American sweets, the full brand range in one place
The American sweet brands we stock
Tap any brand to see its full line.
| Brand | What it is | Vegetarian? |
|---|---|---|
| Mike and Ike | Chewy fruit candy in capsule shapes, across Theatre Boxes and 22g packs | Yes, gelatine-free |
| Sour Patch Kids | Soft gummy with a sour sugar coating, sour then sweet | Yes, gelatine-free |
| Nerds | Crunchy sugar candy across Gummy Clusters, the classic Theatre Box and Nerds Rope | Mixed, see below |
| Laffy Taffy | Pull-and-stretch rope taffy with a joke on every wrapper | Yes, gelatine-free |
| Airheads | Soft, squishy taffy bars in bright fruit flavours | Yes, gelatine-free |
| Toxic Waste | Seriously sour chew bars and drums for sour-sweet fans | Check the pack |
| Taffy Town | American salt water taffy in soft peg bags | Gelatine-free |
| Gummi King | Novelty gummies shaped like burgers, fries, pizza and noodles | Check the pack |
| Feastables | MrBeast's chocolate bars, from Milk Chocolate to Cookies and Creme | Yes (chocolate) |
| Reese's | Peanut butter cups, bars and Reese's Pieces | Yes (chocolate) |
| Milk Duds | Chewy caramel in a chocolate shell, the cinema classic | Yes (chocolate) |
American chewy and sour sweets
This is the heart of the whole market, and the main reason most people buy American candies. Mike and Ike is the gelatine-free chewy candy in capsule shapes, sold in theatre-sized boxes and 22g packs; Sour Patch Kids hit you first with the sour covering, and second with the sweet gummy. If you want a real slap in the face, the Toxic Waste chew bars and sour drums are about as sour as it gets, and they sit alongside the rest of our sour sweets.
Laffy Taffy is the pull-and-stretch rope taffy, one joke per wrapper, while Airheads are the soft, squishy fruit bars. If you want the American original, Taffy Town is proper salt water taffy in soft peg bags, and Gummi King brings the fun with gummies shaped like burgers, fries, and pizza.
Nerds: three formats, one brand
Nerds deserve a separate note because the different formats of the candy are so different. The classic Theatre Box is tiny crunchy sugar pellets with no chew. Gummy Clusters are soft gummy centres coated in crunchy Nerds. Nerds Rope is a chewy strand covered in them. Only the classic Theatre Box is gelatine-free, so vegetarians should stick to that one. See the full range on the Nerds page.
American chocolate
The chocolate shelf has grown fast, led by Feastables, the MrBeast bars in flavours like Milk Chocolate, Caramel, and Cookies and Creme. Around them sit the US classics: Reese's peanut butter cups, bars and Pieces, Hershey's Cookies and Creme, M&M Minis brownie and blondie brittle, and Milk Duds, the chewy caramel-in-chocolate cinema sweet. Browse the wider chocolate range for more. Chocolate is best kept cool, so we pack it with the weather in mind.
American sweets hampers, boxes and bundles
It is easy to give American candy as a gift, and half the fun is making your own. Mix and match chewy, sour, and chocolate across a few different brands, and you have a heap of candy that is better than anything you can get in a supermarket. A couple of bags gets you past £20 for free UK delivery, so a birthday box, a party spread, or a "treat yourself" haul comes together quickly. For ready-made options, see our gift boxes.
Vegetarian and halal American sweets
American sweets are actually a strong pick for vegetarians, because several of the biggest brands are gelatine-free. Mike and Ike, Sour Patch Kids, Laffy Taffy, and Airheads are all made without gelatine, which is more than you can say for a lot of the UK gummy aisle. The main exception is Nerds: the classic Theatre Box is gelatine-free, but the Gummy Clusters and Nerds Rope contain gelatine, and the Rainbow Gummy Clusters also use cochineal (E120). None of these brands is certified vegan, and the chewy sweets are not vegan where they use shellac for shine, so strict vegans should check our vegan sweets range.
On halal, most American brands do not carry formal halal certification, even where the recipe is gelatine-free. If you need a certified label, we stock the Candy Break halal gummy range, and there is more in our halal sweets collection. Always check the back of the individual pack to be sure.
Who American sweets are for
Vegetarian chewy-candy buyers. With Mike and Ike, Sour Patch Kids, Laffy Taffy, and Airheads all gelatine-free, this is an easier aisle for vegetarians than the usual UK gummy shelf.
Parties and sharing. Bold flavours and bigger bag formats make American sweets a reliable crowd-pleaser for birthdays and get-togethers. Pick a few brands and let everyone find their favourite.
Gifting. An assorted box of American candy is a genuinely good present, especially built to order. Our gift boxes take the guesswork out of it.
Homesick expats and returning travellers. The brands you remember from the US, here without the import hassle or the shipping wait.
Buy American sweets online in the UK
This is the full American sweets catalogue in one basket: chewy fruit candy, sour chews, taffy, novelty gummies, and American chocolate across the brands above. Most UK shops carry a handful of these at most, so it is the easiest way to get the real thing without importing it yourself. Order before our daily cut-off and it goes out the same working day, and two or three bags takes you past £20 for free UK delivery.
American sweets UK: frequently asked questions
What are the best American sweets to try first?
For a first order, a few brands give you the full picture. Mike and Ike covers the classic chewy fruit candy, Sour Patch Kids covers the sour-then-sweet gummy that American confectionery is known for, and Nerds covers the crunchy sugar format with no real UK equivalent. Add a MrBeast Feastables bar for the chocolate side, and you have tried the main styles in one go.
Which American sweets are vegetarian?
Most of the big chewy brands here are gelatine-free and suitable for vegetarians: Mike and Ike, Sour Patch Kids, Laffy Taffy, and Airheads. The exception is Nerds, where only the classic Theatre Box is gelatine-free, while the Gummy Clusters and Nerds Rope contain gelatine. None of the range is certified vegan, so strict vegans should check the pack or browse our vegan sweets. As always, the back of the pack is the final word.
Are American sweets halal?
Most American brands do not carry formal halal certification, even the gelatine-free ones. If you need a certified halal label, we stock the Candy Break halal gummy range, and there is more in our halal sweets collection. For the mainstream American brands, check the individual pack, since certification varies by product and import route.
Do you sell American chocolate like Feastables and Reese's?
Yes. We stock the MrBeast Feastables bars in flavours like Milk Chocolate, Caramel, and Cookies and Creme, plus Reese's peanut butter cups, bars and Pieces, Hershey's Cookies and Creme, M&M Minis brownie and blondie brittle, and Milk Duds. Chocolate is packed with the weather in mind so it arrives in good shape.
Can I make an American sweets hamper or gift box?
Yes, and it is one of the best ways to buy. Mix chewy, sour, and chocolate across a few brands, and you have a gift box that beats anything in a supermarket. Get the basket past £20, and UK delivery is free. If you would rather not build it yourself, our gift boxes collection has ready-made options.
How long do American sweets last unopened?
Most chewy and gummy American sweets keep for several months unopened, with the exact best-before date printed on the back of the pack. American chocolate tends to have a slightly shorter life. Store everything somewhere cool and dry, no fridge needed, and once opened, reseal the bag and enjoy within a couple of weeks.
More to explore at GoSweet
After more of the same? These sit right next to the American sweets:
- Sour sweets for the full tangy range.
- Chocolate for more American and everyday bars.
- Halal sweets for certified halal options.
- Gift boxes for ready-made sweet hampers.