Brits tend to get teased a lot for our undeniably strange taste in cuisine, such as beans of toast, pickled eggs, and jellied eels. However, there’s no denying that we have some pretty incredible snacks that tend to get overlooked by the critics, especially when you look in corner shops. To show you what we mean, this article reminisces over some of the most classic British snacks you no doubt love.
Monster Munch
Do crisps get any better than Monster Munch? Don’t act like you’re too old to enjoy them–these crunchy, claw-shaped crisps are bursting with flavor and should be enjoyed by all ages. The Spectator points out that the Pickled Onion is particularly popular yet controversial, although the other flavors are pretty amazing, too. Their bold taste and unique shape make them instantly recognizable, offering a satisfying crunch that’s hard to resist when browsing a corner shop.
Jammie Dodgers
When it comes to biscuits, Jammie Dodgers are another British corner shop classic. Made from shortbread biscuits with a layer of raspberry-flavored jam in the center, they’re instantly recognizable by their heart-shaped window. These biscuits are sweet, crumbly, and perfect for a quick treat, although there’s no denying they’ve become smaller in recent years.
Hula Hoops
If the intense flavors of Monster Munch aren’t your cup of tea, perhaps you’re more of a Hula Hoops kind of person. These ring-shaped potato snacks are perfect for munching on the go and are famous for their satisfyingly light crunch and unique shape. In fact, you probably remember using this playful shape to wear Hula Hoops on your fingers before eating them as a kid.
Wagon Wheels
Similar in their ingredients to Tunnocks Tea Cakes, Wagon Wheels are biscuit-based snacks filled with marshmallow and jam, all coated in chocolate. Their generous size and sweet, chewy texture have made them a popular treat for generations. However, just like Jammie Dodgers, they’ve become so much smaller over the years.
Tunnock’s Tea Cakes
If your grandparents didn’t give you Tunnocks Tea Cakes when you visited, are you even British? These are a classic treat, combining a soft marshmallow center with a biscuit base, all covered in chocolate. They’re relatively light yet still so indulgent, making them a popular choice for a quick pick-me-up. Their distinctive foil wrapping adds a touch of nostalgia to this sweet snack.
Walkers Squares
Known for being particularly crunchy and sharp, Walkers Squares are crisps with a distinct square shape. Available in flavors like Salt and Vinegar, Cheese and Onion, and Ready Salted, they offer a lighter alternative to traditional crisps. Their unique texture and tangy flavors make them a staple in corner shops across the UK, although they’re a lot rarer to see nowadays.
Smith’s Frazzles
If you’re a fan of bacon, Smith’s Frazzles are no doubt a childhood favorite of yours. They’re crispy, bacon-flavored snacks that resemble strips of streaky bacon, giving a smoky flavor and crunchy texture that are often too much for some. Despite their bacon flavoring, they’re actually vegan, too!
Club Biscuits
Another classic corner shop snack that your grandparents probably kept ready in the cupboard was Club Biscuits. These chocolate-covered biscuits came in a variety of flavors, including Orange, Mint, and Fruit. Their thick chocolate coating and crunchy biscuit center make them a satisfying snack, so much so that they can still be found in multipacks today.
Sherbet Fountain
Whenever we went to the cinema or theater as young Brits, Sherbet Fountains was often a top pick for sweets. They came with a licorice stick and a generous portion of sherbet powder, encouraging kids to dip the licorice into the fizzy sherbet for a tangy treat. Not everyone was a fan of the licorice, though, so they’d just use their fingers to mop up the good stuff.
McVitie’s Penguin Bars
Penguin Bars are chocolate-covered biscuit bars filled with light chocolate cream, coming in chocolate, mint, and orange flavors, similar to Club bars. They were popular choices for our parents to put in our lunch boxes, especially considering that the packaging always came with a hilarious penguin-themed joke on the back.
Skips
Of all the snacks on this list, Skips are some of the most unique. These prawn-flavored crisps melted in your mouth thanks to their airy texture and fizzy taste that, frankly, didn’t taste much like prawns at all. Regardless, we loved their unique mouth feel as kids and still indulge in them today occasionally when popping by corner shops.
Jacob’s Mini Cheddars
Another favorite amongst our parents was Jacob’s Mini Cheddars; despite being cheese-flavored, the way they were baked instead of being fried made them a healthier alternative. They still offered a satisfying crunch and a bold, cheesy taste, but their low-fat content meant they’d appear in our lunchboxes more often than not.
Black Jacks and Fruit Salads
Another cinema treat found in corner shops was Black Jacks and Fruit Salads, both of which were small, chewy sweets that come in contrasting flavors of aniseed and raspberry. Their retro packaging and bold tastes make them a nostalgic treat, often sold in individual wraps. However, not everyone liked Black Jacks, so there’d always be one kid who ended up with more sweeties than others.
Pork Scratchings
As kids, we weren’t really keen on Pork Scratchings, as they’re more of an adult treat. These crunchy, salty snacks are made from roasted pig skin, offering a hearty and savory flavor. However, they’re typically a little too much for the tastebuds of most people, at least when they’re sober. Give them a few beers first, though, and the rich flavor of Pork Scratchings suddenly hits the spot.
Cadbury’s Curly Wurly
Of all the British snacks out there, they don’t get much more fun in appearance than Cadbury’s Curly Wurly. These chewy chocolate bars had a lattice shape and were filled with caramel, making them ultra stretchy. This unique design and chewy texture make it a fun and tasty treat, although, yet again, they’re now tiny compared to their original size.
Flumps
Another classic British snack you can only find in corner shops is Flumps, a simple, soft, pastel-coloured marshmallow twist. Their airy texture and gentle sweetness made them a top pick for cinema trips, although they’d always fill our bellies much more than we’d anticipate!
Cadbury’s Fudge
Finally, you just can’t go wrong with a Cadbury’s Fudge bar, a creamy chocolate coated in milk chocolate, offering a smooth and sweet treat. These bars are a classic find in corner shops, often displayed near the till. However, in recent years, you’re more likely to find them in miniature sizes within a tin of Cadbury’s Heroes.