Traditional Christmas Sweets and the Stories Behind Them

Every family has its Christmas sweet traditions. For some it is the tin of toffees that comes out after the Queen's, now the King's, speech. For others it is a sugar mouse in the stocking, a bowl of nuts and humbugs on the sideboard, or the one Turkish delight that nobody admits to eating. These are the traditional Christmas sweets our customers ask for every December, and the stories behind them.

Chocolate Brazil nuts

For many families a bowl of nuts was a Christmas essential, and Brazil nuts were the luxury of the bunch. Coat one in thick milk chocolate and you have one of the most loved Christmas sweets in Britain. Our Chocolate Brazil Nuts are a December favourite at our counter.

Mint humbugs

The striped, pillow-shaped humbug has been a British favourite since Victorian times, and a bag of them in a coat pocket is as much a part of a winter walk as a woolly hat. Our Mint Humbugs are the proper old-fashioned kind, with a buttery mint flavour.

Sugar mice and chocolate mice

A sweet mouse with a string tail has been tucked into Christmas stockings for generations. Today we sell them in chocolate, too: our Chocolate Mice and White Mice are a cheap and cheerful stocking filler that still delights children (and quite a few adults).

Turkish delight

Rose-scented and dusted in icing sugar, Turkish delight has long been a festive treat in Britain. Its fame grew even further after C. S. Lewis made it the sweet that tempts Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), which is still a Christmas favourite on television.

Toffees for after dinner

No Christmas afternoon is complete without someone passing round the toffees. Our Assorted Toffees and Nutty Brazil Toffees are made for sharing in front of the telly, and our Chocolate Eclairs are a lovely old-fashioned alternative.

Liquorice Allsorts

Coconut rolls, pink and blue jellies, layered squares: Liquorice Allsorts have been a British favourite since the late 1800s, and they are a very grown-up Christmas sweet. Every family has the person who picks out the coconut ones.

Barley sugar for the long journey

If you are driving across the country to see family, a bag of Barley Sugar for the glovebox is a tradition worth keeping. It was a favourite travel sweet for generations of families.

Fruit and nut, and other chocolate treats

For the chocolate fans, our Fruit and Nut, Milk Chocolate Peanuts and Chocolate Covered Raisins make a perfect bowl for the coffee table.

Make your own Christmas selection box

Want all of the above in one box? Build your own sweet box with any 8 bags for £15.95. It makes a much more personal Christmas present than a shop-bought selection box. Looking for more ideas? See our Christmas sweet gift guide.

Remember to order by Friday 18 December for Christmas delivery.

Christmas sweets questions

What sweets are traditional at Christmas in the UK?

Some of the most traditional Christmas sweets in the UK are chocolate Brazil nuts, mint humbugs, sugar mice, Turkish delight, toffees, Liquorice Allsorts and chocolate coins.

Why do people put sugar mice in Christmas stockings?

Sugar mice were a cheap, cheerful treat that fitted neatly into a stocking, and they became a family tradition that many people still keep today.

What can I put in a stocking instead of chocolate?

Try a bag of old-fashioned boiled sweets such as Pear Drops or Sherbet Lemons, a tin of Black Bullets, or a bag of Jelly Babies.