People solely simply realising how weird childhood sweets are – sweet cigs to mind licker
Retro sweets are making a noticeable comeback across the UK, with early-2000s favourites like Brain Licker, Toxic Waste and candy necklaces returning to corner shops
Retro sweets are having a real comeback(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Retro sweets are having a real comeback, and it is impossible to miss. From corner shop jars to pick ‘n’ mix counters, the sweets people grew up with are quietly reappearing in everyday snacking.
This seems to come down to nostalgia playing a bigger role than ever in confectionery choices across the UK, with familiar favourites often winning out over newer, trend-led options. A sweet specialist has been taking a look back at some of the most memorable sweets from the early 2000s and just how unusual some of them really were.
They were not just something to snack on, but often something a bit more interactive than you would expect.
Some of the most memorable examples include:
- Brain Licker – the rollerball sour liquid candy that turned snacking into a split-second challenge, known for its sharp hit and equally sharp reaction
- Toxic Waste – brightly coloured sour sweets designed to push limits rather than gently satisfy, often treated more like a dare than a treat
- Candy Cigarettes – a now-controversial throwback that once felt completely normal, remembered more for the idea than the taste
- Sour spray bottles – fruit-flavoured sprays that felt closer to a science experiment than confectionery, but were still a playground favourite
- Candy necklaces and bracelets – edible accessories that blurred the line between toy and sweet, usually eaten long before they were finished being worn
A lot of what makes these sweets so memorable is just how fun they were. They were not overthought or serious; they were little bits of silliness that made everyday moments feel a bit more playful, whether that was something ridiculously sour or sweets you could wear as well as eat.
That is part of why they are showing up again now. There is clearly an appetite for things that feel a bit more fun and a bit less polished than standard confectionery.
According to Crunchie Munchies, it is not just nostalgia driving it, but the fact these sweets still have real personality. And really, it just feels like a reminder of how fun sweets used to be, and still can be.
Confectionery and sugar consumption in the UK remains stubbornly high despite growing public awareness around health. More than 84% of people are said to eat at least one sugary snack every day, and while average sugar intake has fallen by around 10% since 2008, most still exceed recommended limits.
Estimates suggest around 90% of children and 80% of adults are above the daily guidance for free sugars. Habits around sweets also appear deeply ingrained.
Around a third of adults (34%) say they cannot go a single day without eating a chocolate bar, while roughly the same proportion buy sweets weekly. A further 19% purchase them every couple of days, underlining how routine sugary treats remain for many households.
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