Forgotten Sweets You Can Still Buy Today

Do you remember standing in front of the sweet shop shelves, trying to decide how to spend your pocket money?

Some sweets instantly transport us back to childhood. Whether it is the unmistakable smell of a traditional Pear Drop, the fizz hidden inside a Flying Saucer or a liquorice favourite you had almost completely forgotten about, retro sweets have a special way of bringing back memories.

Thankfully, many of these old fashioned favourites have not disappeared. Here are some forgotten sweets you can still buy from Giant Bradley’s Sweet Shop today.

Skippers Liquorice Pipes

Skippers Liquorice Pipes are one of those sweets that people are always surprised to see again.

Each pipe is made from soft liquorice and finished with colourful sprinkles at the end, creating its instantly recognisable appearance. They are a brilliant treat for anyone who remembers them from years ago.

They may not be the first sweet you think of when you hear “retro sweets” but the moment people see them, the memories usually come flooding back.

Flying Saucers

Colourful, light and filled with fizzy sherbet, Flying Saucers remain one of the most recognisable sweets from childhood.

The wafer shell begins to melt as soon as you eat it, revealing the tangy sherbet centre hiding inside. They are simple, slightly messy and still just as fun to eat today.

Flying Saucers are perfect for adding a little nostalgia to a pick and mix bag, party sweet table or retro sweet gift.

Pontefract Cakes

Pontefract Cakes are a true Yorkshire classic.

These small, coin shaped liquorice sweets are known for their rich flavour and distinctive stamped design. They are famously associated with the Yorkshire town of Pontefract, making them an especially nostalgic choice for sweet lovers across the county.

They are ideal for anyone who prefers proper traditional liquorice rather than the sweeter fruit flavoured varieties found in many modern pick and mix selections.

Acid Drops

Acid Drops certainly live up to their name.

These traditional boiled sweets have a sharp lemon flavour that delivers a strong citrus kick. They might not look as bright or unusual as some newer sweets, but their bold flavour has helped them remain a firm favourite for generations.

They are the kind of sweet you enjoy slowly, making them perfect for keeping in a traditional sweet jar at home.

Pear Drops

You can often recognise Pear Drops before you even taste one.

Their distinctive fruity aroma and classic pear flavour make them instantly memorable. These traditional boiled sweets were once a staple of almost every sweet shop.

For many people, opening a bag of Pear Drops is enough to bring back memories of childhood holidays, visits to grandparents and choosing sweets from large glass jars.

Rhubarb and Custard

Rhubarb and Custard sweets combine two classic flavours in one colourful boiled sweet.

The sharper rhubarb flavour is balanced by the smoother, creamier taste of custard. Their pink and yellow appearance also makes them easy to recognise in a traditional sweet selection.

They are a simple sweet, but they continue to be loved by customers who remember buying them by the quarter from their local sweet shop.

Sherbet Lemons

There is more to a Sherbet Lemon than first meets the eye.

The outside looks like a traditional lemon flavoured boiled sweet, but hidden in the centre is a fizzy sherbet filling. Reaching the sherbet was always the best part.

Sherbet Lemons are still a great choice for anyone who loves classic citrus flavours with an extra fizzy surprise.

Liquorice Allsorts

With their different colours, layers, shapes and textures, Liquorice Allsorts are difficult to mistake for anything else.

Everyone seems to have a favourite piece. They are a brilliant choice for liquorice lovers and remain one of the most recognisable traditional sweet selections around.

Kola Cubes

Hard, sugary and packed with cola flavour, Kola Cubes were once a regular feature in traditional sweet shop jars.

Their sugar dusted coating and long lasting flavour make them very different from modern fizzy cola bottles. They are another sweet that many people recognise instantly, even if they have not enjoyed one for years.

Add them to a retro sweet selection and see whether they taste exactly as you remember.

Mint Humbugs

Mint Humbugs are a proper old fashioned sweet shop favourite.

Usually decorated with their familiar stripes, these boiled sweets combine a refreshing mint flavour with a slightly sweeter taste. They are ideal for enjoying slowly and were often kept in sweet dishes, handbags or car glove compartments.

They might seem simple compared with today’s brightly coloured sweets, but that is part of their traditional charm.

Why Do We Still Love Retro Sweets?

Retro sweets are about much more than flavour.

They remind us of people, places and moments we may not have thought about for years. A single sweet can bring back memories of spending pocket money, visiting grandparents, going on school trips or sharing a paper bag of sweets with friends.

They also make thoughtful gifts because different generations can enjoy discovering and remembering the sweets together. Younger sweet lovers can try them for the first time, while parents and grandparents can rediscover the favourites they grew up with.

Rediscover Your Childhood Favourites

From fizzy Flying Saucers to traditional Pear Drops and unmistakable Skippers Liquorice Pipes, there are plenty of forgotten favourites waiting to be rediscovered.

Explore our full collections of retro sweets, traditional sweets and boiled sweets to see how many you remember.

You might even find a childhood favourite you thought had disappeared for good.

Which forgotten sweet would you bring back first?