As I rummaged through my kids’ candy pile last night in search of I don’t know what, I dreamed of Irish trick or treat bags filled with my favorite sweets. Don’t get me wrong. I do eat American candy. In fact, I eat way too much, but my sweet tooth developed many years ago in a different land and culture.
And so my Halloween dreams don’t revolve around Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Instead I long for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate, Maltesers, Yorkies and so many more candy bars found in England and Ireland. As children I think we all had our favorites. Mine was, and still is, a Peppermint Aero.
My search for something to satisfy my Halloween cravings got me thinking about American tourists. One look at a candy stand in Ireland must be mind boggling. When traveling, you never know when the need for a little chocolate pick-me-up might strike. I therefore believe it is my solemn duty to provide a small guide to candy picking when roaming the British Isles.
The very first lesson revolves around the term ‘candy’ itself. It is seldom used. Instead the term ‘sweets’ is preferred in Ireland, referring to everything from hard candy to jellies to chocolate bars.
Hershey’s chocolate, Dove or even Cadbury’s chocolate bought in America is not as creamy as Cadbury’s chocolate in Ireland. The Irish variety lacks the cocoa taste of American bars. I think the one you prefer is directly related to how your taste buds were cultivated as a child.
Luckily, I have come up with different treats that bare the same name and, for the most part, taste relatively the same. Here they are:
Snickers
Twix
Kitkat
Rolo
M & M’s
Starburst
Skittles
The main difference on the eastern side of the Atlantic is the chocolate covering. Once again, it is a little creamier than the American variety.
Now if you are a peanut butter addict, you may have some real problems feeding your craving in Ireland. It really is not a popular ingredient in the Emerald Isle. As a result I could not think of anything remotely similar to the following American candy:
Baby Ruth
PayDay
Butterfinger
Reese’s Pieces
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Clarke Bar
Oh Henry!
But never fear! All is not lost!
Here is my equivalency grid, based on my taste buds. All suggestions are welcome. I am quite familiar with candy, but lucky I am no American expert. There is nothing scientific about this comparison, except the chart, which makes it look far more official than it actually is.
|
American Candy |
Closest Irish Equivalent |
Comments |
| Milky Way | Mars | Layers of nougat and caramel covered in chocolate – the Irish-English version is a little sweeter. |
| 3 Musketeers | Milky Way | Whipped nougat covered in chocolate. |
| 100 Grand | Catch | Made with chocolate, crisped rice and caramel. |
| Take 5 | Lion Bar | The Lion Bar is missing the peanut butter layer of a Take 5. |
| Almond Joy | Bounty | Bounty’s coconut center is a little moister and it lacks the signature Almond on the chocolate shell. |
| Whoppers | Maltesers | Chocolate covered malt, honeycomb spheres. A Malteser’s center is a little lighter and crispier. |
| M & M’s | Smarties | M & M’s are now available in Ireland. When I was young a Smartie was the nearest equivalent. |
| Smarties | Refreshers or Fruit Fizzers | The Irish version is a little fizzier and fruitier than an American Smartie. |
| Milk Duds | Toffee Treets | Milk Duds are a little harder to chew. |
| DOTS |
Wine Gums |
The only comparison is that both are jellies, but their flavors differ vastly. |
And here is my list of Irish/English candy bars for which I can find no American counterpart.
Boost
Double Decker
Toffee Crisp
Fudge
Topic
Cadbury’s Caramel
Peppermint Aero
Crunchie
Flake
In this post I haven’t even mentioned penny sweets like fizzle sticks and peggy’s legs. I suppose I’ll save acid drops, sour apples and liquorice for a post another day.
Last night I finally settled on eating a few packets of Whoppers, as I dreamed of my Malteser days.
O.K. I confess! It was a little more than just a few. But in my defense they were mini fun-size packets!
My motto today is:
“Move away from the whoppers!”
I better heed my own warning, before my backside turns into a whopper.
Slán agus beannacht leat!
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
P.S. Please feel free to add to this candy dictionary in the comment section below, or just let us know about your favorite candy or sweets on either side of the Atlantic.
How fun Mairead! We are just starting to dive into the world of European chocolates so I love this comparison chart! We have enjoyed the ones we have tried so far- although don’t ask me what they are!
I know I’ve mentioned before how I love that they don’t contain the same sweeteners as the American versions and as a result could maybe justify (do you need to justify eating sweets?!!) eating them a bit more. Growing up Junior Mints or york peppermint patties were my top pick- chocolate and mint, Mmm! After having each of my babies, I enjoyed eating my Snickers Bar that I had lovingly packed in my hospital bag. 
After all your postings on the Peppermint Aero, I am really curious to try that one!
Aimee – I think the reason I miss Irish chocolate and sweets so much is that they just aren’t quite so sweet as their American counterparts. Good to know this perceived difference may indeed be due to a lack of extra sweetners.
You must try a Peppermint Aero if you ever get a chance. I found them in my local Meijers the other day and they were on sale for only 89 cents a bar. They are €1.49 in Ireland, so Meijers was really offering a bargain. I did buy a few, but since my kids love them too, they didn’t last very long in our house.
Hope you had a great Halloween,
Mairead
We made our way to Meijer’s today and stocked up on a few essential Irish items! We tried a few of the candy bars and loved them! We also got some weetabix to try! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!
Oh, which one is similar to an American twix? We found one today that we though might be it (the Drifter I think) but we weren’t sure. Thanks.
Aimee – Twix bars are available on both sides of the Atlantic. The ones you get in Ireland are a little creamier than the American versions, due to the slight difference in chocolate. I actually have never tasted a Drifter bar (unusual for this chocaholic). It may have been created after I left Ireland many years ago and have never tested it on my trips back to Ireland.
Enjoy your chocolates,
Mairead
Aimee – Meijers really does have a nice little selection of British/Irish foods. If you have a Trader Joes near you, they also stock Weetabix (only $2.99 at my Trader Joes). I love Weetabix for breakfast and even crumble them to add fiber to muffins.
Hi Mairead, great minds think alike,
cheers,
Brian.
Brian – Since you previously worked as an Irish food importer I think you really understand my feelings when it comes to all things chocolate.
Take care,
Mairead
Your table above gives a good indication about how much you love your chocolate
Even after all these years, I still make the mad dash on my last day in Cork to have plenty of the tasty stuff from back home to bring back to the US with me. I suppose like you say, it’s all about the taste buds. Maybe nostalgia plays a part too.
The really thin dairy milk is probably my own fav. Or buttons! Both very creamy Cadburys milk choc! Yum!
Liam – I probably am a bit of a chocaholic. But I only eat milk chocolate. I have never liked dark chocolate, so I’m right there with you on how wonderful thin dairy milk chocolate bars are. Now the big challenge is to stop munching all through the holiday season.
Take care,
Mairead
When my Daughter lived in Sicily she would send us Italian candies. I became addicted to Bueno’s and Hippos! I think I brought back 5 lbs of these yummy candy bars in my suitcase when I came back from visiting her there….You are absolutely right about the difference in chocolate, we have an Aussie friend who sends us Cadbury Milk bars from time to time and it’s so much better than what we get here!! It’s so nice to have International Candy connections to keep us supplied!
Grammy – I am so lucky to have a Meijers grocery store here in Louisville. Their international section has a small selection of English candy, and they do carry my favorite, Peppermint Aero. I buy a little treat every time I shop. I wonder if Meijers realize what a great marketing tool this is, because those few candy bars keep me coming back each week.
Have a lovely weekend,
Mairead
Curly-whorly is back. And you forgot Cream Eggs and Twirls
Vince – Loved all three of these. Cream Eggs are available over here at Easter, but they don’t taste like the Irish ones at all.
Have a great weekend,
Mairead
Yeah, darn hard to come up with something so blended with the flavours of food dye and sugar. I just remembered the Walnut Whip. That had the Roundtree flavour of chocolate, like the Yorkey. And if you liked the Aero, the Fry’s Chocolate Cream was like a big After 8.
Loved them all, Vince. Maybe it’s a good thing I live on this side of the Atlantic, or I might be munching my way through the days.
You need to make a trip to Canada! We have many of your favorites here.
Hi Spencer – I’ve heard that before – the selection of English/Irish food and chocolates is far greater in Canada. I haven’t been to Canada in over fifteen years, so hopefully someday soon I’ll make it.
All the best,
Mairead
Hi, Mairead, you need to be a little careful in the States and Canada as the former cadbury chocolate bars may not be coming from the UK, instead from Indonesia, different sourced ingredients. Slightly different.
Cheers,
Brian.
Thanks Brian for your expert advice. I will definitely continue to load up my suitcase with chocolate whenever I get back to Ireland for a break.
All the best,
Mairead
Expert, you made me laugh,
Brian.
Well, Brian. You have tasted and enjoyed candy on both sides of the Atlantic, so in my book that makes you an expert. I am afraid I have been working on refining my own expertise a little too much this past week. I can’t stop raiding the Halloween candy!!! Alack and alas, I am growing a second sweet tooth for American chocolate.
I am off to Ireland in three weeks. We will be visiting our second cousins in Bodyke and want to bring some gift items with us. I have bought the four year old girl a build a bear small fry with some accessories. They also have an 8 year old girl. It seems like everything we have is available in Irealnd and UK. A toys R us in Belfast…Any suggestions for food or gifts would be appreciated. I am thinking along the lines of Monster high drawing kits for the older girl. I am getting baseball caps from a local skateboard company for the guys. HELP.
Karen – I’ll think this over for a few hours and add some suggestions later this evening. I’ll be able to think clearer once my kids are in bed.
Mairéad
Karen – So true that nearly everything sold here in America is now available in Ireland. I think crafts are definitely a great idea for the older 8 year old girl. Michael’s and Hobby Lobby sell some very unique craft kits that probably would not be available in Ireland. My little six year old loves crafts such as picture frame decorating kits, or beading projects. I think the boys will really appreciate any kind of sport paraphernalia. A few years ago I got a lot of requests for Abercrombie and Fitch gear, but I think they may have since opened a store in Ireland.
I hope you have a wonderful trip to Ireland and enjoy every moment with your family, cousins and friends.
All the best,
Mairéad
We just returned from our visit to Ireland. The Reese’s peanut butter cups were a big hit with everyone. I took the girls build a bear small frys and monster high art books. The little guy I just bought themed tshirts from Disney. We have always loved the clotted cream but this time got an extra treat from the Park House hotel in Galway. We ordered baked potatoes and could not get enough of the homemade sour cream and it was delicious. We were discussing chocolate syrup mostly Hershey’s and the waiter told us they made their own. I asked politely if I could taste it. He brought me a child portion of ice cream with an adult portion of homemade chocolate syrup. If I could have licked the bowl, I would have.We had a great time and everyone could not have been nicer. My sister had made bigheads of our two granddaughters who are both 5 and we took pictures of them along the way and also used them to shield us from the rain. You can check out our pics at Facebook.
Thanks again.
Karen
Karen – It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I hope the weather wasn’t too bad. But as I always say: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”
Sounds like all your Texas gifts and treats were much appreciated in Ireland. I would love to see your photos, but I wasn’t too sure how to find them on Facebook.
Take care, and it is so nice to hear such lovely feedback about a successful trip to Ireland.
Mairéad
My husband and I are visiting Ireland for the first time later this month. We will be staying in several B&Bs. Traveling in another US state I would bring the hosts a small taste of Texas gift. Is that appropriate? Any suggestions?
Paula – I hope you have a wonderful time in Ireland, and that you feel the warm welcome of my homeland during your visit. What a lovely tradition you have of bringing your hosts a small gift from Texas. When traveling from the US to Ireland there are some restrictions on bringing food items through customs. I know any dairy or meat products are definitely prohibited, but I am not familiar with all the details. I personally avoid bringing food to Ireland just to be on the safe side. Instead you may want to bring small trinkets. I remember when I lived in Dallas there were many unique little Texas gifts available. Cowboy boot bottle openers, or fridge magnets come to mind. Your hosts will definitely not expect anything – they will simply be delighted to share their home with you and enjoy your company.
Have a wonderful trip,
Mairéad