Interesting Facts About Sweets
Did You Know... Here's Some Interesting Facts about Sweets
Snickers were originally called Snickers and not Marathon.
Snickers were called Marathon bars when they were originally marketed in the UK, but when they were first launched in the United States - in 1930 - they were called Snickers. Bill Bryson tells us, in his history of the 'American' language, Made in America, that Snickers bars were named after a horse!
Whatever happened to Spangles?
Spangles have been voted the brand which the British public would most like to see revived. The square boiled sweets were introduced in 1950, when rationing was still in force, and became immensely popular because they required only one token, instead of the two usually needed to buy confectionery.
Jelly Babies - Nearly 100 years old!
Jelly Babies were first launched by British sweetmakers' Bassett's as "Peace Babies" in 1918, to commemorate the end of the First World War, and were re-launched with a new name in the 1950s. Fans of the Beatles used to apparently pelt the band with them, after it was revealed that they were a favourite snack of George Harrison.
At Sweets 'n' Candy, we always carry massive stocks of Jelly Babies as they're one of our most popular jelly sweets. In particular, Haribo Mini Jelly Babies are a big seller and you can buy these in bulk bags containing 3Kg or we also sell them in jars containing 1.8 Kg - see our Haribo Jelly babies in Jars HERE
It takes Allsorts
Also, Liquorice Allsorts are said to have been invented in 1899 when salesman Charlie Thomson accidentally dropped a tray of samples he was showing a client. The client loved the mishmash of colours and shapes so much that the sweets soon went into production.
Beat the Drum for Drumstick Lollipops
Fans of Drumstick Lollipops will be interested to learn that the Drumstick Lolly is said to have been invented by accident in the 1950s, when Trevor Matlow, the son of one of Swizzels-Matlow's founders, was experimenting with a new machine and discovered it was possible to create a lollipop with two flavours. Milk and raspberry were chosen, though there have been many variants since, including strawberry and banana and cherry and apple.
Pear Drops drops the pears
The Pear Drop probably dates back to the Victoria era, as do other boiled favourites like sherbet lemons, rhubarb and custards, and aniseed twists. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there's usually no pear involved: the artificial flavour isoamyl acetate is where that distinctive taste comes from.
Swizzels Parma Violets - 480 packs for £1
Made by Swizzels, Parma Violets were launched in the 1930s, named after the flower of the same name. Back then, a large roll of Parma Violets would set you back about 1/2d and in those days there were 240 Pennies to the Pound so that means you could have bought 480 rolls of Parma Violets for just £1 in 1930 - Oh how times have changed!
