Halloween evolved from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was a traditional night for warding off ghosts. After the Catholic church invented All Martyrs Day on November 1, various holidays began to influence each other, eventually culminating in the creation of All Hallows’ Eve on October 31.
Although trick-or-treating is a distinctly American tradition, many countries have Halloween festivities. People in some countries have special bread and other food they serve on Halloween, but these are difficult to make fresh or give to kids for trick-or-treating in the U.S.
Bring international flavors to your Halloween parties and trick-or-treating night with colorful candies and cookies from around the world. These treats will be memorable for kids in your neighborhood and may spark conversations about how similar different countries around the world can be.
1. Vidal Creepy Gummi
This spooky gummy treat from Spain is sure to surprise your Trick-or-Treaters! The gummy bugs are multi-colored and carefully shaped to look as scary as possible. Colors and shapes vary but include spiders, scorpions, and beetles.
These bugs might genuinely scare some younger children, so save them for the kids who are old enough to get a kick out of them. You might just end up inspiring a future entomologist!
2. Ambrosoli Frugelé Assorted Wrapped Candies
Ambrosoli is a major Chilean candy company that makes a vast assortment of treats. They have delicious, real-tasting fruit flavor that’s sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.
These small, individually-wrapped candies are great for parties or handing out as Halloween candy. They’re chewy, so they’re safe for younger guests to enjoy.
3. Fini Roller Watermelon Candy
Kids love candies in unique, fun-to-eat-shapes. This rolled-up candy from Spain is covered with sweet and sour coating for an intense flavor experience.
The watermelon flavoring is strong without being overwhelmingly sweet. Kids can eat it all in one sitting or unwrap half and save the rest for later. Just make sure they wash their hands afterward as the coating is really sticky!
4. Lorena Jolly Rancher Crayon Candy
Many popular candies have experimented with new shapes and sizes, like chick-shaped Easter Candy Corn. Jolly Rancher hard candies have been popular in America for years, but their international versions have developed new shapes and sizes with the same original flavors.
These crayon-shaped containers have soft candy inside, so they’re easy for younger kids to enjoy as well. They’re sure to be a memorable addition to kids’ trick-or-treating loot.
5. Nefis Rono Cocoa
Candy isn’t the only option for Halloween treats. These delicious chocolate cookies from the European country of Moldova have rich vanilla cream in the middle.
They’re available in individual servings, so you can easily hand them out as a generously-sized treat at Halloween. They make a great snack year-round, especially for busy families on the go.
6. Sogo Sweet Rice Cake Japanese Style Mochi
Japanese mochi is a traditional treat that’s more about subtle flavors than sweetness. This makes mochi a much healthier choice than other sugar-laden and dangerous Halloween candies.
Sogo Sweet Rice mochi is actually from Taiwan, but still uses the same traditional rice flour and flavoring ingredients. The gentle mango taste is sure to be a hit with adults and older kids who love trying new things.
7. Nestle Kit Kat Green Tea Flavor
Japan is known for having a huge variety of limited-edition Kit Kat flavors, some of which are only available in certain regions of the country. Their Green Tea Kit Kats are a hit worldwide, thanks to their unique savory matcha flavor.
These individually-wrapped Kit Kats have a little bit of green tea’s typical bitterness, which pairs nicely with the chocolate and wafer inside. Adults may appreciate them more than kids, though, so save them for your grown-up Halloween party.
8. Alberts Marpoles
These long pastel marshmallows almost look like fairy wands. They’re sure to be a memorable treat, especially for kids with creative imaginations.
Marpoles are from China, but they’ve become very popular around the world. Try dipping them in hot chocolate to warm up after a night of cold trick-or-treating.
9. CW Yuja Cheesecake
These unique cookies from South Korea are individually wrapped for easy distribution on Halloween or year-round snacking. The cookies themselves are rich and sweet and the middle of each one contains yuja jam.
Yuja, also known as yuzu, is a type of citrus fruit that grows in many parts of East Asia. It tastes similar enough to lemons and grapefruits to be familiar to kids, but is mild and not too sour.
10. Livewires Sour Blue Raspberry Tongue Painters
Kids love treats that turn their tongue funny colors, so these bright blue candies are sure to be a hit. The candy tubes’ exteriors are sour, but the insides are creamy and sweet, adding an exciting contrast.
Each package is 100 grams, so it’s generously-sized for hours of fun. Get some for the whole neighborhood or as an extra treat for your hard-working kids.
11. Dolcetto Cookie & Cream Wafer Bites
Italy is known for its savory foods more than its desserts, but these cookie-like bites are unforgettably delicious. They come in 100-calorie packs perfect for passing out to neighborhood kids as a special addition to their trick-or-treat bags.
Although these treats are heavy on the white chocolate flavor, they’re not too overwhelmingly sweet. They don’t contain any high fructose corn syrup, either, so they’re a good choice for families who don’t want too much sugar in their treats.
Discovering More Delicious Snacks
It can be surprising to see how many snacks from around the world are different from our own, yet familiar enough to get kids to try. Cookies, candies, and other treats are ultimately about sweet flavors, and the fruity and chocolatey notes in each one are often universal.MunchPak is your source for new and unique treats from around the world. We search for snacks from as many countries as possible to take you on an international taste adventure even when you can’t travel. Try our monthly snack box subscription to explore fresh snack flavors every month.
Ready to try something different for Halloween? Subscribe to our international snack box service!
