There is nothing sweeter than traveling the world — except for the treats that await you there! The delicious rush of discovering a new favorite candy is always a great adventure.
For candy connoisseurs, international treats open the door to new flavors, cultures and experiences (without ever leaving the comfort of home.)
While every country has plenty of unique candies to explore, for this article we’ve narrowed in on some of our favorite sweet snack hotspots from around the globe including Japan, the UK, Korea, Mexico, France and Canada.
Whether you’re looking for sour, sweet, decadent or chocolatey, the best international candies and treats out there for everyone. You just have to know where to look and we’re here to help with that!
Join us as we head out on a sweet safari to explore the world’s best candies. Our first destination is Japan!
あめ / Ame: Japanese Candy
Japanese candy is a fusion of tradition and innovation. Sweets from Japan are known for creativity, cute designs, and unique flavors.
From chewy, sweet mochi to playful Pocky sticks, Japanese candy offers a diverse range of flavors, including matcha green tea, yuzu citrus, and red bean.
Whether it’s the delicate beauty of wagashi, the fun of cute DIY candy kits, or the intense umami of seaweed-flavored snacks, Japanese candy is a culinary adventure that invites exploration.
Popular Japanese Candies And Brands
Many classic Japanese treats are steeped in tradition. For example, Morinaga’s ramune is a popular Japanese carbonated soft drink. It’s known for its unique bottle design, which is sealed with a marble that you have to push down into the bottle to open. Today it’s a familiar treat in Japan’s corner stores, however, ramune was first introduced in the late 1800s!
In Japan, modern candy is cute, creative — and it often goes viral online. In 2021, the Gumi Tsureta Fishing Gummy Kit exploded on TikTok for its interactive design reminiscent of a chemistry experiment. Kikko’s Chameleon Ramune is a cola-flavored, color-changing candy in the shape of a cute chameleon.
사탕 / Satang: Korean Candy
Korean candy is a reflection of South Korea’s rich culinary heritage, offering a diverse array of sweet treats.
Traditional Korean sweets such as chapssaltteok (mochi), yakgwa (Korean honey cookies) and tteok (Korean rice cakes) are deeply rooted in centuries-old recipes. They incorporate classic ingredients like honey, sesame, ginger, rice flour, and nuts.
In contrast, modern Korean candy innovations bring forth a fusion of flavors, with popular choices like gummies and candies that embrace a wide range of fruit flavors, including strawberry, green apple, grape, and peach.
Korean candy is also celebrated for its colorful packaging and aesthetic appeal, making it a charming and enticing part of Korean culture and confectionery traditions.
Popular Korean Candies and Brands
The Lotte Korea Malang Cow Milk Chewy Candy is an example of what makes modern Korean candies so iconic: super-cute packaging, bright colors and friendly mascots. This fluffy treat features milk and strawberry flavors, with an adorable cow on every package.
But Korea’s “national snack” is more classic: The ORION Choco Pie! The smooth chocolate coating, crunchy round cake and signature marshmallow filling make this treat a top-seller. Snackers love it so much, they’ll even use Choco Pies in place of a traditional birthday cake. Lotte also makes a similar version of the choco pie.
Dulce: Mexican Candy
Mexican candy embodies a bold and irresistible fusion of sweet and spicy flavors, reflecting the country’s vibrant culinary heritage.
Mexican sweet treats range from classics like mouth-puckering tamarind candies coated in chili powder to the sweet and creamy caramel treats like cajeta.
These candies often showcase a blend of indigenous ingredients like agave, cacao, and tropical fruits, along with a generous sprinkle of chili, salt, and even chamoy for that signature Mexican kick.
Popular Mexican Candies and Brands
From abuela’s Christmas gathering to local festivals on Día de los Muertos, one classic Mexican candy always makes an appearance — De La Rosa’s Marzipan Peanut Candy. This sweet, nutty candy can be fantastically messy to eat and delightfully crumbly.
A more recent creation, Lucas Salsagheti, combines the best of what Mexican candy has to offer: a perfect balance between savory, sweet and fun to eat. While this spaghetti-inspired treat might look a lot like traditional red licorice, it has a fruity flavor, hot and sour coating, and spicy sprinkles.
Sweets: British/UK Candy
British candy, commonly called “sweets”, are steeped in tradition and history. From the timeless classics that have graced British shelves for generations to the intriguing new innovations, the United Kingdom has delicious options from chocolate bars to sugary sweets!
Popular British Candies and Brands
When looking for the best candy from Great Britain, exploring UK chocolate is a great place to start. Cadbury Dairy Milk is the country’s most popular chocolatier, established in 1824. While Yanks might think they know Cadbury, many products are exclusively sold in the UK — from the iconic Cadbury Flake bar to snack-able Dairy Milk Buttons.
Another favorite since 1909, Maynards Bassetts Wine Gums were developed using fermented wine! Today, they come in alcohol-free flavors like blackcurrant, strawberry and orange. Another popular chewy UK candy is Rowntree’s Jelly Tots that are shaped like gumdrops and have a sweet sugary coating.
Bonbons: French Candy
In the world of French candy, traditional pastilles rule the scene. A pastille is a small, round sweet or piece of candy that has a fruit flavor. Varieties like Pastilles De Vichy and Pastilles de Mineur (the miner’s pastille) boast useful digestive properties and refreshing flavors.
The oldest of the pastilles, Anis de Flavigny, dates back to 1591 with a recipe developed by the Benedictine monks of Flavigny. Today, these popular candies feature signature French flavors like florals, mints, liquorice, orange, and the traditional anise.
And did you know that the word bonbon is French for candy? Even cooler is that there’s a cute French candy called Eiffel’s Bon Bons!
Candy (Eh?): Canadian Candy
Canada has a diverse candy culture, featuring iconic maple treats and chocolate bars. From the renowned Maple Crunch Bar to classics like Oh Henry! and unique offerings like Awake Caffeinated Chocolate Bar, the country’s sweet treats are a must-try.
And don’t miss out on Maynards gummy candies like Juicy Squirts Berry and Fuzzy Peaches that offer chewy goodness that’s hard to resist.
For those seeking a taste of nostalgia, Canadian Smarties, (similar to M&M’s), and Rockets (reminiscent of American Smarties) bring a familiar and satisfying sweetness to the world of Canadian candy!
Interested in exploring these delicious international candies for yourself?
MunchPak offers a wide selection of the best candy from around the world!