We all have memories of visiting a sweet shop, with jars filled with treats lining the walls from floor to ceiling. Colourful candies and retro sweets adorning every corner, and a friendly shopkeeper ready and waiting to weigh out your pick 'n' mix selection.
Sweet shops first appeared in British towns in the 1800s (in fact, the oldest sweet shop in the world can be found in Yorkshire). Over the recent years, confectionery has evolved and changed to reflect people's tastes, but retro sweets continue to remain some of the UK's favourite treats, especially for those of us who have a sweet tooth.
Despite a revival of nostalgic shop fronts on the high street, today traditional sweet shops like this seem to be few and far between. And with even more people turning to online shopping, it appears that these old-fashioned stores could be lost altogether.
However, that doesn't mean that retro sweet treats will be disappearing any time soon! And part of their appeal could be the fact that there is a proven link between our sense of taste and smell and our childhood memories.
From liquorice all sorts, pear drops and cola cubes to sherbet lemons, rhubarb & custard, candy sticks, chocolate and bonbons, retro sweets offer nostalgic flavours which can transport anyone back to the good old days.
As experts in all things candy, the sweet connoisseurs at The Sweet Hamper Company know a thing or two about retro sweets. As a result, our retro sweet hampers are bursting with classic confectionery, which ignites fond memories.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of our favourite sweets and a brief history, which feature in our retro sweet hampers. They might even make the perfect gift ideas if you've got any big birthdays coming up!
Our Favourite Retro Sweets
Traditional boiled sweets
Created by boiling sugar syrup and combining it with colours and flavours, traditional boiled candies are one of the UK's top favourite retro sweets.
Boiled sweets as we know them today were originally invented in the 1820s and were a favourite of the Victorians. Before these sweets hit the market, luxury sugared candies were only available to the very rich; however, the advent of the industrial revolution and the invention of more streamlined production methods changed all this. It wasn't long before these popular sweets took the masses by storm and became available in every flavour imaginable.
In fact, mint humbugs, sherbet lemons, rhubarb & custards and pear drops are all varieties of classic sweets.
Turkish delight
Believed to be one of the oldest sweets in the world and originating in Turkey in the late 1700s, Turkish Delight is traditionally flavoured with rose water.
Today, this brightly coloured jelly like confection can be found in an array of different flavours, is a popular addition to bags of pick 'n' mix and is also a delicious holiday souvenir.
Sherbet fountains
A staple of any retro sweet collection, the classic sherbet fountain has been a favourite since it was launched in 1925.
Consisting on a tube of fizzy sherbet and a liquorice dipping stick, this confectionary has stood the test of time and is still wrapped in vintage inspired packaging to this day.
Flying saucers
Appearing at the same time as the space race started in the 1950s, these simple yet tasty discs are created by encasing sherbet between coloured rice paper. You'll find these in most of our retro hampers, along with a delightful assortment of other sweets!
Jelly babies
Jelly babies are another British creation, which was born in Lancashire in the 1880s (pardon the pun). The most recognisable variety of jelly babies has been manufactured by Bassett's since 1918, when they were marketed as 'Peace Babies' to mark the end of World War I.
These plump, juicy candies are officially one of the UK's favourite treats and were rated number six in a poll of Britain's top sweets in 2009.
Candy Lipstick
A quirky novelty sweet that first appeared in the mid-20th century, candy lipstick brought a playful twist to confectionery. These chalky, fruit-flavoured sticks were shaped like lipsticks, letting kids pretend they were “grown up” while still indulging in sugar.
Candy Whistle
Half toy, half treat, the candy whistle was another classic pocket-money purchase. Made from compressed sugar and designed to work just like a whistle, it was as noisy as it was sweet.
Fruit Salads
Launched by Barratt in the 1950s, Fruit Salads are chewy, brightly coloured sweets with a distinctive raspberry-and-pineapple flavour. Wrapped in their iconic yellow-and-pink paper, they became a schoolyard staple and often shared space in the same jar as their darker counterpart, the Black Jack.
Parma Violets
First made by Swizzels in 1946, Parma Violets are one of the most divisive sweets ever created. Their delicate floral flavour, reminiscent of perfume, either delights or horrifies.
Dip Dab
Also created by Barratt, the Dip Dab has been around since 1940. This sherbet-and-lollipop combo offered a different way to enjoy sweets, dunking a strawberry-flavoured lolly into a bag of tangy sherbet.
Retro Sweet Gift Boxes
Perfect for any celebration, our retro sweet hampers and boxes are a delightful surprise for any occasion, whether that's Easter, Father's Day or Christmas.
You can find all these retro sweets and a great range in our retro sweet hamper, available here. Including a pick and mix sweet hamper, and one for every decade! (The ideal gift for celebrating those milestone birthdays!)
All of our hampers are hand-packed and carefully boxed to ensure outstanding quality, whatever the occasion.