Plock Candy guide
What is Swedish candy?
Swedish candy is the loose pick-and-mix candy Swedes call lösgodis: foam pieces, fruit gums, sour gummies, salty licorice and small chocolates, scooped from bins and mixed to taste. It is known for soft, varied textures and bold sweet, sour and salty flavors. Well-known Swedish candy makers include Bubs, Cloetta and Malaco.
- Swedish name
- Lösgodis (loose candy), also called plockgodis (pick candy)
- Main types
- Foam, fruit gums, sour candy, licorice, chocolate
- Well-known makers
- Bubs, Cloetta, Malaco, Marabou
- How it is sold
- Loose from bins, usually priced by weight in Sweden
- Try it in San Francisco
- Plock Candy, 3101 Fillmore St
What makes Swedish candy different?
Texture and variety set Swedish candy apart. One mix can hold airy foam, firm fruit gums, chewy sour pieces coated in sugar and citric acid, and salty licorice, a flavor that is everyday in Sweden and rare in American candy aisles.
Some Swedish makers, Bubs among them, build most of their range without gelatin, which gives the candy a denser, softer chew. Recipes differ by brand, so the ingredient list on each product is the reliable guide.
Why is Swedish candy so popular in the US?
Swedish candy took off in the US in 2024, when videos of people scooping and taste-testing it spread on TikTok. Ahrefs data shows US searches for "swedish candy" rising from about 2,600 a month in December 2023 to more than 100,000 in May 2024.
The appeal is the ritual as much as the candy: you choose your own mix of shapes, textures and flavors instead of buying one sealed bag.
What are the most popular kinds of Swedish candy?
- Foam candy: light, marshmallow-like pieces, often paired with a gummy layer. About foam candy
- Sour candy: gummies rolled in sour sugar. About Swedish sour candy
- Salty licorice: the flavor most visitors find surprising. About salty licorice and salmiak
- Fruit gums: firm, chewy gummies in many shapes. About Swedish gummies
- Chocolate: small pieces and bars from Swedish brands. About Swedish chocolate
Is Swedish candy healthier than regular candy?
No. Swedish candy is still candy, and sugar is the main ingredient. Some brands avoid gelatin or use colors from fruit and plant extracts, which matters to vegetarians and people avoiding certain additives, but it does not make the candy a health food.
Where can you try Swedish candy in San Francisco?
At Plock Candy on Fillmore Street you pick and mix your own bag from over 150 kinds of candy and snacks, Bubs included, the way Swedes do at home. See Swedish candy in San Francisco for what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
What is typical Swedish candy?
Typical Swedish candy is lösgodis, a pick-and-mix of foam pieces, fruit gums, sour gummies, salty licorice and small chocolates. Swedes scoop their favorites into one bag, so a typical mix combines several textures and flavors rather than a single kind of candy.
What is the best Swedish candy?
It depends on taste. Bubs foam and sour pieces are among the most searched Swedish candy in the US, and salty licorice is the classic Swedish flavor to try at least once. A good first mix has something sweet, something sour and one salty piece.
Can I find Swedish candy in the US?
Yes. Swedish candy is sold online and in dedicated pick-and-mix stores in several US cities. In San Francisco, Plock Candy at 3101 Fillmore St sells over 150 kinds of Swedish candy and snacks.
How long does Swedish candy last?
It depends on the product, so follow the best-before date on the packaging. Loose candy stays soft longest in a sealed bag or airtight container away from heat and sunlight, because foam and gummy pieces dry out once they are exposed to air.