It’s no exaggeration to say that sweets are stitched into the fabric of British life. From jars stacked high in Victorian corner shops to the paper bags we’d take home from the cinema, our nation has a long-standing love affair with confectionery. And while fashions come and go, nothing captures the timeless thrill of choosing your own favourites quite like pick n mix sweets. But how did we get here? The story of sweets is as layered and colourful as the sweets themselves — a journey from ancient indulgence to modern-day nostalgia.
Sweet Beginnings: Ancient Indulgence
Long before the invention of sugar, the world’s first “sweets” were made with honey. The Egyptians dipped dates and nuts into it, creating a naturally sweet treat that was as much medicine as luxury. In Greece, honey cakes and candied fruits were offered to the gods. Even the Romans got in on the act, coating seeds with honey to soothe sore throats. These early confections weren’t about indulgence in the way we think of it now; they were about ritual, symbolism, and survival.
Medieval Luxury: When Sugar Was Gold
By the Middle Ages, sugar had made its way to Europe — but it was expensive, imported in tiny quantities and treated like a rare spice. Only the wealthy could afford sweets, and they were served not as casual snacks but as status symbols at the end of lavish banquets. Early boiled sweets and candied spices were paraded as much to impress guests as to delight them. In these centuries, sweets were less a treat for the masses and more a performance of wealth.
The Sweet Revolution of the Victorians
The real turning point came in the 19th century. Sugar, once a rare treasure, became affordable thanks to industrialisation. Britain, with its global trade and booming factories, entered what can only be described as the golden age of sweets. The Victorians gave us sherbet lemons, pear drops, humbugs, toffees, and liquorice sticks. Entire streets sprouted sweet shops, their windows filled with glass jars stacked high like edible stained glass. For the first time, children could walk in with a pocketful of pennies and walk out with a bag of happiness. The ritual of buying sweets — the smell, the sound of the scales, the rustle of paper bags — became embedded in our collective memory.
The Birth of Pick n Mix
As the 20th century dawned, choice itself became part of the pleasure. Why settle for one kind of sweet when you could have a handful of everything? This was the birth of pick n mix. Instead of being handed a single type of boiled sweet, customers could point to their favourites and have them scooped into a paper bag. It was democratic, personal, and thrilling. Cinemas and department stores soon turned pick n mix into a cultural phenomenon — rows of containers filled with jellies, chews, and chocolates, just waiting to be weighed. Generations of children have stood in front of those displays, agonising over whether to choose fizzy cola bottles or foam bananas. For many, it was their first real taste of independence.
The Post-War Sweet Tooth
World War II brought rationing, and sugar was one of the first casualties. For nearly a decade, sweets were limited, and children grew up with long waits between indulgences. When rationing finally ended in 1953, queues stretched around the block. The joy of having a toffee or a chocolate bar again was unmatched. That collective relief cemented the place of sweets in post-war Britain, making them a symbol not just of pleasure but of freedom and optimism.
Sweets in the Age of Innovation
The late 20th century gave us brands and characters that still endure today: cola bottles, gummy bears, fizzy laces, and sour cherries. The boom in children’s marketing meant sweets were no longer just food — they were toys, prizes, and collectibles. Think of the way Poppets used to be sold in neat little boxes, or how trading Swizzels Love Hearts at school carried social weight. And yet, amidst the innovation, the old rituals survived. Pick n mix displays became supermarket staples, ensuring that sweets remained not only about flavour but about personal choice.
Modern Tastes: Health, Variety, and Online Shops
Today, the sweet industry is broader than ever. Vegan and Halal sweets have opened the market to new audiences. Sugar-free and reduced-calorie options cater to health-conscious consumers. And yet, the heart of confectionery hasn’t changed. We may now buy online instead of from the corner shop, but the thrill is still the same — filling a bag with favourites, just like we did as children. Online retailers have reinvented the old glass jars for a digital age, offering everything from retro sweets to international imports. A click replaces the scoop, but the ritual remains intact.
The Timeless Joy of Sweets
What makes sweets so enduring isn’t just their flavour. It’s what they represent: a pocket-sized celebration, a flash of childhood, a reward at the end of the week. Few foods carry as much emotional weight. Whether it’s the nostalgia of a sherbet fountain, the tang of a sour fizzy sweet, or the comfort of your very own pick n mix sweets bag, confectionery remains the great equaliser — affordable, joyous, and timeless.
Conclusion
Sweets have travelled a long road from honey-dipped fruits to digital shopping baskets. They’ve been symbols of wealth, victims of rationing, tools of marketing, and simple pleasures for millions. What unites them across the centuries is the way they make us feel: joyful, nostalgic, and just a little bit indulgent. In a world that moves ever faster, the simple pleasure of sweets — especially the freedom of a pick n mix — proves that some traditions are too sweet to fade.
