweet to please almost any palate. Then there’s the uniqueness factor—salty licorice may not be for everyone, but for those who love it (hi, it me), it’s a must-have whenever I’m picking out my own candy mix. They’re also different in texture than the gummy candies I grew up eating and are made with better ingredients than many of your typical mass-market sweets. If you aren’t lucky enough to live in a city with a Scandinavian candy store, you can still hop on this sweet trend from home—just pop on over to one of these shops to get your godis delivered straight to your door.
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In 2010, the Swedish husband-and-wife team of Stefan Ernberg and Florence Baras opened their first Sockerbit location in New York City’s West Village, simply because they missed the candy from back home. You can pop online to see their entire assortment—gummies, marshmallows, licorice, chocolates, and more—all made of quality, non-GMO ingredients and free from high fructose corn syrup and trans fats. They also have sugar-free and gluten-free options. If you happen to be in Los Angeles, their brick-and-mortar store is at 7922 W. 3rd St in the Beverly Grove area, but they ship all over the country, with free ground shipping for orders over $70.
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Three friends founded Bon Bon in 2018, launching first on NYC’s Lower East Side with a pick-and-mix assortment of Scandinavian sweets. They offer a really lovely range of sour and sweet gummies, chocolates, and licorice, and also have other Swedish specialties like Kalles roe and cheese doodles. Standouts include their Swedish Fish in Elderberry or Sour Peach, and if you’re gelatin-free, gluten-free, or sugar-free, they have options so no one is left out. If you happen to be in New York and want to shop in person, there are now three locations—the LES location, one on the Upper East Side, and one in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Standard domestic shipping is free on order of $50 and above.
TQE Recommends: BonBon's Swedish Fish Collection Giftbox
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Owner Tyler Graybeal founded Sweetish in Pennsylvania after a vacation in Lund, Sweden, and discovering the local candies there. This shop offers an extensive assortment of pick-and-mix candies (including a selection of vegan options) starting at $4.50 for ¼ pound. In addition to sweets, they also offer savory Scandinavian treats and drink mixes, and if you’re local, you can hire a custom candy cart for special events. Shipping is available to all 50 states via USPS and UPS (FedEx on request).
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Styled like an old-fashioned boutique in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, this unique shop has a small but mighty selection of Swedish gummy favorites, from sweet cola boats to sour watermelon tubes. Also on the menu are pre-packed bags of The Candy Store’s Swedish Mix, a 1-pound melange of every Swedish gummy candy they have in stock. If you’re looking for Scandinavian-style licorice, they have that too (just look under the licorice heading on their site). Shipping is a flat rate of $10 on orders of any size, nationwide.
TQE Recommends: The Candy Store SF Swedish Mix
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Okay, so this pick technically isn’t Swedish, but it is still very Scandinavian. LAKRIDS hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, and focuses on black licorice: salty, sweet, or covered in flavored chocolate. If black licorice is your jam, you’ll enjoy the variety of flavors here—from creamy strawberry to sea buckthorn, salted caramel to coffee—it’s a great gourmet gift in elegant packaging. For licorice purists, they offer soft and firm plain versions too. The company also comes out with seasonal flavors and gift sets several times a year (the advent calendar is a must!), and they offer free shipping on all orders.
TQE Recommends: LAKRIDS by Bulow Strawberry Chocolate-Covered Licorice
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