GET SMARTIES
London Fashion Week may be winding down, but we're still on a sugar high.
Hobnobs, Tim Tams, lollies.
If this is sounding a bit foreign to you, then you probably haven’t spent the week at London Fashion Week.
While British food may be unfairly maligned, its candies are among the best. If you couldn't afford the ticket across the pond this year, we want you to at least get a taste of what our editors have been relying on for much-needed sugar highs.
Some of the best (and oddest-sounding) candies from Londontown could be right down the street from you, hiding behind the Snickers and Reese's without you even knowing. To help your search, we've tracked down everything from Smarties (not what you think!) to the aforementioned Hobnobs. They’re much cheaper than a Christopher Kane dress and, besides, you need something to munch on while watching the PPQ show on NYLON TV.
LYZ MANCINI
Santa Monica, CA
Kinder Bueno Chocolate
Why: This was my often my lunch when I lived in London. It’s got the perfect amount of crunchiness and sweetness, especially if you’ve got a thing for hazelnut. Kinder Bueno means "good children" in Spanish and German, which is creepy, but it's delicious, I promise.
Info: Bay Cities Italian Deli
1517 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(301) 395-8279
Portland, OR
Tim Tams (called Arnott's Chocolate Covered Biscuits in the US)
Why: It's all in the ritual: Brew a hot cup of hot chocolate; Insert chocolate-covered Tim Tam in hot chocolate; Tilt head back and suck the other side of the cookie until it melts in a hot chocolatey amazing experience in your mouth. Heaven. Info: Cost Plus World Market
2315 NW Westover Rd.
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 916-1606
www.worldmarket.com
Lansing, MI
Hobnobs
Why: Hobnobs speak for themselves—you’ll understand when you're sitting in a chocolate daze with an empty container in front of you.
Info: Meijer
5125 W. Saginaw Hwy.
Lansing, Michigan 49002
(517) 321-1302
www.meijer.com
New York, NY
Aero Bubbles
Why: This chocolate bar with mint-coated bubbles is good enough on its own, but having ads with scantily-clad guys certainly helps it fly off shelves in England.
Info: Economy Candy
108 Rivington St.
New York, NY 10002
(800)352-4544
Orlando, FL
Turkish Delight
Why: Because I know The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe always made you wonder what the heck those things were anyway. Well, they're a confection made from starch, sugar, and flavoring like lemon or rosewater. Kind of like something your grandmother would give you.
Info: Whole Food Market
8003 Turkey Lake Rd.
Orlando, Florida 32819
(407) 355-7100
Boston, MA
Cadbury Flake
Why: This chocolate lives up to its name, with flakey layer upon flakey layer. They’re best known as Flake 99s in England, which is just vanilla ice cream with a flake bar stuck inside.
Info: Shaw's Fenway
33 Kilmarnock St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
(617) 267-4684
www.shaws.com
Laguna, CA
Maynard's Wine Gum
Why: They're gummy fruit-flavored treats similar to Juji Fruits. Or, you know, an ultra-sugary, gets-stuck-in-your-teeth, good-for-the-movies kind of candy. The name, however, is a bit misleading, seeing as there’s no actual alcohol in the treats.
Info: The British Food Shop
27601 Forbes Rd. #19
Laguna Niguel, California 92677
(949) 582-9546
www.britishfoodshop.com
Chicago, IL
Nutella
Why: Absolutely the best way to incorporate a dizzingly sweet chocolate and hazelnut cream into your breakfast routine. Spread it on toast and skip out the door. Plus, it has vitamins. No joke.
Info: Jewel-Osco
3940 East 106th St.
Chicago, Illinois 60617
www.jewel-osco.com
Bassett's Refreshers
Why: These fruity, fizzy sweets in a roll are refreshingly…natural.
Info: Almost impossible to find in the US, but worth the extra pounds in shipping and handling.
www.britishdelights.com
Smarties
Why: Don’t confuse the UK’s Smarties with those pure-sugar tabs you got in your Halloween bag—these are more like M&Ms, but the chocolate is better and the candy-coated shells are thicker.
Info: They’re sold online—which means you have no reason to keep on eating sub-par M&Ms.
www.Britsuperstore.com
If this is sounding a bit foreign to you, then you probably haven’t spent the week at London Fashion Week.
While British food may be unfairly maligned, its candies are among the best. If you couldn't afford the ticket across the pond this year, we want you to at least get a taste of what our editors have been relying on for much-needed sugar highs.
Some of the best (and oddest-sounding) candies from Londontown could be right down the street from you, hiding behind the Snickers and Reese's without you even knowing. To help your search, we've tracked down everything from Smarties (not what you think!) to the aforementioned Hobnobs. They’re much cheaper than a Christopher Kane dress and, besides, you need something to munch on while watching the PPQ show on NYLON TV.
LYZ MANCINI
Santa Monica, CA
Kinder Bueno Chocolate
Why: This was my often my lunch when I lived in London. It’s got the perfect amount of crunchiness and sweetness, especially if you’ve got a thing for hazelnut. Kinder Bueno means "good children" in Spanish and German, which is creepy, but it's delicious, I promise.
Info: Bay Cities Italian Deli
1517 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(301) 395-8279
Portland, OR
Tim Tams (called Arnott's Chocolate Covered Biscuits in the US)
Why: It's all in the ritual: Brew a hot cup of hot chocolate; Insert chocolate-covered Tim Tam in hot chocolate; Tilt head back and suck the other side of the cookie until it melts in a hot chocolatey amazing experience in your mouth. Heaven. Info: Cost Plus World Market
2315 NW Westover Rd.
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 916-1606
www.worldmarket.com
Lansing, MI
Hobnobs
Why: Hobnobs speak for themselves—you’ll understand when you're sitting in a chocolate daze with an empty container in front of you.
Info: Meijer
5125 W. Saginaw Hwy.
Lansing, Michigan 49002
(517) 321-1302
www.meijer.com
New York, NY
Aero Bubbles
Why: This chocolate bar with mint-coated bubbles is good enough on its own, but having ads with scantily-clad guys certainly helps it fly off shelves in England.
Info: Economy Candy
108 Rivington St.
New York, NY 10002
(800)352-4544
Orlando, FL
Turkish Delight
Why: Because I know The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe always made you wonder what the heck those things were anyway. Well, they're a confection made from starch, sugar, and flavoring like lemon or rosewater. Kind of like something your grandmother would give you.
Info: Whole Food Market
8003 Turkey Lake Rd.
Orlando, Florida 32819
(407) 355-7100
Boston, MA
Cadbury Flake
Why: This chocolate lives up to its name, with flakey layer upon flakey layer. They’re best known as Flake 99s in England, which is just vanilla ice cream with a flake bar stuck inside.
Info: Shaw's Fenway
33 Kilmarnock St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
(617) 267-4684
www.shaws.com
Laguna, CA
Maynard's Wine Gum
Why: They're gummy fruit-flavored treats similar to Juji Fruits. Or, you know, an ultra-sugary, gets-stuck-in-your-teeth, good-for-the-movies kind of candy. The name, however, is a bit misleading, seeing as there’s no actual alcohol in the treats.
Info: The British Food Shop
27601 Forbes Rd. #19
Laguna Niguel, California 92677
(949) 582-9546
www.britishfoodshop.com
Chicago, IL
Nutella
Why: Absolutely the best way to incorporate a dizzingly sweet chocolate and hazelnut cream into your breakfast routine. Spread it on toast and skip out the door. Plus, it has vitamins. No joke.
Info: Jewel-Osco
3940 East 106th St.
Chicago, Illinois 60617
www.jewel-osco.com
Bassett's Refreshers
Why: These fruity, fizzy sweets in a roll are refreshingly…natural.
Info: Almost impossible to find in the US, but worth the extra pounds in shipping and handling.
www.britishdelights.com
Smarties
Why: Don’t confuse the UK’s Smarties with those pure-sugar tabs you got in your Halloween bag—these are more like M&Ms, but the chocolate is better and the candy-coated shells are thicker.
Info: They’re sold online—which means you have no reason to keep on eating sub-par M&Ms.
www.Britsuperstore.com
This story was published on September 19, 2008.
CONTENT RATING:
( 7 )
( 7 )
marty
09/20/2008
I LOVE cadbury chocolate...it makes me go crazy! The snowflake is one of the best! At least, I don't have to go far to get any Kinder/Ferrero chocolate, for I live in Italy. Yum! Kinder Bueno is one of my favourite, good choice!!!
But...how can you say Smarties are better than M&Ms? I think they've a too thick shell, too sugarcandylike. I prefer M&Ms, more chocolate-y!
And I obviously adore Nutella, but you better not put that in a breakfast routine unless you are a professional athlete. (it is a liiiittle bit fat! still so goood.)
georgia buela
09/20/2008
i love them all,one of the only good things about britain are the sweets (bad things are:rain,school uniform,cold etc.)the sweets are the best...even better when eaten on the bus home from school.also all my friends are here so i cannot leave ,which is sad,because I would truly like to visit you,NYLON!!
maura
09/21/2008
wow, are all these things really hard to find in the states? pretty much all of them can be bought everywhere here in Canada.
Meghan
09/21/2008
it all sounds really yummy!
especially the nutella!!!!! my friends and i use to eat it out of the container or on toast....we even tried to make nutella balls with rice crispies. im trying to eat healthier now, so i don't really eat it anymore :(
holly
09/22/2008
mmmmmm
Cadbury Flakes are sooo good, junk food in Britain is the best!
Rachael
10/09/2008
Tim Tams aren't English tho! They're Australian... still tasty.
Helena
07/24/2009
Bay Cities is the shit. Besides subs, they have all the indie, foreign treats (Jones Soda, Kinder, Nutella, fresh French bread, etc.). Awesome.
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