In a world of gourmet chocolates and experimental flavour pairings, sometimes it’s the simple pleasures of the past that capture our hearts—and taste buds. Retro sweets are more than just sugary treats; they’re powerful triggers of nostalgia, each bite a portal back to childhoods spent in corner shops, school canteens, and sweet-filled birthday parties. Here are the top 10 retro sweets we love at Hamperoo.
From tangy chews to fizzy pops, here are ten timeless retro sweets that continue to delight generations old and new.
1. Black Jacks
The bold taste of aniseed in a chewy, inky-black square made Black Jacks an unforgettable part of many childhoods. Loved and loathed in equal measure for their licorice flavour and tongue-darkening effect, these sweets were a staple in 10p mixes across the UK. While modern palates might lean toward fruitier flavours, Black Jacks remain a daring delight for nostalgic snackers.
2. Fruit Salads
Paired in reputation with Black Jacks but offering a far more approachable flavour, Fruit Salads brought a tropical twist with their pineapple and raspberry notes. Their bright pink hue and zingy taste made them a cheerful counterpoint to their darker cousin and earned them a permanent place in retro sweet selections.
3. Sherbet Fountains
A cardboard tube filled with fizzy sherbet and sealed with a black licorice straw—it doesn’t get more old-school than this. Sherbet Fountains turned eating sweets into a full-on experience: dip, suck, fizz, repeat. Today’s versions come in plastic tubes, but the sensation of sherbet exploding on your tongue hasn’t changed one bit.
4. Refreshers
Whether you preferred the chewy bar or the hard, fizzy tablets, Refreshers delivered a fizzy punch that defined many pocket-money hauls. With flavours ranging from lemon to raspberry and that signature zing in every bite, Refreshers have stood the test of time. They’re still widely available and now include modern flavour twists, but the originals remain iconic.
5. Flying Saucers
These pastel-colored discs made of edible rice paper and filled with tart sherbet have an unmistakable melt-in-your-mouth texture. Their UFO shape and tangy center made them both visually and texturally unique. Flying Saucers have enjoyed a huge resurgence in retro sweet shops, often displayed proudly in giant glass jars.
6. Love Hearts
Stamped with sweet, sometimes cheeky messages like “Be Mine” or “Text Me” (updated for modern times), Love Hearts are a Valentine’s Day favourite and a lunchbox legend. With their chalky texture and mild fizz, they’re more than just candy—they’re conversation starters and memory makers.
7. Wham Bars
Sticky, stretchy, and sprinkled with fizzy crystals, Wham Bars were the kings of chewy confections in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Their bright wrappers and wild flavours (like raspberry, cola, and sour apple) screamed fun. A single bar could last ages—either because it was huge or because you were constantly trying to unstick it from your teeth.
8. Parma Violets
One of the most divisive sweets on this list, Parma Violets are flavoured with floral violet essence, offering a perfumed, powdery bite unlike anything else. You either loved them for their delicate aroma or hated them for tasting “like soap.” Regardless, they’re undeniably retro and still produced today for devoted fans.
9. Drumstick Lollies
A lollipop with a chewy, taffy-like texture? That’s the genius of Drumstick Lollies. Originally raspberry and milk flavour, they’ve since expanded into a rainbow of variations. But nothing beats the classic—stretchy, creamy, and satisfyingly tooth-sticking. It’s one of the few sweets that actually improved the longer you chewed.
10. Cola Bottles
These gummy icons are probably the most universally recognized sweet of them all. Whether you opted for the classic version or the sour sugar-coated ones, Cola Bottles nailed the cola flavour in chewy form. Often found in pick-and-mix selections, their sweet and tangy balance makes them just as beloved now as they were decades ago.
Why Retro Sweets Still Matter
Retro sweets aren’t just candy—they’re cultural artifacts. They connect generations through shared memories of after-school treats, childhood parties, and trips to the local shop with a fistful of coins. Their resurgence in recent years isn’t just about flavour; it’s about the stories they tell and the simpler times they represent.
As brands reintroduce these classics, often with modern packaging or healthier recipes, the magic lies in how little they’ve changed. A Fruit Salad still has that same chewy burst. A Love Heart still whispers a sweet message. And every Black Jack still dares you to love it or leave it.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re rekindling childhood memories or introducing a new generation to the joy of fizzy sweets and chewy bars, retro sweets offer a taste of the past with every bite. They’ve stood the test of time for a reason: simple ingredients, bold flavours, and an undeniable sense of fun.
So next time you spot a paper bag filled with Flying Saucers, Wham Bars, and Refreshers, take a trip down memory lane—you won’t regret it.
