Five Sweet Facts You Probably Didn’t Know (But Will Love!) 🍬

Sweets are the source of brilliant stories, accidental inventions and a surprising amount of history. Here are some of my favourite facts about some classics you’ve probably enjoyed for years… without ever knowing the story behind them!

1. Jelly Babies were originally called Unclaimed Babies 

Before they became the cute Jelly Babies we know today, these sweets had a very odd name indeed. In the 1800s, Bassett’s produced them as “Unclaimed Babies.” After WWI they reappeared as “Peace Babies,” and finally became Jelly Babies in the 1950s. Strange beginnings for a national favourite!

2. Liquorice Allsorts were created completely by accident

In 1899, a Bassett’s salesman named Charlie Thompson tripped during a product demonstration — sending all his liquorice samples tumbling into a colourful heap. The client loved the mixed assortment so much that Bassett’s turned the happy accident into a brand-new sweet. Sometimes clumsiness does actually pay off!

3. Pear Drops date back to the 1800s — and their flavour isn’t just pear

Pear Drops first appeared in the mid-19th century, when fruit-flavoured boiled sweets began to take off. Their distinctive flavour comes from isoamyl acetate, a compound that tastes like pear mixed with banana. So if you’ve ever thought Pear Drops had a banana-ish note… you’re absolutely right.

4. Rhubarb & Custard sweets have outlived the pudding they were named after 

When did you last sit down to a bowl of rhubarb and custard? This classic boiled sweet has far outlived the Victorian dessert that inspired it. Confectioners recreated the nostalgic flavours in the early 1900s and the sweets went on to become a British favourite — even as the pudding itself faded from our kitchens.

5. Sherbet Lemons were once used to help disguise the taste of medicine

In the early 20th century, sherbet sweets — including sherbet lemons — became popular not just because they were delicious, but because the fizzy sherbet helped to mask the taste of unpleasant powders and tonics. Pharmacists would pair medicines with flavoured sherbets to help children take them.

A spoonful of sugar… with an extra zing!

We stock all of these delicious goodies in our Stockbridge store. Pop in and see us soon. And you can read more about Jelly Babies on the BBC website in the article : Sweet success : Unravelling the Jelly Baby's dark past. It's an oldie, but a goodie! .