The Sweet Taste of Nostalgia
There’s something magical about nostalgic sweets. They have the power to transport us back in time, to evoke memories of childhood adventures, school playgrounds, and visits to the local sweet shop. Whether you grew up in the 1950s or the 1990s, these sweets are a shared experience, a part of British culture that has been passed down through generations.
From the floral hit of Parma Violets to the fizzy fun of Flying Saucers, the top 10 nostalgic sweets on this list are more than just sugary treats. They’re a piece of history, a way of connecting with our past and sharing a bit of that joy with others. Today, many of these sweets are still available in retro sweet shops and online, allowing us to relive those sweet childhood memories all over again.
Nostalgia has a flavour, and for many in the UK, it’s sweet and sugar-coated. Whether it’s the fizzy zing of a Love Heart, the delicate floral taste of Parma Violets, or the colourful crunch of Rainbow Drops, childhood memories are often wrapped up in those little paper bags from the sweet shop down the road. These sweets remind us of a simpler time when pocket money was spent on cheap sweets that gave us sugar highs and the biggest decision of the week was choosing between a sherbet fountain or a packet of Refreshers.
If you grew up in the UK, you’re bound to remember the thrill of getting your hands on these classic treats. In this blog, we’re diving deep into the world of British nostalgic sweets, from fizzy favourites to confectionery that you might not see on every shelf today. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s take a delicious trip down memory lane as we explore the top 10 nostalgic sweets in the UK.
1. Rainbow Drops: A Colourful Sugar Rush
If any sweet could capture the carefree essence of childhood, it’s Rainbow Drops. These puffed rice sweets, coated in a spectrum of bright, sugary colours, have been a favourite since the 1920s. Despite their simplicity — just puffed rice and sugar — Rainbow Drops have an irresistible charm. Each crunchy bite delivers a light, sweet flavour that makes them perfect for munching by the handful.
They’re not overly sweet, but the delicate taste combined with their fun, vibrant appearance makes Rainbow Drops a visual and sensory delight. Even today, spotting a bag of Rainbow Drops in a shop can transport you right back to childhood picnics, birthday parties, or sneaking a handful from a crinkly bag on the way home from school.
2. Love Hearts: The Sweet Language of Love
Few sweets are as iconic and instantly recognisable as Love Hearts. These pastel-coloured, fizzy sweets aren’t just a delicious treat; they’re a communication tool! Each sweet is stamped with a short, cheeky message like "Be Mine," "Hug Me," or the modern “Text Me.” Love Hearts have been sweetening hearts (literally and figuratively) since the 1950s, and they remain a popular choice for wedding favours, Valentine’s Day gifts, and nostalgic sweet collections.
Their light, slightly fizzy texture and mild fruit flavour make them a timeless favourite. But it’s the novelty of reading the little messages that has kept them in the hearts of sweet lovers for generations. There’s something magical about finding the perfect message — or cheekily handing one to a friend with a message like "Too Hot" or "Kiss Me."
3. Parma Violets: A Floral Delight
Parma Violets are perhaps one of the most divisive sweets on this list. You either love them, or you hate them. Known for their distinctive floral flavour, these lilac-coloured discs have been around since the 1940s. Their unique taste comes from violet flavouring, giving them a subtly sweet and slightly perfumed taste that can take you by surprise if you’re not expecting it.
For those who grew up enjoying Parma Violets, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about the floral, slightly old-fashioned flavour. They remind many people of long car journeys, rummaging through sweet jars at the corner shop, or digging through a mix of penny sweets to find that distinctive violet packet. They might not be for everyone, but they’ve certainly earned their place as a classic British sweet.
4. Sherbet Fountains: A Fizzy Childhood Favourite
The sherbet fountain is a true British classic, and it’s been delivering a fizzy, tangy hit of sugar since the 1920s. The original packaging was a cardboard tube with a twist of paper at the top, inside which lay a tube of sweet, fizzy sherbet powder and a liquorice stick for dipping. The joy of a sherbet fountain was in the ritual: lick the liquorice stick, dip it into the sherbet, and enjoy the fizzy explosion on your tongue.
While the packaging has changed over the years (it’s now in a more practical plastic tube), the essence of the sherbet fountain remains the same. The combination of the tangy sherbet and the slightly bitter liquorice makes it a taste adventure, perfect for kids and grown-ups alike who love that fizzy nostalgia.
5. Wham Bars: A Chewy, Fizzy Extravaganza
No list of nostalgic sweets would be complete without mentioning Wham Bars. First launched in the 1980s, Wham Bars quickly became a playground favourite thanks to their bright pink colour, chewy texture, and fizzy tang. Wham Bars are made from chewy toffee, but what sets them apart is the little fizzy crystals embedded inside, giving you a burst of sour tang with every bite.
They were a favourite among kids who loved the combination of chewy and fizzy, and they often came in various flavours, like the classic raspberry, cola, and sour apple. Even today, biting into a Wham Bar feels like an adventure in sweetness, one that’s sure to transport you back to the school tuck shop or the corner sweet shop.
6. Refreshers: Fizz in Every Bite
Another fizzy favourite from British childhoods is the Refresher bar. These brightly coloured chews, produced by Barratt, have been around since the 1930s and are known for their distinct taste and texture. They’re soft and chewy on the outside, but bite into the middle, and you’ll find a fizzy, sherbet surprise that tingles your taste buds.
Originally, the classic lemon flavour was the only option, but today you can find Refreshers in a variety of fruit flavours. The combination of the chewy texture and fizzy centre made them a popular choice for kids, and their bright packaging was a staple in any selection of pocket-money sweets.
7. Flying Saucers: A Retro Classic
If there’s one sweet that defines retro in the UK, it’s Flying Saucers. These paper-thin, rice-paper discs are filled with tangy, fizzy sherbet, and they’ve been a staple in sweet shops since the 1950s. The rice paper itself is edible, and it melts in your mouth, delivering a burst of sherbet powder as soon as you take a bite.
The appeal of Flying Saucers isn’t just in their taste, though. Their playful shape, meant to resemble UFOs, has made them a firm favourite with children for decades. The combination of the fizzy sherbet and the light, melt-in-your-mouth rice paper makes them one of the most fun and nostalgic sweets on this list.
8. Black Jacks and Fruit Salads: A Duo of Classics
Black Jacks and Fruit Salads are two sweets that often go hand-in-hand, as they were sold together in little wrapped squares for decades. These sweets were a staple of penny sweet collections in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Black Jacks are liquorice-flavoured chews, famous for their intense flavour and distinctive black colour. They’re not for everyone — like Parma Violets, you either love liquorice or you don’t — but for those who grew up with them, they’re a taste of nostalgia that can’t be beaten.
Fruit Salads, on the other hand, are bright, tangy fruit-flavoured chews. Their fruity taste, often a mix of raspberry and pineapple, provides a sweet contrast to the strong flavour of Black Jacks. Together, these two chews represent the perfect blend of nostalgia and variety, often bought in handfuls from corner shops across the UK.
9. Drumstick Lollies: The Classic Chewy Lollipop
Drumstick lollies are a classic British sweet that has been enjoyed by generations since their launch in the 1950s. These chewy lollipops, with their distinctive raspberry and milk flavour, were a playground favourite, and their iconic red and yellow wrappers made them instantly recognisable.
The soft, chewy texture made them stand out from harder lollipops, and their unique flavour combination was both sweet and creamy, offering something different from the usual fruit-flavoured lollies. Even today, Drumstick lollies are a staple in retro sweet collections, beloved by children and adults alike for their nostalgic charm and satisfying chewiness.
10. Fruit Pastilles: A Chewy Blast from the Past
Fruit Pastilles, created by Rowntree’s in 1881, are one of the oldest sweets on this list. These chewy, fruit-flavoured discs covered in sugar have been a favourite for over a century, and they’ve barely changed in all that time. Available in flavours like blackcurrant, lemon, strawberry, lime, and orange, Fruit Pastilles offer a satisfying chew with a burst of fruity flavour in every bite.
They’re one of those sweets that you can’t help but associate with long car trips, cinema visits, or sneaking a handful from the pantry when no one was looking. Their enduring popularity speaks to the power of a simple, well-made sweet, and for many, they’re a nostalgic reminder of the simpler joys in life.
So next time you’re looking for cheap stocking fillers and treats, why not take a trip down memory lane and indulge in one of these classic British sweets? You might just find that the taste of nostalgia is the sweetest of all.
Comment below if we have missed out your favourite nostalgic sweet treats! 🍬🍭
