The Irish are known to have a sweet tooth, which has been ingrained in us since childhood. So, here are the top ten sweets you’ll remember if you grew up in Ireland.
Not only are the Irish privy to a few whiskeys, beers, cups of tea, and biscuits, but they love to satisfy their cravings with something a little sweeter.
Luckily, growing up in Ireland, there were corner shops dotted all around the place, each one with its own selection of Irish treats, including Irish sweets you just wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Anyone who grew up in Ireland will remember how many sweets you could buy for very little pocket money, especially compared to today.
Let’s review the top ten sweets you’ll remember if you grew up in Ireland.
10. Love Hearts – the sweet to tell the future
For kids growing up in Ireland, and girls, in particular, these sweets were the fortune-tellers of the younger generation.
Each love heart gave us a little message that, as young ones, we took to heart. As well as them being super delicious, we loved guessing what each one would say.
9. Bon Bons – the sweets that lasted longer than most
One of the sweets you’ll remember if you grew up in Ireland, no matter the generation, is the classic Bon Bon.
Many opted for these because they were chewy and long-lasting, so a few went a long way. Choices included pink, yellow, or white.
8. Ritchie’s Milky Mints – a surprisingly delicious treat
Ritchie’s Milky Mints are one of those things that sound like they should be absolutely disgusting. But anyone who grew up on the Emerald Isle will remember how delightful these unusual treats were.
The perfect after-dinner treat!
7. Drumstick lollies – the chew we would always choose
Surely everyone has had a drumstick lollipop at one point in time growing up in Ireland. They were always at kids’ birthdays, school events, and could be found in every single shop!
They lasted just as long as Bon Bon, so together, you certainly got your money’s worth.
6. Sour Cola Bottles – an Irish favourite
For the kids that loved the sour sweets, sour cola bottles were the definition of sour.
These days cola bottles have opted to be more sugary than sour, but in the good old days, a bag of these bad boys lasted you a while and had you making all sorts of crazy faces.
5. Stinger Bars – the bar we all loved
A bar around the world can be considered a pub or a bar of the chocolate kind, but growing up in Ireland, you’ll definitely recall a bar being the classic chewy bar.
All ages loved this one, and there were also other bars to choose from, such as the Refresher and the Wham Bar, but we were all privy to a delicious Stinger.
4. Dip Dabs – the one we loved to dip
This classic sherbet dip bag was an Irish child’s dream, but do you remember the sherbet fountain with the liquorice and the double-dip dabs, too?
These were so popular they still exist as much today as they did when we were kids. This is certainly one of the most iconic sweets you’ll remember if you grew up in Ireland.
3. Woppa Bar – a blast from the past
Well, if it’s not the one that got away! This cola flavoured chewy bar was one of the best sweets out there and sadly is very hard to find these days. We say: bring back the Woppa!
2. Black Jacks – the one that made your tongue black
We can imagine, with the messiness of this popular sweet, that it was many a boy’s favourite. Although many girls did love to chow down on Black Jack sweets now and again.
They came individually wrapped and had the flavour of liquorice, an acquired flavour for some but loved by many.
1. An Irish Pick n Mix – the king of sweets
Our number one spot for the sweets you’ll remember if you grew up in Ireland is, of course, the Pick n Mix. This was one of our favourite things to ask for if we couldn’t make up our minds.
In those days, we would hand the shopkeeper a pound and ask for a mix, and we would generally get a plastic bag filled with everything sweet, sour, and chewy.
These days, a Pick n Mix is costly. But, in those days, it was the most clever and affordable thing to spend your pocket money on.
Chances are you’re craving a sweet treat after taking a browse through our list of sweets you’ll remember if you grew up in Ireland list, and we don’t blame you.
Who else thinks these were some of the best things about an Irish childhood?
